Grant Request This Is Me
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: This Is Me
Legal Name (if Different): This Is Me
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 1651 Jefferson Parkway
City: Northfield
State: MN
Postal Code: 55057
Main Phone: 507-595-5437
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.idoexist.org
Employer ID Number: 99-2114963
Organization Tax Status: Tax exempt
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 12/02/2025
Requested Amount: 7500
Project Title: Empowering Foster Youth Through Identity, Belonging, and Enrichment
Project Description:
This Is Me empowers foster youth across Southern Minnesota by providing identity-affirming, trauma-informed supports that build confidence, belonging, and long-term well-being. Youth in foster care face overwhelming challenges—frequent placement changes, instability, school disruption, and trauma—that place them at significantly higher risk for academic failure, mental health struggles, and involvement in the juvenile legal system. Our project addresses these challenges through three core components: identity, belonging, and enrichment.
First, our identity-building programs provide youth with meaningful ephemera—such as senior photos, adoption and reunification photography, yearbooks, and school memorabilia. For children who often lack tangible proof of their own story, these items become emotional anchors, reinforcing their self-worth and helping them build a cohesive sense of identity despite transitions.
Second, our mentorship program offers consistent, trauma-informed support by pairing foster youth with trained adult mentors for a minimum of one year. Mentors meet weekly with their mentees, offering stability, encouragement, and positive relationship-building during the critical ages of 11–15. These relationships reduce feelings of isolation, increase resilience, and serve as powerful protective factors against the foster-care-to-prison pipeline.
Third, our enrichment and extracurricular support provides access to sports, arts, lessons, clubs, and community experiences that foster belonging and engagement. These opportunities help youth build positive peer networks, discover strengths, and stay connected to school and community life.
With support from the Hermanowski Family Foundation, This Is Me will expand these services to reach more foster youth across rural Southern Minnesota. Funding will directly support photography sessions, yearbooks, mentorship activities, enrichment scholarships, and the organizational capacity needed to deliver dependable support to vulnerable youth.
Together, these programs empower foster youth to feel seen, valued, and capable of achieving their full potential.
Total Project Budget: $15000
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Bethel Foundation – $2500 & Northfield Shares – $5000
Project Duration: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Geographical Area Served: Southern MN
Age Group To Be Served: 7-18 years old
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Holly
Contact Last Name: Schoenbauer
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 507-595-5437
Contact Email: hschoenbauer@idoexist.org