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The Luverne Area Community Foundation will host its 2020 Celebration of Philanthropy Event virtually this Friday, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our fourth annual Celebration of Philanthropy is about lifting up donors and friends of the foundation that have worked with us this past year and to say thank you,” said LACF director Emily Crabtree.
“The grant stories are inspirational and the LACF featured awards are a testament to local leadership and strength.”
Honorees this year are the Rock County Star Herald for Outstanding Business, Pat and Kim Von Tersch for Spirit of Philanthropy and the Luverne Child Guide Program for Non-Profit Spotlight.
“Our three award winners have demonstrated an outstanding call to action during this public health crisis. It is our pleasure to honor them in these areas.”
The virtual celebration will launch Friday, Dec. 11, through a link on the home page of the LACF website, www.luvacf.org.
“While meeting virtually is not ideal, it will be special nonetheless,” Crabtree said.
She said generosity and volunteerism are more important than ever given the challenges of Covid-19.
The giving year 2020 has been an interesting one.
“It feels like the world we know has come to a complete halt,” she said. “It is in these times that local leaders are called to respond to the needs of the community.”
Spirit of Philanthropy Award
The Spirit of Philanthropy Award, this year given to the Von Tersches, recognizes “an outstanding living individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity and volunteer leadership.”
Crabtree said the Luverne couple fits that description.
“Pat and Kim Von Tersch say they always want to provide support for charitable organizations and others, but when they started to see the effects of Covid-19 on our community, their call to give was heightened,” Crabtree said.
Specifically, the couple expressed concern for finite resources such as food, and since production agriculture has been their passion, they said it was an obvious area to stand in to help.
“We live in a community that is so willing to help others,” the Von Tersches said. “And our hope is to build upon the momentum that others have started to continue sustainable giving and support in the community.”
They helped the Luverne Baseball Association with hand sanitizers for safe play at all levels, donated funds for oximeters at Sanford Luverne for use by Covid-positive patients to monitor oxygen levels while at home, provided meat bundles to the Rock County Food shelf and as appreciation gifts to First Responders in the area.
They supported the 2020 senior class with graduation banners downtown Luverne, supported many local benefits and generously supported the LACF Community Crisis Fund with the offer of more help if it was needed.
“It is our honor to recognize Pat and Kim Von Tersch for their selfless giving to our community with the Spirit of Philanthropy Award for 2020,” Crabtree said.
Non-Profit Spotlight Award
The Non-Profit Spotlight Award recognizes an outstanding volunteer group that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community through direct involvement, financial support and leadership.
This year, the Luverne Child Guide Program is in the spotlight for that recognition.
Connie Connell launched the program in Luverne after seeing the need for connection between school and community in helping at-risk youth.
Now in its 20th year as a program, Lisa Dinger, the program lead, and her actively engaged board focus their work on connecting resources in the community with students and families.
Programs such as Backpack Program, Homework Club, Kids in the Commons, School Supply Distribution, Youth Scholarship program, Bookin’ Buddies, morning school greeters and a mentoring program have deep ties to the work of the Child Guide program.
“Being a part of the community is vital, especially with resources available to help,” Crabtree said. “We have so many generous, caring people that want to help others and embrace the needs they have.”
The Child Guide receives confidential referrals from staff, parents, community members, and businesses and connects them using resources from school and the community.
The program is fully supported by donations, grants and fundraisers, but is housed in the Luverne Elementary School, which allows Dinger to have the best access to students and families.
The volunteer base is strong with this program as personal connection is at the core of how Child Guide works, matching mentors and positive experiences with students.
Needs of youth and families is on the increase with Covid-19 stressors, and Dinger said she works hard to be a connector for families.
“This is a very stressful time for everyone, and we hope we can alleviate the stress by being a strong resource for individuals and families,” Dinger said. “The community has been great in stepping up to help in any way they can.”
Outstanding Corporation or Business
The Rock County Star Herald is the 2020 LACF Outstanding Business or corporation, honored for creating a culture of philanthropy with a demonstrated commitment to philanthropy.
Crabtree said the Star Herald is a role model in the community through its financial support of nonprofit organizations and its leadership involvement with volunteer participation. She said accurate local news has been more important than ever during the pandemic.
“As we continue to reflect on the effects of Covid-19, having the correct and updated information for safety and education has been vitally important,” Crabtree said.
“The Rock County Star Herald has been at the forefront of Covid-19 prevention by supporting, promoting and modeling Covid-19 protocol.”
She said keeping the local public informed and up to date with current COVID-19 testing results has been a priority in addition to laboriously working with state, county, city and school officials weekly to provide the public with the information they need to stay safe and help slow the spread of the virus.
“A child’s insert on hand-washing, masks and what it means to be safe during Covid-19 ran for four weeks in an attempt to educate and calm the questions our youth may have but are afraid to ask,” Crabtree said.
“All these things have made them a local leader for our community.”
Star Herald manager Rick Peterson said support of non-profits and charitable giving spreads into the private sector during a pandemic.
“We're no different than so many local business that step up when and if they can to help others,” he said.
“It’s not just doing the right thing; it's more than that. It’s the culture of the local businesses to do the right thing.”
Crabtree said the Star Herald has supported local businesses and non-profits with low or no cost advertising spaces during portions of the lockdown period when hours were reduced and in some cases closed.
Early on during the pandemic, the Rock County Star Herald partnered with The Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce and KQAD/K101 for the Rock Solid We're in this Together radiothon promotion that sold over $250,000 in local gift cards that went directly to local businesses.
Staff members at the Rock County Star Herald are personally involved in a wide array of volunteer organizations, including Dollars for Scholars, Alumni News, 4-H, Palace Theatre, Rock County Pheasants Forever, Luverne Area Community Foundation, Luverne Chamber of Commerce, Community Education, Census 2020, as well as delivering Meals on Wheels and supporting their churches.
“And you will always see them first in line to role model participation in local community activities and events,” Crabtree said.
Peterson said there are a number of ways to support local causes.
“You can give financially. You can give of your time. You can give of your talents,” he said, and then quoted the LACF mission statement. “But for sure ‘Give Where You Live Today, Tomorrow and Beyond.’”