MNA Featured Members
March SPOTLiGHT
Mar 2011 - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Montana
For 29 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Montana (RMHCMT) has been creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well being of nearly 5,000 Montana children every year. RMHCMT is making a significant impact on the most pressing problems facing families today. Our approach is to serve all Montanans by tailoring our programs to address the most urgent needs of each community we serve. Our core programs touch families in every county in the state.
Feb 2011 - Montana Local Food Banks
This month, we are highlighting all the MNA member Food Banks around Montana to recognize the outstanding work they do in their communities to end hunger and to encourage everyone to support their local food bank. Learn how by contacting them.
Jan 2011 - Montana Human Rights Network, Helena
Working for Equality, Justice and Democracy for All.
Our mission is:
To promote democratic values such as pluralism, equality and justice; challenge bigotry and intolerance; and organize communities; and to speak out in support of democratic principles and institutions.
To challenge hate groups and other extremists who use violence and intimidation as tools for political activism.
Learn more about the Montana Human Rights Network.
Dec 2010 - Sunburst Unlimited, Great Falls
Developing Community, Sustainability & Educational Projects: Our mission is to educate and guide organizations, neighborhoods and communities in developing a sustainable local food source through composting, gardening and year-round greenhouses. Our goals are many: to be able to provide access to locally grown, healthy food for all the folks in our communities ; to starve the local landfill of our food waste and the food waste from schools, restaurants, and grocery stores; to keep our garbage at home; to feed our school kids from our gardens. Learn more about Sunburst Unlimited, Inc.
Nov 2010 - Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, Billings
Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Since 1971, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County has been in the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County has actively sought to enrich the lives of girls and boys whom other youth agencies have had difficulty in reaching. Because of a dedication to ensuring that our community's disadvantaged youngsters have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures, in 2002, a second Clubhouse was opened in Lockwood. The Castle Rock Clubhouse opened its doors in 2005 joining the original Bair Family Clubhouse and fulfilling a vital need in the community. The Clubs offer young people what they need and want most: adults who respect and listen to them; a safe environment where they can have fun and be themselves; and interesting, constructive activities that channel youthful energy into positive pursuits.
Oct 2010 - Missoula Developmental Service Corporation, Missoula
Our mission is to help people with developmental disabilities live lives of greater independence. We provide safe and ADA compliant homes and social settings where communication skills can develop to help our clients build lasting interpersonal relationships. We provide a Day Service comprised of vocational, speech, recreational, and social interaction training.
Our vision at MDSC is to nurture people with severe developmental disabilities in ways that make them an integral part of the community, that expand their life experiences, teach them new skills and support them in forming meaningful friendships. Learn more about Missoula Developmental Service Corporation.
Aug 2010 - Options Women's Clinic, Helena
Options Women's Clinic is a program of Pregnancy Resource Center of Helena offering help, education, and medical, material and emotional support to those facing unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. Options Women’s Clinic is a medical facility offering clients free ultrasound under the direction of a licensed physician and a Nurse Manager trained in limited obstetrical ultrasound. Pregnancy Resource Center of Helena was established in 2008 in an effort to reach out to those experiencing unplanned pregnancies and provide information about all of their options. Options Women’s Clinic strives to educate women and men regarding their options, so they are equipped to make an informed, smart choice regarding their unborn child. In addition to ultrasound, the center provides options counseling, pregnancy testing, resources referrals, and material resources. Earn While You Learn classes help clients with life skills training in exchange for baby and maternity clothing and goods such as cribs, strollers and toys. All services are free of charge thanks to the support of churches, businesses and individuals in our area.
July 2010 - Glacier Association & Glacier National Park Fund
In honor of the 100th Anniversary of Glacier National Park, we are proud to highlight two of our members who support the park.
Happy Birthday Glacier!
Glacier Association or the Glacier Natural History Association, was established in 1946, has provided 60 years of educational and interpretive support.Our Mission:"Advance Stewardship of Our Natural and Cultural Heritage Through Education and Interpretation."
The Glacier National Park Fund supports the preservation of the outstanding natural beauty and cultural heritage of Glacier National Park for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations by fostering public awareness and encouraging private philanthropy.
