2026 Winter Grantee Announcement Event Recap
The Annual Winter Grantee Announcement Event was a huge success! We were hosted by Bridge for Youth on Saturday morning, February 21 in Minneapolis. Breakfast, coffee and social time kicked off the morning event. It was followed by presentations from Bridge For Youth and Serve MN (both 2024 grant recipients). Beth Kipling from the Grants team ended the program sharing details about how the grant process works and announcing the 2026 grantee class (see the article in this newsletter from the Grants team). Many attendees brought donations to support Bridge for Youth and ServeMn, for which they expressed their gratitude! A link to the presentation can be found here
Our host, Lisa Hicks Mears, President of Bridge for Youth spoke to us about their organization and community impact. Since 1970, The Bridge for Youth has stood as a beacon of hope for children and young adults facing the unimaginable challenges of homelessness and crisis. Their mission is rooted in the deep-seated belief that every young person deserves a safe place to call home and a clear path toward a bright future. By providing a critical safety net for those aged 10–22, they reach over 11,500 youth annually, with a specific focus on those often overlooked; 81% of their residents identify as BIPOC and 27% as LGBTQ+.
The organization fosters healing through unique, specialized housing programs that treat every individual with dignity. The results of their compassionate intervention are life-changing. With the support of community funding, 77% of youth transition to safe, stable housing, and 84% are successfully pursuing their education or employment. These aren't just statistics; they represent thousands of young lives reclaimed from the brink of crisis and set upon a foundation of stability.
Sandy Pulles, Chief Impact Officer with ServeMN shared how they serve the community with the incredible power of "people power" combined with proven science. By mobilizing AmeriCorps members, they tackle the literacy gap head-on, ensuring that a child’s zip code does not determine their destiny. Their primary focus remains on Minnesota’s youngest students, particularly those in the critical Pre-K through 3rd-grade window. This period is a vital turning point where a child transitions from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," a shift that defines their future academic success.
The impact of the GIVING WoMN grant has been instrumental in fueling the Reading Corps initiative. This past year alone, nearly 900 dedicated tutors provided one-on-one support to over 19,300 students across the region. The transformative results speak for themselves: 75% of students receiving this support met or exceeded their growth targets. By intervening early and with precision, ServeMN reduces the need for future special education services by nearly three-fold, giving these children the confidence and tools they need to flourish throughout their lives.
The work of these two organizations reminds us that when we invest in our youth—whether by providing a warm bed at The Bridge for Youth or a literacy tutor through ServeMN—we are investing in the very fabric of our community. The grant funds received are not just financial transactions; they are "hope in action," creating a legacy of stability and opportunity for the next generation.
