They've got school spirit--and the fervor to raise funds

A couple of community groups are working hard to help make up their school districts' projected budget shortfalls by using WCI component funds.

The 549 Family Foundation launched its "More Than Nothing" campaign in support of the District 549 Perham-Dent School system. It encourages local families, businesses and organizations and 549 alumni to make a voluntary donation to the school district.  Take a look at the foundation's many fundraising ideas.

Pelican Rapids school alumni are banding together to create a new component fund for their own fundraising campaign. The alums are contacting all graduates from the past 50 years to ask for their support. For more information about donating to the Pelican Rapids School Fund, contact Kim at WCI at 800 735-2239, or kim@wciforg.  

Pelican Rapids says "Welcome!" in many languages

Tamales, tostadas, eggrolls, sambusa ... and lefse, of course! That's just some of the potluck fare people enjoyed at Pelican Rapids' International Friendship Festival, June 20-21. People lined up for the international smorgasbord, then sauntered across the flag-festooned suspension bridge to listen to music in the park and view several multicultural displays. Along the main street, stores displayed decorated chairs out front, each saying "welcome" in a different language. If you didn't get to Pelican Rapids this past weekend, the town's 125th anniversary and its annual Turkey Days is just around the corner, July 11-12.

Interested in finding out about more festivals around the area? Explore Minnesota's Web site lets you search by region.

Before and after

It's always gratifying to see the successful conclusion of a group's collective efforts.

These photos show the results of a collaboration between WCI, the Otto Bremer Foundation and the city of Pelican Rapids to create affordable residential building lots by removing blighted structures.

WCI has taken on the role three times to help secure the appropriate funding on behalf of communities in west central Minnesota. The most recent effort concluded in 2005 and was made possible by a grant to WCI from the Otto Bremer Foundation.

The Community InFill Housing Program provided matching grants to communities and non-profit housing developers to demolish deteriorated structures. In turn, the recipients made lot(s) available for affordable housing development.

These photos from Pelican Rapids show structure demolition and the corresponding exchanged lot with its new home. Pelican Rapids was one of six west central Minnesota communities that took advantage of the InFill Housing Program.

Although a successful program, it takes on average two to four years for a sufficient number of tax forfeited and other properties to become available for WCI to seek outside funds to run a similar program.