November 20, 2007
Greetings from MinneapolisNEXT,
We are now reaching a major milestone. It has been ten years since a group of friends met for breakfast to brainstorm ways to build bridges in our community. In the decade since, we have built up a long and ever-growing roster of motivated and deserving young men and women whom we have helped participate in rewarding activities and challenging academic programs.
In 2007, we provided scholarships for 40 youth enrolled in college-preparatory high schools around the metro area, and funding for dozens of young people in arts and athletic programs. And as you may know, 100% of the overhead costs of running our organization are paid by our board of directors, allowing us to stretch every dollar of your contribution as far as we can, so kids in need directly benefit as much as possible from your generosity.
In early August, our community was jarred by a catastrophic event, the collapse of the I-35W bridge. Such an occurrence inevitably prompts reflection. Suddenly, we find ourselves taking a closer look at the non-descript crumbling infrastructure we take for granted, and seeing unimaginable devastation right alongside notable architecture and costly sports stadiums. This serves as a grim reminder of a fundamental truth: A solid foundation is the key to success. Our youth are our most valuable resource, and our community’s success is based on their reaching their full potential. That’s why, from the start, MinneapolisNEXT has been investing in kids who might otherwise fall through the cracks: The ones who have got the drive and ability to be tomorrow’s leaders,but are hindered by financial circumstances. In nurturing these promising young people, we open doors that might otherwise have been closed to them, and brighten the future for all of us.
With this in mind, in the past year, we’ve made a concerted effort to extend our bridge-building across the river into St. Paul, where we’ve begun identifying and assisting motivated youth in schools and organizations. Ten years ago, no one expected that our breakfast conversation would end up touching so many lives. But the numbers speak for themselves: Over the past ten years, more than $500,000 has been channeled to youth in need in our community through the efforts of MinneapolisNEXT. We’ve helped kids who have moved here from around the world, and kids from just up the street. Your contributions have changed their lives, and together we are making a significant impact.
We hope that we can count on your continued generosity as we enter our second decade, and greatly appreciate your contribution this holiday season.
Our thanks for your ongoing support,
Rexford Holland
President, MinneapolisNEXT