Marketing Director

Donor Support Impacts True Friends

Thank You to Our Show and Tell Cabin Sponsors True Friends’ Show & Tell fundraiser was a great success with over $100,000 raised. We’d like to thank our Cabin Sponsors, AbleNet and Meristem Family Wealth, for helping us achieve this goal! Jen Thalhuber, a member of True Friends’ Foundation Board of Directors, is Ablenet’s CEO. AbleNet’s mission aligns well with True Friends as AbleNet is a world leader in assistive technology, curriculum, and services to help individuals with disabilities lead productive and fulfilling lives. “I’m proud to be part of True Friends. Their vision of a world where experiences and adventures are open to individuals of all abilities resonates with me personally and professionally,” Jen said. Charlie Maxwell, founder and CEO of Mersitem Family Wealth, has a long history supporting organizations that empower people with disabilities. Charlie stated, “Meristem and I are happy to support the important work of True Friends.” Meristem is a unique independent wealth advisory firm that focuses on partnering with families to achieve financial goals. They go beyond the numbers with emphasis on families and their core values. Thank you AbleNet and Meristem for your generous support!
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Hopes, Beliefs, and Convictions in 2020

Throughout 2020 True Friends has been hopeful for what we could do and achieve together, as a community, with caregivers, staff, donors, and many others. The uncertainty of what would happen next when COVID-19 first hit left our community feeling concerned and scared, but during this time we have been able to persevere and overcome the challenges of this year. One individual said me “True Friends is too important to this community to fail.” Hearing that belief, I felt such pride for this amazing organization. The belief that we are “too important to fail” has remained with me, and our staff as we continue to be innovative, and to reimagine our programs and services.
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Supporting Our Communities

Dear Friends,

It is hard to find the words to describe the pain, grief, and anger our community is experiencing right now over the death of George Floyd, but silence is not an option.

True Friends serves people from all over the state of Minnesota and a large number from the Twin Cities area. We have many people engaged in our mission (participants, families, volunteers, staff, and donors) that have been impacted by these current tragedies.

Please join me in keeping those individuals in our hearts and minds.

Like many of you, the hurt we feel for the family of George Floyd and countless others who have been victimized by racism in America, is overwhelming. For many of us, it is difficult to know what to do. What action can I/we take to make a difference, to make a positive impact?

At True Friends we are reexamining our role as individuals and as an organization.

As individuals we will:

1. Listen. Listen to understand the experiences of others.

2. Build trusting, respectful relationships with those who are different than ourselves.

3. Stay committed to learning from each other.

As an organization we will:

1. Increase our competency on the broader topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

2. Increase our competency on specific realities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities (ableism), age, etc.

Last year, True Friends officially opened the conversation of the broader topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with our board of directors and senior leadership team. For True Friends, we are committed to enhancing these principles.

We know we can do better and we will do better to support the individuals and families we serve.

If you have an idea or suggestion on ways True Friends can offer better support, please reach out to us at info@truefriends.org.

In Solidarity and Friendship,

John LeBlanc
President & CEO

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2020 Program Update

Wow. Over the course of the last several weeks, a lot has changed in the world, in Minnesota, and here at True Friends. While we all adjust to this new journey we are on, we wanted to take a moment to update you on the current status of True Friends programs and services.
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True Friends and the COVID-19 Pandemic

All True Friends program and services are currently suspended until May 4. True Friends’ mission is to provide life-changing experience and adventures for all abilities. Today, our mission takes on another meaning as we are all having a collective life-changing experience, enduring the COVID-19 pandemic.
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4.10.20 True Friends COVID-19 Update

True Friends has been receiving a variety of questions regarding the impact COVID-19 (coronavirus) may have on our programs and services.

Following the extended MN state mandate, all True Friends locations are closed and services have been suspended until the “Stay at Home” order comes to a tentative close on May 4, 2020.

