The Freeborn County Communities Foundation continues to grow with the recent gift from the estate of Carol E. Lundblad. According to a press release, the foundation has over $7.4 million in permanently endowed assets due to donors like Lundblad.

Lundblad was born and raised in Minneapolis. She attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from there with honors. Her degree was in education, and she dedicated her life to that career. Most of her teaching years were spent at Sibley Elementary School in Albert Lea.

Her outside interests included antiquing, gardening and playing cards. She enjoyed her friends and liked to entertain.

Lundblad never married and, except for several distant cousins, she had no relatives.

She considered Albert Lea her community and the members of her church, Trinity Lutheran, to be her family.

Her bequest, in addition to those of past donors, will allow more projects to be funded and/or more money to be awarded. The foundation gives donors the option of designating an area of interest, and her choice was programs for the elderly.

The Freeborn County Communities Foundation, an affiliate of the Minnesota Community Foundation, has been in existence for 14 years and provides a vehicle for individuals and families to leave a permanent legacy to the community. The income from the endowed assets supports nonprofit organizations, educational programs, local government and faith organizations and includes all of Freeborn County. Recent awards have gone to The Arc of Freeborn County, The Pelican Breeze Foundation, Community Mentor Connection, Adult Basic Education and Senior Resources, among others. In total, over $169,000 was granted to 19 qualified nonprofit organizations in 2016.

The 2017 grant applications will be accepted until June 12.

For more information about the Freeborn County Communities Foundation, contact Leean Dulitz at 383-5357 or fccommunityfoundation@gmail.com.