We Partner With:
Accurate Components & Fasteners
www.accuratecomp.com
Accurate brings years of experience and industry knowledge to supply quality components and fasteners, as well as adhesives, stampings, springs, hinges, and plastic, molded rubber and screw machined parts.
Please support our business partners with your spending dollars!
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Feedback
We value your feedback. Please let us know how we can improve this newsletter, or if you have suggestions for future articles or content, contact
Marketing & Communications Coordinator Emberly Hermann-Johnson via email at
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The old saying, there is strength in numbers, comes to mind when we think of celebrating our partners at Merrick. We would not be able to exist if we didn't have the support and connections of people just like you who believe in our mission.
An ongoing partnership of seven years with Mark Duea, brings him to the Board of Trustee spotlight article, and a local connection made through the St. Paul Saints shines a light on Tom who is working at the new Saints stadium as a greeter. |
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Mike, a client and Jo Ann Lizakowski, volunteer & event coordinator joined forces last month with other clients and staff at Merrick and people across the country for the national Red Nose Day USA, a campaign to help children living in poverty.
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This month we celebrate joining forces with local businesses, like Big Wood Brewery and LifeCore Yoga, who chose Merrick as their nonprofit giving partner for two upcoming events, read more below.
Our 20th Annual Charity Golf Schamble brought together over 100 Merrick supporters for a wonderful day of golf and socializing in Western Wisconsin and helped us to raise $46,000 to fund our mission.
Through these partnerships, we continue to grow as an organization and every day our staff work with our mission of empowering adults with disabilities at the core of all they do.
Thank you for joining forces with Merrick, and may the summer bring warmth to your door and your heart. ❖ |
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Board of Trustee Corner- Mark Duea
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What brought you to be a Trustee for Merrick?
My father worked for nonprofits and when you're raised in a household rich in volunteerism, you find yourself looking for opportunities to be of service to others. When I learned about Merrick, I knew this was where I wanted to devote that service.
How long have you been on Merrick's BOT?
Going on seven years.
What type of work do you do professionally?
I am an attorney with Geck, Duea & Olson in White Bear Lake. I work with a variety of legal matters but my practice centers heavily on issues involving business, banking and real estate.
What skills do you bring to the BOT that make you a valued member?What I strive to provide is a logical approach to the business direction of the organization. I feel my knowledge and experience as an attorney also helps the BOT in matters of policies and compliance.
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A supporter of Merrick fundraisers, Mark regularly brings his partners to the annual charity Golf Schamble. This year was no exception.
From left: Robb Olson, Tim Geck, Scott Emery and Mark.
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Why does being a Trustee for Merrick matter to you?Volunteering your time for those in need is one thing, but what Merrick does goes deeper; it's an organization devoted to helping individuals help themselves. Upon learning about Merrick's core values, I knew that any time and assistance I offered would be put to good use for that purpose. What are your hobbies/activities outside of work?My wife and I have three active kids but when I'm not chasing them around, I try to get out golfing when I can. If you could have any job in the world for one day, what would it be?Easy. Stand-in piano player on Bruce Springsteen's world tour.❖
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Local Entrepreneurs Step Up to Support Merrick
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Merrick, Inc. will soon be the beneficiary of two fun events organized by area businesses. On Tuesday, June 30, everyone is invited to Yoga Brew at Big Wood Brewery in downtown White Bear Lake. Allison from LifeCore Yoga will lead an All Levels yoga class and participants can follow it up with a pint of the brewery's best brew. Registration includes the class and the brew;
 proceeds benefit Merrick, Inc. To sign up for this Manitou Days event, visit www.lifecoreyoga.com. Spend a day on the links at Oak Glen Golf Club for Big Wood Brewery's First Annual BWB Golf Tournament on Monday, July 27. Enjoy golf, beer, food and prizes, with all proceeds going to Merrick. Sign up as a single golfer, twosome, threesome or foursome at www.bigwoodbrewery.com.
We thank LifeCore Yoga and Big Wood Brewery for their creative ways to support Merrick. We hope to see you at the events this summer.❖
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20th Anniversary Charity Golf Schamble scores success
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Thanks to presenting sponsor Lake Area Bank, and the many other sponsors, donors, golfers, staff, and volunteers who participated in this year's Charity Golf Schamble, we can proudly announce we met our fundraising goal!
