Doing Good

Heat & Glo Trending Today

Heat & Glo, the pioneering leader in fireplace innovation, will be featured on the award-winning television show Trending Today, airing on A&E. We want to break down the barriers that prevent homeowners from adding fireplaces to their homes.” — Stephan (Lakeville, MN) —  September 20, 2024  — Heat & Glo, the pioneering leader in fireplace innovation, was featured on the award-winning television show Trending Today, airing on A&E September 21st

Stokes NBA’s First Black Superstar

(Minneapolis, MN) — Sept. 24, 2024   — There’s nothing but net in Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA’s First Black Superstar, a new picture book biography from Millbrook Press™, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™. Written by Ty Chapman and John Coy and illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre, Stokes tells the story of the NBA’s first Black superstar, Maurice Stokes, who broke the mold for NBA players in the 1950s.

Staff Sergeant James Lueck

Back row from left to right; SPC Perez, PFC Bunčić, SPC Guzeh, PV2 Bošnjak, SPC Hackbarth, PFC Vrbančić Middle row; 2ndLt Šimunović, SSG Lueck,  CPL Maršić, SGT Podgornik, 1LT Velasquez, MAJ Đurin Bottom row; PV2 Puljiz, SGT Xiong, PV2 Pavin, SPC Yang, SSG Parlić, SSG Baratto   (Deerwood, MN) — September 27th, 2024 — In December 2023, Staff Sergeant James Lueck of Deerwood joined a 10-day international training exercise in

DigiKey’s Linda Johnson receives Women in Electronics Unity Award

(Thief River Falls, MN)  — Sept. 23, 2024   — DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, is proud to announce that Linda Johnson, executive vice president of operations for DigiKey, has received the WE Unity Award from industry organization Women in Electronics (WE). “It is with great honor and pleasure to recognize Linda Johnson for

Twin Valley Council Scouts Exceed Service Goals

  (Mankato, MN) — September 20th, 2024 — The Twin Valley Council, Scouting America, which serves 15 counties in South Central Minnesota, has successfully completed its “Year of Service.” From September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, the Scouts committed to providing over 25,000 hours of community service. Impressively, they surpassed this goal, contributing a total of 30,534 hours. According to the Non-Profit Leadership Council, the average value of an

ShipToMilitary.com Connect Care Package Senders

(Forest Lake, MN)  — August 28, 2024 —  ShipToMilitary.com, a resource for families and supporters of our troops created by the founders of ShipThrifty, has announced a new initiative designed to connect caring individuals with active-duty service members deployed overseas. This initiative facilitates sending care packages to troops stationed in remote and challenging locations, providing them with much-needed comfort and support. Recognizing the profound importance of morale and support for those

Minnesota State Fair

(St. Paul, MN) — August 16,2024 – The Minnesota State Fair has long been invested in the educational endeavors of young adults fromgreater Minnesota and is pleased to announce the 24 total recipients of the Minnesota State Fair Youth Scholarship.The fair is committed to offering scholarship opportunities to deserving youth based on their leadership andachievement in youth livestock programs, as well as their involvement in the local community. The 22

DigiKey Recognized by Forbes as One of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2024

(Theif River Falls, MN) —  Aug. 21, 2024  — DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, was named to the sixth-annual prestigious list of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2024 by Forbes. DigiKey was one of a select group of Minnesota-based companies with over 500 U.S. employees to be recognized. You can view the complete list of Minnesota’s

Farm Family of the Year

  Farm Family recognition program (Minnesota) — August 19th, 2024 — The University of Minnesota Farm Family Recognition Program honors farm families from throughout Minnesota for their significant contributions to the agriculture industry and their local communities. The Farm Family Recognition Program has honored Minnesota farmers since 1979. It is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary

'Between Shadows and Lies' is a YA novel about a teen caretaker of her siblings that live in a casino records warehouse

  Loosely inspired by a true account of 4 young children who lived in a casino records warehouse while their mom worked in order to escape their alcoholic father. (Eden Prairie, MN) —  August 19, 2024  — Between Shadows and Lies by Angela Grey is a young adult narrative set against the backdrop of a tumultuous family dynamic. Inspired by actual events, the novel sheds light on the precarious lives

