SOUTH CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Recognizes SCSC in 20th Anniversary Celebration

SCSC was one of 20 organizations to receive a $5,000 grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) on October 11th at their 20th Anniversary Celebration luncheon in Owatonna. The Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $100,000 to organizations, communities and businesses throughout the 20 counties to commemorate their 20th anniversary.

The Foundation chose each of the special “20 in 20” grant award recipients based on their past and current commitment to community and economic development in southern Minnesota. Each of the recipients was invited to display the results of prior SMIF grants in the form of a “Partner Avenue” display. Over 200 local partners gathered to celebrate the special 20th Anniversary event including The McKnight Foundation’s Erika L. Binger, Board Chair, and Louis Hohlfeld, Senior Program Officer. McKnight was the catalyst behind the formation of the six Initiative Funds in 1986, and continues to be a strong financial supporter and partner.

Through prior support of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, SCSC was able to support innovative initiatives include dynamic exploratory curriculum for middle-school students developed by AT&T; teachers’ participation in national staff development opportunities through the Global Wireless Education Consortium; student participation in advanced technology education; and development of a national model for a technology/wireless education pathway from secondary, to 2-year, to 4-year post-secondary education.

For a complete story of the 20th Anniversary Celebration and the 20 grant awardees, please visit the SMIF website at: www.smifoundation.org. (Excerpts of this recap were taken from the website’s 20th Anniversary Celebration article.)