Past Grants

2012 Grants (as of first grant round)

• $113,958 to Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being to provide family support and offer the best in unique state-of-the-art therapies to address children’s individual needs for self-expression and healing. From music, art and movement therapy to the availability of highly trained canine therapists, kids will be offered a wide variety of opportunities for creativity and growth that leads to lifelong resiliency.
• $6,784 to the Cloquet Independent School District 94 for the Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative Parent Support Mentor Pilot Program to support families in their efforts to help special needs children be successful at home, in school and in the community. 
• $3,000 to the Minnesota Ballet for weekly creative dance programming for children with developmental and physical challenges.
• $42,000 to the Caring Ways Cancer Resource Center to support a new and innovative cancer program that supports cancer survivors in their efforts to live through and beyond the cancer diagnosis for the next phase of healthy living and improved quality of life.
• $19,632 to Essentia Health Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Services to purchase a communication and environmental control unit that will allow non-verbal patients to communicate and control their environments through touch pads and eye movement.
• $28,204 to Polinsky Rehabilitation Services to replace patient education handouts with new high-quality patient education software that is user friendly, specific to each individual’s need and available to all outlying clinics throughout the region.
• $8,615 to Polinsky Pediatric Rehabilitation Services to purchase updated therapeutic music and sound interventions to treat children who’ve been diagnosed with hearing and sensory difficulties.
• $36,400 to Polinsky Pediatric Rehabilitation Services to create a new Parent Child Interactive Therapy program to help families with very young children work together with a therapist to address emotional and behavioral disorders.

 

The Miller-Dwan Foundation made the following grants in 2011.

From the Miller-Dwan Foundation Unrestricted Funds
2011 Grants

$50,000 to the University of Minnesota, Duluth Psychology Department to examine parent participation and beliefs in child and adolescent partial hospitalization programming.

$20,500 to Well Being Development to expand Ely’s Northern Lights Clubhouse, a program designed to support educational, employment and life goals and reduce social isolation of those who are suffering with mental illness.

$30,000 to Essentia Health Nutrition Services to purchase a Calorimeter that will allow burn and rehabilitation patients to receive the most accurate up-to-date medical nutrition therapy available, improving patient outcomes, enhancing health, decreasing patient days on ventilator and decreasing numbers of days spent in the Intensive Care Unit.

$13,950 to the Caring Ways Cancer Resource Center located in the Duluth Clinic to study the impact of expressive writing and journaling on the emotional/social well-being of cancer survivors.

$2,580 to Essentia Behavioral Health’s Intensive Outpatient Program for Young Adults. Funding will allow the program to add a new twice-per-week yoga session to its current psychotherapeutic group work. The provision of yoga will help modulate the stress, increase emotional awareness, and allow patients to more adeptly manage thoughts, feelings and behavior in conjunction with the cognitive behavioral therapy currently offered.

$3,000 to the Essentia Behavioral Health Adolescent Chemical Dependency Program to update the patient and family education resource library.

$5,000 to Essentia Health – Duluth Clinic Social Work Services for patient emergency funds that will provide a safety net for cancer, wound care, and  physical rehabilitation patients in the event that an emergency would preclude them for accessing necessary health services. 

$5,000 to Memorial Blood Centers for a Leuko-Reduced Red Blood Products Cell Refrigerator for the processing of blood for our region.

From the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation

2011 Grants

The Van Gorden Fund provides support to organizations in our region dedicated to providing people with injuries or physical disabilities assistance to reach their highest possible level of function. The following grants were awarded from this fund.

$22,580 to the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders to help attract a new Speech/Language Pathologist and replace a copy machine.

$4,780 to CHOICE, Unlimited to add an advanced yoga class to its programming repertoire for people with disabilities, increasing the number of yoga classes from one to two.

$3,000 to the Minnesota Ballet for the weekly class “Creative Dance for Children with Physical and Developmental Challenges.”

$2,865 to Essentia Health - Miller-Dwan Medical Rehabilitation for the provision of weekly music therapy sessions that include the services of a harpist and certified clinical musician.

