You helped a young person find where they belong
Somewhere in Minnesota today, a kid who used to dread lunch found a seat at the table. A classmate stepped in instead of looking away. An argument at home ended in an apology instead of a slammed door. You were part of every one of those moments.
Your gifts bring PeaceMaker Minnesota’s bullying prevention and conflict resolution programs into schools, workplaces, and communities, where people learn the empathy, kindness, and connection that make peace possible. Some of you give every December. Some of you match what your employees raise. Some of you give on the 15th of every month without fail. However you give, this page is our thank-you, name by name.
Our reach
Totals since PeaceMaker began, through December 31, 2025.
See our annual reach on our Impact page.
My son was at a different school last year and was constantly bullied. We moved him to his new school for second grade. We noticed right away how things were different. He came home using anti-bullying language. He was excited for recess and said he felt safe. We were impressed with the cross-grade peace groups — we knew whenever they had their monthly meetings because he came home excited and told us all about what they did. He participated in his first peace walk this year and absolutely loved it. We’ve seen a dramatic change in him: he looks forward to school every day and has made lots of friends. Now all our friends want their children to attend his school.
Every name on this page helped make that possible.
28 years of bullying prevention in Minnesota
PeaceMaker Minnesota has run bullying prevention and conflict resolution programs in Minnesota schools for 28 years, including Ambassadors for Respect, Books for Peacemakers, Peace Guide Services, and Safe School Initiatives. The Peaceful Pen is now bringing that same work into workplaces and communities, offering reflective listening and communication training to teams and neighborhood groups statewide. None of it happens without people who believe a Minnesota community can look different. Whether you're a school leader ready to bring bullying prevention training to your school, a workplace exploring harassment prevention training for your team, or simply looking for ways to support anti-bullying efforts in your Minnesota community, these lists show it's already working.
Leadership Level
One gift of $1,000 or more, given anytime in the year.
Cornerstone Partners
A gift that repeats every month, rain or shine.
Bridge Builders
A gift aimed at creating greater impact next year, in 2030, 2040, and beyond.
Leadership Level
A Leadership Level gift is $1,000 or more within a single calendar year — enough to fund a bullying-prevention presentation for an entire grade, or keep a Peace Guide in a Minnesota school for another month. Every name below chose to give at that level in 2025.
$5,000 and above19
$4,999 – $2,50014
$2,499 – $1,00043
Cornerstone Partners
Cornerstone Partners gives monthly to Minnesota's bullying and harassment prevention nonprofit. A $15 gift in January isn't dramatic on its own — but the same $15 arriving every month, from dozens of people, is what lets us plan a school year instead of scrambling for one. These are the donors who never had to be asked twice.
Uniter · $200+ / mo1
Mentor · $100–$199 / mo3
Mediator · $50–$99 / mo7
Healer · $25–$49 / mo8
Ambassador · $10–$24 / mo10
Bridge Builders
Bridge Builders give to PeaceMaker's permanent funds—money invested rather than spent, so the return alone can fund bullying prevention work in Minnesota long after this year's kindergartners graduate. We appreciate all those who gave in 2025.
Trustee · $5,000+2
Leader · $2,500–$4,9991
Director · $1,000–$2,49916
Guide · $500–$99928
Advisor · $1–$499203
Campaign Recognition
In our two annual campaigns, Community Counts (May) and Candle Lighter (November), we recognize every donor who participates. We appreciate everyone who makes our mission their mission.
COMMUNITY COUNTS Campaign (May)
2026 Donors = 303
Matching Money: $23,500
Fundraising Goal: $37,000
2026 Raised: $52,427, including matching gifts
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A: Jean Ahles, Amy Wakem Ins & Financial Services, Inc., Elmer L. & Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation, John Argos, Argos Law.
B: Liz Barnes, Sally Barrow, Kyle Bartholomay, Kristin Bates, Cathy Bergeron, Barb Bergseth, Jerilyn Birnie, Beth Blackledge, Boston Scientific, Jim Brandt, Brecount, Bremer Bank- South St Paul, Mary- Ellen Briel, Tim & Marian Briggs, Mary Ann Briguet, Gayle Brotzler, Donna & Ward Budde, Mark & Julie Burgoyne, Alec Burgoyne, Linda Burkhard.
