One might say Grand Marais is in Howard Hedstrom’s blood. It all dates back to the late 1800s when Howard’s grandfather homesteaded in the area and later started a small sawmill business in 1914. Today, Hedstrom Lumber is part of the region’s rich history.
Likewise, Hedstrom is doing his part as well to create a lasting legacy in the area. “As I got older, I became more interested in philanthropy as a way to give back to the community,” he explains. This includes being a founding board member and current chair of the Cook County Community Fund.
As the Community Fund approaches its 10th anniversary, Hedstrom said he’s proud of how far the Cook County Community Fund has come over the past decade. “A lot of people care about this area and we have a lot of nonprofits,” he says. “But, we never had a vehicle to handle large bequests or gifts for those who wanted to leave their legacy in the area. The Cook County Community Fund has met that goal.”
Hedstrom says the Fund has achieved this goal by not competing with other organizations fundraising in the area but instead, just educating folks about the benefits of giving. “First and foremost, we want to encourage people to give to what they love. Maybe that means supporting one of our funds but more importantly, it is about encouraging folks to be generous to nonprofits in the entire area.”
This approach seems to be working for both the community and the Cook County Community Fund. This past year, the Fund granted out more than $13,000 to local nonprofits in the area with a focus on meeting the changing needs of the community within the areas of: arts, community development, education, environment, human services and youth.
In total, the Cook County Community Family of Funds has over $425,000. One way the Fund achieved this level of success was through the creation of organizational endowment funds. These funds allow regional nonprofits to establish endowments through the Cook County Community Fund. North House Folk School, Grand Marais Public Library, Violence Prevention Center and WTIP are just a few of the organizations that have taken advantage of this option.
This type of cooperation is just one of many things Hedstrom loves about the area. “This is an incredible place to live. In addition to being beautiful, it is really about the unique people that live here.”
People, like Howard Hedstrom, who are committed to ensuring Cook County has a strong future today and tomorrow.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved with the Cook County Community Fund, join its organizers for the 10th Anniversary Celebration on October 8th, 5-7p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. If you are interested in making a donation to the fund or just learning more about it, call (218) 726-0232 or visit: www.cookcountycommunityfund.org.
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