$12,229 to the Essentia Health Fitness and Therapy Center for equipment that serves elderly and disabled individuals.

$8,000 to Courage Duluth for the 2012 Great Lakes Mono-Ski Madness which provides instructional mono-skiing opportunities to people with spinal cord injuries and other low extremity disabilities via three-day mono ski camp for children and adults.

$51,418 to the Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center Voice Rehabilitation Program for Stroboscopy, digital laryngeal imaging equipment that will enable practitioners to provide local state-of-the art voice disorder assessment and treatment for patients who’ve experienced stroke, trauma and other disorders that affect their ability to speak.

$65,175 to Essentia Health – Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation for the Hocoma Armeo Spring, equipment that works to reeducate the neuromuscular of the upper arm for patients who have suffered a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or other diagnosis with muscular atrophy.

$1,600 to Essentia Health Rehabilitation for Rehabilitation of the Client with Hemiplegia: Functional Standing and Ambulation, training designed for the Essentia Health neurological disorders rehabilitation team.

$4,744 to the Essentia Health Therapy and Fitness Center for Kinesio Taping training, a muscle taping method that enhances the body’s natural healing processes and provides muscle support that can be used with all patient populations in all areas of rehabilitation.

The Miller-Dwan Foundation made the following grants in 2010.

From the Miller-Dwan Foundation Unrestricted Funds
2010 Grants

$20,000 to the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project to fund an initiative to strengthen and build the resilience of mothers and children harmed by domestic violence.

$ 3,250 to the Erick Peter Person Children’s Cancer Center to fund a remembrance gathering and bereavement workshop for families who have lost a child to cancer.

$ 3,590 to the Lake Superior Medical Society Alliance for the 2011 Health Fair.  This annual fair helps establish values that will influence the future lifestyle choices of elementary students throughout Duluth and the surrounding area.

$21,000 to Life House to provide immediate and comprehensive mental health services to at-risk, homeless youth.

$20,000 to fund an ongoing series to educate community members about the mental health issues facing children and families. 

$15,000 to the Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team Officer’s Association to provide training that gives police officers the tools necessary to interact with people in mental health crisis.

$ 15,000 to the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA) to continue and expand a therapeutic program for adolescent survivors of sexual violence.

$ 5,000 to the Union Gospel Mission to support efforts to provide basic needs to those suffering from mental illness.

$ 3,800 to the University of Minnesota Duluth Health Services Department to host internationally renowned author and speaker, Jenni Schaefer, who spoke on eating disorders to a group of 350 students and community members in January 2011.

$13,796 to the University of Minnesota Duluth Psychology Department to fund a research study in coordination with Essentia Behavioral Health to identify the best strategies for parent involvement in the mental health treatment of children.

From the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation

2010 Grants

The Van Gorden Fund provides support to organizations in our region dedicated to providing people with injuries or physical disabilities assistance to reach their highest possible level of function. The following grants were awarded from this fund.

$ 15,000 to Arc Northland to provide fetal alcohol prevention and intervention training to students, as well as social workers, teachers, residential providers, parents, law enforcement and health care professionals in Northwestern Wisconsin.

$ 8,000 to Courage Duluth to provide instructional mono-skiing opportunities for people with spinal cord injuries and other lower extremity disabilities.

$ 8,445 to Essentia Health Therapy Services to purchase biofeeback equipment and train staff to help patients learn mind/body self-regulation as a component of their healing.

$ 3,000 to Essentia Health Therapy Services to train staff in the Mulligan Concept, a technique that utilizes pain-free manual joint reposition to restore function and eliminate pain.

$ 14,505 to Essentia Health Therapy Services for the purchase of six sets of specialty tools to expand rehabilitation services by helping treat soft tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation.

$ 2,652 to Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Superior to provide a one-day workshop for therapy and behavioral health staff that will expand the knowledge of emotion and behavior following acquired brain injuries.

$ 3,000 to the Minnesota Ballet to fund the “Creative Dance” program for children with physical challenges.

