Spotlight on our Corporate Partners
06/20/2024
Here at Great River Greening, we build strong, community-based partnerships, from our staff and Board of Directors to volunteer groups, donors, municipalities, vendors, schools, and the State of Minnesota. Minnesota’s land and water are shared natural systems, and we rely on the support of individuals and groups to protect them.
Today we’re shining the spotlight on several of our corporate partners whose support, through funding and/or in-kind contributions, truly makes them leaders in environmental stewardship.
CARGILL
Support from Cargill’s “Success from the Ground Up” program has been crucial in expanding Greening’s regenerative agriculture work and promoting continuous living cover (CLC) crops in southern Minnesota. Many of the CLC crops currently being piloted are still fairly new, so having community support for farmers can alleviate many of their concerns. Community support also drives demand in these new markets, resulting in more economic stability for farmers piloting CLC crops. Thanks to the generous support from Cargill and through direct conversations with farmers, Greening supported the planting of 4,400 new acres of CLC crops in Nicollet County, improving soil health, water quality, and carbon capture.
PENTAIR
Pentair and the Pentair Foundation support efforts to reduce water stress and build ecological resilience as Pentair focuses on helping the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water. The Pentair Foundation awarded Greening with a grant to restore a 6-acre former dump site along the Crow Wing River near Pillager into an ecological restoration project that improves water quality by promoting natural filtration and habitat restoration. Thank you, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation, for supporting this land-based restoration work that will have ecosystem-wide benefits, including improved water quality and storage, enhanced habitats that support pollinators and other wildlife, and increased climate resilience.
YAMAMOTO
If you’ve seen the Greening trucks or trailer at a restoration project near you, our regenerative agriculture signs, or our epic Pull-A-Root exhibit, you’ve seen the creative and pro-bono design work Yamamoto has graciously provided for Greening. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the team at Yamamoto and their CEO (and former Great River Greening board member), Kathy McCuskey. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership!
ADOLFSON AND PETERSON CONSTRUCTION
“One of our important goals as a company going forward is environmental stewardship. We’ve recently started helping and working with Great River Greening. I have groups of people even down on the Mississippi just cutting buckthorn,” says Brad Hendrickson, President of the Midwest region at Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP). In addition to volunteer support, AP has also raised funds for Great River Greening at their last two “Golf Fore Gratitude” golf tournaments. Greening is also fortunate to have the expertise and guidance of Molly Weiss, AP’s Chief Human Resources Officer, on our board of directors. We are so thankful for AP’s support in many ways!
CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOUNDATION
Our collaboration with CenterPoint Energy dates back to 2000, starting just one year after Greening became an official 501(c)(3). As of 2023, CenterPoint Energy has donated $150,000 to fund Greening’s important work. More than 100 employee volunteers have helped to bring projects to life! Whether it’s volunteering with us on Earth Day, working with Greening’s fee-for-service program, Greening Solutions, to convert a turf grass lawn on a CenterPoint Energy campus into a resilient and thriving pollinator garden, or granting funds for land restoration projects, CenterPoint Energy continues to be an important collaborator and environmental steward. It’s no surprise that CenterPoint Energy was Greening’s 2023 Headwaters Award winner. Thank you, CenterPoint Energy!
XCEL ENERGY
Xcel Energy is one of Greening’s longest standing partners, helping to kick off our first planting project along the Mississippi River in 1995. Over the past two decades, Xcel Energy has had members on the board, such as Tim Rogers, Manager, Sitting and Permitting and current Greening board member. Xcel Energy won Greening’s 2019 Headwaters Award in part due to its active participation in hands-on, volunteer-led environmental restoration and by consistently funding Greening through foundation grants and sponsorships. Each year, we look forward to their “Xcel Energy Day of Service,” in which we can count on employee volunteers rolling up their sleeves to improve a habitat by removing invasive species or planting native grasses, wildflowers, or shrubs. Thank you!
ECOLAB
Ecolab is committed to driving environmental solutions in the areas of water stewardship, climate leadership, product sustainability, and global sustainability. We are so appreciative of their exemplary leadership—including that of Ecolab Senior Vice President and Greening board member, Christopher Smith—and continued partnership. Greening was proud to award Ecolab with the 2022 Headwaters Award. The Ecolab Foundation has provided grants and sponsorships to Greening since 2012, allowing us to transform and restore more of Minnesota’s natural habitats. But they don’t stop there—Ecolab employees have been active volunteers with us, holding annual volunteer events at Greening project sites and giving generously to help us create a greener, more sustainable Minnesota.
