HUTCHINSON, Minn.— Theresa Zaske of Balaton has been elected to the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) Board of Directors.
Zaske is the Community Relations Manager at Schwan’s Company and has long been devoted to supporting local nonprofits. She helped found the Marshall Community Foundation and Balaton Area Community Foundation, two of SWIF’s affiliate partners. Zaske currently serves on the Balaton Area Community Foundation advisory board and previously served with the United Way of Southwest Minnesota, Prairie Home Hospice and Healthy56258. She also helped with the start up of the nonprofit PFLAG Buffalo Ridge/Marshall.
Born and raised in Southern California, Zaske came to Minnesota to study history at Carleton College and decided to stay. She’s made her home here for more than 30 years, most of it in southwest Minnesota.
“I care about the region and the people here. SWIF and other organizations like it that are based in southwest Minnesota are vital to bringing attention and funding to local needs. SWIF has a history of recognizing, innovating and meeting needs and bringing folks to the table who can help in that task, and I’m excited to be part of that,” Zaske said.
“Theresa’s private-sector expertise in local relationship building and her nonprofit leadership experience will strengthen our community-led approach to closing the opportunity gap for kids and families in our region through Grow Our Own. We’re grateful to have her join the board,” said Diana Anderson, SWIF President and CEO.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation board of directors is a governing board that ensures the organization fulfills its mission of connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities in southwest Minnesota. This volunteer board sets strategy, manages resources and promotes the foundation’s work.
In addition to Zaske, the SWIF Board of Directors includes Chair Randy Reinke, Litchfield; Vice Chair Patricia Dols, Willmar; Past Chair Janice Nelson, Montevideo; Secretary Mark Titus, Jackson; Treasurer Christie Rock Hantge, Hutchinson; Tom Brakke, Deephaven; Terry Gaalswyk, Worthington; Dan Greve, Worthington; Abdirizak Mahboub, Willmar; Teresa Peterson, Upper Sioux Community; and Kathy Wehking, Hector.
About Southwest Initiative Foundation
Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities to create a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. Since its founding in 1986, SWIF has distributed more than $82 million through its grantmaking and business finance programs.
# # #
