Friday, August 19, 2016

Otto Bremer Trust Supports Alcohol Recovery Center in Minnesota


Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Charlotte Johnson of the Otto Bremer Trust is in charge of overseeing the trust's investment in the Bremer Financial Corporation. Charlotte Johnson’s trusteeship of the Otto Bremer Trust emphasizes strong community support.

On a mission to improve the quality of life for families and communities affected by alcohol and drugs, the Otto Bremer Trust recently granted $250,000 to The Retreat in Wayzata, Minnesota. Based on the 12 principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Retreat was established more than 17 years ago to offer affordable educational services for people addicted to alcohol or drugs. The Retreat offers a residential recovery continuum with 30-, 60-, and 90-day programs alongside nonresidential family and seniors programs.

As the cost of health care continues to rise, access to alcohol and drug dependency programs in Minnesota is limited. From 2009 to 2013, recovery centers in the state provided alcohol abuse treatment to an estimated 20,000 people per year, making up 6.25% of the total alcohol dependents in the state. In the same period, these centers provided illicit drug use treatment to an estimated 17,000 people per year, making up about 13.7% of the total drug dependents in the state.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Otto Bremer Trust Grants $250,000 to Support St. Paul Police



Serving on the board of directors of the Bremer Financial Corporation, Charlotte Johnson, Otto Bremer Trust co-CEO, manages the corporation's investments in Bremer Bank. As part of the Otto Bremer Trust’s ongoing community outreach projects, they recently announced a $250,000 grant to the Saint Paul Police Foundation.

A non-profit supporting community projects that create partnerships, leverage technology to fight and solve crime, and enhance the preparedness of the Saint Paul Police Department, the Saint Paul Police Foundation is the bridge between the police and members of the community.

Some of the programs supported by the foundation include: Saint Paul Police Athletic League (PAL) which brings together the city’s police and the youth through recreational activities, the YWCA/Saint Paul Junior Police Academy which exposes youth to the operations of the police department so as to build trust, and the Advanced Via Individual Determination Program which prepares students for college success.

The foundation will use the grant to expand existing outreach programs. The Otto Bremer Trust also pledged $250,000 to support the police foundation’s programs in 2017.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Minnesota Produce during the Fall Season

 

Otto Bremer Trust co-CEO and trustee Charlotte Johnson plays a key role in the funding of organizations that create brighter futures for communities. When not working at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson enjoys cooking dishes that feature seasonal ingredients.

Using seasonal ingredients in your cooking can provide benefits ranging from better flavors to lower costs. In addition, eating these fruits and vegetables during their prime seasons ensures that you have excellent variety throughout the year. Like most US states, Minnesota farmers grow a wide array of produce that come into season throughout the year, but the fall season boasts a particularly impressive harvest.

As temperatures cool, vegetables such as carrots, apples, and brussels sprouts reach their peak season. Much of Minnesota’s fall produce is available through at least mid-November, but look for items like sweet corn and radishes before then. Dark green vegetables are also abundant throughout fall but will be out of season beginning in the winter. Fall is also the best time to purchase onions, which will be at their best throughout the entire season.