Mayo awards $70K in grants to Olmsted County nonprofits working to address racial equity
Mayo Clinic announced Tuesday it will be awarding a total of $70,000 in grants to six Olmsted County nonprofits — all of which are committed to addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Funding for the grants will come from Mayo’s newly-established EverybodyIN Fund for Change. Last summer, Mayo staff contributed nearly $89,000 to the fund to support efforts to advance racial equity.
A match from Mayo, according the announcement, brought the fund’s total to $200,000. That money is now being shared with 36 total organizations in communities across Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Related: Looking to 'close the door on racism,' Mayo commits $100 million to inclusion efforts
Among the organizations here in Olmsted County to receive funding is Sports Mentorship Academy, a program aimed at helping students “with untapped-potential take responsibility for their future through lessons learned through sports, in the classroom, and in service to others.”
The grant money from Mayo, the announcement says, will go toward a community liaison who will be a bridge between the Black community and law enforcement “to build trust and decrease tension”
Other programs selected to receive funding include:
Hope Fuse for its Spark and North Star programs. These programs promote youth achievement and a stronger sense of belonging and self-empowerment through one-on- one mentorship. The program serves children, 9-15, of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research to establish a Rochester-area COVID-19 resource hotline for Spanish speakers.
Rochester Area Nonprofit Consortium to support a cross-sectional, racial equity task force to assist local nonprofit organizations in advancing their equity goals.
United Way of Olmsted County for Culturally Powered Communities, an initiative to strengthen culturally-specific community organizations to have greater capacity to serve diverse community members.
Project Legacy for Project Empower, a program to provide mentorship, personal empowerment, and academic and professional development to 17-28 year-olds of color who are experiencing challenges.
Cover photo: file / William Forsman
