FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn.–SPIRE CU has raised funds for children’s health care, underwritten several scholarships, for the 25th year helped clean up a local highway, and recognized an employee for her volunteer service.
In just 13 short months, SPIRE Credit Union raised/donated $10,000 to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare through a number of fundraising activities. SPIRE sold candy bars and cookbooks, held a Miracle Jeans Week where employees paid to wear jeans to work, and sold models of their iconic Archie truck, with 100% of the proceeds being donated. Named “Archie” after SPIRE Credit Union founder Edgar Archer, this 1952 Ford truck embodies the Midwestern values of the credit union: integrity, reliable and hardworking.
“Our employees have such a personal connection to this organization,” said Dan Stoltz, SPIRE President/CEO. “We highly regard the work being done by Gillette Children’s, and are proud to support and improve the lives of the families they serve.”
Dan Stoltz, President/CEO of SPIRE Credit Union, presents a check to Becky Holst, Development Associate at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, at SPIRE’s 82nd Annual Meeting
Meanwhile, the SPIRE Credit Union Scholarship Committee recently awarded $1,000 in Traditional Scholarships to SPIRE members. Nathan Wetrosky, Princeton High School, was awarded $500, and will be attending North Dakota State University in the fall. Matthew Bauman, St. Croix Preparatory Academy, also received a $500 scholarship, and will be attending the University of Northwestern in the fall.
Since its inception, the SPIRE Scholarship Program has awarded 70 scholarships for a total of $37,000 to credit union members.
“We are so honored to give youth an opportunity to further their education and chase their dreams,” said Stoltz. “The scholarship program truly embraces the SPIRE philosophy of improving lives.”
Separately, a group of SPIRE Credit Union employees gathered to pick up litter alongside a two-mile stretch of Highway 23 just west of SPIRE’s Ogilvie, Minn. branch. This long-standing commitment to creating a cleaner environment spans 25 years, with the first cleanup taking place on June 4, 1991. Staci Norby, SPIRE’s Mora Branch Manager said, “It’s a great program, and I find it rewarding to give back to the community.”
In addition, a group of SPIRE employees recently volunteered their time to prepare the Veterans’ Memorial Garden in Oakwood Cemetery for the Memorial Day service. They weeded and removed debris, making sure the plants have plenty of room for this year’s growing season. A fresh layer of mulch was also spread, adding to the garden’s beautification and protecting the health of the plants.
The Veterans’ Memorial Garden was developed in 2010 by a group of volunteers from the Mora American Legion Club, and is dedicated to all those who have served in the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corp, Merchant Marines and Coast Guard. Each year, a Memorial Day service is held at these special gardens to honor and remember those who have served to protect our freedom.
Finally, Bridget Petersen of SPIRE Credit Union was honored with a 2016 BestPrep Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding volunteer efforts with BestPrep and commitment to the education of Minnesota youth.
Petersen has been a longtime volunteer with BestPrep, a Minnesota nonprofit founded in 1976 with a mission to prepare students with business, career and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in work and life. Since partnering with BestPrep over three years ago, SPIRE has been able to reach 300+ students over nearly 80 classroom hours in high schools and alternative learning centers throughout the Twin Cities and East Central Minnesota. Petersen presents BestPrep’s Financial Matters courses, and also works as a BestPrep Ambassador, creating and revising curriculum used by volunteers throughout the BestPrep network. Recently, she began working with the College Possible program, reaching college-bound students where their economic or social status would not normally allow them this opportunity.
Each year, BestPrep selects one-half of one percent of their 4,000 volunteers to be honored for their exemplary efforts. Petersen was among those who have gone above and beyond to fulfill BestPrep’s mission of ensuring that students are college prepared, work ready, and career bound.
“Everyone, regardless of income level, should know financial freedom is truly attainable. The work that I do with BestPrep is not only meaningful and rewarding, but allows me to expand a personal and professional commitment to educating youth on these crucial life skills,” said Petersen.
Petersen received her Volunteer Service Award at BestPrep’s 40th Annual Luncheon, held May 17 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. More than 550 individuals joined BestPrep at the luncheon honoring the educators, students and volunteers from the business community, who have contributed to making BestPrep the premier educational nonprofit in the state. The event featured a keynote address from David MacLennan, Chairman and CEO of Cargill.
Below, from left, Shelee Brennhofer, Jennifer Thieman, Casey Carlson, Jim Ganger, Harold Petersen, Bridget Petersen, Dan Stoltz, Jon Seeman, Cliff Wantz and Lisa Lehman.