In the News

Thompson will lead Blandin Foundation

by Dawn Schuett

December 19, 2005

George Thompson, who will retire this month as executive director of the Diversity Council in Rochester, has been selected as the next chairman of the Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees.

Thompson has served on the foundation's board since 1997. He was named chairman Thursday during the December meeting of the board; the foundation made the announcement public Sunday. Thompson succeeds Kenneth Lundgren of Grand Rapids, Minn.

The foundation, based in the northern Minnesota community of Grand Rapids, works to strengthen the state's rural communities through grants, public policy initiatives and leadership development programs.

It was founded in 1941 by C.K. Blandin, owner of the Blandin Paper Co., and has become the largest rural-based private foundation with $414 million combined net assets. In 2005, the foundation has awarded $14 million in grants with about half of those grants dedicated to the Grand Rapids area.

"Blandin has done a lot in helping create healthy communities," Thompson said Sunday.

Thompson, 63, said he views himself as a community catalyst in regards to diversity, which is an aspect to the work done by the foundation.

Rural communities throughout the state have seen dramatic demographic shifts that have come with new immigrants, Thompson said.

"Visually, the population has changed over the last eight to 10 years," he said.

People, no matter their cultural background or where they live, are concerned with factors affecting quality of life, Thompson said.

His new role will be about bringing resources together "to see how we can make rural communities better" for all who live in them, he said.

Lundgren said Thompson has been "an important voice and contributor" since joining the board of trustees.

"George's lifelong commitment to community service, his IBM business background, and a decade as leader of the Diversity Council tell us the exceptional things he has accomplished," Lundgren said.

Thompson, a retired IBMer with a long history of public service in Rochester including 10 years with the Diversity Council, will continue to live here but might travel more often to Grand Rapids, where the board meets quarterly.

Kay Hocker, education director for the council, has been chosen as the Diversity Council's next executive director.

© 2005 Post Bulletin. Used by permission.

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