United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Power of the Purse event was a success on all counts.

More than 120 guests filled International Falls Elks Lodge #1599 May 8th for the Wicked! themed event, raising more than $21,940 to support UWNEMN’s youth programs directly in Koochiching County.

The last Power of the Purse in Koochiching County was held in 2018. The event returned with the help of UWNEMN staff and an event planning committee comprised of local women.

Volunteers are needed to ensure United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s free summer lunch program, Meet Up and Chow Down, can once again provide free summer lunches to all children ages 1-18 regionwide as planned starting June 8.
The program is at-risk in in Babbitt and Cook due to lack of volunteer coverage at this time. Volunteers are needed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Babbitt; in Cook, volunteers are needed Mondays and Tuesdays.

For many charitably inclined investors, donating appreciated securities has long been one of the most tax efficient ways to support the causes they care about. Pairing that strategy with a donor advised fund (DAF) takes the benefits even further - for both the donor and the charitable organizations they support.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)'s nine staff members operate its internal programming and provide support to 47 nonprofits regionwide with the support of donors and volunteers, led by a board of directors. 

Incoming board members were announced during UWNEMN’s Annual Celebration March 26th at Fortune Bay Resort Casino: Torie Arnoldy (Fort & Company), Steve Biondich (City of Biwabik), and Dan Vidmar (Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.)

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.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s no-cost training for local volunteer boards and booster clubs is back, and the organization is kicking off the new year with the #1 requested topic from previous attendees: fundraising.

2026 is a special year for the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota as we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary.

In the past 60 years we have grown from one person in a single office to a nine person staff in our own building complete with two warehouses. 

We are no longer an organization that solely raises funds on behalf of other organizations.  We also operate our own programming that directly impacts thousands of people across our service area.  

It’s been more than 15 years since a meeting between former United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) executive director Shelley Valentini and former Mesabi East school nurse Shelly Whiting was continually interrupted by students complaining of stomach aches.

“Every Monday that happened,” Whiting recalled. “My first question was always, ‘When is the last time you ate?’”

Following the meeting, Valentini called Whiting and said UWNEMN wanted to pilot a program to help prevent those Monday stomach aches.