BP creates new community foundation

Area residents are on a mission to build a better Blooming Prairie.
To accomplish that feat, a new nonprofit organization, the Blossoming Community Foundation, has been formed. Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele is president of the foundation.
For the past several years, about 30 citizens and friends passionate about Blooming Prairie have been meeting to find a way to help the community.
“Current and past Blooming Prairie history is replete with memories of women and men working hard to make Blooming Prairie a great place to live and work,” said Tamzen Johnson, who is one of the board members and serves as the foundation’s treasurer. “The efforts of the current good citizens are meant to build on the past and to embrace the future.”
Thiele said a Blooming Prairie businessman approached him a few years ago to chair the committee “due to my leadership ability.” Thiele said he jumped at the opportunity because Blooming Prairie is an important part of what he represents in his role as the county’s top law enforcement official.
The board plans to unveil more details about the foundation in the coming weeks, including a website and email account.
Thiele said the foundation will be modeled after the Owatonna Foundation, which has been in existence for 55 years when it became one of the first community foundations in Minnesota. During that time, more than $11 million in grants and scholarships have been disbursed. The Owatonna Foundation has helped with various capital projects in Owatonna, including Central Park Band Stand, Steele County History Center, trails, scoreboards and much more.
Beyond providing financial support, the Owatonna Foundation takes a strong leadership role by offering fresh perspectives on emerging community needs. When the Foundation grants funds to innovative programs, it can often launch fundraising initiatives that engage the community and jump-start a group of volunteers with energy and enthusiasm to provide the impetus for success.
“We will be the Blooming Prairie Foundation to raise money for needs in the Blooming Prairie community,” said Thiele.
Besides Thiele and Johnson, there are three other executive officers of the newly formed Blooming Prairie foundation: co-vice presidents Stormy Trom and Sue Zwiener and secretary Dan Peach.
Other board members include Lisa Bruns, Caleb Ostrander, Jim O’Connor, Doug Miner, Doug Myers, Greg Skillestad, Chris Staloch and Jackie Vorlicek.
Johnson said all board members welcome questions and invitations to speak at community events about the foundation.