News

GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity that will take place on November 30, 2021. GivingTuesday is a generosity movement, unleashing the power of radical generosity to transform communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those

The Itasca Area Cancer Crisis Fund raised $10,000 during a Grand Rapids vs. Greenway High School Girls Volleyball game in October.  This is an annual fundraiser, and the two teams come together to raise money for the fund.  The volleyball game drew a big crowd.   ”Kudos to the Grand Rapids and Greenway volleyball teams for an awesome event, and the support of the entire community to benefit those fighting cancer,” said Sarah Anderson, who helps to volunteer with the fund. Started in 2010, the Itasca Area Cancer Crisis Fund (IACCF) provides cancer crisis grants to families or individuals in the

The Greater Itasca Community Fund (GIACF) ensures that we build on the quality of life we enjoy in Northern Minnesota so our communities will continue to see progress and offer opportunities for younger people to work and raise families, and for older persons to retire here.  The fund serves the Itasca County areas of Bigfork, Blackduck, Cohasset, Grand Rapids, Northome, Remer, Warba and all other townships and cities within District 318.   “Our fund has strong leadership and sound financial management that gives our donors confidence that the future of our communities will be well-served for decades to come,” says

In 2006, UPM Blandin employees formed a volunteer American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team and became a top fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, raising over $100,000 between 2006 and 2013.  One notable fundraising event during these years was “Paddle for the Cure” in which a few Blandin employees and members of the Itasca Kayakers kayaked the last leg of their Mississippi River trip, which started at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, and ended in the Gulf of Mexico. Their efforts benefited the American Cancer Society through their donation to Blandin Relay for Life by raising nearly $10,000 collecting

GRACE House of Itasca County, a homeless shelter located in Grand Rapids, opened again on June 9, 2021, to serve guests after being out of the shelter for fifteen months due to the pandemic.  Since March 2020, GRACE House continued to fulfill their mission by keeping their guests safe and healthy with personal space in local motel rooms.  Executive Director Ron Oleheiser said, “It was a challenging time, but it was the right thing to do to keep guests, staff and volunteers safe during the pandemic.  While guests were in motels, we served them meals twice daily, had phone conversations