C: Alan Calof, CAP Carpet & Flooring, Kathy Casey, Mary Cerkvenik, Cherokee Manufacturing, LLC, Richard Clark, Heather Clark, Billie Conlon, Kiasha Cooper, Karen & Howard Cronin, Curbside Waste, Cyber Village Academy.
D: Dakota County Employees, David & Tamara Dobbins, Gaye & John Dutcher.
E: Eden Prairie Lioness Club, Colleen Emery, Michael Ennis, Karen Erickson.
F: Christa Fangmeier, Ruthena & Douglas Fink, Lois & Mark Finney, Therese Fleetham, Kristine Flores, Fredrikson Foundation, Carole Froehle, John Frundt.
G: Robert & Sarah Gabler, Monica Gallagher, Kimberly Gehrts, Glacier Hills Booster Club, Gwendolyn & Thomas Gmeinder, Bill & Nicole Gottwaldt, Keith Greeninger, Vivian Greeninger.
H: Diane Hansmeier, Robert & Helen Hatlevig, Jim & Amy Hauge, Sarah & Nelson Hayes, Susan Heinz, David Hill, Karla Hill-Donisch, Sherrelyn Hokenson, John & Colleen Hooley, The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation, Jeffery Hudson.
I: —
J: Nancy Jacobs, Emily Janke, Katherine Johannes, Donna Johnson, Mary A. Jungmann.
K: Ronald Karow.
L: Lake Park Audubon Public School District employees, John & Nikki Laliberte, Virgina & William Laliberte, Joyce Lee,Megan Lehmann, Peter &Claudia LeNeau, Lewis Leung, Maplewood North Lions, Isaac & Maggie Loch, Jacob Loch, Alan & Kathy Loch, Marion London.
M: Jack MacMillan, Corey Maiers, Maple Lake Lions Club, Maplewood Oakdale Lions Club, Marilyn & Marie Martin, Carole & Paul Mayers, Bill & Pat McCann, Dan McNeil, Lisa & William Milbert,City of Minneapolis - Funder , MN Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, Modern Montessori Charter School, Monticello Public School District employees, Moorhead Public School District employees, Rebecca Motzko, Jill & Joel Munsinger.
N: Kyoko Nagayasu, John Nelson, Laura Nereng, Becky Nilson, North Suburban St. Paul Kiwanis, Northeast Bank, Notre Ecole, Daniel & Nancy Novack.
O: Eric & Angela Olson, Open Door Community Theater,Tina Otten-Gregory.
P: Julie Penshorn, Cheryl Peterson, Barbara Pierson, Premier Banks -Maplewood.
R: Mary and Tim Reimann, Anna Reimann, Jim & Sharron Rice, Mike & Beth Robertson, Scott Roste.
S: S. G. Reinertsen Elementary School, Safe Save Funds, Carol Sanford, Elaine Santiago, Jim Sawyer, Schenian Family Foundation, Inc., Carolyn Schueller, Robert & Mary Schultz, Martin & Sandy Schutz, Glen Skuta, James & Jeanne Smith, James Smith, Rita & Ronald Spiess, Dan Spiess, St. Charles Borromeo School, St. Cloud Morning Optimist Club, Summer St. George, Mary Stadick, Krissy Stanny, State of Minnesota - Office of Justice Programs - Youth Intervention, State of Minnesota - Office of Justice Programs - CCIP, State of Minnesota Employees, Mary Jane Steinhagen, Heidi Steltzner, Art Stoeberl, Valerie Swenson.
T: Taurinskas Law Firm, P.A., Tennis Sanitation, L.L.C., Lisa Thomas, Roger & Christine Thompson, Richard & Ann Thonet, Darren Tobolt, Joan & Steve Tusa.
V: Cheryl & Wesley Volkenant.
W: Ann Walton, Nate Wandersee, Waterous Co., Marjorie Watson, West Metro Buick-GMC.
Z: —
*Names updated as of 11/24/25
CANDLE LIGHTER Campaign (November)
2025 Donors = 330
Matching Money: $32,500 + $750 last-minute
Fundraising Goal: $65,000
2025 Raised: $72,315, including matching gifts
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A: Adagio's Pizza Factory, Elizabeth Adams, Lisa Agrimonti, Diane Albright, Mary Alea, Paul Amundson, Barbara Anderson, Tiana Anderson, Faythe Anderson, Tamra Anderson, Gayle Appelbaum, Colleen Armacanqui, Carolyn Atz.
