Community foundations all across the U.S. serve a critical function in the cities and regions they serve: Encouraging individuals, organizations, and companies to fund important community activities where they live and work.

So it is in Eden Prairie, where the Foundation holds charitable funds that accomplish great things. Here are three examples of Eden Prairie-related funds held at the Foundation:

• The Miracle Field Fund has helped a group of Eden Prairie baseball enthusiasts to raise money for the construction of a specially designed baseball diamond to serve children and young adults with special needs.
• The Eden Prairie Reads Fund is an ongoing effort by a group of citizens who promote literacy in Eden Prairie, designate a book for the community to read, and organize author visits.
• The Dr. Jean L. Harris Scholarship Fund was initiated to support an annual scholarship the Foundation awards to a graduating high school student from Eden Prairie. It memorializes Jean Harris, the first female mayor and first black mayor in EP, and a woman who was an outspoken advocate for an inclusive, multicultural Eden Prairie.

You can support these and other charitable funds when you make a donation to the Eden Prairie Community Foundation – on the Nov. 17 statewide giving day known as Give to the Max Day, or any time of the year. Contribute through this website, by sending a check to the Foundation, or by donating to the Give to the Max campaign via GiveMN.org.

Simply note whether you are giving generally to the Foundation to support its ongoing work, or giving to a specific fund held by the Foundation.

If you are participating in Give to the Max, some of the funds are described at length on our GiveMN.org page. Please note that GiveMN.org captures a portion of your donation to cover its administration fees, but you are offered the option to increase your contribution to cover those fees.

Here’s a current and full list of the funds held at the Eden Prairie Community Foundation:

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
Pastor Rod and Julane Anderson Family Fund
Bruce and Terry Hutchins Fund
Michelle Fund (Joe and Carol Stoebner)
Jeff Lukens and Nancy Tyra Lukens Fund

DESIGNATED & COMMUNITY/AGENCY FUNDS
Eden Prairie Fire Relief Association Fund
Eden Prairie Reads Fund
EP-Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Fund
EP-Disabilities Awareness Committee Fund
Friends of EP Players Fund
Interfaith Circle Fund
Miracle Field Fund

SCHOLARSHIP AND MEMORIAL FUNDS
Dr. Jean L. Harris Scholarship Fund
Lonne Murphy Scholarship Fund
Denise Stewart Memorial Fund

FOUNDATION FUNDS
CounterAct Fund
Endowment Fund
PROP Youth Scholarships Fund
Society of Founders Fund