Carleton And St. Olaf Colleges 'Hand' Annual Donations To The City Of Northfield In Virtual Meeting

Press release from the City of Northfield:

February 4, 2021

Through some on-screen magic, Carleton College’s Vice President and Treasurer Eric Runestad and St. Olaf’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jan Hanson where able to “hand off” their annual donation checks during a virtual City Council meeting on February 2 to Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Administrator Ben Martig.

“We’re pleased to make our annual donation to the City of Northfield in the amount of $160,000 split between the two colleges. This annual gift dates back to the 1920s when Carleton and St. Olaf were among the first colleges in the United States to make such a gift,” stated St. Olaf College Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jan Hanson.

“Nearly 5,000 college students from the two colleges call Northfield home for the academic year. Northfield provides students with restaurants, shopping, and professional services. Students enjoy local entertainment, internships, and volunteer opportunities that expand their academic experience,” said Vice President and Treasurer for Carleton College Eric Runestad.

Runestad went on to say “Carleton, St. Olaf and Northfield have found their way through many challenging times. As we work through this one, we affirm the idea that good partnerships are the key to weathering times like this.”

“Both St. Olaf and Carleton are excellent partners for our community,” said Mayor Rhonda Pownell speaking to the colleges. “We appreciate all that you do and all that your bring. You put our community on the map internationally in an extraordinary way by bringing people to town who would potentially never hear of Northfield in any other way. Thank you for your partnership and the multiple ways you work in collaboration to enhance our community.”

Viewers can watch the clip of the “hand off” on the city’s YouTube channel or catch the full meeting on Northfield Public Broadcasting channels 180 and 187.

This press release was produced by the City of Northfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.