Bremer Bank Targeting Hunger With Special Grants

Choosing between buying food and paying the mortgage, or covering medical bills, is a tough choice being faced by more Americans as the challenging economy lingers. Bremer Bank is committed to the long-term health of its communities and ending hunger has become a top priority.

To address that need, Bremer announced this week that it is making one-time grants to nonprofits in 10 communities where it does business. These special grants are in addition to the “Taking Action Against Hunger” campaign that the bank launched in June. Armed with a $100,000 challenge grant, the bank raised more than $150,000 from employees, clients and other supporters to address local hunger needs.

“According to the Hunger in America 2010 study, twice as many people in area communities are visiting food shelves and soup kitchens than they were just five years ago,” explained Pat Donovan, president and chief executive officer of Bremer Financial Corporation. “At Bremer, we believe in building healthy communities through partnerships. We recognize there is increased need right now and by partnering with the Salvation Army, we can provide additional help during these challenging times.”

The one-time, $3,500 grants will provide local food shelves with a ‘credit’ at Second Harvest Heartland. The credits can be used by each agency toward the shared maintenance fees related to handling and transporting food. Second Harvest Heartland is a member of Feeding America, a national network of more than 200 food banks nationally. Membership provides local food shelves with access to millions of pounds of surplus food and grocery donations from manufacturers and producers throughout the country.

Grant recipients include:
North Country Food Bank (Outreach Food Shelf, Alexandria)
Great Plains Food Bank (Salvation Army, Grand Forks)
Feed My People (Stepping Stones of Dunn County, Menomonie – formerly Interfaith Volunteers of Dunn County)
Second Harvest North Central (Brainerd Salvation Army)
Second Harvest Heartland Agencies (Dorothy Day, St. Paul; Centro Food Shelf, Minneapolis; Five Loaves Food & Clothing Shelter, New Richmond, Wis.; Friends for Life Food Shelf, Watertown; Catholic Charities Emergency Services, St. Cloud; Willmar Area Food Shelf, Willmar)

Bremer Bank has been a long-time partner in the fight to end hunger and has sponsored the “Taking Action Against Hunger” campaign during June for the past five years.

More than $151,000 Raised During Bremer Banks’ Annual “Taking Action Against Hunger” Campaign

During our fifth annual “Taking Action Against Hunger” Campaign, Bremer Bank raised $151,133 for Second Harvest Heartland, Feeding America and local foodshelves. This total included a $100,000 challenge gift from Bremer Bank itself. Donations were made during the month of June in a combination of online giving and through employee and client events. In five years, the campaign has raised more than $650,000 for Second Harvest Heartland.

“It takes a culture of caring and innovation to have this sort of impact,” said Rob Zeaske, executive director of Second Harvest Heartland. “Bremer is a real cornerstone in the effort to relieve hunger among nearly a half-million neighbors… they are truly “Taking Action” on behalf of struggling families, and vulnerable seniors.”

In addition to monetary donations, Bremer employees also donated their time and energy in the form of volunteerism by stocking local food shelves and preparing food packages in various communities.

“Our employees are committed and passionate about ending hunger in our communities,” said Pat Donovan, president and chief executive officer of Bremer Financial Corporation. “This campaign has really become something that our employees and clients look forward to each year. We are always amazed at the generosity and spirit of staff, clients and other members of our Bremer Bank communities that help us in our effort to raise money to end hunger each June.”

About Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest's largest hunger-relief organization, with a mission of ending hunger through community partnerships. A record 51 million pounds of grocery products were distributed in 2009 to hungry seniors, families and children through nearly 1,000 non-profit member agencies and programs, including food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers, faith-based organizations, and children's after-school programs serving 59 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. For each $50 donated, Second Harvest Heartland can distribute more than 180 meals to those in need. For more information, visit http://www.2harvest.org/ or call 651.484.5117.

Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $7.8 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation (OBF). Founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer, the company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust and insurance services to locations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. OBF uses its share of dividends to distribute charitable grants to Bremer bank communities. In 2009, more than $25 million in charitable donations were given across the Bremer footprint and employees donated more than 160,000 volunteer hours to their communities.

