Live First Community Giving 2022

First International Bank & Trust is proud to announce the winners of the Eighth Annual Live First Community Giving Campaign. More than 150 community organizations applied for this year’s program.

Please join us in congratulating the following community groups selected as recipients for our 2022 Live First Community Grants!

$15,000 Grand Prize Award – Camp Metigoshe, Bottineau, ND

Camp Metigoshe is a summer camp located in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. Rooted in the Lutheran tradition, they are a camp that welcomes people of all background and faith traditions - including those who may not know what they believe.

$5,000 Rising Star Award – Wellness in the Woods – Eagle Bend, MN

Wellness in the Woods is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides programs and activities centered on advocacy, education, and expanding statewide peer networks. As an organization, they are dedicated to improving access to mental health care for all residents of Minnesota with a focus on reaching underserved communities.

$5,000 Rising Star Award – A New Leaf, Mesa, AZ

A New Leaf advances its mission of Helping Families‚ Changing Lives, by providing meaningful opportunities to empower disadvantaged individuals and families and to create a stronger and healthier community. A New Leaf’s 36 programs in the Phoenix Metro area address households’ immediate and longer-term needs through a continuum of care that promotes social and economic health and stability. Services include emergency shelter, supportive housing, domestic and sexual violence support, financial empowerment, behavioral and primary health care, foster care, early childhood education, and family preservation.

$2,500 Rising Star Award – TR 4 Heart and Soul, Bismarck, ND

TR 4 Heart and Soul is 501c3, non-profit corporation, that seeks to improve the quality of life, both physically and emotionally for children and adults with disabilities and challenges through the heart and soul of a horse.

$2,500 Rising Star Award – Project BEE, Minot, ND

Project BEE’s (formerly known as the YWCA) mission is to improve the lives of men, women, and families experiencing homelessness by providing equity and anti-poverty services to rural communities in North Dakota through shelter, services, and support that empowers them to improve the quality of their lives through client-centered programs and services.

$2,500 Rising Star Award – DakotAbilities, Sioux Falls, SD

DakotAbilities provides meaning and opportunity for people with disabilities. The organization supports people from 38 South Dakota counties with residential support, day service, nursing support, PT and OT, dietary support and more.

$2,500 Rising Star Award – Reel Hope Project, Minneapolis, MN

The Reel Hope Project partners with Minnesota adoption agencies and counties to create two-minute profile videos or “reels” of children in foster care. Their team travels throughout the full state to film these incredible kids in a setting unique to them that best captures their personality. Each reel shows Minnesotans that our state is the current guardian for many local children who cannot return home, through no fault of their own.

$1,000 Rising Star Award – Dunn County Food Pantry, Killdeer, ND

Dunn County Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization that provides food and supplies to all of Dunn County. Over a 12-month period, they served more than 200 families in Dunn County distributing over 10,000 pounds of food and supplies.

$1,000 Rising Star Award – Vision West, Dickinson, ND

Vision West ND is a consortium of counties, cities, businesses and business organizations, and others whose mission is to Lead, Educate, and Collaborate to mobilize western North Dakota towards a resilient and prosperous quality of life for all residents.

$1,000 Rising Star Award – Fort Buford 6th Infantry, Williston, ND

Ford Buford 6th Infantry is a living history organization promoting local history and tourism.

$1,000 Rising Star Award – Alexander First Responders, Alexander, ND

The Alexander First Responders are a small but strong group of first responders serves the local community of Alexander, ND and the surrounding area.

$1,000 Rising Star Award – Bakken Oil Rush Ministry, Watford City, ND

Bakken Oil Rush Ministry is committed to helping members of the community by offering rock-bottom-priced gently used clothing and household items through its thrift store while also providing resource assistance along with various programs throughout the year such as outreach gatherings and toy giveaways. Our mission is to care, connect, and collaborate in order to promote well-being within the Watford City Community.

$1,000 Social Media Stars

• Hairball Haven, Minot, ND
• Full STEAM Ahead, Minot, ND
• 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, Moorhead, MN

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2022 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.