Strong communities are shaped by the people and organizations already doing the work — creating places for people to connect, helping young people grow and responding to needs close to home.
The MLCV Donations Committee supports community-led efforts that contribute to quality of life, youth development, education, workforce readiness and stronger communities throughout the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy.
The committee’s role extends beyond evaluating funding requests. It seeks to understand how organizations create long-term value for the communities they serve.
Organizations are evaluated not only on the request itself, but also on the people they serve, the role they play in their communities and their potential for lasting impact. The Raiders fit that philosophy through a program centered on community connection and youth development for approximately 90 young people across Isle and Onamia.
Sometimes, the long-term strength of a community begins in places people might not expect.
Now entering its sixth season, the Mille Lacs Raiders Football Program serves approximately 90 student-athletes in grades 3 through 12 from the Isle and Onamia communities.
For Head Coach Austin Hackett, however, success is about much more than wins and losses.
— Austin Hackett | Head Coach, Mille Lacs Raiders Football Program
Those principles show up differently on and off the field. Hackett hopes players learn more than football skills, developing habits that help them succeed in their families, workplaces and communities long after their playing days are over.
“No matter if a player is on the field, in the office, or at home, they need to have a good attitude towards the things they do,” Hackett said.
Together, those lessons form the foundation of a program designed to develop more than football players.
One lesson comes up nearly every day: the “next play mentality.”
Mistakes are inevitable in football. What matters, Hackett tells his players, is what they choose to do afterward.
“If a person gets stuck in a loop of always focusing on the past, how is one supposed to move forward with anything?” Hackett said.
The message is simple: recognize what happened, learn from it and turn your attention toward what comes next.
The lesson carries into life beyond football. Resilience, accountability and the ability to keep moving forward are among the qualities Hackett hopes players carry with them long after the season ends.
“I am most proud of the opportunities we, as a coaching staff, can provide to our athletes that they hopefully take with them once they graduate.” — Coach Hackett
Raiders football also creates something that cannot be measured on a scoreboard.
It gives Isle and Onamia a place to come together.
“Come to any home football game. The atmosphere is amazing,” Hackett said. “So many people come out to support our team.”
Whether the Raiders are playing in Isle or Onamia, Hackett sees the communities rally around the same young people.
“No matter where we play, either in Isle or Onamia, the communities put aside any past rivalries and they all want the team to be successful,” he said.
Former players return to the stands. Families and community members gather beneath the same Friday night lights many remember from their own playing days. Today’s athletes get their turn to represent something larger than themselves.
That sense of connection is part of what makes community-led organizations valuable. Their impact is often larger than the activity, event or program at the center of them. They create places for people to participate, belong and support one another.
This year, the Raiders sought support from the MLCV Donations Committee to help cover the cost of helmets for the program.
Safe, properly fitted equipment is essential for a program serving approximately 90 athletes across grades 3 through 12.
The helmets address a practical need for a program serving young athletes year after year.
MLCV’s donation helps meet an immediate need while supporting a program centered on youth development, community connection and positive experiences for young people.
Programs that help young people develop confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging can strengthen communities well beyond a single season. That long-term impact is part of what MLCV considers when supporting community-led organizations.
Those experiences can continue shaping young people long after they leave the field.
Supporting a team, Hackett said, can create “so many safe places, safe opportunities, and wonderful opportunities” for players, with the hope that they ultimately grow into contributing members of society.
That is the purpose behind MLCV’s approach to community investment: helping community-led organizations sustain work that strengthens connections, supports young people and contributes to thriving communities.
The donation helps purchase helmets. The lasting impact may be the confidence, resilience and sense of belonging that approximately 90 young people carry with them long after the season ends.
Donations are given to a variety of organizations, and our philanthropy is guided by four key areas: education, health and human services, environment, and arts and culture.
We’re committed to helping meet the needs of nearby communities in a way that will make all of our lives better.
Grand Market Grocery begins a new chapter with a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. For more than 20 years, Grand Market Grocery has served the Mille Lacs community.
This year, the District I business celebrated its history while marking the beginning of its next chapter. On August 18, Grand Market welcomed Band Members, employees and local residents.