Cargill 2024 Sustainability Awards

(Wayzata, MN) — August 5, 2024 – Cargill has been recognized for its leadership in sustainably through the  2024 BIG Sustainability Awards. Business Intelligence Group (BIG) named Cargill the recipient of both the Sustainability Leadership Award and Sustainability Initiative of the Year Award. These awards recognize organizations worldwide that have made sustainability a core part of their business strategy and practices and are having a positive impact on the sustainability of

Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer receives CGMC Distinguished Rural Leadership Award

(St Paul, MN) — July 26th, 2024 -– At its Legislative Awards Dinner last night, the Coalition of Greater MN Cities (CGMC) presented Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer with the Jack Murray Award for Distinguished Rural Leadership. The award is given to city officials who demonstrate knowledge, leadership and active participation in CGMC program areas over their public service career. It is presented annually to a retiring CGMC mayor or

Minnesota: Best State for Health Care

  For second consecutive year, WalletHub ranks Minnesota best in the nation based on 44 indicators   (St Paul, MN)  –July 30, 2024 —  Governor Tim Walz announced that WalletHub has ranked Minnesota the best state in the nation for health care for the second consecutive year. Minnesota’s ranking is based on 44 key indicators including cost, access, and health outcomes. “Minnesota’s top spot in this ranking is a reflection of

Hormel Foods Announces 2024 Class of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, is proud to announce its third cohort of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes. Each of these remarkable young people, through their various charitable endeavors, has set out to make the world a better place by working to bring about a more transparent, secure and sustainable food system.     Young changemakers from across the United States will soon travel to the company’s

MEA Awards

  MEA honors Trent Hanks, Michael Wazac, and Robert Rosburg with Life Sustaining Awards, while three others receive Meritorious Service Awards. The award recipients embody positive values and qualities that make valuable contributions to society.” — John Gann (Bloomington, MN) — July 25, 2024   — MEA Energy Association (MEA) is pleased to recognize Trent Hanks, a line mechanic; Michael Wazac, a combination mechanic apprentice; and Robert Rosburg, a gas

Crisp & Green

Crisp & Green specializes in creating personalized meals using fresh, seasonal ingredients, all served in a welcoming and community-focused environment.    Founder Steele Smiley, a fitness industry veteran, originally created the company with one simple mission: to bring healthy, delicious and convenient food to his community. Rapidly Growing Healthy Concept Continues Nationwide Expansion (Minneapolis, MN) — July 2, 2024 — Crisp & Green, an elevated, fast-casual dining destination that offers healthy,

3M Young Scientist Challenge

(St Paul, MN) —  June 27, 2024 — 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) today announced the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist) top 10 finalists. As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young

James Beard Award

Richard Blais, Nyesha Arrington, Amanda Freitag, and Marcus Samuelsson. – Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago (Minneapolis, MN / Chicago, Il.)  – June 10th, 2024 — The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its Restaurant and Chef Awards. The annual event brought out chefs, restaurateurs, and other hospitality industry professionals all dressed to the nines to take home medals for Best New Restaurant, Emerging Chef, 12 regional best chef categories, and more.

CopperSmith Showcases Stunning Custom Metalwork in Signal Mountain, Tennessee

    The products we chose from CopperSmith are extremely well created and exceeded our expectations beyond anything we ever imagined.” — Michael Leary   (Minneapolis, MN) —  June 5, 2024 — CopperSmith, renowned for creating exquisite custom metalwork, has crafted a magnificent project for a couple in their newly built home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Situated just twenty minutes north of Chattanooga, this pristine mountain community on Walden’s Ridge

Cayden Maccachren Triumphs Once Again

Polaris-Supported Driver Branden Sims Finishes Second Overall Behind the Wheel of a Race-Prepped RZR Pro R (Minneapolis, MN) — June 3, 2024 – The 56th running of the SCORE Baja 500 took place this past weekend, where the Polaris Factory Racing team continued its winning streak as Cayden MacCachren, along with his co-driver Hailey Hein, delivered a dominant performance to secure the prestigious UTV Overall and UTV Pro Open class

2024 Eagle Scout Scholarship Recipients

(Minnesota) — May 26th, 2024 — The Eagle Scout Scholarship program recognizes Scouts who have displayed extraordinary achievement in academics, athletics, Scouting, and overall service to their community. This scholarship program has awarded more than a half-million dollars in scholarships since its inception in 1990. In 2023, Northern Star Scouting troops and crews produced 476 Eagle Scouts, of which 53 applied for scholarships, and 20 were awarded with a 2023

