COOK- When you need a little help, it never hurts to have a connection with the helpers.
That’s how the Cook Friends of the Parks (FOTP) managed to get a generous donation of $5,000 from U.S. Steel for their pickleball court project at the Cook Community Center.
Geographically, Cook sits outside of the area that U.S. Steel’s Minnesota Ore Operations-Keetac division typically gives to, but the town had a couple of aces in the hole that tipped the scales in its favor. One was Director of Operational Readiness Mike Bakk, and the other was a dedicated group of employees who make Cook their home.
“We give around Minntac and Keetac, but we do have over 25 employees that work for U.S. Steel who live in Cook, so that did help get the funds here for this project,” Bakk said on Saturday. “And for me, I’m from here, so I tried a little extra hard to convince the right people that this was a worthy donation.”
FOTP’s philosophy of fundraising is based on the premise that “it never hurts to ask,” and emails flew back and forth between FOTP member Jeannie Taylor and Bakk as they worked to make the donation happen.
“Talking to Jeannie, there’s been a lot of people who’ve really worked hard to make this whole thing happen,” Bakk said. “We talked about some of the local businesses that have pitched in and that helps us to secure a donation like this. And it’s my understanding that hundreds and hundreds of kids and families pass through here for various activities, like baseball tournaments and such. So that helps, too – it’s good to know you’re providing a donation that can benefit so many people.”
Taylor said there was another person at Keetac who also helped to influence the decision. Tawnya Gustafson.
“She went to school with my daughter and she has a lot to do with the Keetac union,” Taylor said. “Their union actually gave $200. She’s the one who said to talk to Mike.”
Bakk was in town Saturday to present the check to a group of FOTP representatives young and old, and they gathered beside the ice rink at the center that will be resurfaced for dual use as a pickleball court. And while most except the youngest in baby carriers will continue to remember the happy moment, there will be a visible lasting reminder of Keetac’s gift as well.
“We’re going to have a sign up and everybody that’s donated $1,000 or more, their logo will be on the sign,” Taylor said. “That’s going to be there indefinitely.”
FOTP has now raised about $73,000 toward the estimated $120,000 project cost, FOTP member Val Annen said.
“We are within range of making our goal,” she said. “We’re so excited.”
The effort has been boosted, too, by new community events geared for fundraising, another of which is coming up in January.
“It’s called Cook’s Big Chill, and it’s going to be Jan. 18,” Taylor said. “It will be here (at the community center) and it’ll be outdoor and inside activities. We’ll have a chili feed, and hopefully there will be ice by then. We have a raffle, and we’ve had businesses donate cash and prizes. Our local businesses are just awesome. The tickets will be ready in about two weeks, and we’ll be sitting inside Zup’s again selling them.”