November Spotlight: Redwood County Warriors Fund

by McKenzie Fischer

With Veterans day just around the corner, it’s time to stand up and say thank you in honor of everyone who has served our country. One subsidiary of the Redwood Area Communities Foundation is working hard to do just that.

Meet Delbert Hertling, President of the Redwood County Warriors Fund. Delbert informed me that the main goal of their group is to provide financial assistance to any Veteran or family of a Veteran that may need help. The Redwood County Warriors Fund provides emergency assistance to Veterans in need such as beds, furnaces, heaters, sewer, clothes, groceries, and personal items. Each Veteran is able to and is encouraged to reach out and apply for assistance once a year and is eligible for a maximum of $500. “The work we have done around the county for our own local veterans is something we’re really proud to be a part of, and we hope that others hear about our program and spread the word to Veterans in need,” said Hertling. The applications for assistance are reviewed on a case by case analysis and the Veteran applying should know whether they’ve been approved or denied within a short period of time as the members of this group work hard to ensure they are doing everything they can to help.

In order to spread the word, please share this information with a Veteran about the services that are offered in our area! To apply you need to be a Veteran living in Redwood County. Please visit the Veterans Service Office in Redwood Falls or call (507) 637-4034 to apply. They are located at 403 S Mill St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283 and are open from 8:00-12:00 am; 1:00-4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

If you are interested in setting up a non-profit subsidiary to serve the needs of Redwood County, please feel free to reach out to Pat Dingels at the Redwood Area Development Corporation @ (507) 637-4004 to get started!

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit entity organized for the welfare and benefit of Redwood County residents or organizations who live or have their principal place of business in Redwood County or within a radius of 10 miles of Redwood County.

The Foundation was organized for:

• The welfare of communities and their residents.
• The welfare and benefit of any public school district.
• The welfare and benefit of any charitable organization located or operating in the defined area.
• The benefit of students and former students of the school servicing the member communities by providing scholarships and loans.

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation: A Core Supporter of the Community

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation (RACF) is a core community developer. The support offered to the community by RACF is unrivaled in impact. 

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation Defined

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit entity organized for the welfare and benefit of Redwood County residents and organizations. The RACF’s focus is on those who live or have their principal place of business in Redwood County or within a 10 mile radius. The RACF was established in 1988. 

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation Impact

Redwood Area Communities Foundation works hand in hand with the Redwood Area Development Corporation to improve the quality of life for local communities and their residents, to benefit public school districts and any charitable organizations operating in Redwood County and to provide scholarships and loans to students living here.  

“Looking at all of the diverse groups served in itself is a success story. The groups benefited by RACF include different spectrums across the board, from youth to senior citizens and the healthy to those in need,” says Don Yrjo, Chairman of RACF.

The RACF supports civic, charitable, benevolent, educational and cultural purposes in Redwood County. The foundation has more than 30 subsidiaries and over three million dollars in assets that are managed for these groups. The foundation’s current designated accounts are listed as follows and continue to expand.  A cornerstone program of RACF is the Ehlers Student Loan Fund.The cost of a college education continues to rise, and, for some, those costs can hinder their goal of earning a degree. Those who do pursue post-secondary education quickly discover the costs associated with furthering their education result in taking out loans at a high rate of interest. In an effort to help address those financial realities a program was established in Redwood Falls by a benefactor named Martin Ehlers. The program provides interest-free funds for students living in Redwood County or attending school in Redwood County. Next deadline is May 4, 2020. 

These groups are able to receive grants and tax deductible gifts from individuals due to the 501(c)(3) status of RACF. They can receive these grants and tax deductions as both short term subsidiaries and long term subsidiaries. The financial help received by the 501(c)(3) status allows these accounts to put more of their finances into their missions for the community. 

The Redwood Area Communities Foundation Future Growth 

The RACF plans to continue providing scholarships for youth to adults, encouraging the expansion of community youth activities as well as mental and physical health activities, progressing technology in the area,  assisting civic organizations, helping veterans, benefiting the arts and providing leadership. Countless opportunities exist for growth in Redwood County.

“The RACF has been serving many diverse needs for more than 30 years in our communities,” explains Yrjo. “I believe it will continue to grow and serve the needs of many more groups as time and needs change in the future,” he finishes.