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Everyone had a ball on June 8, 2015 at Troy Burne for
our 20th Annual Charity Golf Schamble.
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Event Highlights:
Winner of Golfer's Dream Raffle:
Grand Prize: Edward Rajtar
2nd Prize: $250 each
Norm Munk
Matt Verdoorn
Chip for a Chance, sponsored by Warners' Stellian
Winner, Randy Peterson: Dyson Ball Vacuum
Hit the Green, sponsored by Maaco Little Canada
Winner, Tim Phippen: $500 Gift Certificate
Beat the Boss, sponsored by Troy Burne Golf Club
Winner, Jamey Austad: Foursome with Cart at Troy Burne
Golf Bag Fun, sponsored by Dala Ad Agency
Winner, Ed Jambor: Callaway V-speed golf bag and driver cover & half "the kitty"
Box of Titleist golf balls, sponsored by Principal Financial
Winner, Matt Sieh
Putting Contest
Winner, Chris Kapisak
Yellow Ball Contest
Winner, Arnett Team
Golf Schamble #1 team:
SevenHills Benefit Partners
Chris Schneeman
Tim Madden
Tony Black
John Bennett
A delightful time was had by all! Check out the event photos posted on Flickr at this link: https://www.flickr.com/gp/merrickinc/8xG1sb ❖
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Did you know?
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The average cost for a client to attend Merrick is $78 per day which includes program costs and transportation to and from Merrick. We count on the financial donations of supporters like you to help us provide the supports for clients to maintain or improve quality of life. Please consider making a donation by June 30 to provide these services for people who are seeking work opportunities or those wanting to improve or maintain their quality of life.
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When you donate to Merrick, you enable people like Bill to receive services like horticulture, art, pet, and music therapy. YOU make a difference.
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Your donation directly impacts people like Bill, who for twenty-five years worked at the McDonald's on Cope Avenue as a dining room attendant. Under our Supported Employment Services program, his employment specialist met regularly with Bill and the McDonald's supervisor to ensure the business partnership flourished. In the summer of 2012, Bill chose to retire and sought the day services of our North St. Paul site. This program gives Bill a place to "belong" and provides horticulture, art, pet, and music therapy which he thoroughly enjoys
Thank you for considering a tax-deductible gift to Merrick. All donations are gratefully accepted. Please visit www.merrickinc.org and click on 'Donate Today' to make your donation electronically or send your contribution to Merrick, Inc. at 3210 Labore Road - Vadnais Heights, MN 55110. Your support matters every day to the adults with disabilities we so proudly serve. ❖
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Client Spotlight | Tom | Independent Services
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Tom shares wisdom, like "fake it til you make it" as part of his life's philosophy.
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"Never let good enough - be enough" is the life motto for Tom, a client at Merrick and probably one of the reasons he is a 13-year veteran employee with Orchestra Hall. Tom is polite, charismatic, cheerful, outgoing and confident, so it comes as no surprise that his choice of employment would be centered on helping others. Aside from working at Orchestra Hall, Tom has worked as a camp counselor for 18 years at Camp Friendship, and worked for Whelen Security at the Minnesota Vikings games. However, of all of his jobs he loves ushering the most and without a doubt is the "usher of ushers." Tom recently began ushering for the Saint Paul Saints. His first day was opening day at their new stadium and of course, the job fit him like a glove.
In addition to working, Tom enjoys spending time with friends, going to movies, attending concerts, dining out and shopping. He likes to watch football and cheer on the Minnesota Twins. No doubt he'll quickly become a Saints fan as well. Maintaining good health is a priority for Tom, so he participates in an annual three- day bicycle tour; he loves the exhilarating feeling of riding with a group, the challenges of the course, and the comraderie of the other bike enthusiasts.
Tom has been receiving support from Merrick for about eight months, and not surprisingly is liked by all who meet him. Recently, when asked how he remains so upbeat while working, especially if he is having a bad day his response was "fake it 'til you make it." With this positive attitude he will be successful in all his endeavors quite possibly in even securing his dream job of being an usher at the White House. Tom would love to see you at a Saints game. Come and cheer on the hometown team that supports Merrick!
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| | Tom at work as a greeter at the St. Paul Saint's CHS Field. |
Get to know more clients at Merrick through the Client Spotlight feature on our website. Visit: http://www.merrickinc.org/client-spotlight.html ❖
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