More than 20 years ago I sat on a committee whose purpose was to try to find 100 women who would contribute $100 each to the University of Minnesota Women's athletic program. It was my first experience with fund-raising and probably the first time in my life that I wrote a check for $100. The committee reached its $10,000 goal, but raising the money was a struggle.
Fortunately, times have changed. I've witnessed it first hand with Melpomene Institute. In 1982 when we sent fund-raising appeals it was unusual to receive a check for more than $100. It is still unusual to receive one for $1,000 or more.
That's why I was particularly impressed with the early success of the newly formed Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund, which aims to serve as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for women and girls in northwestern Minnesota. The fund's major goals are to promote public awareness of and financial support for issues and challenges specifically affecting women and girls.
In less than a year more than 50 women have given or pledged $1,000 to get the fund started. "Our original goal was 50 women by June 1999", confided one of the committee members, "but we've been so successful we decided to raise our goal to 100 women." Obviously Norma Hanson's idea has struck a cord. Hanson, who lives in Goodrich, Minn., had lunch with a newly widowed friend about two years ago and was astounded to learn that she had never written a check and had no idea how to manage her money. As Hanson talked with other women in the region, she discovered her friend's situation was not unusual.
As a former board member of Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Hanson had the knowledge and skills to explore her idea in more depth. Several women organized three town meetings in Thief River Falls, Bemidji and Crookston. Women who gathered for informal discussion raised many other issues they believed were important for area women. An advisory board of 15 began working in July, 1997.
All board members have personally pledged $1,000 and are convinced the fund can make a difference. In spite of their early success, Brenda Finkenbinder, co-chair of the first fund-raising event held in late October in Crookston, says challenges remain. "It's still very hard to convince some women that a contribution to a meaningful program can provide as much nurturing and assistance as a home-baked item."
I was one of the speakers at the fund's premier event. The theme of the lunch was Successful Women = Successful Communities. More than 200 women from towns in a 100-mile radius traveled to Crookston for the chance to meet, to honor some outstanding community women and to plan for the future.
The event also provided the opportunity to give wider exposure to Hanson's dream of helping women and girls in Minnesota become the leaders of the future. "Throughout northwest Minnesota women and girls face many inequities in our society," Hanson wrote in the program. "These inequities result in missed opportunities, wasted leadership potential, and unrealized dreams and aspirations. Individual women and girls bear these losses permanently. But ultimately it is the communities that fail to benefit from their greatest resource, talents, skills and responsibilities."
The planning committee felt this message had meaning for girls and women of all ages and backgrounds. They convinced girls as young as 12 years old and numerous women over age 80 to attend.
Board members effectively shared their message with the audience by individually telling why they had become involved. Joyce Hagen's mom encouraged her participation and took care of Hagen's kids so she could attend meetings. Hagen's mom died recently, but Hagen carries on because she knows it is what her mother would want her to do. Rene? Wall Rongen, co-chair of the event, wanted to become a board member so she could teach her children about philanthropy and how they could change the world by giving. She's starting early. Her children are 6 years, 3 years and five months old.
I've rarely attended an event where there was so much positive energy. Perhaps it is because these women have fewer opportunities to get together, to talk and celebrate, than those of us who live in larger communities. Finkenbinder believes women often need an excuse to get together, that they love to give and make someone's life richer.
At the end of the day those attending the lunch were challenged to make a difference in the lives of their communities. "Think about the gifts you have received and think about giving one," Finkenbinder urged.
That's good advice I'm following this holiday season.
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