Country Inn & Suites in Baxter, Minnesota presents $5,000 Check to Local Charity

(Brainerd, MN) — March 4, 2024 — Local charity The Bridge on 7th Shelter has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Country Inn & Suites in Baxter, MN as a recipient of this year’s Your Community, Your Choice Program from Choice Hotels International. This program, which began in 2019, recognizes and empowers local hotel owners to make a positive difference in their communities. As a winner of this year’s program, Bridge on 7th Shelter will use the funds

The Dyrt 2024 Best Places To Camp Regional Awards 

(Portland, OR) —  May 14, 2024   — The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping availability, photos and reviews, has announced the 2024 Best Places To Camp Regional Awards based on reviews and ratings from its vast community of campers. These destinations include some of the hottest and trendiest campgrounds of the past year, popular picks from The Dyrt campers, and well-established, sought-after properties that continually earn spots on these lists.

Sleepy Eye Terrazzo National Award

  This award recognizes a beautiful installation and Wisconsin Terrazzo’s skill, artistry, and commitment to excellence in terrazzo.” — Chad Rakow, Executive Director, National Terrazo & Mosaic Association (Sleepy Eye, MN) —  May 9, 2024   — When St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, underwent a renovation project to replace the floor and restore the stained-glass windows, it was the beginning of a series of phases of construction

Jamf named winner in three categories of the Global InfoSec Awards during RSA 2024

(Minneapolis, MN) — May 06, 2024 — Jamf, the standard in managing and securing Apple at work, is proud to be recognized by Cyber Defense Magazine’s (CDM) Global Infosec Awards in the following categories: Market Leader Zero Trust BYOD Market Leader Mobile Device Security Cutting Edge Mobile Endpoint Security These accolades are a testament to Jamf‘s dedication to bridging the gap between what Apple provides and what enterprises require, providing

Mankato Annual Speech and Debate Banquet

(Mankato, MN) — April 24th, 2024 — The annual event is held to showcase the talents of local high school students who participate in speech and debate programs in our district. The nature of this extra-curricular activity is that it is often done in settings where the families of the students are not able to attend to cheer for their students. The successes of the students can often be over-looked

2024 Sesquicentennial Farm

(Minnesota) — April 23rd, 2024 — The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is pleased to recognize 44 recipients of the Sesquicentennial Farm award for 2024. Since the program began in 2008, 559 families have received the honor. To qualify, a family farm must be in continuous family ownership for at least 150 years, be 50 acres or larger, and currently be involved in agricultural production. A commemorative certificate signed by

Darci Martini Nationals

(Pequate Lakes, MN) — April 23rd, 2024 — Nine year old Darci Martini, daughter of Shaun and Lisa Martini, took 1st Place at the Regional Elks Hoop Shoot in Iowa! It’s now on to the Nationals April 18-21 in Chicago. The last time that the Brainerd Elks had a National Competitor was 9 years ago when Darci’s sister, Kelsi, made it to Nationals taking 4th place in the national competition

Mountain Boy

Minneapolis – MOUNTAIN BOY, a live-action family adventure film is set to grace the screens of the upcoming Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) at The Main Cinema, Screen 5, 115 SE Main Street on April 20 at 1:45 p.m. and April 22 at 7:00 p.m. “We’re thrilled to be screening the magic of MOUNTAIN BOY at MSPIFF,” says Nancy Paton, writer and producer of the film. Director Zainab

Four Minnesota Teams Heading to Destination Imagination Global Competition

(Minnesota) — April 19th, 2024 —   Four Minnesota teams of Destination Imagine students are heading to global finals.  Two teams from Rosemount, as well as one Osseo, and one from Minneapolis, have qualified for the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri May 22-25. Destination Imagination is a project-based, kid-driven program that teaches kids to be innovative problem solvers. Using STEAM, teams of students collaborate, think outside the

Arcadian Bank’s REACH team

(Albert Lea, MN) — April 3rd, 2024)  —  Arcadian Bank’s REACH team wrapped up our annual Pack the Trailer-Community Food Drive event for 2024.  We invite and challenge other local businesses to participate by collecting nonperishable food, personal care items, and paper products with either their employees or their customers.  This year we had 15 local businesses join us in collected 4,400 pounds of donations that were split and delivered

