Patrick Donahue James J. Hill's Legacy of Supporting Entrepreneurship
James J. Hill was born in Canada and emigrated to St. Paul to work as a shipping clerk for a steamboat company. Hard work and a head for business made him successful enough in the shipping business that he was able to buy a railroad at age 38 and eventually expanded it to be a transcontinental railway (Great Northern) without using any public funds, making it the only privately financed transcontinental railway. Hill knew the value of private investment capital and used it wisely, promoting businesses in the communities through which his railways ran and giving back in various ways. The James J. Hill Center in St. Paul is Mr. Hill’s living legacy to support entrepreneurship. The Hill Center along with individual founders of Hill Capital did research on the business finance landscape and found that small companies seeking $500,000 to $5,000,000 in financing to grow their company are increasingly unable to do so. Hill Capital was formed to launch a publicly-held private equity firm to be collaborative with all sources of finance and help fill this capital void in the finance market. Hill Capital represents an opportunity to help address this gap, leverage the wisdom of the community and bring people together with shared economic interests in the growth of entrepreneurial companies throughout the Empire Builder corridor.
Items given or committed by donors between July 12-Aug. 8: Click Read More
Mr. Car Wash: Certificate of 10 platinum car washes
Kate Spade black crossbody purse donated by Carol Sundet-Meeker
Adogo: Two one-night stays for a pet at any Adogo location (excludes holidays)
Flying Cloud Animal Hospital: One complimentary pet exam $53)
Porterhouse/Chianti Grill: Two $25 gift certificates
Park Tavern: Free bowling party for up to 40 people includes bowling and shoes (Max: 6 lanes)
Old Chicago: Pizza for a year.. 1 free pizza every month up to $25/month
Parley Lakes Winery: two bottles of wine, logo glasses, & 4 wine tastings
Popped Corn in Minnetonka: Popped corn basket ($50)
Designer Sofa Server donated by Glenn Olson
Bearpath: Round of Golf for 1 with Bob Starr donated by Bob Starr
MN Twins tickets for two to 2 Twins games donated by Prafulla Vegunta
Gina Maria's Pizza: Six $10 gift certificates for pizza at EP location
Thunderbird Aviation: $119 gift certificate to use towards a Scenic Flight from Flying Cloud or Crystal Airport
Carry All Foldable Cart donated by Frank and MaryJo Sherwood
"Trio of Beauty" package includes portrait photography by The Imagery, hairstylist from The Look Salon and wardrobe consultant from Styles and Statement
Duluth Trading Company: Scout's Seat Saver (blanket to cover back seat of a car for a dog)
Stages Theater: 4-ticket package to any Mainstage production
Joan Howe-Pullis and Shehla Mushtaq - Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle - Bringing Different Faiths Together
Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle representatives Joan Howe-Pullis and Shehla Mushtaq shared details about their organization, whose mission is "to celebrate the commonality and diversity of our faith traditions, fostering understanding and acceptance." The Interfaith Circle is made up of people of all the great faith traditions and their various expressions as well as secular humanists.
Interfaith Circle is an independent organization that hopes to help bring faith (and those who do not belong to a faith community) communities together without putting the burden on individual faith communities to plan and execute. They have a service around Thanksgiving and 800 people attended the last one at Pax Christi church. The Circle picked this time of the year since it is an American community celebration. This is a ‘feel good opportunity’ to bring people together. This was originally initiated after 9/11. There was also an increase in diversity and this group felt the need for fostering understanding among different groups. As part of this, they are also looking for a neutral venue.
The three areas Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle is currently exploring and will continue to do so:
- A yearly Thanksgiving event
- Education/sharing experiences between faith communities
- Service projects
Spotlight on Mike Kraines
Mike Kraines is Executive Director of CHOICE, an Eden Prairie-based non-profit dedicated to creating partnerships and programs that enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Mike and his brother Alan worked with the Twin Cities Tree Trust in the mid-70s. He went to St Cloud State University and graduated with a major in Psychology and minor in Business. He dabbled for a short while in business but found his home where his heart belonged – in helping people with disabilities. He has been with CHOICE for over 25 years.
Announcements
Chicken Challenge a big success – exceeded the goal by collecting 1169 cans.
Vino Classico – Walmart gave their check to become the first sponsor for 2016. We also started getting some silent auction items.
Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s annual Brewfest on September 10.
Paul Harris Fellows: Greg Albrecht, Jeanne Zetah, Matt Crane, Jennifer Loon, and Yvonne Selcer.
Normandale College thanked our club for scholarships we sponsored.
We will have a joint meeting with Eden Prairie noon club on Thursday, September 8.
Happy Fines
Irene Kelly happy to be back from a family reunion in Jersey City.
Brad Aho, who has been a City Council member for 16 years, is filing for another term.
Dan O’Brien celebrating his 43rd marriage anniversary.
Dennis Kim was pleased that his exchange students were at the meeting.
John Crudele back from a speakers’ convention in Phoenix, AZ.
Bev Aho made a pitch for Brewfest.
Dick Ward for PROP.
Mike Kraines is happy that his son’s car was in the garage thereby preventing further accidents.
Visitors
Prospective member Cassie Bruggemann.
Student interns Bailey DeMets and Parker Hewitt.
Former member and President Jim Bissonett.
Dennis Kim’s Korean exchange students Cheongbin Lee, Hyeri Lim, and Andrea Kim.
Sat. Oct. 8, from 6:30-9 pm at Eden Prairie Community Center
Spotlight on Mike Kraines