Three Rivers Community Foundation
Investing in the Three Rivers Community for more than 3 decades
TRCF is a pay-it-forward foundation, committed to returning the proceeds of our endowment for the betterment of our local area. Serving Elk River, Otsego, Rogers, Zimmerman and surrounding areas, our mission is to recognize, encourage and strengthen local resources to continually build the foundation for successful and vibrant communities.
We do this by awarding scholarships for seniors in the ISD 728 school district and grants to local nonprofits providing services in these four focus areas:
- Social, Cultural and Leisure
- Public Issues and Information
- Human Services
- Education and Lifelong Learning
More than
$1 million
given back to strengthen Three Rivers Communities
Through 2020, the Three Rivers Community Foundation has awarded
$755,115 in local grants
$268,500 in local scholarships
We invite you to be part of our mission.
Leadership
Our volunteer Board of Directors is committed to improving the quality of life in our service area.
Executive Committee
Dustin Norton, Chair (Zimmerman)
Dustin Norton joined the TRCF board in 2019 to continue giving back to his hometown. Dustin grew up in Elk River and graduated from Elk River High School before earning a degree in communications from St. Cloud State University. Dustin works for Metal Craft in Elk River as an Account Manager on the Business Development Team. He was a committee Co-Chair for Hockey Day Minnesota in Elk River and served on the Elk River Chamber of Commerce “Shiver Elk River” Committee. Dustin lives in Zimmerman with his wife Sierra and son Brooks. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time up north at the lake as well as hunting and fishing during the various Minnesota seasons.
Ellie Christian, Vice Chair (Otsego)
Ellie Christian serves on the Annual Golf and Pucks at the Pit Committees. Ellie’s grandfather was a founding member of TRCF and she was often involved in his fundraising activities growing up. He inspired her servant heart and passion to give back to the community where she lives. She is also a charter member of the Otsego Lions Club. Ellie is the CEO and Realtor for Ellie’s Home Team, Keller Williams Integrity NW. Ellie enjoys golfing, traveling, fishing and spending time with friends and family.
Angie Rasmussen, Vice Chair Elect (Zimmerman)
Angie Rasmussen joined the TRCF Board in 2021. She is a Relationship Banker with First Bank Elk River and has been a banker in Elk River for over 23 years. Angie and her husband Keith have two children, Dominik and Jaxson. Outside of work, Angie is actively involved in her children’s sports and serves as the Treasurer for Zimmerman Youth Football Association. She is also a volunteer at her church and has been on the Elk River 4th of July Committee. When she is not volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, bike riding and doing obstacle course races. She is also an avid Crossfitter.
Chad Christian, Treasurer (Otsego)
Chad is a past board member for TRCF and is back for another term because he sees the true impact the organization makes. Chad grew up in Rogers and has been involved in the community his entire life. His grandfather was one of the founding Board Members of TRCF and instilled in Chad the value of giving back to his community. Chad is also a charter member of the Otsego Lions Club and a “Helen Keller Sight Award” recipient from Lions Club International. He resides in Otsego and has worked in Rogers at Christian Builders & Remodelers since 2012. In his spare time, Chad enjoys golfing, hunting and fishing.
Board of Directors
Peter Onstad (Elk River)
Peter Onstad joined the TRCF Board in 2017 and is active on numerous committees. He is a Vice President and Director of Retail Banking for The Bank of Elk River. An active volunteer, Peter is passionate about giving back to the community. He and his wife Sarah have two children, Lilly and Gunnar. Outside of work Peter is involved in his children’s sports and serves on athletic booster clubs. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and loves to spend his time on Minnesota lakes and on the golf course.
Terry Bizal (Elk River)
Terry Bizal joined the board in 2021. He is excited to serve and continue to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Terry has been a High School Principal for 23 years and has been the Elk River High School Principal for the past 12 years. He is the recipient of the Elk River Rotary Paul Harris Fellow award, a committee member of the 2014 Elk River Hockey Day Minnesota event and has participated in many Elk River High School facilities and educational improvements. Terry and his wife Beth reside in Elk River and had two children graduate (2018) from Elk River. Both have been active in youth athletic booster clubs in the community. Terry enjoys spending time with friends and family, camping and fishing.
