Every month, in this magazine, we feature 1-2 Awesome Foundation Cass Clay grant award winners, each of whom has won their award for their outstanding contributions to the community.
The Awesome Foundation supports them and so can you!
January
Cani Adan,
Afro-American Development Association
Cani Adan is helping the community through the AADA’s English Language Learning Program
aadevassoc.org
Facebook: /aadafm
Instagram: aadassociation
Ruth’s Pantry Cart
What started as a garden planted at the First Congregational United Church of Christ to offer free vegetables has evolved into Ruth’s Pantry Cart, a full-blown neighborhood food pantry.
February
Kory Powell-Oliver,
Moorhead Digital Design Boot Camp
Kory Powell-Oliver is an MSUM student going above and beyond with his Moorhead Digital Design Boot Camp
Faith4Hope Co-Founders C. Hope Shield (left) and Faith Dixon (right)
Faith4Hope Scholarship Fund is a 501c3 non-profit organization looking to help provide necessities for families in need. They have a food pantry, give back to the community through a multitude of programs and are in the process of developing the After-School Matters Community Center.
faith4hope.com
Facebook: @Faith4HopeFund
Twitter: faith4hopefund
March
Employees of Jasmin Childcare and Preschool
Jasmin Childcare and Preschool “was originally created to help New American children and families deal with the challenges they face as they integrate into American society. In the seven years they have been operating, the multicultural center has remained committed to the goals of embracing diversity and helping create access to low-income families.”
*March’s Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner was featured in our sister magazine, Fargo Monthly.
jasminchildcare.org
Facebook: /jasminchildcare
Instagram: jasminchildcareandpreschool
April
Cassie Wiste (left) and Brandi Malarkey (second from left) from the Awesome Foundation CassClay present a check to the Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP) team.
CAPLP has been running the Group Workcamp Home Repair project every other year since 2003. In 2022, they were able to perform repair projects for an estimated 20-25 homes.
caplp.org
Facebook: /CAPLPLakesAndPrairies
May
The Recovery Engaged Communities (REC) team.
REC is a team dedicated to promoting recovery from substance use with a focus on building connections and community.
Ricot Aladin (left), Founder of Professional Lunch
Professional Lunch is a lunch conversation that invites guests to talk about their profession, how they got into it and more!
June
Brittany Johnson,
Photographer and Founder of Resplendent Residents
Resplendent Residents aims to help elderly and disabled people realize they’re beautiful through interactive modeling shoots.
Facebook:/REC56560
The Casual for a Cause Closet team
The Casual for a Cause Closet is a product of the Preference Employment Solutions staff who donates to help those in need secure employment by providing necessary resources such as gas money, grocery gift cards, steel-toed boots, safety goggles and more.
July
The Fargo Moorhead Humans of Color team
The Fargo Moorhead Humans of Color Facebook group serves to help connect BIPOC individuals within the community
Facebook:
search “Fargo-Moorhead Humans of Color”
August
The FargoMoorhead Rocks team
FargoMoorhead Rocks is an offshoot of The Kindness Rocks Project “which supports connection through the painting and placing of rocks with cheerful designs or inspirational messages throughout the community for people to find and enjoy.
Facebook: search FargoMooread Rocks
The Red River Rainbow Seniors team
Red River Rainbow Seniors “was created by local activists with the support of North Dakota AARP to provide support, education and social activities for older LGBTQ individuals in the Fargo area. In addition, the group has proved to be the key to creating a permanent record for future generations about the experiences growing up in and/or living as LGBTQ people in the area from the 1930s to the present.
Facebook: @RRRainbowSeniors
September
(Left to Right) Heather Nesemeier (Awesome Foundation Trustee), John Hjalmquist (Occupational Therapist and Camp Lead) and LaDonna Bannach (Executive Director of House of Everyday Learning)
The House of Everyday Learning is a non-profit organization that aims to provide opportunities for kids that are not covered by insurance as individual therapy services are.
houseofeverdaylearning.com
Facebook: @HOEL3001
Instagram: houseofeverdaylearning
October
The Pencils Plus team
Pencils Plus is the Richland-Wilkin School Supply Drive which is run by the Three Rivers Crisis Center an entity that provides services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
Facebook: /PencilsPlus
November
The local Be SMART team
Be SMART is a local organization that started to spread awareness about proper gun storage and safety.