$ 9,500 to Essentia Health Polinsky Rehabilitation Center to purchase the Experia System used to treat patients who have difficulty or are unable to swallow.

$ 3,000 to the Think First Collaborative to provide outreach education to students of all ages that will help prevent brain and spinal cord injuries.

$ 4,760 to the Wheels on Trails Organization for the Expanding Outdoor Horizons for People with Disabilities program, which enables people with disabilities to enjoy quality outdoor experiences.

The Miller-Dwan Foundation made the following grants in 2009.

From Miller-Dwan Foundation Unrestricted Funds
2009 Grants

• Woodland Hills - $10,000. To support the development of mental health programming for adolescents ages 12-18.
• CHUM - $7,500. To help fund CHUM's nursing program serving the medical needs of Duluth's homeless population.
• Life House - $12,800. To support mental health outreach programming that teaches independent living skills and creates a connection to community health resources and services for high-risk homeless youth.
• SMDC Behavioral Health - $18,640. To initiate new intensive psychotherapy groups for young adults, ages 18-25.
• SMDC - $2,500. To help bring a nationally-known inspirational speaker, author and physician, Dr. Naomi Remen to SMDC and St. Scholastica for a conversation about Our Power to Make a Difference.
• Merritt Creek Academy - $6,483. For programming that teaches self-respect, self-control, cooperation, responsibility and assertiveness in special education classrooms throughout Duluth.
• SMDC - $4,500 - To help fund a new National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators that will allow nurses and nursing leadership to review and evaluate national performance measures relative to patient outcomes.
• $3,000 to ISD 709's ARCH Program to support monthly parent resource meetings that will enhance the growth of families and children who utilize alternative educational settings.
• $15,000 to Lake Superior College to fund a collaborative demonstration project designed to address the issue of high-risk alcohol use in college students and their accompanying mental heath needs.
• $5,760 to Little Treasures Childcare Center to maintain the consulting services of a licensed social worker who can help identify early childhood mental health needs.
• $5,000 to the Union Gospel Mission for operating support that will allow workers to continue to address mental health issues among guests.
• $10,000 to the Mental Health Consumer Survivor Network's Warmlines program, a support network that provides information, empathy and referral services to consumers of mental health services.
• $20,000 to Miller-Dwan Behavioral Health for Intensive Outpatient/Partial Hospital furniture, décor and lighting to create a more comfortable, calming and inviting therapeutic environment.
• $500 to the Association of preOperative Registered Nurses, Northern Lights Chapter, for their annual surgical symposium.
• $1,000 to Northland Foundation to bring Dr. Read Sulik to Duluth to discuss early childhood brain development.

From the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation

2009 Grants

The Van Gorden Fund provides support to organizations in our region dedicated to providing people with injuries or physical disabilities assistance to reach their highest possible level of function. The following grants were awarded from this fund.

• Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center - $117,250. To fund a cooperative effort between Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center, SMDC Medical Rehabilitation Center and the SMDC facilities team to restack Polinsky's current floor-plan to provide more efficient and convenient patient services.
• $8,175 the Scottish Rite Foundation to update testing materials, integrate augmentive devices and train staff to remain a state-of-the-art communications clinic.
• $600 to Duluth Clinic Therapy Center to provide an 8-hour educational session for the 36 member SMDC rehabilitation team that focuses on assessment and treatment of pulmonary rehabilitation patients.
• $3,695 to Duluth Clinic Therapy Center to replace NuStep physical fitness equipment
• Minnesota Ballet - $3,000. To provide weekly ballet classes to children with physical challenges.
• $7,000 to Courage Center, Duluth to provide a high-quality down-hill skiing experience, complete with certified instructors, to children and adults with physical disabilities.
• $8,000 to SMDC Duluth Children's Hospital to help support a Child Life Specialist. Child Life Specialists are specially trained to support children and their families through difficult or stressful procedures.
• $3,864 to Duluth Clinic Therapy to purchase an Upper Body Ergometer to be used in the West Duluth facility for patients needing shoulder therapy.
• $3,500 SMDC Medical Center, Duluth Clinic Neurology to provide an educational conference for patients and families living with Parkinson's.
• $13,042 to the Duluth Clinic Therapy Center to equip a new physical therapy site in Maple, Wisconsin. This grant will allow the patients of northern Wisconsin to receive high quality therapy services without the need to travel to Duluth.
• $13,600 to Polinsky Children's Rehabilitation to purchase furnishings and equipment associated with the new Polinsky Children's Rehabilitation Therapy site and services.
• Ely-Bloomenson Memorial Hospital - $10,495. To purchase Biodex balance equipment to serve a growing senior population.
• Center for Independent Living - $5,000. To help create an accessible kitchen where cooking skills and kitchen safety can be taught to people with disabilities.
• SMDC Medical Rehabilitation Center - $3,000. To hold the bi-annual spinal cord conference for area professionals the include nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and psychologists.

