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Live First Community Giving 2021

Winners selected from 115 applicants

First International Bank & Trust is proud to announce the winners of the Seventh Annual Live First Community Giving Campaign. One hundred and fifteen community organizations applied for this year’s program, which attracted more than 100,000 interactions on Social Media.

Due to the overwhelming response and overall quality of nominations, the decision was made to award two grand prize grants of $10,000, increasing the total dollar amount given away to $52,000.

Please join us in congratulating the following community groups selected as recipients for our 2021 Live First Community Grants!

$10,000 Grand Prize Award – Ministry on the Margins, Bismarck, ND

Ministry on the Margins is a volunteer-based ministry committed to supporting those who fall through the cracks, especially during times of transition. We serve over 1,000 people per week through our food pantry, emergency sheltering, prison and prison reentry ministry, eye clinic, foot and hand care, free haircuts, various support groups, street outreach, and passionate presence on the margins.

$10,000 Grand Prize Award – Killdeer Area Ambulance, Killdeer, ND

The members of Killdeer Area Ambulance Service dedicate our resources to provide competent, compassionate, professional emergency medical care to those we serve, with dignity and respect.

$5,000 Rising Star Award – McKenzie County Rural Fire District – Keene Department, Keene, ND

McKenzie Country Rural Fire District – Keene Department is a volunteer rural fire department with 29 members, based 25 miles from the nearest hospital. We respond to calls for medical, grass, oilfield and residential fires, along with vehicle crash and rescue calls.

$5,000 Rising Star Award – Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, Phoenix, AZ

Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels is a nonprofit, support and educational organization founded in 2012 in celebration of Amanda Hope’s life. During her three-year fight with leukemia and nine-month battle with a brain tumor, Amanda Hope dreamed that one day she would design a fun clothing line for kids just like her that would provide comfort and dignity during chemo treatments. Amanda’s life ended too soon but her dream lives on through our Comfycozys for Chemo apparel and her legacy continues with our expansion of programs and services.

$5,000 Rising Star Award –Faith in Action, Harvey, ND

The Faith in Action program connects volunteer drivers with those in need of transportation to medical/dental appointments in Carrington, New Rockford, Bismarck, Jamestown, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot. Volunteer drivers donate their time and are reimbursed at the current IRS mileage reimbursement rate for the use of their vehicle. This program is coordinated though the Mission and Spiritual Services Office at CHI St. Alexius Health, Carrington and supported in its entirety by funding from donations to the Faith in Action Mileage Fund.

$5,000 Rising Star Award –Box of Balloons, Fargo, ND

Our mission is simple – to ensure that EVERY child is celebrated and each birthday is HAPPY for children in the Fargo-Moorhead area. We do that by partnering with community social workers and child advocates to identify and provide “birthday parties in a box” to children who might not otherwise have one or be celebrated. Our core belief is that every child deserves to feel special and have a memorable birthday, despite their family’s current situation, living arrangements, or financial status.

$5,000 Rising Star Award –Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center, Bismarck and Dickinson, ND

The mission of the DCAC is to provide a safe, family friendly environment that promotes hope, health, and healing to traumatized children and their families.

$1,000 Social Media Stars

  • Almost Home Canine Rescue, Sioux Falls, SD
  • Hairball Haven, Minot, ND
  • Hopeful Heart Project, Fargo, ND

$500 Additional Awards

  • Dunn County Baseball
  • Williston Boom Fast Pitch
  • Killdeer Wrestling
  • Help in Healing Home Foundation
  • Goodrich Rural Fire Department
  • American Gold Gymnastics
  • Red River Human Services Foundation
  • Dreams in Motion

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2021 Live First Community Grant Program! Whether you were an applicant, or participated in our social media awareness campaign, your interest is what makes this program a success, and keeps these vital programs running in our communities.

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