My name is Jerry Epland, and I am writing today as a board member of the Freeborn County Communities Foundation. I am a lifelong resident of Freeborn County, living most of my life in rural Emmons, and recently moving to Albert Lea.

I enjoy living in Freeborn County and have found great satisfaction in working with the Freeborn County Communities Foundation. I wanted to share its purpose with the broader community as I think perhaps there are many people who, like me, have lived very enjoyable lives here in Freeborn County and are maybe looking for ways to take part in its success moving into the future. The foundation is an excellent way to participate in supporting all the positive things happening, not only in the city of Albert Lea, but all the surrounding communities that make up Freeborn County. Periodically, articles appear in the Tribune highlighting projects that have been supported by financial grants through the foundation. I encourage readers to be on the lookout for those articles. In them, they may find a project that is having a positive impact that they never realized is happening right here in our county. The foundation strengthens the communities in Freeborn County by providing financial support to projects and programs that improve our quality of life, promote educational programs for youth, encourage economic development and help to support our neighbors in need.

I encourage your readers to find out more about Freeborn County Communities Foundation. A gift to the foundation is an excellent way of joining forces with fellow community members to support a wide variety of good things that are happening in our own backyards.

Jerry Epland

board member

Freeborn County
Communities Foundation