Malia Fox will be honored with the 2022 Founders Award for her extraordinary commitment to improving life in the Winona area through the use of her time, talent and treasure. 

At this event, we will also highlight the Foundation’s work in strengthening the community through philanthropy. Please join us in this celebration!

FAQ:

How much does it cost?

FREE to all attendees!

Do I need to RSVP to attend?

We welcome all community members who would like to attend. However, we do strongly encourage RSVPing. The process should not take more than a couple minutes. Scroll down to begin!

Malia Fox has always had a passion for working with and caring for people – especially those who are often made invisible to the world. As the Director of the Winona Friendship Center for over 28 years before retiring in March of 2022, she was instrumental in ensuring each resident’s quality of life was enhanced. Under her leadership, the Winona Friendship Center resides as Minnesota’s only nationally accredited senior center. Malia went above and beyond to be an advocate and to encourage change. She’s had numerous experience with various community service roles and activities, both locally and nationally. Malia’s experience paired with her kindness, dedication and passion demonstrates her servant leadership within Winona.

The community-nominated Founders Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving life in the Winona are through the use of their time, talent, and treasure. Fox created a vision of what Winona could be, and has continually motivated others within the community in pursuit of that vision. It’s an honor for the Foundation to award Fox, as her dedication and care has transformed our community. As part of this award, she will have the opportunity to grant dollars from the Founders Endowment Fund to a charity of her choice.

We look forward to celebrating Fox on October 6th at Whalen’s at Westfield.

The annual Founders Award recognizes individuals who:

Each year, the individual selected to receive the award has the opportunity to grant $8,000 dollars from the Founders Endowment Fund of the Winona Community Foundation to the charity of their choice.

The Winona Community Foundation is a catalyst for igniting generosity and building the vibrant and enduring place we call home. The Foundation exists to support and build our community. We work with donors, nonprofits and professional advisors to meet immediate and long-term community needs through giving and granting. Our team of professionals are deeply familiar with the short-term, mid-term, and long-term needs of our community, as well as the nonprofits that are working to address those needs.

The Winona Community Foundation offers a range of charitable options and funds for individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to accomplish their philanthropic goals. As your trusted partner, resource, and steward for community philanthropy, the Foundation is committed to helping every individual give back in a way that is both meaningful to them and the causes they care about.

We strive to support and improve our community. We believe philanthropy has the power to transform lives and shape the future of our community and world. And, we believe everyone has the potential and capacity to be a philanthropist. With that as our guiding principle, we work to help people of all means improve our community and world – today and in the future.

The Founders Award originated from the Founders Fund. This fund was  created in 2003 to honor all of the individuals who planted the seed for the start of the Winona Community Foundation in the 1980s. This endowed fund awards dollars to local non-profit chosen in the name of an individual or organization that clearly touched community life for all time. Past recipients of this award include: