Circle of Vision Awards Dinner 2018

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Dawn Ganje (Senior Development Officer, center) and Nancy
Vyskocil (President, right) present Keith and Sandra Fontaine (left) 
with the Circle of Vision award.
On Monday, August 6th the newest members of NMF's Circle of Vision were recognized at the Red Lake Falls American Legion.

The Circle of Vision was established to recognize those people who see the possibilities of tomorrow; who believe in their communities, and, who have chosen to share of themselves and their resources. This award is presented in recognition for gifts of $100,000 or more made in direct support of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation or any of its component funds.

Neen Lillquist - Neen's Future in Space Scholarship
Anita “Neen” Lillquist was the director of Northwest Minnesota Community Health Education Council in Bemidji in the mid-70s, advocating for and providing health education and disease prevention services. During her lifetime she was the director of Ah-Gwah-Ching State Nursing Home, director of Nursing Service at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan and then served in Katmandu, Nepal as a senior nurse administrator under the World Health Organization. She also helped to develop a 650 bed hospital in Pakistan, which served as a model for developing countries. She established Neen’s Future in Space Scholarship Fund in 2014, providing annual scholarships to students pursuing a major or career focus in science, technology, engineering or math.

Neen was honored posthumously for her impact on education in Northwest Minnesota.

Kris Fontaine Memorial Scholarship - Keith and Sandra Fontaine
Keith and Sandra Fontaine moved to the Red Lake Falls community in 1969, and they have always believed in the value of education and in the young people in the community. Sandra was the transportation director for the school district, and when Keith retired, he began driving school bus for her. Keith often drove buses of young people to sporting events and other activities.

When their son, Kris, a school district hockey and golf coach, passed away in 1999, Keith and Sandra focused their grief toward establishing the Kris Fontaine Scholarship Fund for Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls. They, in partnership with generous contributions from the community members of Red Lake Falls, through their sponsored golf tournament, have raised over $100,000 to benefit Lafayette graduates through the Kris Fontaine Scholarship fund. Since the inception of the fund, 92 scholarships totaling $53,000 have been awarded to date. They have certainly established a wonderful legacy, honoring their son Kris, and supporting education and young people in the community.

The Fontaine family was in attendance and spoke a few words of gratitude for the community's support for the scholarship fund.


Kip Fontaine speaks to the crowd on behalf of the family.

Sandra and Keith Fontaine (Center) with their children
and grandchildren.

For more information and to view a full list of NMF Circle of Vision members, follow this link to our website.

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