Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation

During the JCI Minnesota Spring All-State Convention this past May, the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation held our annual Hall of Leadership Luncheon and Fundraising Event.

This year we had a great time with our John Hughes Movie themed event! From some great movie trivia to some fun games, it was a very successful event.

Thanks to the support of those in attendance, the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation was able to raise $17,609 in donations and pledges.

It is the support of current JCI members, alumni, and guests that helps the Foundation to be able to support JCI MN chapters, individual members, and State Organization.

Thank you all!!

We’ve been having fun making money for chapters and now’s your chance to join us!  There are THREE training sessions coming up:

• Wednesday June 13, 12:00 Noon-3:00 pm – Falcon Ridge Middle School, 2900 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, 44124
• Wednesday June 13, 6:00-9:00 pm – Maternity of Mary Church/ St Andrew School, 592 Arlington Ave. W, St. Paul 55117
• Monday July 2, 6:00-9:00 PM – Bet Shalom Reform Congregation, 13613 Orchard Road, Minnetonka 55305

There are a LOT of home games remaining so choose as many as you like. Right now, we are targeting the June 22, 23 and 24th games.  Attending one of the June 13 training classes will qualify you to help! (Training is required, and you cannot work until you’ve attended their training.)

Also, once you’re trained and worked a game, you can volunteer at the various concerts coming up! A great way to make money for your chapter!

So complete the SurveyMonkey to sign up for a class and choose the games you want to volunteer at to make money for your chapter (or affiliated organization).

Attention all JCI Minnesota members, alumni, Statesman, Ambassadors, Senators, friends, relatives, and basically anyone 18-years or older with a passion to help JCI Minnesota!

Due to the extreme weather we encountered during April, we need to continue our work with the Minnesota Twins concessions to complete our 10-game commitment.  Additionally, we have the opportunity to do even more, including concerts!  This is a GREAT way to make money for your organization.  So check out the details on our “Twins” page and then sign up using our SurveyMonkey survey!

NEW VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! However, you MUST attend a training, and the only one currently scheduled is on May 8 at Concordia Academy Auditorium, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Complete the survey, check the training session, and I’ll get you added to the class.

It is with great pride that the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation announces its 2018 Hall of Leadership Honorees.

Our first honoree for 2018 is Kathy Schwantes from Willmar, Minnesota.   Kathy was a member of the Willmar Jaycees from 1991 – 2000.

Just highlighting the past few years of her leadership and commitment to the community we take a look at Willmar’s new playground.  Also referred to as Willmar’s Destination Playground, the park is located on Robbin’s Island and is vastly filled with activities to help develop children’s learning and motor skills.  Kathy was the co-chair involving planning, funding, and organizing volunteers to help build the playground.  Playground was totally funded by grants and donations and was built ahead of schedule!

In 2017 Kathy’s involvement in the community and leadership skills resulted in her being elected to Willmar’s City Council.  We are just beginning to see how she is helping our city even more then she has already done.

Congratulations, Kathy!

Our second honoree for 2018 is Martin “Toon” Bauman from Montrose, Minnesota. Martin joined as a  member of the Delano Jaycees in 1990 and remains active today as the Minnesota JCI Senate President.

Martin attributes his continued community directly to the Jaycees. Going to his first convention less than 12 months into his membership and not missing a single one since. That is 81 straight conventions.  Martin has been very active in the Delano 4th of July Celebration for the past 19 years and has been a major contributor to its success over those years.  From helping the Delano Jaycees be active in the event to helping build the float for the Delano Royalty.

Martin says that the biggest impacts the Jaycees have made on him are, “The lasting friendships, whether they are from within the state, around the US, or from other countries in the world. And taking the time to volunteer in your community and expecting nothing in return.”

Congratulations, “Toon”!

Our Hall of Leadership Honorees will be honored during the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation Hall of Leadership Luncheon on May 19th, 2018. The luncheon will be held at the Best Western Plus in Willmar, MN starting at 11:30am.  The event is in coordination with JCI Minnesota’s Spring All-Sate Convention.

Congratulations again to the 2018 Honorees!!

GREAT NEWS!  The final decision is in, and anyone 18 years of age and older (a restriction of the Twins concession management company) is eligible to work for us!  That includes potential Jaycees and non-Jaycee relatives!

Note, however, that we are only allowed to bring in a set number of people.  If we have more volunteers than slots available, we will staff in the following order:

1. Regular members of JCI Minnesota and local chapters, including any paid employees of JCI Minnesota.
2. Trustees of Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation that are NOT regular members of JCI Minnesota and local chapters.
3. Dues-paid/Lifetime members of Minnesota JCI Senate.
4. Dues-paid/Lifetime members of Minnesota Jaycee Ambassadors.
5. Dues-paid/Lifetime members of Minnesota Jaycee Statesman
6. Alumni members of JCI Minnesota and local chapters.
7. Non-members that can be considered potential members (within the age-range of 18-40).
8. Non-members over the age of 40.

Feel free to contact the Webmaster if you have any questions of concerns.  Looking forward to making money for JCI Minnesota and its affiliated organizations!

Additional updates have been made to the Twins Concession Fundraiser page. Check out the latest information!

Twins Concession Fundraiser

A new page was added to the site with all of the necessary information about the fundraiser. Watch this for updates!

Twins Concessions Fundraiser

Calling all members of JCI Minnesota, its affiliated local chapters and affiliated organizations (Statesman, Ambassadors, Senators)!

