Catholic Charities Find a Way Initiative Exceeds $40,000 Goal in May

June 17, 2020

Find a Way Initiative Developed and Powered by the Inventure Foundation of St. Cloud


Catholic Charities Find a Way initiative, a community donation matching challenge developed and powered by the Inventure Foundation, St. Cloud, exceeded its $40,000 fundraising goal in the month of May and raised a total of $44,685.

The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has created an evolving situation with varied impacts around the world, across the states and right here in Central Minnesota. The campaign match was kick-started by Doug Boser, president and CEO of Inventure Properties, St. Cloud, as a way for local businesses and individuals to support Catholic Charities, one of the largest emergency service providers in Central Minnesota.

The Inventure Foundation called their pledge “Find a Way,” and invited the Central Minnesota community to find a way to support trust, find a way to offer compassion, find a way to give stability and find a way to offer hope.

“The idea for the Find a Way initiative came to me in a time of uncertainty and nervousness in our community and across the world, and the Inventure Foundation wanted to help in a way that not only made a meaningful impact but also left a lasting impression on as many people as possible,” said Doug Boser, President and CEO of Inventure Properties, St. Cloud. “So much of what Catholic Charities does for the Central Minnesota community is extremely important work that happens behind the scenes, like providing food for persons in need, and advocating for social justice and change. Today, Catholic Charities programs and services are needed more than ever. Like many individuals and businesses, the Inventure Foundation is proud to partner with and support Catholic Charities. And collectively we did ‘find a way’ to help our community.”

“Where do we begin to say thank you for creating the Find a Way initiative that supports our organization by helping raise additional financial support for Catholic Charities?,” said Steve Pareja, executive director, Catholic Charities. “We’re thankful to Doug Boser and the Inventure Foundation for recognizing that Catholic Charities and the community we serve continues to face a hardship during this critical time, and the Find a Way initiative helps ensure our ability to provide important services in our community. I think about what Inventure Properties, Inventure Foundation and Catholic Charities have in common: we build up communities. Thank you for helping to ‘Find a Way’ to support Catholic Charities in building up our community.”

Learn more about the Find a Way Initiative by watching this two-minute video. Donate at ccstcloud.org/donate , and designate your gift to the Find a Way initiative.



About the Inventure Foundation

Founded in 2020, the Inventure Foundation is the private foundation of Inventure Properties, St. Cloud. Inventure is a multi-disciplinary commercial real estate developer specializing in thoughtfully designed properties that add long-term value to their clients and the communities in which their buildings stand. Utilizing local subcontractors, suppliers and professional service providers within the cities they work, their team is collaborative and committed to delivering a high quality, full-service development experience that extends well beyond project completion.

About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is a nonprofit organization that works to build communities, promote family life and enhance human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs.

Our Recent News

By Brittany Hoversten March 5, 2026
If you ask anyone at Emergency Services, they’ll tell you the same thing: Nikki is unstoppable. Every single day, she goes above and beyond for Catholic Charities, our clients, and her team. Nikki is a proud mom of two, and her youngest recently moved out on their own. Life hasn’t always been easy—she lost her children’s father suddenly in 2006, a time she describes as chaotic and life-changing. Today, she’s in a happy relationship and loves spending time at the cabin, traveling, riding motorcycle, and making the yearly trip to Sturgis. Catholic Charities “found” Nikki in a very full-circle way. At the time, she was helping her dad with his job as a grocery vendor—the same stores that donate to Catholic Charities. difference for the community every day. At the end of each night, she lays her head down knowing she helped someone—and that’s what keeps her going. When her dad broke his elbow, Nikki stepped in to help him. Her strong work ethic caught the attention of a Catholic Charities program manager who had grown up with her dad. He saw something special in her and offered her a position. Her first assignment? Driving the Catholic Charities food truck—even though she had never driven a truck before. She remembers being terrified backing down the ramps, but her supervisor simply told her, “Keep it between the yellow lines.” She did—and that moment sparked the confidence that has fueled her ever since. Over the past 13 years, Nikki has worked in nearly every corner of Emergency Services. Nikki originally got pulled into Mardi Gras because her mom is crafty, and she’s been involved ever since. She especially loves the decorating and seeing everything come together. Last year’s event was particularly wild with so many new people, but Nikki’s natural leadership helped bring everyone together to create a fantastic experience. When asked what motivates her, Nikki doesn’t hesitate: positive thinking. “Negative thoughts will never give you a positive life,” she says. She believes positivity is contagious, and her mantra is simple: Do the best you can with what you have, take it one day at a time, and always pay it forward.
By Brittany Hoversten January 15, 2026
When Mary reached out to FHC, she was overwhelmed and worried about losing her home. A devoted wife and mother with a strong career, she never expected that sudden health issues would reduce her income and cause her to fall behind on her mortgage. Missing several payments left her feeling vulnerable and unsure of where to turn. Once her health improved and she returned to full-time work, Mary was determined to regain control of her finances. She partnered with a housing counselor who helped her take a clear look at her household budget, identify areas to reduce expenses, and create a realistic plan to address her debt. During the process, Mary shared heartfelt gratitude with her counselor: “I can’t thank you enough for being my voice when I couldn’t advocate for myself and not judging me for my mishaps. I’m thankful Catholic Charities is part of our community and is a blessing for many.” With renewed confidence, Mary contacted her mortgage company to explore available workout options. Because her illness qualified as a hardship, she was eligible for a partial claim. This option allowed her to resume regular mortgage payments while moving the past-due balance to the end of her loan—giving her the breathing room she needed. Today, Mary feels empowered and more intentional about managing her household finances. She has also brought her husband into the budgeting process, realizing she doesn’t have to shoulder everything alone. This experience has strengthened her confidence and set her family on a path toward long-term financial stability.
By Brittany Hoversten December 30, 2025
Nick’s story isn’t easy to tell - but it’s powerful. He grew up in a world that didn’t give him much. Abuse, neglect, and instability were part of his everyday life. As a kid, Nick felt like he didn’t measure up. He didn’t have what other kids had, and he learned to lie - not to hurt anyone, but to protect himself. It was a survival skill that followed him into adulthood, where it stopped serving him and started hurting him. Drugs, broken relationships, court dates, Nick was stuck in a cycle that felt impossible to escape. But three years ago, something shifted. Nick entered treatment, and this time, he was ready. It wasn’t just about getting clean it was about rebuilding. And for the first time, people started believing in him. That belief made all the difference. Slowly, Nick began to see what others saw in him: potential, strength, and a future worth fighting for. Through the Catholic Charities Men’s Domestic Violence Program, Nick found something he’d never really had before. Real friendship, trust, and support. A supervisor gave him rides to work and treated him with respect. His housemates at the halfway house had his back. The men’s group became a safe space where Nick could grow. He joined a church. He started going to AA six times a week. He was building momentum, and he didn’t want to lose it. When Nick finished the program, he didn’t walk away. He asked himself, “What now?” and decided to keep showing up. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He knew he could help others. He understood the fear, the ego, the resistance to change, but because he’d lived it. And now, he was ready to help others break through those walls. Today, Nick leads the very group that helped change his life. He’s been promoted at work. He’s dreaming big and thinking about school, about becoming a counselor, about going all the way to the top. And we believe he will. Because Nick is the kind of person who lifts others up, who shows up even when it’s hard, and who never stops trying to be better. At Catholic Charities, we see how incredible Nick is. We’re proud to have him on our team—and we’re cheering him on every step of the way. The sky’s the limit, Nick. Keep doing amazing things!