Old National Bank Awards 97 Grants Totaling More Than $265,000

Old National Bank, in May donated more than $265,000 to nonprofits across Minnesota, North Dakota and Western Wisconsin through its Choose Your Charity program, giving regional community members the opportunity to decide through their votes which charitable organizations would receive financial support.

During the two-week campaign, the nonprofits receiving the most votes in each of 97 communities received $2,500 each, with the top vote-recipient overall receiving an additional $25,000. Overall, more than 107,000 votes were submitted for local nonprofit charities during the voting period (list of winners below).

The overall top vote recipient, Born Abel in Plymouth, Minn., received an additional $25,000, for a total of $27,500. Born Abel is a 501(c)3 which highlights and normalizes children with complex medical conditions. In a short time Born Abel has expanded to all 50 states and 10 countries throughout the world, and is a 100% volunteer organization.

Plymouth Banking Center Manager Fran Terfehr called Born Abel Executive Director Jessie Tieva with the good news.

“I kept refreshing my phone to see if we won the $2,500,” Tieva said. “Then Fran called and I asked, ‘So we won the $2,500?!’ and she said, ‘No, you won $27,500!’ I was so excited I cried.”

Terfehr has worked with Tieva and her family the past few years at Born Abel. “This family has experienced unimaginable tragedy and loss, and being able to present them with this big check was so meaningful for us at Old National,” Terfehr said.

Born Abel was created in honor of Tieva’s son, Abel, who was born with an Omphalocele and Trisomy 18 (or Edwards syndrome), and passed away less than a year after birth. Tieva says the organization plans to use the funds toward renovating a church into a grief center. “People just need hope,” she said.

Other winning organizations ranged from animal rescue to protection and rehabilitation services for women to local fire departments, emergency aid, shelter and outreach centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, free libraries, food pantries and many others.

“Choose Your Charity is a wonderful way for Old National to partner with the communities we serve and support these impactful charities,” said Julie McDonough, Twin Cities Co-Market President and Private Banking President for Old National Bank. “We are grateful to all those that voted for their favorite charity and are honored to help recognize and support the nonprofits providing these essential services.”

Winners:

Grand Prize Winner - $27,500

Born Abel (Minnesota)

Minnesota - $2,500 winners

2B Continued

Abate of Minnesota Rider Scholarship

Aidan’s Light

Allyhoo

American Council of the Blind

Ann Bancroft Foundation

Austin Enhancement Group Inc

Basic Needs Inc of South Washington County

Battered Women’s Justice Project

Benton Lake Watershed Conservancy

Borderland Humane Society

Boys & Girls Club of Rochester

Brandon Community Club

Brighter Days Grief Center

Buffalo Community Theater

Cat’s Cradle Shelter

Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center

Cologne Academy

Cookie Cart

Cornerstone

Crookston Fire Fighters Assn

DARTS

Domestic Abuse Legal Advocacy Center PSC

Duluth Area Family YMCA

Emergency Community Help Organization (ECHO)

Fraser

Friends in Need Food Shelf

Fur Ever Home Inc

Gamblers Fastpitch Inc

Gemini Rottweiler And Pitbull Rescue Inc

Grace Filled Table

Grace Place Collaborative Inc

Habitat For Humanity International Inc

Her Time of the Month

High Tech Kids

Home And Community Options Inc

Hope Harbor

Kaitlyn’s Kloset - MN

Kandiyohi County Food Shelf

KT Humble Hearts Foundation

Little Free Library Ltd

M & M Meow Rescue TNR

Mankato Rehabilitation Center Inc

Marshmallow Foundation

Midwest Charity Trials

Midwest Special Services (MSS)

Morris Hockey Association Inc

Neighborhood Development Alliance Inc

Never Alone Inc

Northern Minnesota Public Television (Lakeland PBS)

One Arrow Foundation

Peacemaker Minnesota

Phoenix Residence Inc

Pieper Hope and Courage Foundation

Redwood Area Library Foundation

Rejection Collection Boxer Rescue

Rise Incorporated

Rose Robin Box Inc

Ruff Start Rescue Inc

Scott-Carver-Dakota Cap Agency Inc

SkiDox Water Ski Team

Spirit Song

Spot's Last Stop

Stare Academy

Take Charge Minnesota

The Jaques Art Center

Tiger Charge Inc

Valley Lake Boys Home Inc

VEAP Inc

WACOSA

Warren Community Hospital Inc

We Can Ride Inc

West Central Minnesota Communities Action

Women In Progress Inc

YouthLink

North Dakota - $2,500 winners

Carrington Firefighters Association

Casselton Fire Department

Community Living Services Incorporated

Destination Fordville

Fort Ransom Arena Association

Friends of the Lyric

Hoople Swimming Pool

Kraz Dance Parent Organization

Lake Region Community College Foundation of Devils Lake

Larimore Community Museum and Historical Association

Minot Soccer Association

Red River Valley Athletics Inc

Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue

Wisconsin - $2,500 winners

Bayfield Maritime Museum Inc

Camp Benesi Inc

New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers Inc

Quarter Moon Acres Inc

Stepping Stones of Dunn County Inc

Trinity Equestrian Center Kids Kamp Inc

Tutapona Inc

Webster Education Foundation Inc

For more information on Old National’s work in the communities it serves, go to oldnational.com/about-us/community.