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Foundation names 2009 award winners
LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation selected two Brainerd area nominees among the six winners of its 2009 Initiative Awards, which recognize outstanding leadership and community service in central Minnesota.
LINDAR Corp. and the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance will be honored April 17 at the St. Cloud Civic Center.
LINDAR Corp., will receive the foundation's Outstanding Enterprise Award, sponsored by Bremer. LINDAR, in the Baxter Industrial Park, makes plastic products like berry containers, medical packaging and paint tray liners. Its clients include General Mills, Pillsbury, Sherwin Williams and Toro.
Brainerd native Tom Haglin started the company in 1993, and despite tough international competition and volatile oil prices, he has managed to position LINDAR as a strong competitor in the "thermoforming" industry. The company provides living wages and benefits for its 95 employees, making a significant impact on the local economy.
The foundation also selected the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance as its Outstanding Green Venture, sponsored by Minnesota Power. The Pine River nonprofit organization helps low-income families heat their homes by manufacturing and installing solar heating systems. The clean-energy systems save up to 30 percent on monthly heating expenses, which reduces the need for public assistance and helps families to make ends meet.
RREAL founder, Jason Edens, also volunteers his time to educate young people about renewable energy. During the past two years, RREAL has worked with youth from the Red Lake and Leech Lake reservations, installing solar heating systems for tribal elders and low-income homes.
"In tough economic times, our award winners represent what is possible to achieve with hope, creativity and perseverance," said Kathy Gaalswyk, Initiative Foundation president. "We're inspired by each of them and we're proud to bring their accomplishments to light."
Other foundation awards include:
• Outstanding Community: Pine City.
• Outstanding Nonprofit: Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, St. Cloud.
• Outstanding Leadership: Glen Palm, St. Cloud State University.
• Outstanding Youth - Jennifer Schmidt, St. Cloud.
The foundation's star-themed awards event, "A Constellation of Community Service," is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 17 at the St. Cloud Civic Center's Terry Haws Ballroom. Tickets are $45 and may be purchased online at www.ifound.org/awards or by calling Anita Hollenhorst at (877) 632-9255.
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