Our History

MinneapolisNEXT informally began in 1996 when Rex Holland started raising money to send members of his seventh grade basketball team to summer camps. In 1997, the organization was formally launched when his good friend Pat Conlin suggested they pay the tuition for a young man to attend a private high school. The motivated student, who played on the team Rex was coaching, had been unsuccessful in securing enrollment in a college prep magnet program in a Minneapolis public high school.

Pat and Rex's assertiveness led to a meeting of a group of friends who, over coffee and eggs, brainstormed about ways to help fund not only the scholarship, but a cash-strapped youth basketball program in South Minneapolis. The other attendees, Dan Conrad, Greg Ewing and Steve Schaefer, were volunteer youth coaches in the city. The group recognized a shared passion and set in motion the paperwork to form MinneapolisNEXT, a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In 1999, the five co-founders formally began raising funds for high school scholarships and other worthy causes.

NEXT, as it is affectionately called, helps students who are high in potential, despite being low on financial resources. The hardest part is having to say no, either because of limited funds or because the applicant does not meet our criteria. Our signature high school scholarship program requires that applicants show determination and a demonstrated ability to buckle down.

Initially, most applicants came from low-income families in South Minneapolis. In recent years, more applications are coming from immigrants, plus we have seen an overall increase in requests from families who have hit hard times. In addition, NEXT has grown to support promising youth in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Clearly, the need for our services is growing, and we hope to keep pace.

Watch the KARE 11 television news report on MinneapolisNEXT.

Share |

2925 Dean Parkway • Suite 300 • Minneapolis, MN 55416-7700 | Phone: (612) 925-8334