Owatonna Foundation Delivers Big Grant to Community Pathways

The first installment of a total $250,000 grant from the Owatonna Foundation to Community Pathways of Steele County was delivered last week. Foundation President Tom Dufresne handed over a check for $100,000 to Dom Korbel, Executive Director of Community Pathways.

Korbel said in a news release, "Partnership is what Community Pathways is built upon and the Owatonna Foundation has long been a partner we can count on. Their contribution to our capital campaign for the expansion of our facility is the most recent example of their unwavering support of the work we do in the Owatonna community."

Dufresne stated, "The Owatonna Foundation has been a proud partner of Community Pathways for a long time. We would like to welcome Dom Korbel to his new position as Executive Director and we look forward to seeing the outcome of this expansion and the many people Community Pathways will be able to serve in our community."

"GIVING FOR GALLONS" FUNDRAISER

The Owatonna Foundation thanks Eric Pirkl, District Manager for Thompson Gas DBA Pirkl Gas for the "Giving for Gallons" fundraiser that netted $500 for the foundation. In a news release, Executive Coordinator Angela Gonzales said, "We want to thank Eric Pirkl Gas for their commitment to the Owatonna Foundation and to our community."

She added, "I think people in the community enjoy hearing these stories about local businesses giving back and it feels like a win-win when you can support a local business that will support a local nonprofit."

Prikl said, "We wanted to partner with an organization that has a long-standing history of giving back to our community. I often see signs and scoreboards around town that acknowledge the Owatonna Foundation and after visiting their website and seeing their history of giving, I knew this was a nonprofit we should be supporting."

The "Giving for Gallons" promotion took place from June to August of 2021. New customers could make a donation through Thompson Gas DBA Pirkl to either the foundation or the Steele County Humane Society.

The name Pirkl gas dates to 1959. There were acquired by Thompson Gas in 2020. The photo above includes Jason Sommer (delivery driver), Ben Aase (service technician), Eric Pirkl (district manager), Ray Stawarz (treasurer/secretary of Owatonna Foundation), Mitch Belina (delivery driver) and Greg Pirkl (delivery driver).

Owatonna Foundation is in its 64th year of working with organizations in the community on brick and mortar grants that fill the need in one the areas of community, arts, recreation and education.