THREE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER

The Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (LARA), the Initiative Foundation, and the Crow Wing Environment Protection Association (CWEPA) have joined together to establish an endowment fund that will benefit the lands, waters and people of Crow Wing County. All three organizations have rich histories of doing meaningful work in Crow Wing County.

The fund started when CWEPA decided to dissolve after 35 years of promoting wise stewardship of area lakes, forests, wildlife and other natural resources. The CWEPA board of directors met with representatives from the Initiative Foundation to discuss how to use CWEPA’s remaining assets to set up an endowment fund that would support future activities that lead to protection, restoration and preservation of natural resources and environmental assets within Crow Wing County. The Initiative Foundation will manage the fund (now known as the CWEPA Fund). Don Hickman of the Initiative Foundation said, “We are excited to be part of this. We hope it can be a model for other counties. In fact, we are so supportive of this concept, we are willing to match up to $10,000 that is contributed to the CWEPA Fund to help it grow.”

LARA, which began in 1992 as the county’s coalition of lake and river associations, was named as the organization to set up and administer the yearly grant process. The fund’s earnings will be offered to the public in the form of grants. Each year, LARA will announce a theme for that year’s round of grants, set parameters for applications, review grant proposals, and select winners. The theme for the CWEPA Fund’s first grant will be announced in late-August with the actual grant(s) being awarded in late-winter 2012.

Ann Beaver, a former CWEPA board member and a current LARA board member, said, “This is a great opportunity for those of us who care about the natural resources of Crow Wing County. It’s a chance for people to make tax-deductible donations to a fund, and the benefits will happen right here in Crow Wing County – right here in our own back yard.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the CWEPA Fund, or making a tax-deductible contribution to the fund, should contact Phil Hunsicker at 218-824-5095, or by email at phunsicker@envisionmn.org.