SHRED RIGHT
Nature is our best classroom, and Shred Right’s partnership with Great River Greening through the Future Stewards Program reflects this belief. Shred Right and the Mason Family Foundation provide students with opportunities for nature-based, hands-on learning. Such experiences not only deepen their understanding of ecological principles, but also inspire personal growth and environmental stewardship. By engaging students directly in conservation efforts, we are planting seeds for lifelong respect and care of our natural world, impacting one mind at a time.
#ShredRight4Good embraces the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” a powerful way to contribute to both environmental well-being and personal wellness for us all. Trees, as nature’s guardians, benefit tremendously from our sustainable practices. Reducing waste means fewer trees are cut down for paper production, and recycling ensures efficient use of resources. By reducing consumption, reusing materials, and recycling waste, we actively conserve resources and uphold our commitment to the planet. Thank you, Shred Right!
KOWALSKI’S MARKETS
Kowalski’s is committed to working together to protect our beautiful planet. In support of that goal, they promote many earth-friendly practices that their customers can do at home or while shopping. For example, Kowalski’s gladly offers a 5¢ refund for every bag their guests bring in and use to bag their groceries AND their guests can opt to donate that refund to Great River Greening. These bag refunds add up to a significant amount! Thank you to Kowalski’s and your generous guests!
THE OPUS GROUP
For the Opus Group and the Opus Foundation, stewardship has been at the core of their organization since the beginning. Thanks to generous funding, in part, from the Opus Foundation, Greening was able to launch its Future Stewards program in 2022. Future Stewards is a youth environmental education program serving nearly 300 students each year. Delivered in partnership with K-12 schools, participants engage in hands-on planting, restoration, and stewardship work and while also learning about green careers and the benefits of spending time in nature. Future Stewards increases student participation in outdoor activities that drive success in school, at home, and in their communities. Still going strong, the Future Stewards program continues to grow. Thank you, Opus!
JACKPOCKET
One of our newest corporate partners, Jackpocket Live found Great River Greening when looking for an organization that supports restoring and sustainably managing green spaces for the benefit of habitats, plants, wildlife, and people. They raise funds through their online platform and then give back directly to support nonprofits that are in alignment with their corporate values. We look forward to expanding our partnership in the coming years!
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES
One of Winnebago Industries' goals is working to make the outdoors a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone, a goal that is at the heart of Greening’s work every day! Winnebago Industries has invested in this critical work by providing general operating funds that support Greening’s strategic programs including land-based restoration of natural areas, urban green spaces, tree canopies, and education of Minnesota’s environmental stewards. A key pillar of theirs is for increased participation and feelings of safety for underrepresented populations in outdoor activities & spaces. Their investment in our work ensures that this happens!
MINNESOTA TWINS
The Ripple Effect: a raindrop, a pond, a creek, a great lake, a mighty river. Inspired by the water and natural landscapes that enrich our lives in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, The Minnesota Twins launched their Major League Baseball (MLB) City Connect uniforms in June 2024. As part of the uniform’s Ripple Effect theme launch and celebration, the Twins partnered with 10 Minnesota artists who painted original works of art on locally made Minnesota shaped Adirondack chairs. Great River Greening was selected as a non-profit beneficiary when those ten chairs were auctioned off.
We thank the Twins for their partnership in support of vital shoreline habitat restoration, and for their overall commitment to sustainability. Beyond the excitement of baseball games, Target Field stands as a testament to the Twins’ vison —proving that an entertainment facility can be a pioneer in sustainable practices, demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility, and inspiring fans to be champions for the very planet that sustains us.
TENNANT FOUNDATION
Tennant has been a consistent funder of our youth education programs —ensuring that young people continue to engage in community-based environmental justice projects with particular focus on collaborative work with schools and youth-serving organizations in north Minneapolis. Students experience hands-on restoration opportunities coupled with preliminary environmental education. The opportunity to engage — or re-engage young people with outdoor activities is profound, and the Tennant Foundation is a strong believer in this work, and we appreciate their investment in creating a new generation of environmental stewards!
Many thanks to the generous support of the following additional companies. These partners support Great River Greening through financial contributions: Stoel Rives LLP, Connexus Energy, RBC Wealth Management, and Fox Rothschild LLP.
We can’t thank you enough for supporting Minnesota’s great outdoors.
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Photo Credits: Kateri Routh; Xcel - Brennan Blue; Ecolab - Lawrence Cosslet; Opus - Brennan Blue