1998-Now

 

  • 1998 - The Foundation was started by a group of visionary neighbors with a mission of securing a strong and vibrant neighborhood for future generations.

  • 2003 - The Foundation commissioned David Lanegran, Macalester Geography professor and author of the seminal history of our neighborhood, St. Anthony Park: Portrait of a Community, to take a current snapshot of our district. This updated perspective, St. Anthony Park: A Community Built on a Solid Foundation, contained demographic research and neighborhood survey results that helped to inform the Foundation’s first Strategic Plan, as well as the St. Anthony Park District 12 Community Council’s 2005 Comprehensive Ten Year Plan.

  • 2004 - The Foundation  prioritized the development of an endowment campaign to establish a permanent source of grant funding. This funding would support the critical non-profit institutions and programming to strengthen and sustain community viability into the future. 

  • 2006 - We affiliated with the Saint Paul Foundation to help build endowed funds to $1M ten years later. 

  • 2006 - The Foundation convened a series of public forums concerning the future of retail in St. Anthony Park. Neighbors and merchants brainstormed solutions to strengthen the retail environment resulting in a “Keep it in the Neighborhood” Buy Local campaign. 

  • 2008 - After finishing the 10-year Comprehensive Plan, the Foundation partnered with the Community Council to support long-range planning and organized the development of the Como 2030 Small Area Plan for Como Avenue in North St. Anthony Park that was approved as an amendment to the 10-year Comp Plan.

  • 2015 - The Foundation reached that $1M goal through not one, but three endowed funds, the Andy Boss, Environmental Education, and Gerald R. McKay Family Music Funds.

  • 2020- The Foundation Board adapted the Community Grant Program to be more responsive to community need during the pandemic.

  • 2020-2021-The Foundation engaged a consultant to guide the Board in the development of a new strategic plan. A new and more defined focus was established, the work of the Foundation would focus on activities that supported our three objectives: Convene – Catalyze - Steward.

  • 2023-Establishment of the Michael Brasel Fund for Youth Endowed Fund.