Ruth Howe and Merril Thiel were both raised in families that valued giving back. Growing up in farm communities during the Great Depression, Ruth’s mother provided meals to anyone in need, and always made sure she and her siblings had a penny to contribute to the offering on Sundays.
Merril worked hard every day on his family farm and learned the value of helping neighbors and being a steward of the land. Those values continued throughout his life as he was an avid outdoorsman, gardener, and a committed weekly volunteer of 24 years at the Bemidji Food Shelf. “We were both taught that if you have, you share,” said Ruth.
Merril passed away last year, but his legacy lives on through the Howe Thiel Charitable Fund; a donor advised fund the couple established in 2013.
Merril’s estate was left to the Howe Thiel Charitable Fund and a beneficiary of that gift was the Bemidji Community Food Shelf.
“This gift came at a critical time for us,” said Mary Mitchell, executive director of the Bemidji Community Food Shelf. “We needed a new freezer and thanks to our longtime friend and volunteer, Merril – it happened!”
The Fund supports educational programs, projects and activities that are important to Ruth – those include the United Way of the Bemidji Area, Salvation Army, Friends of lake Bemidji, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and Bemidji Area Food Shelf and Evergreen Youth and Family Services.
“It feels good when people are thankful for the support we’ve been able to provide over the years,” said Ruth. “I’m fortunate to be able to continually support causes that meant so much to Merril.” The Howe Thiel Charitable Fund is an endowed fund and will continue to support the family’s charities of choice in perpetuity.
If you would like to learn more about how to give back through a donor advised fund, and other ways to give through NMF, click here, or contact your local development officer who can help you meet your philanthropic goals today and into the future.
