Six area organizations are getting a financial boost thanks to grants from Reliance Bank in Faribault and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, distributed through the Member Impact Fund.
The grants are part of a $20 million matching program launched by FHLB Des Moines to strengthen affordable housing and community development projects across Minnesota. Under the initiative, FHLB Des Moines tripled every dollar donated by local partners to qualifying community groups, multiplying the impact of local giving.
“We were able to participate in this program with volunteer organizations and then they had to fall into certain categories,” said Laura Gjerald, the head of marketing at Reliance Bank. “We’re able to give a lot of money back to these local groups and it’s been awesome.”
The Paradise Center for the Arts has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Reliance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through the Member Impact Fund. They will be using the money to help buy the play rights for “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” and “The Sound of Music,” which will be two of their fall productions. (Photo courtesy of Reliance Bank)
CEO Chad Wolff said it has been great working with FHLB Des Moines to give money to the community of Faribault.
“Reliance Bank is excited to partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and their Member Impact Fund as we continue to strive to make a positive impact on organizations doing great work within our community,” said Wolff.
They awarded grant funding to several organizations, including $10,000 to the Paradise Center for the Arts, $10,400 to Medford Public Schools, $10,000 to the Community Action Center, $10,000 to HealthFinders, $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota and $20,000 to the Faribault Boosters Club.
HealthFinders has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Reliance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through the Member Impact Fund. They said the money will be used to ensure nobody in our community goes without health care access as well as advance their unique and holistic model of health that supports not just clinical care, but care across the community that includes their medical, dental, behavioral health and community programming. (Photo courtesy of Reliance Bank)
Executive Director of HealthFinders Charlie Mandile said getting this grant is something he didn’t think they would get and is glad they are able to provide more care to the community because of the grant.
“It feels great because these are critical funds at a critical moment to support our services in the community,” said Mandile. “We will use those funds to ensure nobody in our community goes without health care access as well as advance our unique and holistic model of health that supports not just clinical care, but care across the community that includes our medical, dental, behavioral health and community programming.”
The Community Action Center has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Reliance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through the Member Impact Fund. The money will go toward the completion of Ridgeview Heights — a sustainable, accessible housing development in the heart of Faribault. (Photo courtesy of Reliance Bank)
Executive Director of the Paradise Julie Fakler was not expecting to receive a huge grant for the Paradise.
“I was not expecting the check to be for $10,000, [the Paradise] thought it was going to be for $7,500,” said Fakler. “We were over the moon excited.”
With the money the Paradise received, they are going to be using it to pay for two of their 2025-26 theater productions.
“We can buy the rights not only for ‘The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland,’ but now we can pay the rights for ‘The Sound of Music,’” said Fakler. “’The Sound of Music’ is rather expensive, so it is going to make our lives a lot easier and let us breathe a little bit more because those funds.”
Medford Public Schools has been awarded a $10,400 grant from Reliance Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through the Member Impact Fund. This grant is part of a broader initiative by FHLB Des Moines, which is distributing $20 million in matching funds to support affordable housing and community development across Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Reliance Bank)
Gjerald said that members at Reliance Bank hope the organizations are able to thrive and grow with the money they received.
“Reliance Bank likes to support our community and help organizations like these be able to grow, thrive and provide opportunities for kids in our community,” said Gjerald. “We hope that these people can use these funds to be able to just do a little bit more with their with their organizations.”
Becky Ford, the community resource manager at CAC, said they are excited to be one of the six organizations to receive this grant.
“[CAC] are honored that Reliance Bank believes in our project enough to put extra time and effort into pursuing this funding for us,” said Ford. “Their gift is a huge morale booster and encourages us to keep pursuing innovative solutions to address community needs. The money will go towards the completion of Ridgeview Heights — a sustainable, accessible housing development in the heart of Faribault.”
