Cook County News Herald

Coalition of Cook County MN nonprofits to host “Dessert to the Max” event November 13



Boreal Community Media has announced it will be hosting a community celebration called “Dessert to the Max” on Wednesday, November 13, from 5-7 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais.

The event is designed to recognize the excellent work the Nonprofit Community does in Cook County on the eve of Give to the Max Day – the single most important fundraising event of the year in Minnesota. A coalition of nonprofit organizations from around Cook County will be on hand to inform community members about their missions and current projects to make a difference in Cook County.

“From infants to the elderly, Cook County Non-Profits serve multiple generations of people living in all corners of Cook County. From offering quality healthcare and educational opportunities to creative arts and cultural events to protecting our environment, Cook County Non-Profits help make our communities healthier and more vibrant,” said Boreal Community Media Board Chairman Jeff Latz, “This event will allow community members to thank the staffs, volunteers and board members in person and with their financial support.”

“This will be a fun free event for people of all ages. Each nonprofit organization will be offering sweet treats. Beverages will be available. And a door prize from each nonprofit organization will be available for a drawing at the end of the evening”, said Lisa Bauer, Executive Director of Boreal Community Media, “Our theme is ‘if we are sweet to you, will you be sweet to us?’”

The keynote speaker for the event will be Joan Gardner-Goodno, Executive Director of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation on “The Importance of Nonprofits in Cook County.”

Joan Gardner-Goodno has been the Executive Director of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation since 2007, coming to the position after serving as the Grants Manager at the Duluth Superior Community Foundation and as the Children, Youth, and Families Director at Lutheran Social Service for many years. Joan holds a Master’s Degree in Education and is an Emeritus Licensed Social Worker in Minnesota.

Joan believes strongly in working together to make positive change happen in the community, whether that is through providing direct service, volunteering, or donating monetarily. A guiding principle she holds is that we are all responsible for shaping our communities for good.

The Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation is a leading Foundation that awards grants on a competitive basis to qualified nonprofits in Cook County and across Northeast Minnesota. The mission of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation is to enhance educational opportunities in Cook County and to significantly improve the quality of life in the North Shore communities of Cook, Lake and southern St. Louis County in the areas of Arts and Culture, Community and Economic Development, Education, Environment, and Social Welfare programs to qualified nonprofit organizations.

Participating nonprofit organizations in the ‘Dessert to the Max’ event include Boreal Community Media, Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais Playhouse, North Shore Healthcare Foundation, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, The Violence Prevention Center, WTIP Radio, Care Partners, Grand Marais Art Colony, and the North Shore Music Association. Each organization will have a table with sweet treats, literature, and other information about their missions and staff on hand to answer community members’ questions.

The event is being held on the Eve of Give to the Max MN Day – the single largest day of the year for community giving in Minnesota. To learn more, community members can go to the GiveMN.org website at www.givemn.org.

This is a free event! Boreal Community Media encourages tax-deductible donations to the organizations that community members feel are making a difference in Cook County.

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