CHARITY CHALLENGE RETURNS TO HELP LOCAL FOOD SHELVES

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Charity Challenge has become a tradition for the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation, the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the St. Cloud metro area. Since the first Challenge in 2001, which raised $10,185; to last year’s record setting $468,673 challenge, this event has surpassed a total of $3.1 million raised for local food shelves.

This tradition has become a passion for Norman C. Skalicky, the chairman and CEO of Stearns Bank. “To see the generosity of our community is just incredible,” Skalicky said. “Stearns Bank has always been passionate about giving back to our community, and it is just great to see the response from our community during this season. We are able to help more families than ever!”

The Skalicky Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation announced today that the Charity Challenge match for local food shelves will take place again this year – matching every dollar donated to three area food shelves (up to $100,000) this Holiday season. Donations for the Charity Challenge need to be received by December 31, 2018. Contributions should be sent directly to any of the following eligible food shelves to the attention of “Food Shelf Charity Challenge:”

• Catholic Charities, PO Box 2390, St. Cloud, MN 56302 or online at www.ccstcloud.org
• St. Cloud Salvation Army, 400 U.S. Highway 10 S, St. Cloud, MN 56304
• St. Joseph Community Food Shelf, PO Box 384, St. Joseph, MN 56374

“We are pleased that the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation continues to offer this Charity Challenge to help our local food shelves. During this season of giving, we are grateful for all of the generous donors in Central Minnesota who continue to make a difference in our community," said Greta Stark-Kraker, Director of Donor Relations at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.