The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, in celebration of 25 years of making a difference in the region, has announced special 25th anniversary excellence award recipients, selected for their strong leadership and for continually enhancing the quality of the places where they live and work.
The foundation Board of Directors knows the important contributions individuals and nonprofit organizations make in every community and recognizes that their dedication and commitment is often unseen and rarely acknowledged. Since 1992, NMF has reinforced these efforts by identifying outstanding leaders, organizations, individuals in an organization, component funds’ philanthropy and special projects that enhance Quality of Place.
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the Board asked all past honorees to submit questionnaires about their ongoing impact in the region. They reviewed the submissions, and from them, identified two individuals and one organization that demonstrated their continued excellence in leadership and commitment to helping Northwest Minnesota be a great place to live and work.
The recipients of the NMF 25th Anniversary Excellence Awards:
Kittson Memorial HealthCare Center, Hallock, MN - Organizational Excellence Award in 1999.
Since the early 1990’s Rick Failing has led Kittson Memorial through planning and assessments, guided in part by training received from the foundation. Over the years, Kittson Memorial also participated in other NMF programming such as training on developing a foundation, which led to the establishment of an endowment fund with NMF. Kittson Memorial’s managers have also attended leadership training programs to enhance their managerial skills. It is because of facility improvements and expanded services, combined with a staff-centered management approach and a focus on exceeding patient expectations that Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center is thriving today.
Florence Hedeen, Park Rapids, MN – Excellence in Leadership Award in 1993.
Florence Hedeen was an early participant in the foundation’s leadership training program, where she wanted to sharpen her skills on behalf of the Headwaters Intervention Center. She has remained involved with NMF in a number of ways, including with the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, serving on the advisory committee for ten years and as the chair. Florence’s other interests and pursuits have evolved from efforts to foster world peace to election to the school board and work on behalf of the North Country Trail Association. She helped restart the Park Rapids League of Women Voters and was elected to the state board. Her work on increasing League membership in Minnesota resulted in her nomination to become a Ruth S. Shur Fellow in 2009 and she was among the first class of 12 national coaches serving state and local Leagues.
Sue Liedl, Tenstrike, MN – Individual Excellence in an Organization Award in 1997.
Sue Liedl has stayed in close contact with the foundation since attending one of the first leadership program sessions in 1991. When she received her award she was working as a volunteer developing and implementing a conflict management program at St. Philips’ grade school in Bemidji. This has evolved into work with STAR Teams (Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect), and the development of Peacemaker Resources, a nonprofit created to expand this work into other schools throughout northwestern Minnesota. With the support of NMF, STAR and Peacemaker has expanded to 18 other schools in 12 different communities. Starting with one school, to one community, to one nonprofit, in 12 counties, Sue and her team are now fielding requests for services from around the world.
The three will be featured at the NMF 25th Anniversary Banquet, scheduled for October 20 in Bemidji. Each recipient will select a regional nonprofit to receive a $1,000 grant from NMF’s Ruth Edevold Endowment for Excellence in honor of their award. Congratulations to these honorees for making a difference!