B: Naaz Babvani, Eleonore Balbach, Kyle Bartholomay, Chris Beach, Heather Beal, Lynn Belgea, Cathy Bergeron, Barb Bergseth, Mary Cress Berlowe, Marian Biehn, Nancy Binning, Ron & Martha Bisek, Virginia Bjerke Ohman, Lisa Boelter, Diane Boonstra, Judy and Richard Borgen, Robert & Kelly Boucher, Marquise & Treva Bowie, Shirley Bradway, Stephanie Branchaud, Jim Brandt, Tim & Marian Briggs, Linda Brody, Gayle Brotzler, Mark & Joli Bruggeman, Bruggeman Realty & Tax, Christine Brunkhorst, Rod Bruns, Jeanne Buckeye, Donna & Ward Budde, Gina & Todd A. Bunkers, James & Karolyn Busacker.
C: CAP Carpet & Flooring, Kathy Casey, Richard Clark, Billie Conlon, Peg Cooper, Karen & Howard Cronin, Patricia Cummings.
D: Kimberly Dahlen, Dakota County Employees, Donna Daykin, Thomas & Sara Delich, Elizabeth Deretich, Nickie Dillon, Naomi Dorau, Hayla Drake, Susan & John Dunlop.
E: Weston Edwards, Stacy Elliott, Elizabeth England, Karen Erickson, Carla Erpelding, Sandra Evans.
F: Mike & Linda Fahey, Nancy & Jeff Fahrenkrug-Roatch, Joni Farris, Ruthena & Douglas Fink, Amelia Fink, Lois & Mark Finney, Aiko Fisher, Terry Fleetham, Pierce Fleming, D Follmer, Carole Froehle, John Frundt.
G: Paula Gajewski Mickelson, Monica Gallagher, Mary Gallagher, Janice Garrett, Kimberly Gehrts, Tiffany Geis, Laura Gilbert, Larry Gillespie, Jeff Gintz, Charles Gintz, Lori Gleason, Gwendolyn & Thomas Gmeinder, Brian Goodspeed, Bill & Nicole Gottwaldt, Ron Graff, Lisa Gray, Lisa Gray, Sarah Green, Keith Greeninger, Vivian Greeninger, Michael & Roma Gregory, James & Barb Grieman, Daniel Grundtner, Mandy & Ryan Grunklee, Angela Guerrero, Steven Gustafson.
H: Janna Halsrud, Lynda Hamig, Melissa & Mark Hamre, Richard & Suzanne Hansen, Beverly Hanson, Robert & Linda Harmon, Tracy Harris, Steve & MJ Haschig, Diane Haugesag, Kate Havelin, Susan Hayden, Gregory & Trisha Heimann, Susan Heinz, Marisa Helms Flatebo, Lisa Hensel, Dale & Linda Herlon, Karla Hill-Donisch, Martha Hoffman, Melody Holland-Rehder, Geoff & Debra Hollimon, Bill Hudson, Dale Hulme.
I: Mike & Karen Illies,
J: Paul & Denise Jacobsen, Elizabeth & James Jaeger, Judy & David Jerde, Stacy Johnson, Elsie Johnson, Carol & Warren Johnson, Veronica Johnson, Naomi Jones, Debbie Jones, Lani Jordan.
K: Vincent King, St. Anthony Kiwanis Club, Michelle Kneip, St. John the Baptist New Brighton Knights of Columbus Council #14250, James & Linda Koren, Kay Kramer, Ann Kuitunen, Vicki Kunerth.
L: Mark & Judy Labine, Lake Park Audubon Public School District employees, John & Nikki Laliberte, David & Terri Lambach, Elaine & Thomas Lehmann, Elizabeth Leitch Sell, Peter & Claudia LeNeau, Lewis Leung, Jina Lien, Theresa Lienau, Marion London, Angelo & Pamela Louisa.
M: Mary M, Jack MacMillan, Helen Maddix, Kevin Maher, Tadeusz Majewski, Dianne Makozak, Harriette Manis, Laurence & Karin Margolis, Joshua Margolis, Eugene & Ann Mason, Carol Masters, Susan Maxson, Carole & Paul Mayers, Rosalyn McBride, Marie McCafferty, Bill & Pat McCann, Sandra McDonald, Karin McEwan, Lisa McLeod, Dan McNeil, Mike McNeil, Molly McNeil, Susan Mehrkens, Lotte Melman, Kay Miller, Jason Miller, Paul Miller, Ian Millington, Mary Molumby, Monticello Middle School, Monticello Public School District employees, Michael Moore, John Murphy, Catherine Murphy, Sylvia Murray, Peter & Karla Myers.
