MINNEAPOLIS – July 14, 2022 – To help strengthen the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) is investing $450,000 in Midway-area nonprofit Keystone Community Services over the course of the next three years.
The funds will help Keystone expand its work in Midway-area communities after seeing increasing demand over the past several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as rising food and fuel costs. This contribution will also support existing programs at Keystone’s new community food site, located less than a mile from Allianz Field.
“Keystone is a trusted partner in the community, helping neighbors increase and maintain their financial stability through food and other critical services, and we’re proud to partner with such a vital resource in the Midway,” said Jasmine Jirele, president and CEO, Allianz Life. “We’re committed to a more equitable and financially secure Twin Cities, and we know working with Keystone we can help make a real difference.”
Allianz committed funds in 2020 and 2021 to help fund the renovations at the new community food site, which is planning to open in 2023. This new investment from Allianz will aid Keystone in hiring another resource navigator and offering follow-up support. Keystone’s resource navigators help community members find the resources they need for longer-term solutions with things like legal services and education, health care coverage, financial services, and utility assistance.
“Keystone’s partnership with Allianz began over 10 years ago and we are thrilled to be the recipient of this significant three-year grant, which will expand services at our new site and throughout Ramsey County,” said Mary McKeown, president and CEO, Keystone Community Services. “Our neighbors count on us to be there when they need extra support and this investment by Allianz will help Keystone support more people with more food and resources.”
Allianz Life and Keystone are longstanding partners and have worked together to offer numerous community and food distribution events, including “Free Farmers Market” events at Allianz Field, with each event providing more than 400 families from the Midway neighborhood and surrounding areas with fresh produce.
Learn more about how Allianz is supporting a more equitable and financially secure Twin Cities at www.allianzlife.com/community.
About Keystone Community Services
Keystone Community Services was founded in 1939 as a small neighborhood resource center in St. Paul. Today, Keystone is the largest provider of food shelf services in the East Metro and supports more than 40,000 people in Ramsey County through a variety of community-based programs serving low-income adults and families, youth and seniors. For more information on Keystone, visit keystoneservices.org.