June 2010 - Great Burn Study Group, Missoula
The Great Burn Study Group (GBSG) established in 1971, is dedicated to achieving wilderness designation for the proposed Great Burn Wilderness and to conserving the wild and remote character of the northern Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana and northern Idaho. GBSG is the only conservation group working solely for this cross-boundary, multi-forest landscape.
A grassroots conservation group based out of Missoula, Montana, GBSG has two interrelated program areas:
The Forest Stewards Program sends citizenvolunteers and field crew into the backcountry year-round to document land conditions andhuman impact, and conduct wildlife inventories. They also participate in special improvementprojects like trail restoration, campsite relocation, and treatment of invasive species.
Our Forest Policy is aimed at influencing favorable forest management policies in our mission area. We encourage and facilitate citizen participation and involvement in the public process. Throughconstant contact with the USFS, local officials, and community members, GBSG is engaged in forest planning at all levels and with all stakeholders.
We achieve our objectives through collaborative work with other conservation organizations, recreational associations, the United StatesForest Service (USFS) and the National Forest Foundation. We focus on on-the-ground projects and programs which benefit the land and the surrounding communities.
For more information or to volunteer contact GBSG at 240-9901 or thegreatburn@yahoo.com
May 2010 - Fun2U Recreation & Aquatic Center, Miles City
Fun2U is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization for the development of an community pool and recreational center for Miles City and Eastern Montana. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Eastern Montanans by providing a facility where people of all ages can enjoy physical and non-physical activities.Provided that sufficient funding is attained, Fun2U has a goal to construct an community pool with the following attractions:
*Multi-recreational use facility
*Community pool
*Zero depth entrance with play park for preschoolers
*Splash Deck
*25 meter swimming lanes for lap swimming
*Bathhouse
*Handicapped Accessibility
Learn More
April 2010 - Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone
The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center's primary mission is to provide visitors to the Yellowstone area an opportunity to observe, learn and appreciate grizzly bears and gray wolves. All the animals at the Center are unable to survive in the wild and serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts.
Learn More.
Mar 2010 - Maternal Life International, Butte
Formed in 1997, Maternal Life International (MLI) is a 501(C) 3 nonprofit dedicated to providing a family of safe, practical, life-affirming, and innovative programs in maternal health care, in AIDS avoidance and care, and in fertility awareness under an umbrella of Family Health Alive options. Programs are module-based and can be selected individually or in groups by in-country people and organizations, depending on need.
Learn More.
Feb 2010 - American Red Cross of Montana, Great Falls
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Learn More.
Jan 2010 - Hopa Mountain, Bozeman
The possibilities for economic, environmental, and social health in the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains lie in the strength of the people, especially our relationships with each other and with the land we love. In every community, there are not only good ideas, but community leaders who get things done and to whom others turn for help. There is now a renewed recognition of the importance of these special people, particularly in rural and tribal communities that have a dearth of opportunities to provide and sustain healthy communities.
Community leaders know their community's people, values, beliefs, language, and ethnic characteristics. Given adequate resources, they can provide more meaningful services more efficiently and effectively than outside professionals can. Hopa Mountain recognizes the critical role community leaders play in their communities and we dream of what they could accomplish if they had access to adequate resources. Simply put, community leaders are the focus of Hopa Mountain's work.
Acknowledging the skills, talents, and positions within communities of these natural leaders, Hopa Mountain endeavors to provide them with the means–primarily through training, networking, mentoring, and financial support–to generate and expand much-needed opportunities in their communities. Learn More.
December 2009 - Santa Saks, Missoula
At Santa Saks we meet basic needs by collecting, gathering, and purchasing items to stuff a backpack full of essentials for someone who is homeless or in need. We fill the packs and then distribute them free of charge. We work to directly distribute backpacks to our homeless neighbors. Much of our joy comes from the face to face meetings with the recipients. We also use agencies such as The Poverello Center, Mission 3:16 and the Samaritan House to help identify recipients.
