Connexus Energy donates $25,000 to Anoka County parks education programs

The Anoka County Board on a routine agenda item acknowledged a $25,000 donation from Connexus Energy to the county’s Parks Department to support its Heritage Lab and Wildlife Outreach programs.

Commissioner Reinert, who leads parks matters, described the programs’ reach: the Heritage Lab engages about 2,000 students annually and the Wildlife Outreach program provides free in-school presentations to roughly 7,500 students each year; he said the wildlife program visited 33 schools in 2024 and the combined programs have helped more than 500,000 students in Anoka County and surrounding communities over several decades.

Christa Benjamin, executive director of the Connexus Energy Foundation, said the foundation guides nearly $400,000 in donations annually and intends to expand giving through a new long-term community benefit plan. Jan Paul Martinez, chief financial officer at Connexus and board chair of the foundation, presented a check for $25,000 and said the cooperative is proud to support local education and environmental programs.

Board members thanked Connexus for long-term support and noted the donation underpins outdoor learning and wildlife education across the county. No formal board action beyond public recognition was recorded for the presentation.

The board moved on to other agenda items after expressing appreciation to the donors.