Unless noted below, all programs and services will be suspended through May 3, 2020. True Friends may tentatively resume onsite operations on Monday, May 4:

        The retreat program, Conference and Retreat, has suspended services until May 17.

        The team building program, Team Quest, has suspended all services until May 17.

        Volunteer services is suspending volunteer opportunities until June 1.

True Friends will continue to follow the directions and protocols set by the CDC and WHO, as well as state and local agencies. If you have program specific questions or needs, please reach out to our staff who are working remotely to prepare for when program and services are back up and running again.

If you have any general questions or concerns please call 952.852.0101, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., or reach out to us via email at info@truefriends.org

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you soon!

John LeBlanc

President and CEO

True Friends

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True Friends: COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends,

True Friends has been receiving a variety of questions regarding the impact COVID-19 (Coronavirus) may have on our programs and services.

Following the MN state mandate, all True Friends locations are closed and services have been suspended until the “Stay At Home” order comes to a tentative close on April 10, 2020.

Unless noted below, all programs and services will be suspended through April 10, 2020. True Friends may tentatively resume onsite operations on Monday, April 13:

        The retreat program, Conference and Retreat, has suspended all services until May 17.

        The team building program, Team Quest, has suspended all services until May 17.

        The travel program, Ventures Travel, has suspended trips until April 30.

        Volunteer services is suspending volunteer opportunities until June 1.

True Friends will continue to follow the directions and protocols set by the CDC and WHO, as well as state and local agencies. If you have program specific questions or needs, please reach out to our staff who are working remotely to prepare for when program and services are back up and running again.

If you have any general questions or concerns please call 952.852.0101, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ,or reach out to us via email at info@truefriends.org.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you soon!

John LeBlanc
President and CEO

True Friends

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True Friends Programs and Services: COVID-19 Update

Dear Friend, 

 

True Friends has been receiving a variety of questions regarding the impact COVID-19 (Coronavirus) may have on our programs and services. True Friends has been, and will continue to, closely monitor COVID-19 and follow recommendations and protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Minnesota Department of Health. 

 

Ensuring the health and safety of participants, guests, and staff is our top priority. True Friends has evaluated the operation for each of our programs and services and has made the decision to suspend all programs and services beginning Monday, March 16 until Tuesday, March 31 and will tentatively resume regular operations beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  

 

True Friends has placed additional guidelines in place to ensure the well-being of participants, guests, and staff. We are not aware of any individuals connected to True Friends who have been exposed to COVID-19.  

 

True Friends offices will remain open, we ask if you would like to visit one of our locations, please call us first at 952.852.0101. 

 

True Friends will follow directions and protocols set by the CDC, WHO, and state and local agencies. In the event of an outbreak or mandate prohibiting large group gatherings applicable to True Friends programs and services, True Friends will reevaluate these decisions and continue to communicate any changes. 

 

If you have immediate concerns regarding our programs and services please contact us during regular business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 952.852.0101 or at info@truefriends.org.  

 

We will continue to track COVID-19, use best practices to reduce the spread and impact, and communicate any potential impact at True Friends. 

 

John LeBlanc 

President & CEO, True Friends 

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A Message from True Friends Regarding Coronavirus

True Friends has been closely monitoring COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and communication from the CDC, WHO, and Minnesota Department of Health. Our top priority is to ensure the safety and well–being of all staff, guests, participants, and visitors.  

The best practices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus is to cough into your elbow or upper arm, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, and stay home if you are sick.  

True Friends will continue to stay up to date on the situation and follow the guidelines and recommendations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and Minnesota Department of Health. 

True Friends will continue to monitor the Coronavirus and keep you updated. For questions, please contact us at 952.852.0101 or info@truefriends.org. 

John LeBlanc 

President & CEO of True Friends 

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That’s a Wrap, Celebrate the Last 10 Years with True Friends!

It is officially 2020 and True Friends is excited to ring in the new year. We wanted to start this year off with celebrating some of our top moments from the last 10 years!
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