The statistics on homelessness in the United States are astounding. As one of the most affluent and successful nations in the world a study by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found nearly 750,000 people were homeless in 2009. More worrying is that 25% of these are chronically homeless.
At Santa Saks we hope to meet the basic needs of those who are homeless regardless of why they find themselves on the street. We can give a gift of hope to individuals who are struggling to reach the simplest of human needs; shelter and warm clothing. Learn more about how you can get involved and help the homeless today.
November 2009 - Rural Dynamics Incorporated, Great Falls
We envision a region where individuals and families have the capacity to make positive choices regarding their economic future. Communities have the infrastructure and resources to provide residents with opportunities to earn a livable wage. We envision legacy communities where generations of families can live and support each other. Our region will protect people from predatory financial practices and the consequences of catastrophic incidents, helping them keep more of their money and assets. Individuals and families will have the opportunity to grow their assets providing a resource for themselves, their family, and their community.
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October 2009 - Northern Plains Resource Council, Billings
Northern Plains
Northern Plains organizes Montana citizens to protect our water quality, family farms and ranches, and unique quality of life. We are a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group that gets the job done - protecting the Northern Plains and the people who make their home here. Learn More
September 2009 - Missoula Art Museum, Missoula
The Missoula Art Museum strives to engage artists and audience in the creative exploration of contemporary art relevant to our community, state and region.
Founded in 1975 and accredited by the American Association of Museumssince 1987, MAM has always been a flagship institution in culturally savvy Missoula, Montana. After a $5.3 million capital campaign andgrand opening in September 2006, MAM offers a spectacular attraction in the heart of the historic downtown: a fully accessible, free, public museum that boasts six exhibition spaces, a library, education center, and an inviting information lounge. Learn more.
August 2009 - Rim Country Land Institute, Billings
Rim Country Land Institute provides place-centered opportunities for experience, inquiry and reflection to enhance the essential connection to earth, self and others so that all species can flourish.
The vision of the Rim Country Land Institute is to engage the human community in discovery and appreciation of our essential connection with Earth - its complex biosphere of interrelated life.
In its ongoing educational mission, the Rim Country Land Institute is committed to the urgent challenge of answering one abiding question: how may humanity best affirm, reconstruct and sustain the symbiotic relationship between ourselves and this fragile planet? The challenge is to balance the wisdom of the land with our own. Learn More
July 2009 - Indian Law Resource Center, Helena
Indian Law Resource Center is a non-profit law and advocacy organization established and directed by American Indians. We provide legal assistance to Indian and Alaska Native nations who are working to protect their lands, resources, human rights, environment and cultural heritage. Our principal goal is the preservation and well-being of Indian and other Native nations and tribes. Founded in 1978, the Center provides assistance to Indian nations and indigenous peoples in the United States and throughout the Americas. The Center has an international Board of Directors, and is a Non-Governmental Organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Indian Law Resource Center is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are funded by grants and contributions from individuals, foundations, and Indian nations. The Center accepts no government support.Learn More
June 2009 - Nkwusm Salish Language Revitalization, Arlee
For the last 7 years, Nkwusm has lead the way in Salish language revitalization in young people. Nkwusm, operates the Snïiiïo Salish immersion pre-school and primary school. There are 37 students ages of 3 -14 enrolled for the 2008-2009 school year. The organization operates 3 programs in addition to the school: curriculum development, fluent speaker training and an adult immersion program for certified teachers. Nkwusm’s mission is to recreate a process whereby the language is passed from parent to child as once was common. The immersion school has expanded from a single classroom with only preschool children to multiple classrooms and children into primary school. Nkwusm is seeking funding to implement an adult immersion and teacher training program. All development is located in the Flathead Reservation.The objectives of Nkwusm are to increase the number and quality of materials available to teach the Salish language for primary students by creating a complete curriculum with materials and activities for the primary grades; increase the number of speakers through community participation in school activities and programs and the school’s participation in community activities; increase the fluency of Salish speakers through participation in the school and the school’s outreach programs; and ultimately recreating the process whereby the Salish language is passed from parent to child.Learn More
May 2009-Cut Bank Education Foundation & Alumni Association, Cut Bank
Modeled after the typical college alumni association, the Cut Bank Education Foundation and Alumni Association (CBEFAA) was born out of the need to find alternative sources of revenue for the Cut Bank Public School District.Over the past thirteen years, the CBEFAA has provided much needed financial assistance to the students, teachers and staff in the form of equipment, classroom mini-grants and scholarships. The CBEFAA has a three pronged approach to helping support the Cut Bank schools, teachers and students with the "extras" that today's school district budgets just cannot provide.
