The Cuyuna Range Youth Center is one of many nonprofit organizations throughout the state that will once again ask Minnesotans to display their generosity by donating to their favorite causes and schools online at GiveMN.org during the sixth annual "Give to the Max Day" on Thursday.
Give to the Max Day was created in 2009 to launch GiveMN, a collaborative venture led by Minnesota Community Foundation and many other organizations committed to helping make Minnesota a better place.
GiveMN links donors with organizations that are working to make Minnesota a better place. Its online giving website, GiveMN.org, enables charitable giving any time and any place, allowing people to donate with ease and enthusiasm. GiveMN brings innovation, energy and fresh ideas to Minnesota generosity.
"Last year we received over $16,000 in donations which was matched by a grant from the Hallett Charitable Trusts, and we were awarded $500 for finishing eighth on the small nonprofit leaderboard. This year they will match up to $10,000 (dollar for dollar). Without your donation, we wouldn't exist," quoted Brad Hanson, program coordinator for the Cuyuna Range Youth Center. Donations made to the youth center through the GiveMN.org website between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Thursday are eligible to be matched by the Hallett Charitable Trusts.
Money donated to the Cuyuna Range Youth Center will directly benefit its mission of offering a safe, fun place for all youth to gather and be guided by caring adults in building healthy friendships, the center reported. The purpose of the center is to inspire and enable youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens, by offering a sense of belonging and providing the tools to make positive choices. The youth center is open to grades 7-12 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and every first and third Monday of the month for grades fifth and sixth.
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Offering youth activities that provide them skills to become successful in life is at the core of the Center's after-school program. Programming under the direction of Brad Hanson focuses on learning, workforce development, community service, leadership and recreation. Community volunteers assist Hanson with supervising youth both at the center and at out of the center activities. Donations will be used to fund projects like the GO program, which is an intergenerational project with youths and seniors from the Cuyuna Regional Care Center and the Progressive Youth Leadership Development program which rewards youths who follow center rules and policies, behave in a respectful manner and participate in community and educational programs. Donations will support other center activities such as an anti-bullying activity, gardening, youth dances, senior bingo, a Be Drug Free program, picnics, bowling, karaoke, and a summer trip to Valley Fair to name a few.
The center provides a computer station, gymnasium where youth can play basketball, volleyball and other recreational activities, TV with video games, projector with a screen, pool table, air hockey, foosball, art materials, commercial kitchen with cooking projects and a hangout room for quiet activities. Workforce training is offered and youth plan and host monthly dances at the center which are sponsored by local businesses in the community.
Community service and leadership programming have included a volunteer appreciation dinner, preparing cookies for the local senior housing, cleanup of a local highway, snow shoveling, raking leaves, assisting with the Hallett Community Center's Living Local event, bagging groceries at local Cub Foods, July Fourth fundraisers, decorating a float for the July Fourth parade, car wash, hot dog sales, and assisting with Cuyuna Lakes Chamber local events.
The center's goal on Give to the Max Day is to raise $10,000. For more information, to to givemn.org and search for Cuyuna Range Youth Center or visit cuyunarangeyouthcenter.org and the donate icon will direct people to the center's Give to the Max page on the GiveMN website. Donations are also accepted Thursday at the Youth Center, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
