Since 2000, the Initiative Awards have become central Minnesota's premiere event honoring outstanding leadership and community service. Each red-carpet affair is a must-attend evening of class, culture and congratulations, showcasing the inspirational work of six regional award winners.
Nominated by staff and chosen by volunteer selection committees, each winner receives a specially commissioned, recycled-glass sculpture and $1,000 for the charity of their choice. All event expenses are covered in full by our generous sponsors and 500 expected guests.
The Cedar Avenue Big Band
For more than 15 years, the Cedar Avenue Big Band has kept alive the brassy thrills and midnight harmonies that inspired America's greatest generations. Back by popular demand, our 2009 musical guests promise to bring the Academy Awards atmosphere to the St. Cloud Civic Center.
The Awards
"The glass sculptures I designed for the Initiative Foundation Awards are a
fusion of the old and the new. It was my intent to create a quiet, contemplative
feeling that encourages examination rather than demands attention.
The raw material is plate-glass reclaimed from northern Minnesota downtowns and
transported to my Two Harbors studio. Each monolithic sculpture is fired to over
1,400 degrees, carefully cooled to room temperature, and etched to a beach-glass
texture. The intricate nature of their creation makes each award a discernible
one-of-a-kind.
My inspiration comes from the spring breakup of the Mississippi River and ice floes on Lake Superior. These scenes convey both a feeling of permanence and the inevitability of change that our seasons provide. This is a similar paradox that faces individuals, businesses and communities in our changing social and economic environments.
Thank you for the opportunity to create these awards."
-Michael Tonder
Blue Skies Glassworks
