St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation

December 2021 Foundation Giving Drive

12/1/2021

The St. Mark’s Foundation would like to thank the congregation of St. Mark’s for its continuing support of the Foundation. The Foundation is thankful to be able to help people in need and community organizations such as the Polar Back Pack program, the North High/St. Mark’s Coat Drive, and the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf.

The Foundation asks that you consider a special year-end donation to help us continue to carry God’s word forward. Donations can easily be made by sending a check to the Foundation at 2499 N. Helen Street, North St. Paul, MN 55109, or you can donate online by using the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church website, click on the “About” tab, then click on “Contribute” and scrolling down to the “St. Mark’s Foundation” box. The Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit chartered organization. Matching contributions are available through many work places, so check with your place of employment to see if the St. Mark’s Foundation would be eligible for matching contributions.

More information about the Foundation is available on our website: stmarksnspfoundation.com. Please email stmarksnspfoundation@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you may have. Again thank you for your continued support and have a blessed holiday season.

Foundation Week – October 3, 2021

9/14/2021

The St. Mark’s Foundation welcomes everyone to join us as the Foundation celebrates Foundation Week 2021. As all of us continue to navigate this COVID-virus world, the Foundation board members want to remind everyone that we are continuing our mission to “Carry God’s Word Forward.” Look for the photo boards at church that show some of the recipients the Foundation has given grants to both within the congregation of St. Mark’s Church and throughout the greater community. Foundation board members will be available as ushers, greeters, and to visit with you between services in Rees Hall. There will be treats along with beverages, compliments of the Foundation.

2020 IRS 501 (c) (3) Filing Complete

6/29/2021

In accordance with IRS guidelines, each year the St. Mark’s Foundation has to file for its non-profit status. The Foundation continues to be a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to conveying the Christian message to people through excellence in worship, education and the building of relationships within St. Mark’s Church, the local community and global missions.

St. Mark’s Foundation is also required by the State of Minnesota to have an independent auditor prepare an audited financial statement of the annual budget. Fiscal year 2020 was successfully completed and submitted on February 15, 2021.

St. Mark’s Foundation continues to promote enduring opportunities for connecting present and future generations by being a place for receipt of gifts and financial bequests; for prudent long-term management of financial assets; and for thoughtful distribution of principal and earned income in manners consistent with the purpose and mission of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Please contact a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees for more information.

Kagitumba and Matimba Parishes Rwanda, Africa

5/26/2021

Emily Ronsberg, a daughter of the St. Mark’s Church congregation, with assistance from the Foundation in 2019/2020 joined the Young Adults in Global Missions(YAGM) group and spent 7 months serving in several Lutheran Parishes in Rwanda, Africa embracing families and communities with God's love.

A Foundation Status Update from the President

3/24/2021

The St. Mark’s Church Foundation, founded in 1985, continues to operate as a non-profit organization separate from St. Mark’s Church. During these years, the Foundation has been blessed with donations from members and non-members and as of January 1, 2021, had assets of $159,335.00.

During the past 10 years, we have provided grants totaling $22,734 to individuals, groups and organizations within the church congregation and in outreach to the nearby community and its people. During 2020, grants were awarded to the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf, and two daughters of our congregation, Jeanette Perrault and Emily Ronsberg.

We were successfully audited by an independent account in March and have appropriate checks and balances in place for our financial accounts.

Board Members for 2021 include: President Terry Kapaun, Vice President Craig Sterling, Secretary Barb Michel, Treasurer Tom Michel, Bill Pickett, Steve Linder, Rod Larkins, Paul Ellefson, Linda Kapaun, John Pottratz, Kathy Hanon, and Pastor Mary Froiland. Gerry Duffy is the legal counsel.

The Foundation relies on the generosity of people. Funding is received through direct donations, Thrivent Choice Dollars, Amazon Smile program and employee matching gifts. Gifts can be given at any time, and can be done electronically through the St. Mark’s Church website www.stmarks-nsp.org. Please feel free to contact any of the Board members with questions or comments.

Thank you for visiting the St. Mark’s Foundation website.

In Christ’s service,
Terry Kapaun, President

2021 Amazon Smile Foundation Donations

11/13/2020

Are you ready for the holidays? Planning to use Amazon for your shopping needs this Christmas? Remember that when you make purchases on Amazon, you can also be donating to the St. Mark’s Church Foundation. Just use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3463204 and you will be directed to the site smile.amazon.com where you are automatically asked if you want to support St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation. We hope you say “yes” because then Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the St. Mark’s Foundation. Thank you for your support of the Foundation and its mission to carry God’s Word forward. Please contact a Foundation board member or email the Foundation at stmarksnspfoundation@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Thank You from the Foundation Board of Trustees

1/31/2020

The St. Mark’s Foundation books for fiscal year 2019 have closed and the Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges the gifts provided to the Foundation during the past year. Memorials, legacy gifts, donations, Thrivent Choice Dollars, Amazon Smile and employee matching gifts have all contributed to the Foundation’s success for year 2019 and beyond. Without your generosity our ability to successfully support the mission of St. Mark’s wouldn’t be possible.

The Board of Trustees has quarterly open to the public meetings to conduct business. For 2020 the meeting dates are: April 14, June 9, Sept. 8, Nov. 10. Don’t hesitate to attend a meeting if you have a grant requests, comments or questions for the board. Please review our website for more detailed information about the Foundation’s mission and activity.

We are looking forward to having another great year in 2020.

Power Shopping Online On “Black Friday”?

11/11/2019

As the annual holiday shopping days quickly approach, you can “Purchase with Purpose” by choosing Smile.Amazon.com when online shopping at Amazon. Every purchase made through Smile.Amazon.com will result in a donation to the St. Mark’s Foundation, helping not only the Foundation but, ultimately many aspects of St. Mark’s Church, its members and the local community by the grants given by the Foundation throughout the year. Just click on the St. Mark’s Amazon Smile page and login and a donation goes to the Foundation on completion of your Amazon purchase. A simple way to help support your friends and neighbors.

Foundation Week – October 6 and October 9

10/18/2019

2019 Foundation Week

The St. Mark’s Foundation held its annual Foundation Week Sunday, October 6 and Wednesday, October 9.

Highlights of the event included:

A video presentation by Jeanette Perrault, one of the recipients of a grant from the Foundation. Jeanette is currently studying at Wartburg Theological Seminary and is a daughter of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church congregation.

An Adult Forum program given by Becky Palmgren, a Regional Gift Planner with the ELCA.

A slide show before church services showing some of the many grants that the Foundation has been able to award throughout its 30-plus history.

A temple talk by President Terry Kapaun at all church services.

A display in Rees Hall featuring the Foundation’s activities.

And treats for all!

Emily Ronsberg in partnership with Matimba, Rwanda

9/23/2019

Emily Ronsberg has joined the ELCA program "Young Adults in Global Mission" or YAGM. This is a year long commitment by Emily to witness to and live alongside members of the Matimba, Rwanda community. What a journey!

If you would like to stay current with Emily's adventures, follow them on Emily's Blog where she will be updating you with her thoughts and travels around Rwanda. On the bottom of the blog page, there is a link to automatically be notified via email when a new blog post arrives. Just sign up by entering your email address and responding to a confirmation email you will be able to easily follow blog postings.

If you enjoy what you see and would like to walk with Emily by financially assisting her during the year long travel, there is a "Support" link on the bottom of the blog page or left click here to go directly to the support page.

Want to be a pen pal with Emily via international mail? Emily is happy to correspond with you at:
    C/O Janelle Neubauer
    Attn: Emily Ronsberg
    PO Box 5692
    Kigali, Rwanda

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