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For more information contact mark.a.kinders@uwrf.edu or brenda.k.bredahl@uwrf.edu.

SCV Community Foundation Awards Grant to St. Croix River Institute

JUNE 1, 2007--The St. Croix River Institute at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has received a grant from the River Partnership Fund of the St Croix Valley Community Foundation in Hudson.

Formally established in 2006, the St. Croix River Institute is a collaborative effort between the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the National Park Service, which oversees the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

"Our foundation is part of a unique partnership involving 16 other community foundations along the Mississippi River and major tributaries," said David Griffith, president of the SCVCF. "The river institute is an ideal way to draw attention to our own St. Croix River as well as its connection to other communities downstream."

The institute's mission is to understand and sustain the St. Croix River and river valley communities by connecting people with the riverway through programs and classes. Another goal of the institute is to develop partnerships with other entities in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and to foster a regional network of organizations united by their connections with the river, says Jill Greenhalgh, a program manager in the UWRF outreach and graduate studies department. These partnerships are intended to expand opportunities for research, education, service, and enrichment activities, and help raise public awareness about the river, issues associated with it, and the amenities it offers.

The institute has recently begun to provide academic courses, enrichment experiences and service opportunities and facilitate applied research, says Greenhalgh.

This summer the institute is offering a number of courses with the National Park Service, including fly fishing, canoeing, photography and literature inspired by the river.

Funding provided by the St Croix Valley Community Foundation allows the institute to market itself to potential partners and promote activities and opportunities.

The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation was formed by a group of area residents to provide an avenue for people to contribute to the long-term welfare and livability of the unique regions of the St. Croix and Upper Mississippi valleys. Governed by a board of local citizens, the foundation operates in Washington and Chisago counties of Minnesota and Polk, St. Croix and Pierce counties of Wisconsin.

For more information about the St. Croix River Institute, visit the web site at http://www.uwrf.edu/stcroix , send an email to stcroix@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3256 or 800-228-5607. For more information on the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation, visit www.scvcf.org or call 715-386-9490.

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