The Miller-Dwan Foundation made the following grants in 2008.

From Miller-Dwan Foundation Unrestricted Funds
2008 Grants

• Miller-Dwan Medical Center Surgical Department - $29,000 to purchase six surgical lounge stretchers to enhance patient comfort.
• Miller-Dwan Medical Center Surgical Department - $75,000 to help purchase high-level technology operating room equipment that makes it possible for patients to receive the best in world-class care.
• SMDC Organizational Learning and Development - $12,500 to create and distribute a diversity awareness DVD for SMDC and the community.
• College of St. Scholastica - $20,315 to help plan a comprehensive recovery school that will help students succeed both with their recovery from addiction and with academic performance.
• North Shore Horizons - $10,000 to provide supportive services for families who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
• Union Gospel Mission - $15,000 to help pay for kitchen replacement and repair.
• Miller-Dwan Medical Center Adult Behavioral Health - $2,000 to purchase new dining room chairs for the patient dining area.
• Udac Inc. - $3,796 for STEPS, a program that supports a specialized training and exercise for low-income individuals with disabilities, chronic diseases and aging issues. 
• The Northland Foundation - $25,000 to help reduce the need for future mental health intervention by supporting reflective practice pilot projects in six childcare centers. 
• Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Foundation - $5,000 to support local future family physicians.
• Miller-Dwan Child/Adolescent Behavioral Health - $3,230 to purchase a self-soothing autism sensory swing. This swing helps treat autistic patients by engulfing them into a self-calming environment. 
• Lake Superior Medical Society Alliance - $3,590 to supplement and enhance the health education curriculum of ISD #709 and private and parochial schools by providing health care education to 2,400 third and fourth grade students in a health fair setting. 

From the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation

2008 Grants

The Van Gorden Fund provides support to organizations in our region dedicated to providing people with injuries or physical disabilities assistance to reach their highest possible level of function. The following grants were awarded from this fund.

• Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center - $44,230 to purchase state-of-the-art hand/arm re-education equipment for people suffering from stroke and other neurological disorders.
• Minnesota Ballet - $3,000 to allow children with cognitive or physical challenges to experience dance training.
• Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center - $72,000 to help remodel space for a new Dizziness and Balance Program.
• Duluth Clinic Fitness and Therapy Center - $7,388 to purchase cardiopulmonary exercise testing equipment that will benefit both the weight loss candidate and the elite athlete.
• Superior Senior High School - $5,000 to help purchase equipment for a new movement/sensory room for students with autism.
• Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center - $34,030 to purchase a rehabilitation tool that uses electrical stimulation to activate muscles in the lower leg to improve one's ability to walk. 
• St. Mary's of Superior - $7,545 to purchase a weight support system to help patients relearn walking skills and reduce the risk of staff injuries. 
• Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center - $8,000 for Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Education for speech language pathologists. 
• SMDC Physical and Occupational Therapy - $3,170 to provide specialized training for aquatic therapy. 
• St. Mary's Acute Care - $5,000 to purchase a portable patient-lifting devise.