Nonprofit Sharing: Mike Supina for Eagan City Council

Eagan MN

20 October, 2020

9:49 AM

Description

When you ask someone to list the institutional building blocks of a community, they will often list the largest employers, small businesses, schools, faith communities, perhaps even local government. One sector that is frequently overlooked is the nonprofit sector. Yet in most communities, including Eagan, nonprofits play a key role in creating a community identity.Eagan has a thriving and growing nonprofit community. Here are a few examples:Caponi Art Park: Opened to the public in 1987 with a mission of arts programming and performance. The park is situated on 60 acres of rolling wooded hills and trails that lead visitors to multiple outdoor sculptures by founder Tony Caponi and other artists.The Open Door: Assists thousands of local individuals each month through programs designed to connect those in need with fresh, nutritious food options, including their Pantry, Mobile Pantry sites, The Mobile Lunch Box, and Garden To Table. Also provides advocacy to link families to critical, stabilizing services at social service agencies.Eagan Community Foundation: Encourages, supports, and enhances ideas, funding, and collaborative action to meet community needs and invests in Eagan’s future with community connections, grants, and scholarships.Art Works: Enhances the local arts community by connecting working artists, arts organizations, and the community in creative gathering spaces. Facilities include art studio space, a fine art gallery, a performance hall, a makerspace, and space for community gatherings.Eagan Athletic Association (EAA): A 50+ year old organization dedicated to the development of Eagan's young people by providing supervision, instruction, uniforms, and equipment for athletic activities planned, promoted, and directed by volunteers.Friends of San Lucas: An Eagan-based nonprofit which supports healthcare, education, coffee production and marketing, construction, charity, and women's advancement in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala and surrounding communities by working through a Guatemalan organization - the Mission of San Lucas Tolimán - founded by Father Gregory Schaffer in 1963.These nonprofits, and many others including the Eagan Citizens' Crime Prevention Association, Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway, TreeHouse, the Eastview Community Foundation, and Eagan's two Rotary Club Foundations (Noon and Kick-Start) always need volunteers and board members to help advance their missions and build an even better Eagan. If you can help, visit the websites of those that interest you and learn more!For this and other blog posts visit my website, or feel free to contact me by phone at 651-706-0061 or email me at [email protected]. The Supina4Eagan Committee is responsible for the content of this message.