Attendees at the Cook County Community Foundation 12th anniversary celebration were treated to a lovely performance by the Cook County Schools choir, directed by Ericka Ternes. The choir performed Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music.
The walls of the Johnson Heritage Post were covered with the amazing artwork of the Grand Marais Art Colony Plein Air Festival— beautiful paintings of the lovely scenes that surround us every day. The exhibit was the perfect backdrop for the Cook County Community Foundation’s 12th anniversary celebration on September 22.
The evening started with a performance by yet another Cook County treasure, the Cook County High School Choir, directed by Ericka Ternes. Board Chair Tracy Benson welcomed everyone and gave a brief history of the works of the Cook County Community Fund (CCCF).
Benson introduced the board members on hand—Kelsey Kennedy, Ruth Ann Hedstrom Voss, Nancy Seaton, Karen Halbersleben, Bruce Kerfoot, Woody Gilk, Katilyn Bohlin, Amber Pratt and Sue Riley. Benson thanked them all for their work and invited some of the CCCF founding members, now stepping down from the board, forward. Ann Possis was not present, but Howard Hedstrom, Mike Carlson and Richard Olson each received a special gift—a copy of North Shore: A Natural History of Minnesota’s Superior Coast by local author Chel Anderson and colleague Adelheid Fischer.
Left: Outgoing Community Fund Board Members Mike Carlson, Howard Hedstrom, and Richard Anderson received a special gift, a copy of North Shore: A Natural History of Minnesota’s Superior Coast. Above: Foundation Board Members Tracy Benson and Sue Riley enjoyed visiting with guests at the event at which $19,385 was granted to community nonprofits.
Benson invited anyone interested in joining the CCCF board to talk to any of the board members.
Past recipients of CCCF grants were invited to come forward and share what their organization had done with grant dollars from the community fund. Kay Grindland spoke of the Care Partners Senior Ride Program. Kennedy talked about Cook County Higher Education’s “Dressed Up with Someplace to Go” program, which helps women acquire appropriate clothing for job interviews and future employment. Karl Hansen shared the successful Oral Health Task Force story. Heads nodded as Anderson expressed appreciation for the support for the annual concert by the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra, a community holiday tradition.
Before announcing the recipients of this year’s grants, Benson noted the impressive artwork surrounding the audience. “We are fortunate to be sitting here, among these reflections of the why we live here,” said Benson, adding, “But if it wasn’t for the people of this community, it wouldn’t be as pretty. We’re surrounded by people who say, ‘Yes, we can do this.’
“We have volunteers who work with kids, with the elderly, who volunteer with fire departments and rescue squads, who clean up Highway 61 and so much more. We are so fortunate,” she said.
Benson then announced this year’s awards and the grantees came forward to happily accept support to carry on their good works for the community.
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