Great news! By volunteering with the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation at the Minnesota Twins Home Games during their first eleven home games, you have the opportunity to help YOUR CHAPTER, JCI Minnesota, any of the affiliated honor organizations (Statesman, Ambassadors, Senators), the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation, AND YOURSELF!

If you haven’t seen the Facebook event yet (Concession Sales Fundriaser – MN Twins Home Games) check it out! But here’s the REALLY COOL PART!

As a volunteer for Concession Sales, the parent company requires all individuals to be “alcohol-server trained”. This training will happen during your mandatory training session (there are a few to choose from). And the cool part is the training also covers the “server training” requirement of JCI Minnesota’s Dram Insurance! AND IT IS 100% TOTALLY FREE!!

But wait! There’s more! After your first-year of “mandatory in-class training”, you have the opportunity to take the training on-line! And again, 100% TOTALLY FREE!! (Provided you continue to volunteer at the Twins Concessions…) No more paying for server training. How cool is that!?!

So click to the event, read a bit about it, and then click on the SurveyMonkey link to sign up for the dates you wish to volunteer and which training session you want! (Please note, in order to be in the February 12 training, you MUST sign up before end of day Friday, February 9.) So what are you waiting for??? Get signed up! Get trained! And earn some money for your chapter (or the Statesman/Ambassadors/Senator/Foundation/State – your choice!)

At the Hall of Leadership Luncheon at Spring All State, the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation had the privilege to induct two new honorees into the Hall of Leadership!

The first honoree began her life as a Jaycee kid, watching her parents work on projects to improve the community and the whole time wishing she could be that person. After pushing her husband to join the all-men club and helping from the sidelines, her drive to become a Jaycee was finally achieved in 1984 when women were allowed to join. She then spent six wonderful years in the Jaycees culminating her career as President of South St Paul Jaycees. Although her official Jaycee career may have been short and her top recognition was a Presidential Medallion, her passion along with the skills she gained from the organization served her well into her post-Jaycee career. From raising almost a quarter-million dollars while chairing the Archdiocesan Stewardship program to serving as the Service Manager for over 20 Girl Scout, she constantly strivies to improve the world she lives in. And even during her Jaycee Retirement, she stays connected with her chapter and has helped them win the World Championship Booya Cook-Off! Twice! Please welcome with me, the driving force behind South St Paul being recognized with the All American City Award, the woman who continues to follow the mantra that “Service to humanity is the BEST work of life,” LouAnn Goosens!

The other honoree joined the South Dakota Jaycees just before moving to Minnesota. He then continued his affiliation with the Jaycees by joining the Hopkins Jaycees to quote, “meet and get to know other people”. During his extensive Jaycee career, he did indeed meet and get to know a lot of people, including his spouse Laura. But his involvement spanned much more than increasing his social circle, it truly made a profound impact on his life. By working on and chairing a huge variety of projects, he truly experienced “individual development through community service” leading him to open his own business. Although he has achieved the mandatory Jaycee retirement age, his impact on the community has not ended, as he continues to serve in various ways including as a City Council Member. Please welcome with me, Statesman #1299, Ambassador #3957, JCI Senator #67854, 2006 recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award, and the 78th President of the Minnesota Jaycees, Jason Gadd!

We also had the opportunity to hand out a couple of grants.

We pledged our support to JCI Minnesota to the tune of $10,000!

We also handed out one Chapter Grant. The project the receiving chapter is doing holds a very special place in the hearts of our trustees. To introduce the project, let me take you on a little journey. In 1800, the Library of Congress was established to serve the reference needs of Congress with 6,487 books. Since then, it has grown to over 16 million books and over 120 million other items that depict or store written communication. With that many choices, choosing something to read can be a daunting experience. In addition, the library has very strict hours of operation. In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson Wisconsin changed the entire concept by building a small replica of a little red schoolhouse, filling it with books and placing it on a post in his yard. Acting as a free book exchange with the phrase “take a book, return a book”, the Little Free Library was born. In just 3 years, the number of Little Free Libraries grew to over 4,000 and they became a 501-(c)(3) organization. As of November 2016, that number has grown to over 50,000 registered units world-wide. Millions of books each year are exchanged allowing easier access to the printed word. And that brings us to one Little Free Library in South St Paul that is need of repair. To help cover the repair costs, the Foundation is proud to present JCI South St Paul with a grant of $250. This is more than they asked for, and all we ask is that they consider increasing the number of Little Free Libraries by building and stocking another one in the community.

As individuals and chapters continue to support the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation through tax-deductible donations, we have the opportunity to recognize them upon achieving certain donation plateaus. For a breakdown of the recognition categories, peruse the Donor Recognition Page.

We were privileged to recognize JCI Lake Elmo for total donations exceeding $100,000 with the Silver Vision Partner!

We also sponsored “How Many Kisses?”, and the winner was…
Melissa Anderson! Her guess of 500 was closest to the 504 kisses in the jar!

And finally, we held our annual fundraiser/pledge drive. This year, the event was themed “The Newlywed Game”!

So…Let’s begin!

Here are our three couples competing for fame and glory!

Brad and Eva!

Brian and Amie!

Tad and Mary!

Throughout the event, people made donations and pledges…

To add some excitement to the game!

And helping the Minnesota Jaycees Charitable Foundation support JCI Minnesota and the local chapters!

Everyone had a blast!