Humble beginnings >

It all started in the early 1980s when financial troubles plagued many school districts, including Cloquet Public Schools. Major layoffs, reduced programs and extracurricular activities were realities facing the district. Leaders from the school district and the community stepped in to find new ways to raise money and support the programs facing cuts. Early leaders included Harry Newby Sr., Dick Brenner and Russ Smith. 

The group’s first focus was on extracurricular activities. In 1984, with an initial pledge of $50,000 from the Potlatch Corporation, they formed the Cloquet Extra-curricular Activities Fund (CEAF), with the goal of funding activities for pre-school and school-age children. 

In 1989 the group expanded its mission to include educational opportunities and initiatives for students, changed its name to the Cloquet Educational Foundation and became a 501c3 non-profit corporation. The board of directors secured additional funding when the City of Cloquet entrusted the organization with the distribution of pull tab receipts.

Early growth >

By 1992, the endowment fund had grown, and the CEF had granted more than $72,000 to educational programs and activities. The only source of revenue at that time was pull tab receipts. When sales declined, the board of directors explored additional fundraising ideas. That same year, the school district hired a coordinator of community and school resources, Lorna Mangan, to direct the development of the CEF. 

In the following years, the Blue Jean Ball, Annual Golf Outing, Invest in Kids Sponsorships and The Annual Fund Drive became additional revenue sources for the CEF.

More recently, the CEF has created Named Endowed Funds. These named funds help provide financial security to the organization and support the Foundation’s mission while recognizing and honoring the individuals, family, cause or business for which they are named. 

The CEF and the New Millennium>

With the help of donations from alumni, school district staff, organizations, businesses, community members and friends, the Foundation’s endowment grew and enabled the board of directors to grant more than $60,000 to innovative programs and learning activities for Cloquet students each year. In 2016, Lorna Mangan retired after many years of leadership as Director of the CEF, and Jeannie Kermeen was hired to step into the role.

Grant cycles occur three times each year: on the first Tuesday in January, May and October. Applications for funding are due one month prior to each meeting. The grant award process starts within the CEF "Grant Review Committee", where each grant is discussed in depth on its merits before it is set before the board of directors for their careful consideration.  A fourth board of director’s meeting is held in June of each year to elect officers, review investment returns and discuss fundraising plans for the upcoming year.

Over 40 years of supporting education in Cloquet >

​

Since its beginnings in 1989, the CEF has awarded more than hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for more than one thousand academic initiatives and creative projects for students in Cloquet. All money raised by the CEF goes into an endowment, ensuring funds will be available in perpetuity. Earned interest from the fund is distributed as grants to benefit Cloquet students.

​

According to Jody Acers, current Director of the CEF, "It is important to note that the success the CEF enjoys rests on the shoulders of so many individuals in the community who have strengthened the CEF for over 40 years. We are grateful for the continued support from our friends, community members, businesses and alumni."