The Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network, a network of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, announced that its Fifth Annual “Nancy” Awards to recognize extraordinary leadership in improving the well-being of young children will go to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs), serving geographic regions throughout Greater Minnesota.
The awards were presented at the Nancy Latimer Convening for Children and Youth on June 29 in St. Paul to: Initiative Foundation in Little Falls; Northland Foundation in Duluth; Northwest Minnesota Foundation in Bemidji; Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation in Owatonna; Southwest Initiative Foundation in Hutchinson; and West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls.
The awards recognize the foundations’ leadership, vision and commitment to enhancing the social and emotional development of infants and young children through the Minnesota Thrive Initiative. The initiative, a statewide effort created and implemented by the MIFs, is groundbreaking work to strengthen local support networks to ensure the social and emotional well-being of children from birth through five, with an emphasis on the first three years. The awards honor the MIFs for these specific accomplishments:
- Recognizing the importance of early social and emotional development to educational success and lifelong well-being
- Creating innovative grassroots systems – from promotion and prevention to intensive intervention – to foster the healthy development of infants and children
- Working across sectors and fostering local leadership and action
- Sharing lessons among communities and professionals to implement new approaches and practices
- Raising public awareness and deepening understanding of infant and early childhood mental health
- Modeling collaboration, commitment, and creativity
- Inspiring others to work to make life better for young children – and the adults who care about them.
“This year’s awards recognize the extraordinary leadership and commitment of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations in creating this innovative, grassroots system to ensure the social and emotional well-being of our youngest children. Their work is a vivid reminder that communities, professionals, and families can collaborate to make a profound difference for children.” – Denise Mayotte, executive director of the Sheltering Arms Foundation and chair of the Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network steering committee
About the Minnesota Initiative Foundations
This year, the MIFs celebrated their 25th anniversary. They were created in 1986 as a partnership between The McKnight Foundation and the citizens of Greater Minnesota. Each of the six foundations was set up as independent nonprofit philanthropic organizations with local boards of trustees.
About the “Nancy” Award
The Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network created the “Nancy” Award to honor the legacy of Nancy Latimer, longtime senior program officer at The McKnight Foundation and a lifelong advocate for children and families.
June 29 Nancy Latimer Convening for Children and Youth Focuses on Building the Early Childhood Systems Necessary to Help Children Thrive
This year’s annual convening and award presentation was Wednesday, June 29, at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul. The keynote presentation – “Straw, Stick, Brick: A Conversation About Building a Strong Early Childhood System” – was given by Barb Yates, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education and executive director of Resources for Child Caring, and Karen Cadigan, research fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Education and Development and policy director of the Children, Youth and Family Consortium.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
