Grand Forks, N.D. – In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Bremer Bank today announced a donation of $10,000 to the Grand Forks nonprofit organization Red River Valley Community Action. The donation is one of eight total that Bremer is making to nonprofits that embody the bank’s three philanthropic pillars of economic empowerment, affordable housing and financial education across its footprint of Minnesota, western Wisconsin and North Dakota.
“Grand Forks has been an important, longstanding part of our eight-decade story,” said Bremer Bank President and CEO Jeanne Crain. “Red River Valley Community Action does critical work in this community, and we are honored for the opportunity to support Red River Valley Community Action’s work through this donation as we further Bremer’s 80-year legacy, established by our founder Otto Bremer, of cultivating thriving communities.”
German immigrant Otto Bremer founded Bremer Bank in St. Paul, Minnesota, guided by his belief that if banks helped businesses in both the good times and the bad, then communities could thrive. Eighty years later, Otto’s legacy of cultivating thriving communities lives on through Bremer’s customers and employees, who help grow our region’s food, build our region’s economies and serve our region’s neighbors.
Red River Valley Community Action offers emergency services, housing programs, nutrition programs and more for low-income individuals, families, senior citizens and others in crisis situations. In 2022, the organization served 3,500 individuals in more than 2,300 households in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, and Walsh counties with essential services such as shelter, food, rent and utility assistance, furnace and water heater repair/replacement and home weatherization services. Bremer's donation will support ADA accessibility upgrades for the front door and measures to ensure the safety of the agency's clients and staff.
“Red River Valley Community Action has been involved with Bremer Bank since our agency was founded in 1976 through the establishment of bank accounts, loans, and insurance. In addition, Bremer Bank has always been supportive of our programs and services through donations and sponsorships,“ said Kaye Seibel, Executive Director.
Bremer has locations throughout Minnesota, western Wisconsin and North Dakota.