Congratulations to Skingevity Med Spa Founder on the feature in Vogue Magazine

    Vogue featuring CEO of Skingevity Med Spa Amanda Lemmage – Jana Noonan Photography Announcing Skingevity Med Spa CEO and Owner’s feature on Vogue Magazine. It’s a testament to the dedication and care she’s committed to patients. There’s a younger you inside. We take the worry out of Longevity and bring you Skingevity. Skingevity offers a comprehensive array of cosmetic, laser, and aesthetic services.” — Amanda Lemmage (Spring Park,

Newsweek Magazine Names Winnebago Industries as One of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024

(Eden Prairie, MN) — April 03, 2024  — Winnebago Industries, a leading outdoor recreation product manufacturer, has been named by Newsweek to its 2024 Most Trustworthy Companies in America list. The respected ranking focuses on a holistic view of trust that considers three pillars: customer trust, employee trust, and investor trust. Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies list recognizes the top 700 companies in the United States, with a revenue of over

Twin Cities PBS 2024 Gracie Awards

 Photo Credit: TPT The live performance-driven music series STAGE wins the “TV-Local” category prize from the Alliance for Women in Media.  (St. Paul, MN) — March 28, 2024– Twin Cities PBS (TPT) is thrilled to announce that the original, local music show STAGE has won a 2024 Gracie Award in the “TV-Local” category. Given by the Alliance for Women in Media, the annual awards program honors and celebrates a diverse mix of media made

Jeanine Thompson INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD

“911 from your Soul” by Jeanine Thompson inspires a 2024 Independent Press Award. (Minneapolis, MN) — March 19, 2024   — “WHEN LIFE SPEAKS … WILL YOU HEAR THE CALL?”, Jeanine Thompson asks in publishing her newly awarded book “911 from your Soul”. The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD, one of the most prestigious book award programs globally for independent authors, publishers, and illustrators, recognized “911 from your Soul” as a 2024

Minnesota Hospice Recognized

  5-Star Medicare Rating and National Recognition as the Top 25% of Hospice Agencies Affirms Minnesota Hospice as a Leader in Compassionate Hospice Care. Being in the top 25% nationally for hospice caregiver satisfaction is an honor for our team because it’s a reflection of our empathy, deep love, and commitment to the families we serve at life’s end.” — Ken Haglind, CEO and co-founder, Minnesota Hospice (Lakeville, Mn) —

Teen YouTuber FHK Shatters World Record with 12-Foot French Fry Surprises Top YouTuber Matthew Beem

  17-yr-old FHK breaks world record with a 12-ft French fry. Challenge by YouTuber Matthew Beem, documented on FHK’s channel, inspires with creativity & ambition. (Minneapolis, MN) —  March 27, 2024  — In a remarkable display of culinary innovation, Frank Kamish, a 17-year-old Minneapolis high school junior and rising YouTube sensation known as FHK, has successfully set a new world record by creating the World’s Largest French Fry, measuring anawe-inspiring

Women In Trucking 2024 Trailblazers

(Minneapolis, MN) —  March 27, 2024  — TA Dedicated announced today Caitlin Powell, Director of Communications & Marketing and Hannah Koury, Sr. Customer Success Manager as recipients of Women In Trucking Association’s “Top Woman to Watch in Trucking” award. This recognition celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the trucking industry, particularly in promoting gender diversity and inclusion. The “Top Woman to Watch in Trucking”

TopLine Credit Union Foundation Scholarships

TopLine Credit Union Foundation assist students with costs of higher education locally and globally (Maple Grove, MN) —  March 19, 2024  — In its ninth year, TopLine Credit Union Foundation has awarded $29,000 in scholarship money to 29 TopLine members who are continuing their education. Additionally, the foundation awarded $1,500 in scholarship funds to support post-secondary educational needs and goals of students in Nigeria through partnership with African Education and

Lakes Area Professional Women

(Alexandria MN) — March 23rd, 2024  — The Lakes Area Professional Women (LAPW) hosted its 30th Anniversary Gala on March 21, 2024, at the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. This prestigious event will commemorate three decades of recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements of women entrepreneurs and businesses in the Lakes Area. Also honored at the Gala, were the 2024 winners of three distinguished awards. The

