Grant programs of seven nonprofits highlighted for outstanding work in the region
DULUTH—Seven Northland nonprofits were honored Thursday during the 2022 Touchstone Celebration for their outstanding grant-funded work in the region.
The seven all received funds from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation for their projects. Those projects were featured in recent weeks in newscasts on WDIO/WIRT-TV (Channels 10 and 13). The station and reporter-anchor Renee Passal then brought all seven stories together in a 30-minute Touchstone Celebration show that aired at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, also on WDIO/WIRT.
The honorees and the projects for which they were recognized are:
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Duluth Art Institute for “Youth Leadership”
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Entrepreneur Fund Inc. for “Capacity Building for Diverse Owned Businesses”
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Green New Deal Housing for “Building Capacity to Build a Green Workforce”
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Men As Peacemakers for “Youth Restorative Programs”
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Native Governance Center for “Indigenous Leaders in Governance”
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Outside the Box for “Building Youth Futures by Design”
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Well Being Development for “Ely-Area Peer Recovery Program”
All of the honorees’ stories, and the full Touchstone Celebration show, are available to watch on demand at wdio.com.
“We’re honored to recognize nonprofits for their excellent projects, and we’re pleased to work again with WDIO to bring these stories to our community,” said Shaun Floerke, president and CEO of the foundation.
This is the 28th year the foundation has celebrated outstanding nonprofit work through Touchstone. In addition to recognition, the honorees received additional grants of $2,000 each to support future projects.
The foundation also wishes to thank the following generous sponsors for supporting the Touchstone Celebration:
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Fryberger Law Firm
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Hanft Fride Law Firm
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Kraus-Anderson
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Krech Ojard & Associates
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Maurices
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Minnesota Power Foundation
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MPECU
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National Bank of Commerce
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North Shore Bank
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Olson, Poole & Envall Law Firm
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WIPFLI
The Touchstone Celebration, formerly known as the Touchstone Awards, began in 1995 as an in-person event to recognize outstanding nonprofit work financed by grants from the foundation.
In 2014, WDIO/WIRT joined as a partner in airing stories about the nonprofits and their work on its newscasts. In 2020, when the in-person Touchstone event was not possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Touchstone shifted to a 30-minute show on WDIO/WIRT, as well as available on demand on the websites of the station and the foundation.
The foundation also changed the name to the Touchstone Celebration, reflecting that the recognition honors all nonprofit work in the region along with grantees specifically highlighted.
