Diversity Coalition receives Challenge Grant
The Foldcraft Foundation of Kenyon, MN has again generously provided the Welcome Center with a grant to support immigrant empowerment. The grant assists efforts to build workplace and life skills while also encouraging immigrant leadership in programs to meet basic needs. This year’s grant, however, comes with a challenge. While Foldcraft will provide $3000 directly, it also offers another $3000 as a matching grant, motivating new Faribault area businesses or individuals to support the Center’s efforts as well.
This past year, the Foldcraft grant supported basic carpentry skill classes in Spanish, the community garden, ESL classes, and food support programs. This coming year, the assistance will help the Welcome Center strengthen its skill building and food support offerings, while inviting greater engagement of immigrant participants in both the Center and the community.
We seek your support. A donation to support this project now means twice as much…not only is your contribution doubled, it also bears ongoing fruit by giving people the skills and opportunities they need to build their own capacity for success.
As you consider options for your holiday or year-end giving, please consider this cause. We will work hard to make your gift keep giving. If you are a new Faribault contributor, please identify your contribution as “Foldcraft Match” if you so choose. Thank you!
General Fundraising Campaign
The Faribault Diversity Coalition and Welcome Center have also set a $10,000 goal for program contributions during the next six months. Several promising grant proposals did not materialize, so we find ourselves in need of additional funding to continue our work as we seek new funding. Our program has strengthened with the support of the Blue Cross Foundation over these last two years. The United Way, Foldcraft Foundation, City of Faribault, and the Southern MN Initiative Foundation have generously supported programs in support of our immigrant communities. We believe we are making an impact and increasing numbers are turning to us for help.
Welcome Center Food Shelf served 139 families in Nov. 2008. From Jan-Nov, we have assisted 1070 families with 31,467 lbs of food. As new lay-offs loom in the community, we expect greater demand in coming months.
The Welcome Center assisted 1257 additional immigrant individuals during 2008 to understand and communicate with agencies, employers, and others in the community.
The Diversity Coalition brought mainstream and immigrant residents together to build understanding and celebrate their richness.
Please consider a contribution to support the Coalition’s mission. Be part of building a community where all find a home.
Sincere thanks,
Faribault Diversity Coalition Board and Welcome Center staff
Tax deductible contributions can be sent to: Welcome Center, 24 W. Division St., Faribault MN 55021.
For more information,
call: 507-333-5036, email: welcome@hickorytech.net, or visit http://faribodiversity.blogspot.com to learn more.
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