2024 Glampy Awards

(Portland, Or) — March 19, 2024  — The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping availability, photos and reviews, has announced the winners of the 2024 Glampy Awards. Now in its third year, the Glampys recognize and honor the most unique and innovative glampground destinations throughout the United States. Glamping may have started out as niche, but it has quickly gained momentum as a fast-growing segment of the camping industry. According

NMDP Awards 25th Annual ‘Amy Scholars’ Grant, Furthering Post-Transplant Research

Bruce Manasevit (L) joins NMDP’s Dr. Jeffery Auletta (R) to award Nicoletta Cieri, MD, PhD the Amy Scholar research grant (Minneapolis, MN) —  March 06, 2024 — NMDP℠ announced two recipients of its Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program grant, one of the largest and most coveted grants in the transplant and cellular therapy field. The award is given to early-career researchers investigating preventions or treatments to life-threatening complications following all

Innovative Community Action Programs

(St. Paul, MN) – March 6th, 2024 — Four Community Action Agency programs dedicated to eradicating poverty and enhancing community well-being received Best & Promising Practices Awards on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP). The Best & Promising Practices Awards Ceremony provides an invaluable opportunity to acknowledge our most impactful and innovative Community Action programs across the state. A distinguished review team from the University of

Alasan Ann Team Gambia Taekwondo 2024 Olympics

(Osseo, MN)— March 5th, 2024 — Alasan Ann, a Minnesota native, is poised to make history as he steps onto the world stage to represent Team Gambia in the sport of Taekwondo at the 2024 Olympics. His journey has been one of resilience, determination, and unwavering support. A Dream Since Childhood Alasan Ann, raised right here in the heartland, attended Fernbrook Elementary, Osseo Middle, and Maple Grove High School before

CO of the Year

(Alexandria, MN) — March 4, 2024 —  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mitch Lawler has been named the 2023 DNR Conservation Officer of the Year, an annual award presented to an officer for outstanding overall career performance. Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division, presented awards to Lawler and four other officers last month at Camp Ripley. Lawler works the Alexandria station, where he’s been since

Rainfall Monitoring Network

Participants provide important data about precipitation, climate trends (Minnesota) — March 1, 2024– The Minnesota State Climatology Office is seeking rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch diameter rain gauge. Participants submit their precipitation reports online. The data from backyard rain gauges are a critical source of information

Mill City Museum

Minnesotans showed their support for the museum in an online contest   (Minneapolis, MN) —  February 23, 2024 – Mill City Museum has won the honor of being named among the best history museums in the nation. Online voters chose the Minneapolis museum as the fifth place finisher. The recent contest included 21 sites from around the country, which were nominated by an expert panel for USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’

TruStone Financial Newsweek

(Plymouth, MN) — Feb. 21, 2024  — TruStone Financial was recently recognized as one of America’s Best Credit Unions by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. Additionally, TruStone Financial is ranked in the top 1% of credit unions nationwide by Rising Above Enterprises. Newsweek’s survey of more than 35,000 individuals included 140,000+ reviews of 9,440 regional banks and credit unions. In addition, data included more than 1.3 million social media reviews

Children's Minnesota 100 years

Governor Tim Walz proclaimed Feb. 13, 2024, “Children’s Minnesota Day” at a centennial celebration of the largest pediatric health system in the state. (Minneapolis and St Paul,MN) —  Feb. 13, 2024  — This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Children’s Minnesota which first opened its doors in a small house in St. Paul in 1924. The organization commemorated its centennial with a celebration attended by staff and Governor Tim Walz, who proclaimed Feb. 13, 2024, as “Children’s

Lerner Publishing Group Receives Eight American Library Association Youth Media Awards

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KAR-BEN PUBLISHER JONI SUSSMAN WINNER OF THE SYDNEY TAYLOR BODY-OF-WORK AWARD NEARER MY FREEDOM BY MONICA EDINGER AND LESLEY YOUNGE NAMED A YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS FINALIST A POCKETFUL OF STARS BY AISHA BUSHBY, THE BEAR AND THE WILDCAT BY KAZUMI YUMOTO AND ILLUSTRATED BY KOMAKO SAKAI, AND THE MOON IS A BALL BY ED FRANCK AND