News & Events
Newsletters
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True Colors Gala 2010
Join us at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Friday, October 29th, 2010. Details here.
Wellness for Everyone 7.1.10
Hennepin County recognized Dakota Communities with its Wellness by Design Silver Award at a ceremony on June 17th, 2010 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center.
The award recognizes organizations that find innovative ways to ensure healthy work environments and encourage healthy employee lifestyles. In total, only four nonprofits were honored. Toni O’Brien, Director of Community Life, was thrilled to accept the award on behalf of Dakota Communities.
Excerpt from Award Summary:
”Dakota Communities offers interventions and opportunities in five areas: nutrition, physical activity, pet-assisted therapy, volunteerism, and healthy lifestyles. What is particularly unique are the partnerships employees have with the people Dakota Communities supports.”
We've Met the Standards 7.1.10
To read our report and learn more, visit www.SmartGivers.org.
Dakota Communities has met all 16 of the Charities Review Council’s Accountability
Standards after voluntarily participating in its Accountability Wizard this year for
the first time.
We join with 400 other charities who have demonstrated their commitment to openness and transparency. To receive the Charities Review seal, an organization must meet 27 standards that address performance in four areas: public disclosure, governance, financial activity, and fundraising.
Partnership with Tapemark 6.28.10
The Tapemark Charity Pro-Am golf tournament has been a generous donor and partner of Dakota Communities for many years. Read Angies's story "Cooking and Friendship are the Perfect Ingredients" and learn more about Tapemark on their website at http://tapemarkgolf.org/2010/01/dakota-communities/. For more about the impact of the tournament, view a letter that appeared in the June 28th Pioneer Press.
Giving Everyone the Opportunity to Play Hockey 1.03.10
"If you ever need a pick-me up, check out the Woodbury Eagles of Minnesota Special Hockey. You can't help but feel good watching these athletes play their hearts out."
http://wcco.com/local/minnesota.special.hockey.2.1402895.html
Breakaway Volunteer: Michelle Fischer 
12.29.09
Congratulations to Michelle Fischer, a Star Tribune “Athlete of the Week” who was featured in print and online on December 29th! Michelle is a high school student at Cretin-Derham in St. Paul who volunteers on Sundays with Mike and Tom at their hockey practices and games. (See above story.) We are grateful to Michelle and to all the volunteers at Dakota Communities who are dedicated to supporting people with disabilities every day.
This Santa's Gift is From the Heart Read this Pioneer Press article, 12.23.09
Dakota Communities Honored with Boggs Mitchell Award for Inclusive Recreation 10.30.09 Click here to read about this award
Cargill Partners with Dakota Communities 8.19.09
MINNEAPOLIS – As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the communities in which it does business, Cargill announced that it recently donated $10,000 to Dakota Communities, a non-profit organization in Eagan, Minn. that provides programs and services for people with disabilities living in the organization’s 32 homes in seven metro area counties.
Funds from Cargill will support a horticultural therapy program that Dakota Communities offers in partnership with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. As part of the program, participants learn how gardening can benefit healthy eating and the environment.
“In addition to the health and nutrition benefits of this program, there is definitely a therapeutic element to working in a garden,” said Mary Harty, chief development officer at Dakota Communities. “We’re grateful for the support of local companies like Cargill as we strive to give people with disabilities meaningful opportunities to learn and grow.”
This is the second year that Cargill has supported this program. In addition to providing funds, Cargill employees have also volunteered their time with Dakota Communities, participating in a spring clean-up, planting flowers and helping landscape the organization’s homes.
“We recognize that our success depends on the growth and health of our communities,” said Tom Bell, vice president of Cargill’s salt business and Dakota Communities board member. “We’re pleased to support an organization that’s making such an important impact on people’s lives right here in Minnesota.”
Dakota Communities featured on NBC Kare 11 News 5.11.09
"Families fight cuts to disabilities programs," featuring Eric Stadler with mom Chris and sister Brooke, was the lead story on KARE 11's 6 p.m. news Monday, May 11th, 2009. We were pleased with the coverage and its depiction of what is at risk with the proposed state budget cuts. View video clip & article: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=694678&catid=2
Links for News Updates
Receive updates from Dakota Communities by contacting us with your email address. Email info@dakcom.org or call us at 651-688-8808.
Learn about current initiatives in our 2008 Annual Report and 2009 Annual Report
MN Sun article about one of our homes: "Kennelly Group Home in Burnsville celebrates 25 years as a family"
Join The Minnesota Budget Project's Blog for updates on issues at the State and Federal level. Blog posts are available by email too. http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/.