Recent News
Functional Industries Receives Grant from Otto Bremer Foundation
February 28, 2013 — Functional Industries, Inc. received a $49,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to support their Enduring Vision to secure additional community employment opportunities for individuals they serve, thus eliminating sheltered employment and the payment of special minimum wage rates. For over 40 years, Functional Industries has provided vocational services to people with barriers to employment.
"This grant will help us with the ongoing innovation and quality of our services. Please believe me when I say that initially embracing the ‘systems change’ required by this project was difficult… we are very proud of our existing programs and how they have enhanced the lives of the people we serve, and we find it difficult to move away from providing these familiar services to start providing the community based services proposed by this project. However, in our hearts we know this is the thing to do… it is our past success in program development and our genuine concern for the people we serve that motivates us to continue to explore, develop, and commit to new and different service options to meet the unmet needs of the people we serve. To this end… the goal of this project is to provide all individuals, regardless of disability or disadvantage, a genuine opportunity to secure and maintain integrated employment in the community of their choice, while maximizing their opportunities to earn a ‘livable wage’. We will accomplish this through the provision of high quality, person-centered, employment planning and individualized job placement options that have been uniquely designed to assist project participants in achieving full economic, civic, and social participation in and for the betterment of their communities! Our goal is to eliminate sheltered employment and place these individuals in community employment, in an environment and location of their choosing… this is our Enduring Vision!" said Rodney Pederson, President and CEO of Functional Industries, Inc.
About the Otto Bremer Foundation
Created in 1944, the Otto Bremer Foundation assists people in achieving full economic, civic, and social participation in and for the betterment of their communities. This mission is based on the intent of founder Otto Bremer. His vision and longstanding commitment to communities during and after the Great Depression are carried forward today through the Foundation's work in the places that are homes and neighbors to Bremer banks. The Foundation strives to help build healthy, vibrant communities - communities where basic needs are met, mutual regard is prized and opportunities for economic, civic, and social participation are within everyone's reach.
The Otto Bremer Foundation owns 92 percent of Bremer Bank, and receives an equivalent share of the bank profits that are paid out as dividends. This means that a large portion of bank profit is invested back in local communities through grants and program-related investments.
More About Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $8 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation. Founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer, the company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust and insurance products and services to nearly 100 locations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The Otto Bremer Foundation uses its share of dividends to distribute charitable grants to Bremer bank communities.