Michelle Eder (Elk River)
Michelle Eder considers it truly an honor to have been a part of the Three Rivers Community Foundation board for 8 years. She has chaired the Golf Committee for the past several years. Michelle and her husband, Rick have one daughter, Megan (who is married to TRCF board member Kyle Granning), and two wonderful grandchildren Mila and Gaborik. She works at Bell Bank Mortgage as a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer and has been in the mortgage business for over 25 years. She loves her job and enjoys helping people finance their dreams. Outside of work, she loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Julie Fish (Elk River)
Julie Fish served 6 years on the TRCF board, from 2012 to 2018, and is now beginning her second commitment. She enjoys working with the rest of the board, and especially likes fund raising and participating on the scholarship and grant committees to help determine who will receive the funds raised. Julie has been involved in the Elk River community since 1982, when she began working at Elk River Printing for her parents, Bill and Joann Fish. She and her brother bought the business from their parents in 1994. Julie has also served on the Elk River Chamber of Commerce board and has been a part of the Chamber for 18 years. She is also deeply involved with the Elk River Rotary Club, where she is currently the Club Secretary and Bulletin Editor. She enjoys flower gardening and volunteers as a weed picker for the East Bridge Park Garden group in Monticello. Spending time with her large extended family also keeps her busy.
Callie Koehler (Nowthen)
Callie Koehler is an experienced local Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Sports Chiropractic Physician at Power Within Chiropractic of Elk River. She joined the TRCF board in 2020. She previously has volunteered on TRCF’s Golf and Pucks at the Pit Hockey committees. Her husband Jake and his family are life-long Elk River natives. She is excited to have moved back to her husband’s hometown and settle down to raise their family in such a great area. Callie and her husband have two young sons, Kellen and Levi. She is excited to be a part of such a committed organization that serves and gives back to the community.
Ashley Welsh (Elk River)
Ashley Welsh joined the TRCF board in 2021 to make a meaningful impact in the community where she grew up and now raises her family. Ashley believes in making the world a better place to live in, which is why she is passionate about her career in Global Supply Chain. She finds fulfillment working for Boston Scientific as she assists in launching new medical devices and life-saving technologies to patients around the world, including people in Elk River. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband (who serves proudly as a Police Officer in Elk River) and their two boys, Easton & Griffin. They enjoy time on the lake, exploring the outdoors in every season, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Bonnie Koste (Elk River)
Bonnie Koste recently joined in 2022 and is truly honored to serve on the board of Three River’s Community Foundation. She has been very involved and supports many of the community organizations and school activity clubs. She has served as a board member of the Elk River Chamber. A current member of the Elk River Rotary Club and has served on the board for many years including one as president. She is an agent/owner of an American Family Insurance agency for over 30 years. Her work is her passion and loves and appreciates the community where she lives and works in. In her spare time she enjoys being in the outdoors and hanging with family and friends, but most importantly she loves spending time with her children, Abbie (20) and Max (17).
Ben Bauman (Otsego)
Ben Bauman joined the TRCF Board in 2022. He owns North Central Insurance Agency in Elk River and has been with the agency since 1999. Ben’s focus at the agency is health insurance and medicare insurance. Ben lives in Otsego and has been very involved with the local area through work with The Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce volunteering with various activities and programs. While new to this group, Ben hopes to positively impact the foundation by helping our community through giving back; working with other local folks to magnify our impact. In his free time, Ben loves to follow the Vikings and Wild in good times and bad as well as travel and spend time with family.
Alec Plaisted
Alec Plaisted joined the TRCF board in 2022 with hopes to better the community that he has been a part of his whole life. He wanted to join thanks to the fun times playing in the TRCF golf tournament each year with his dad and brother. Alec works at Plaisted Companies Inc. as a supervisor and is on the leadership team at ERX Motor Park. Alec was recently married in 2021 and is excited to start the rest of his life here. In his spare time, Alec enjoys to snowmobile, hunt, fish, golf or do anything outdoors.
Staff
Robin Skinner, Administrative Assistant
Robin was on the Three Rivers Community Foundation Board for five years before accepting the position of Administrative Assistant. She and her husband Ben have lived in Elk River for 30 years. They have two daughters, Megan and Emily, who graduated from Elk River High School. Before retiring in 2020, Robin was a local community banker. Before that, she worked for ISD 728. She has been active in the community through many organizations and non-profits including Rotary, Elk River Chamber of Commerce, Great River Family Promise, Meals on Wheels, St. Andrews Catholic Church, Hockey Day Minnesota Steering Committee, and many youth and high school athletic and activity clubs. Outside of volunteering, Robin and Ben love to travel, camp and spend time with family and friends.
Responsible Fund Management
An Initiative Foundation Partner Fund
Three Rivers Community Foundation is a partner fund of the Initiative Foundation (IF) of Central Minnesota. The Initiative Foundation oversees and manages financial contributions for the fund and provides valuable staff and advisory support to ensure compliance with all legal and professional standards.
TRCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
