GVHSF - October 12 Minutes
Golden Valley Human Services Fund (GVHSF) Meeting
Minutes
October 12, 2015
Present: Denise La Mere-Anderson, Hilmer Erickson, Alan Ingber, Andrea Mac Arthur, Toots Vodovoz, and Andrew Wold.
Also present: Jeanne Fackler, Staff Liaison.
Excused Absence: Kathryn Frommer, Elissa Heilicher and Peggy Watkins.
Tim Cruikshank, City Manager, introduced himself to the GVHSF members.
Call to Order: Wold called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
Agenda Changes or Additions: Agency presentations were moved to the fourth item on the agenda. Run the Valley was
added to the agenda.
Agency Presentations:
TreeHouse. Andy Swanda, VP of Advancement, presented the mission of TreeHouse. Started in 1984 by a Robbinsdale
teacher, the program has grown to nine locations. The mission is to bring living hope to youth and families leading to life
transformation through three programs: support groups, going deeper and mentoring one-to-one. Funds would be used
for transportation and programming for Golden Valley residents.
Crisis Nursery. Joel Bergstrom, Development and Communications Director, presented the mission of Crisis Nursery. The
mission of the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery is to end child abuse and neglect and create strong, healthy families.
Twenty seven children from twenty families in Golden Valley accessed the Crisis Nursery services in 2015. Funds would
be used to support programming including the 24-hour crisis line, overnight shelter and the home visiting program.
PRISM. Eleanor Trenary, Volunteer and Thrift Shop Manager, presented the mission of PRISM. Started as a grassroots
effort in 1972 to walk alongside families, offering support-based programs that encourageself-sufficiency, PRISM was
incorporated as a 501c 3 in 1973. PRISM’s programs and services offer dignity with accountability as the families,
volunteers, and staff work together toward solutions. PRISM collaborates with area helping agencies to avoid
duplication of services and the programs serve specific geographic areas. The increase in requested funding is due to the
increased number of people asking for services. Over 900 Golden Valley residents have accessed PRISM services on an
average of three times over the year. Funds would be used to support the program expenses, including Golden Valley
residents.
GVHSF members thanked the agency representatives for presenting at the meeting.
September 14 Minutes: Erickson moved and Mac Arthur seconded the motion to approve the minutes from September
14. The motion passed unanimously.
Other Business:
Solicitation Letter: Fackler has talked with Communications about the 2015-2016 letter. Canvas Health/Crisis
Connection, Dinner At Your Door, Sojourner and The Bridge for Youth have sent quotes from participants about the
services received from the agencies. The goal is to have the letter in the mail by mid-November.
Website Update: The Golden Valley website has been updated to include the phone numbers of the agencies funded by
the GVHSF per the members’ request.
2016 meeting dates: The proposed 2016 meeting dates were distributed. Meeting dates will be discussed at the
November meeting.
Applications for Funding: Members discussed the applications and felt all agencies are worthy of funding. After
discussion the following allocations will be recommended to the Council after approval by the GVHSF in November:
Agency Request Recommended allocation
Canvas Health/Crisis Connection $2,200 $2,000
Crisis Nursery $5,000 $2,500
Dinner At Your Door $8,000 $8,000
PRISM $12,000 $12,000
Senior Services HOME $5,000 $5,000
Senior Services Outreach $3,500 $2,000
Sojourner Project $5,000 $5,000
The Bridge for Youth $5,000 $4,000
TreeHouse $5,000 $4,500
YMCA – New Hope $5,000 $5,000
TOTAL $55,700 $50,000
Agencies will be directed to use the funds for program costs for Golden Valley residents, when possible.
Run the Valley: Fackler announced that Bassett Creek Dental has committed to sponsoring the Kid’s Fun Run, will supply
bags for all run/walk/fun run participants plus be a sponsor of the Run event. After reviewing the evaluation of the 2015
event, the walk fee will be $25, including “day of” registration. Run the Valley will be added to RecTrac, the Golden
Valley on-line registration program. Registrations taken through the GV website will not charge the credit card
processing fee to the participant. It was suggested to approach Armstrong, Cooper, Benilde-St. Margaret’s track teams
and Meadowbrook, SEA and Breck administration and offer a team price. This will be discussed at the November
meeting.
Wold announced the next meeting will be held on Monday, November 9 at 6:45 pm.
Adjournment: Erickson moved to adjourn the meeting, La Mere-Anderson seconded the motion. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Wold, GVHSF Chair Jeanne Fackler, Staff Liaison