Southwest Initiative Foundation

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2020 holiday office hours at the foundation

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Drawings in a series of colored rectangles include two people sharing ideas, someone dancing, a cat napping, a dog, an adult and child getting ready to hug and a person with binoculars Happy holidays!

This year has sparked reflection, learning and change in our region and around the world. Thank you to our donors, partners and friends for coming alongside us in challenging times. We must keep working hard—and working together—to ensure all southwest Minnesotans get through these difficult days and share in a brighter future.

We navigated 2020 guided by our values and with a lot of creativity. Thanks to artist Henry Vetsch for capturing that spirit with this special illustration.

Some important notes for the end of the year:

  • Our staff will have limited availability Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.
  • If you are seeking information or support for the Minnesota Small Business Relief Grant Program or the Minnesota Small Business Emergency Loan Program, please contact Scott Marquardt at 320-583-4629.
  • If you are seeking information regarding our Business Finance, Microenterprise, or other Economic Development programs, please contact Scott Marquardt at 320-583-4629.
  • For information about specific grants to nonprofits or youth, contact Nancy Fasching at 320-583-1787.
  • Tax-deductible gifts can be made online to support our mission or a community foundation partner. Make your gift online now. If you have an urgent year-end matter related to a gift, please contact Liz Cheney at her cell phone number 320-583-5025. In order to qualify for a 2020 charitable tax deduction, mailed gifts must be postmarked by Dec. 31, and online gifts must be submitted before midnight on Dec. 31.
A boy holds a certificate from Google and stands in front of a cloud of balloons.Artist’s Statement – Henry Vetsch

For this drawing, I was asked to express Southwest Initiative Foundation’s core values of optimism, curiosity, integrity, equity and collaboration. The drawing was done using alcohol ink markers, and the inspiration for the color choices came from a book cover illustration. The boxes are intended to be views through various windows looking in on people living their lives. The dog and cat were just for fun!

Henry is an eighth-grader at New London-Spicer Middle School. Art has always been a part of his life, and this year Henry’s original drawing was selected as one of Google’s 54 state and territory winners in the12th annual Doodle for Google competition, which generated thousands of entries. Henry’s parents are Anne Dybsetter and SWIF Community Philanthropy Officer Jeff Vetsch.