N: John Nelson, John Nelson, Michael Nichols, Nancy Nielsen, Becky Nilson, Brian Nordmann, Northwest Area Jaycees, Daniel & Nancy Novack, Rachel Nudd.
O: Jeanette Offerdahl, Mary O'Hara, Vivien Oja, Tess Alisha Olofson-Custard, Therese & Randall Olson, Randy Olson, Dan Olthoff, Johnine Ornelas, Tammy Orning.
P: Otto & Mary Ann Palmer, Bill & Jan Pappin, Kathy Parkin, Char Patton, Henry Pawlowski, Nicholas Pawlowski, Melissa Peacock, Robert Penkala, Ann Perkins, Debra Peterson, Barbara Pierson, Janet Poore, Marilyn Porter, Beatrice & George Potter, Nancy Price.
R: Julie Rapacki, Dennis Rasmussen, Herman & Therese Ratelle Foundation, Dan Reed, Meg Reed, Brandon & Theresa Reichel, Thomas & Diane Reitter, Matthew & Christine Reynolds, Jim and Sharon Rice, Karen Ritter, Susan Rivard, Kathryn Robbins, Robert Robbins, Mike & Beth Robertson, Beth Robinson, Gail Rosenblum, Scott Roste, Lorene & Jim Roste.
S: Susan Sands, Elaine Santiago, Steven "Dick" Sarafolean, Sue Sattler, Judith and David Saumweber, Jim Sawyer, JoAnn Sawyer, Jeff & Marla Scherber, Pam Schmid, Kris Schmidt, Pamela Schmitz, Kathy & Joe Schramm, Laurie & Kyle Schroeder, Carolyn & Dan Schueller, Mary & David Schultz, Jane Scullin, Robert Seidel, Victoria Sellner, Mary Shapiro, Rebecca Shedd, Jessica Shepherd, Lenore Siems, Meg Sierzant, Tara & Michael Sime, Magnus Skold, James & N. Jeanne Smith, James Smith, Rita & Ronald Spiess, Dan Spiess, Elaine & Robert Spurr, St. Cloud Lions, Mary Stadick, Mary Jane Steinhagen, DeeAnn Stenlund, Roger Sternberg, Thomas & Paula Stoltz, Rebecca Surmont, Jane Swanson-Wilken, Jeanette Swantek, Valerie Swenson, Joshua Swenson, Marissa & Zach Szody.
T: Susan Temple, Teri Temple, Gregg Temple, Diane Temple, Deborah Jinza Thayer, Mary Tholkes, Roger & Christine Thompson, Tom Thompson, Lucy Thrasher, Jeanne & Richard Toews, Amy Tollefson, Kathleen & Jeff Towle, Rachel & Sam Townsend, Joan & Steve Tusa.
V: Judy & Cecil Van Booven, Richard Van Dellen, Michele & Carroll Vance, Kathleen Vellenga, John Vilandre, Cheryl & Wesley Volkenant, Dolores Voorhees, Megan Voorhees, Brian & Joann Vucinovich.
W: Jean Wagener, Esther Wagner, JoAnn & Joseph Ward, Thomas Weaver, Carol Weber, Bruce & Alisa Weber, Jay Weberling, Patrick Whelan, Jodi & Joanne White, Elizabeth White, Loralee Wick, Colleen Wieck, Maureen Wiegner, Christi Williams, Mikki Williams, Elaine Wynne.
Z: Mark Ziebarth, M. Anthony & Dolores Zimmerman, D.D.S.
*Names updated as of 11/24/25
Names tell you who gave. Not why.
A few times a year, we sit down with one donor, Peace Guide, Ambassador for Respect, or other community member and ask them to tell the longer story — what kindness and respect look like up close, and what's kept them showing up. Those conversations run as Why Peace Matters in our emails and here on the site.
Support bullying prevention in Minnesota
Every tier on this page started as a first gift to Minnesota's bullying and harassment prevention nonprofit. However much you're able to give — once or every month — it's in a classroom before the week is out.
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Support bullying prevention & conflict resolution education
Every name on this page started with a first gift. Yours can fund respect and empathy work in a Minnesota school or community, and it gets there fast. Give once, give monthly, or plan a gift that keeps working for years.
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