One family turns their grief into a mission to give back. On a May afternoon in 2022, Cottage Grove’s Dowdle family was forever changed. Their...
Giving Back
Mrs. Minnesota Uses her platform for TBI awareness
Experiences with traumatic brain injuries motivates Mrs. Minnesota American 2024’s activism. March is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Awareness Month,...
Woodbury Wobble 5K
Athena Clydesdale Racing held its annual Woodbury Wobble 5K on Thanksgiving Day and welcomed 570 participants—the largest yet. Runners were...
Woodbury Leadership Academy Partners with Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue
The K–12 charter school is bringing real-world volunteerism to the classroom. This February, Woodbury Leadership Academy (WLA) is partnering with...
Hearts Across the World
Royal Oaks Elementary teacher collects Valentine’s Day letters and postcards. Receiving a heartfelt, handwritten letter is always sweet—and for one...
Skoolie Too Bus Serves Students and Families
Local nonprofit aims to send message to students: You’re growing up in a community that cares. When the Skoolie Too bus comes around, a party is...
Meet a Couple of Woodbury Champions
Mike and Lynn Olsen became part of the Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF) in the best way possible: They started by only “writing checks” when they...
The Live Like Laura Foundation Honors Laura Schrankler’s Legacy
Cottage Grove family creates a foundation to award scholarships in memory of Laura Schrankler. In the 25 years that Laura Schrankler was on this...
Woodbury American Legion Post 501 Focuses on Youth
American Legion grows its Legionville and Oratorical Scholarship programs. American Legion Woodbury Post 501 has been working with local schools to...
How One Family Gives Back to Their Roots
Woodbury's Carachuri family calls Cozumel, Mexico a second home. Known for its turquoise water and light, sandy beaches, Cozumel, Mexico, is a...
Meet the Hat Grandma
Arvilla Lang says each gift she makes is unique, making every child feel special. Kindergarten students at Woodbury Elementary won’t have to worry...
St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center Gives Back
When a mother of two needed a place to live, she walked into St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center (CRC) and found hope. Welcomed with open arms,...
The Mother of Skoolie
Sue McKeown has been running youth programs for Community Education in District 833 for over 25 years. Most likely, you have met her at the Skoolie...
The Halvorsons Champion Helping Others
The Halvorson family leaves its mark on the field and in the classroom. We all want to leave our mark, be remembered and make an impact. Woodbury...
How Project Got Your Back Supports Veterans
A nonprofit helps veterans connect to programs. “I think it’s the perfect name, and I wished I would have thought of it,” says Paul Davis, executive...
Lexi’s Strollathon Spreads the Word on Rett Syndrome
A local family shares their story to fundraise for a cure. When Lexi Dettling was 18 months old, her words started disappearing. “‘Happy’ was her...
East Metro Miracle League 2024
For the 12th year in a row, the East Metro Miracle League welcomed youth with cognitive and/or physical challenges to a safe and lively baseball...
Matt Johnson Leads by Example
Matt Johnson, recently retired president of the Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF), is well known in Woodbury. Friend-in-need, fun person to be...
Woodbury Friends Fest
The Woodbury Community Foundation held its annual Friends Fest celebration on April 26, 2024. Dinner at the Derby included a sit-down dinner, silent...
Cheryllyne Vaz Uses Her Clothing to Advocate for Change
Cheryllyne Vaz learned in late 2019 that she had a brain aneurysm. What started as slight swelling in her neck progressed further, and after an...
