Stearns Bank Community Challenge Raises $576K

Proceeds Distributed Among Catholic Charities, Salvation Army and St. Joseph Food Shelves

St. Cloud, Minn. (January 10, 2024) – The Stearns Bank Community Challenge has raised more than $576,000 including the $150,000 match offered through Stearns Bank N.A.  

The Community Challenge is hosted in partnership with the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF). Three local charities will benefit from the funds raised, including Catholic Charities, Salvation Army and St. Joseph food shelves.

“This year’s Community Challenge showcases the philanthropic hearts of those in our community,” said Greta Stark-Kraker, the Executive Director of CMCF. “At the Foundation, we are grateful to the community for coming together to truly make a difference for families in need during this holiday season.”

Since 2000, CMCF has partnered with various organizations to host a fundraiser that will support our area food shelves during the holiday season. Over the years, this fundraiser has contributed more than $6.7M to Catholic Charities, Salvation Army and St. Joseph food shelves.

“The ongoing generosity of our neighbors throughout Central Minnesota is inspiring,” said Rory Bidinger, Chief Marketing Officer, Stearns Bank N.A. “Stearns Bank is proud to be a part of this community-wide effort that continues to make a meaningful impact to feed those in need.”

Although the Stearns Bank Community Challenge has ended, you can still donate to your local food shelf all year long. For donation information reach out to each food shelf directly or email cmcf@communitygiving.org

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to $143.5 million in assets and awarded $155.3 million in grants to non-profits.  The CMCF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a network of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors.  Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,100 funds totaling over $210 million in assets. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/CentralMN.

About Stearns Bank N.A.

Minnesota-based Stearns Bank National Association is a $2.8 billion, independently owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide. Stearns Bank is consistently recognized as one of the Best Banks to Work For, most recently ranked by American Banker as the 5th best bank to work for among banks in the nation, while earning top rankings based on its strong capital and earnings as one of the nation’s highest-performing banks. The Independent Banker’s 2023 “Best of the Best” ranks Stearns Bank as the 4th best-performing bank in the U.S. among banks having more than $1 billion in assets based on banks’ 3-year average Return on Assets. Stearns Bank’s financial strength and success is achieved by Stearns Bank becoming one of the most prominent community impact lenders in the nation through effective public-private partnerships and innovative local initiatives with community organizations, CDFIs, and Minority Deposit Institutions across the country. Stearns Bank specializes in nationwide affordable housing, workforce and multifamily housing, commercial construction lending, build-to-suit and CRE-repositioning lending, family office and lender financing, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing to foster economic development and entrepreneurial growth at a local level in communities across the country. As a national leader and go-to bank for nonprofits, Stearns Bank created a customized suite of Nonprofit Banking Solutions specially designed and tailored to empower nonprofit organizations across the country. Driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions, Stearns Bank’s mission is to Get the Job Done! For more information, visit StearnsBank.com.