First, they established a qualified endowment for the long-term fundraising needs for the district.This endowment has facilitated the purchase of new choir risers and shell for their exceptional K-12 music programs and the purchase of state of the art calculators for math classes. In addition, theyoffer innovative classroom mini-grants to Cut Bank teachers for innovative ideas that provide students with learning opportunites they would not otherwise receive. The CBEFAA also provides and/or administers over $40,000 per year in scholarships for graduating seniors and alumni of Cut Bank High School.Learn More
April 2009-Community Closet, Livingston
The Community Closet thrift store of Livingston opened in October of 2005. The primary goal of the store is to provide low-cost high-quality used clothes and household goods to people in Park County. Any profits are donated back to the community in the form of grants. Just shy of their 4th year in operation, the thrift store has generated enough revenue to fund a total of $100,000 in community needs.In 2008 the Community Closet opened a second smaller store called the Alley Annex, selling items that didn’t sell in the thrift store or were in overstock, for just a quarter.
According to Executive Director Caron Cooper, “I believe we owe a lot of our success to our business model. We’re not just about maximizing profit; our goal is to keep an eye on both profits and social good. And that social good starts right here in the store with how we treat our volunteers, staff, customers, and donors. It’s exciting to be on the cutting edge of service delivery. One thing I’m always amazed about is the more generous we are with our donations to the community the more donations we receive.”Learn more
March2009 - March of Dimes, Montana
The March of Dimes helps moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. And if something goes wrong, they offer information and comfort to families. Their ultimate goal is to prevent problems so that, one day, all babies will be born strong and healthy. The March of Dimes funds Nobel Prize-winning research to find ways to prevent threats like premature births and birth defects. At the same time, the March of Dimes reaches out to moms and future moms to make sure they know all the things they can do to have healthy pregnancies and strong healthy babies. Montana State University has received two research grants for just under $500,000 to help find a cause for pre-term births. The Montana Chapter of the March of Dimes also gives out $10,000 each year in Community Grants that helps fund projects that relate to their mission. They have strong voice in advocacy for maternal/child health issues as they work to improve the lives of ALL babies.
Learn more
February 2009 - The International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), Broadus
IOIA is a professional, nonprofit association of organic farm, livestock, and processing inspectors. IOIA provides comprehensive organic inspector training worldwide, promotes consistency & integrity in the certification process, and addresses issues & concerns relevant to organic inspectors. IOIA coordinates inspector trainings for beginning and experienced inspectors, assists in industry networking, and publishes inspector manuals and resource materials. IOIA courses are recognized internationally and have been conducted in the US, Canada, Central America, South America, Australia, Japan, and other parts of the world. Their goals include improvement of the inspection process and providing the inspector community with a voice in the organic industry. IOIA currently has 226 members in 16 countries, an office in Broadus, Montana, and a 5 member Board of Directors. IOIA currently has over 125 supporting members.
Learn more
January 2009 - Watershed Education Network, Missoula
The Watershed Education Network (WEN) started in 1996 as a volunteer effort. WEN became a 501(c)(3) organization in 1998 as their school stream monitoring program began working with Missoula area schools. Now WEN is the watershed education hub of western Montana. Their talented staff offers stream monitoring instruction to budding scientists, teacher & community workshops, and experiential education programs to western Montana schools. WEN-developed place-based programs include: School Stream Monitoring, Milltown Dam Journeys, Groundwater/Aquifer Education, After School Flagship, and The Liam Wood Fly Fisher and River Guardians. WEN is celebrating their 12th-year during the 2008-2009 field seasons. Learn more