Taking Action to End Hunger

Bremer Bank is Taking Action Against Hunger; Help Match the $100,000
Bremer Challenge Gift to Second Harvest Heartland


Bremer Bank is ‘Taking Action Against Hunger’ June 1-30, raising funds for Second Harvest Heartland. This marks the fifth consecutive year of the campaign – a partnership between the nonprofit and Bremer. This year, Bremer is challenging everyone to help match the $100,000 Bremer Challenge Gift.

During the month of June, there are three ways to make a donation. A $10 donation can be automatically made by texting BREMER to 27722 (message and data rates may apply) ². Donations can also be made online at Bremer.com or at any Bremer Bank location. For every $10 donated, Second Harvest Heartland can distribute 37 meals¹ for individuals and families in need.
“Hunger can impact anyone, even someone you may know,” said Steve Meads, president and Chief Executive Officer of Bremer Bank Twin Cities. “Bremer recognizes this and the special need to fill food shelves during the summer months. In response, we are asking everyone’s help in matching the $100,000 Bremer Challenge Gift. Our vision is to build healthy communities through partnerships and we certainly appreciate yours.”

Join Bremer at the St. Paul Farmer’s Market, located at 290 5th St. East in Lowertown on Saturday, June 5, to pick up free seeds to get your garden started, spin the Bremer prize wheel for a chance to win some great gardening gifts and other prizes, and make a donation to Second Harvest Heartland. KS95’s Moon and Staci will join Bremer at the market from 9-11 a.m.

Additionally, Bremer will be at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market, located at 312 East Lyndale Ave. N., on Sunday, June 27. Meet MyTalk 107.1’s Ian and Margery from 10 am – Noon and pick up free seeds, spin the Bremer prize wheel and make a donation to Second Harvest Heartland.

¹ Conversion rate: $1 donated = 3.7 meals.
² A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. You will also receive up to 1 message per day from Second Harvest Heartland Alerts. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Second Harvest Heartland by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. To unsubscribe text STOP to 27722, for help text HELP to 27722. Privacy Policy

Coverage: Backus, Hunger Coalition Receive Bremer Grants

Backus, Hunger Coalition receive Bremer grants,
By LAUREL BEAGER, Editor

Created 07/01/2009 - 9:31am
International Falls Daily Journal

Citizens for Backus and the Falls Hunger Coalition were among 66 recipients of grants authorized at a recent meeting of the Otto Bremer Foundation board.

Citizens for Backus AB was awarded $50,000 cash, which it received just a week ago, to be used exclusively on a kitchen project, said Ward Merrill, executive director of Citizens for Backus AB.
The grant also involves a $30,000 match, he said.

“It means if we can raise $30,000 on our own, Bremer will give us another $30,000; and we’ve already started to work on that,” he said.

Because of the match, Merrill said now would be a good time for anyone who would like to help support the kitchen project to donate.

“For every dollar received locally, we will receive another dollar from Bremer,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to make your dollar go a lot further than it normally would.”

Citizens for Backus AB has begun to install a commercial-quality kitchen, which will allow the group to increase its food service for the community center.

The Falls Hunger Coalition food shelf received $15,000 from the Otto Bremer Foundation. This funding is for general operations of the non-profit food shelf.

The food shelf continues to see an increase in need within the service area of Koochiching County. As a result, during 2008, the amount of food available per person decreased by more than five pounds.

“This operational grant will assist the food shelf in weathering the current economic situation and maintain service at an acceptable Blue Ribbon Food Shelf standard,” said Nancy Anderson, director of Falls Hunger Coalition.

Falls Hunger Coalition’s yearly budget is based almost totally on hopeful direct public support, and local fund raising, Anderson said. Operational and program-specific grants help to offset what cannot be raised at the local level.

“Our community is extremely fortunate to have the ongoing support of the Otto Bremer Foundation,” Anderson commented.

Meanwhile, Merrill said the kitchen project is viewed as a source of sustainable revenue for the Backus Community Center.