March 31, 2025: The St. Croix Valley Foundation has awarded $167,000 to 13 organizations across Minnesota and Wisconsin to support children and families during the first three years of life—what experts call the “first thousand days,” a critical time for physical, mental, emotional, and social development.
This marks the second year of grantmaking from the Foundation’s First Thousand Days Grant Program, a growing initiative aimed at ensuring every child in the St. Croix Valley has a strong start in life. The funding was made possible by the generosity of Bill and Rita Lawson of Somerset, WI, who established the First Thousand Days Field of Interest Fund with the St. Croix Valley Foundation in 2022.
Inspired by research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis showing the lifelong return on early childhood investments, the Lawsons launched the fund to catalyze local action and invited others to join. This year’s grants were also made possible by contributions from additional donors, along with the support of a volunteer grant review panel.
Among the 13 grantees is Little Moments Count, a regional initiative led by Lakeview Hospital and HealthPartners. Thanks to First Thousand Days funding, the St. Croix Valley became the first place in Wisconsin to adopt this groundbreaking program, which promotes early brain development through simple, everyday moments—like talking, reading, and playing with babies and toddlers.
“With support from the St. Croix Valley Foundation, we brought Little Moments Count across the river to the St. Croix Valley in 2024 and launched an important regional collaboration,” said Kristen Mollan, Community Health Manager at Lakeview Hospital.
“This year, we’re building on that momentum—training new community ambassadors, hosting outreach events, and expanding the circle of people and organizations supporting early development. This funding helped us spark something here that has real potential to serve as a model for other rural communities.”
Mollan and her team partner closely with Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley and Family Friendly Workplaces to implement the program locally.
“This kind of collaboration is what makes the St. Croix Valley special, said Neil Kline, Development and Communications Manager at Family Resource Center and Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces. “We all understand the importance of early childhood development, and by working together and building on each other’s strengths, we’re expanding the circle of people who know about it, care about it, and want to support it. And that’s good for our kids and our rural communities.”
Congratulations to all of the 2025 First Thousand Days Grant Recipients:
• Bridge to Books – Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Washington County): $10,000
• Chisago Lakes School District #2144 – Early Childhood Education (Chisago County): $5,000
• Elsie’s Barnyard – Babies at the Barnyard (Pierce County): $3,000
• Family Friendly Workplaces, Inc. – General Operating (Regional): $5,000
• Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley – General Operating (Regional): $30,000
• Lakeview Hospital – Little Moments Count (Regional): $30,000
• Larsen Family Public Library – Storytime Program (Burnett County): $1,000
• Mahtomedi Early Childhood – General Operating (Washington County): $5,000
• Pierce County Public Health Department – Birth to 3 (Pierce County): $8,000
• Reach Out and Read Minnesota – General Operating (Regional): $30,000
• Reach Out and Read Wisconsin – General Operating (Regional): $30,000
• Western Dairyland EOC – Child Care Partnership Program (St. Croix County): $5,000
• Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community – Babies Are Artists, Too! (Chisago County): 5,000
“These grants are a testament to our region’s shared commitment to families and children,” said Angie Pilgrim, St. Croix Valley Foundation’s Vice President of Community Impact. “We know that early investment builds a foundation for everything that follows—school readiness, lifelong health, social well-being, and economic opportunity. We’re grateful to the Lawsons and all our funding partners for making this possible.”
The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves a six-county region spanning Washington and Chisago Counties in Minnesota and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin. Partnering with donors, local community affiliates, and nonprofits, the foundation stewards and grows endowments that fuel vital programs—today and for generations to come. Through strategic grantmaking and strong community partnerships, the St. Croix Valley Foundation is helping build a more vibrant, resilient, and generous region.
To learn more about the First Thousand Days initiative or to contribute, visit: scvfoundation.org/FirstThousandDays.
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