Community Partner Award Recipient

If you are fortunate enough to have a friend you have known for 30, 40, 50 years or more, you know what a special gift you have. You have weathered challenges and changes together, celebrated one another’s successes, and learned from each other. Such is the case for our long-time partnership with the Lions Club of Wayzata.

Hammer & NER recently named the Lions Club of Wayzata as one of the recipients of this year’s Community Partner award. The award recognizes those who have made a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve, or whose efforts have greatly supported our mission to provide people with intellectual and other disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest.

We honestly don’t know when the relationship started, but both organizations have been an integral part of Wayzata for over 70 years. When you have mission-minded organizations in the same small, but growing community, they are bound to connect. The mission of the international Lions Club is to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives. Our shared values have led to a long and valued relationship.

“Being a part of a community like the Lions of Wayzata and helping local organizations like Hammer & NER is good for the soul,” says Tim Anderson, President of the Lions Club of Wayzata.”

Lauren and Dawn, from our Gardner home, enjoyed the waffle breakfast.

Since 1986, this humble group of community members has donated annually to Hammer & NER for a total of $58,000. Each year, on the last Saturday in February, the Lions organize a waffle breakfast fundraiser, open to the community, at St. Bart’s Catholic Church in Wayzata. They invite the people Hammer & NER supports to attend as their guests. It has become a favorite event for many! Some of the proceeds benefit Hammer & NER.

Hammer & NER is proud to celebrate the Lions Club of Wayzata for its dedicated support of our mission.

Editor’s note: In addition to Wayzata, the Lions Clubs of Plymouth, Hamel, Maple Grove, and White Bear Lake generously support our mission.

(Photo at right: Standing behind Lauren and Dawn are (from left) Wayzata Lions Club members Don Marks, Pat Moran, Tim Anderson, and George Jaques, joined by Isaiah Allen, Hammer & NER’s Chief Development Officer)