Jack Seltz, 89, enjoyed every bit of his drive from Alexandria, Minn., to Fortune Bay Resort Casino March 26th for United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s 60th Annual Celebration, presented by Fairview Range.
It was the first time he’d driven through Eveleth since he left in 1969, transitioning from his role as first-ever executive director of the newly formed United Fund of Northeastern Minnesota (now UWNEMN) to complete his education in finance.
“I’m so amazed to see what’s happened here and what you’ve done,” he told an audience of current UWNEMN donors, volunteers, partner agencies, and board members at the event, before being awarded a “Trailblazer Award” by current UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay.
UWNEMN’s Annual Celebration is typically held to announce the past year’s fundraising results; recognize top donors, volunteers, and partners; and elect incoming board members, but given the organization’s 60th anniversary this year’s event was a celebration of the organization’s origins and the impact local people have made since.
“Sixty years ago, regional leaders came together with a simple, but powerful idea,” Shay said. “That by working together, we could create stronger, healthier communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
They didn’t have all the answers, and they didn’t have perfect systems, but they had a deep commitment to this region and a strong sense of responsibility to care for the people who called it home.”
Fortune Bay Resort Casino’s Woodland Ballroom was transformed into a museum space for the event with memorabilia and news clippings from UWNEMN’s past 60 years of operations. The first news clippings ever collected regarding the United Fund of Northeastern Minnesota (now UWNEMN) were about the AFL-CIO and United Steelworkers (USW).
In the Fall of 1966, each labor group passed resolutions supporting the creation of one United Fund collecting and reinvesting funds into the region.
“This came as no surprise to us, knowing the role unions have played in shaping our communities and the thousands of union members who have supported our work throughout the decades,” Shay said, before awarding the Iron Range Labor Assembly and USW each with 60th Anniversary Leadership Awards.
USW Staff Representative Mike Woods and Iron Range Labor Assembly Vice President Eric Hoffman each accepted awards on behalf of their organizations and all of their members over the past six decades.
“This award is for all the people who represent us on the Iron Range,” Hoffman said. “The people I represent show up every day, and so does the United Way.”
Another name seen frequently in early news clippings was American Red Cross.
“There are several agencies we’ve supported for almost our entire existence, but only one have we both supported and been supported by like American Red Cross,” Shay said while awarding American Red Cross in Minnesota Executive Director Dan Williams with UWNEMN’s 60th Anniversary Partner Award.
Williams leads an chapter of the Red Cross that serves 31 counties and seven tribal communities and has worked closely with UWNEMN staff since 2012, increasingly so since working together to help local communities recover from flooding and wildfires.
“There is a not a nonprofit more nimble, well-run, or creative than United Way of Northeastern Minnesota,” he said.
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In its first-ever fund drive, from 1966-1967, community members united to raise more than $100,000 through the United Fund of Northeastern Minnesota (now UWNEMN) – the equivalent of nearly $6 million today.
Hibbing General Hospital (now Fairview) participated in that first drive, and 100% of employees contributed, making Fairview’s sponsorship of the 60th Anniversary Celebration fitting.
“Now more than ever, both of our organizations are responding to significant and growing needs within our communities by working together to address shared goals of reducing health inequities and building healthier, more resilient communities across Northeastern Minnesota,” said Fairview Regional Director of Information Systems and Health Information Jessica Valento, who spoke at the event. “We recognize that meaningful impact is only possible through strong community partners, and Fairview is deeply grateful to UWNEMN for its continued commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of our communities.”
In honor of this anniversary and the legacy of those first-ever fund drive supporters, Shay announced at the March 26th event UWNEMN’s goal to raise an additional $600,000 this coming year.
“This isn’t just a number; it’s a commitment,” Shay said. “A commitment to grow, to invest in new opportunities, strengthen the systems that support our communities, and to ensure that when our region needs us - whether it's for a new initiative or in a time of crisis - we are ready.”
As an “outside who became an insider,” Seltz encouraged those in attendance to stay involved locally.
“You are here and see your needs better than anyone else,” he said.
Contribute toward UWNEMN’s 60th anniversary goal.
Cash or check can be mailed to 608 East Drive, Chisholm MN 55719.