Growing Hope donates $5K to Exchange Club Center
On the week that Exchange Club Center for Family Unity kicked off a major capital campaign, a local nonprofit has stepped forward to get things headed in the right direction.
Julie Fiske of Growing Hope Foundation based in Owatonna presented the Exchange Center with a check of $5,000 last week. Fiske, a native of Owatonna, became involved with Growing Hope 10 years ago while living in Iowa and moved the nonprofit when she moved back to Owatonna in 2021.
“This is our first donation in Owatonna,” said Fiske. She stressed, she wants to be connected in the community where she lives and leads the foundation. “It’s important to be engaged with the community.”
Growing Hope is set up to do charitable giving on behalf of families from all over who do not want to make the decision of where their donations go. That’s where Fiske comes into the picture and does the legwork to find charitable groups for the donors.
Fiske makes it a practice to go out and tour facilities and meet the leadership when making any donations. Last week she toured the Exchange Center with Beth Hortop, executive director, and Karen Hale, a member of the board of directors. In December, the Exchange Center moved into a new facility at 1820 Hartle Ave. in Owatonna. The Center serves families in Steele, Waseca, Rice, Freeborn and Dodge counties. It is focused on the prevention of child abuse.
Hortop is excited to have place that they can now call their own as they had previously been in a small rented office. “This is so much nicer because it feels like a home,” she said. “It has the family vibe of a kitchen and living room,” she added.
The Center also features a safe place for children to play in the back yard.
“We’ve been able to make it more secure and private,” Hortop said.
With the move behind them, the Center is now focused on raising $1 million to pay for the property and expand the organization’s programs, according to Hortop. An open house is set for June 6 from 3-7 p.m. in an effort to show the public the new facility.
Hale said the capital campaign will kick off in earnest over the next month by targeting potential large donors with phone calls, E-blasts and videos to showcase the center and what it does for families.
On average, the Center serves about 105 families each year. The Center is still rebuilding after being hit hard during COVID-19.
Hortop also pointed out that their numbers traditionally have been lower because they had limited space in the old facility.
“We are blossoming again and putting our roots down,” she said.