Alison and Mike Leas started the Blake Grotberg Foundation in October of 2021 with the mission of raising both awareness and financial support for the organizations who assist families facing childhood illnesses. Our close friends, Mark and Micheale Grotberg, were able to receive assistance from organizations such as The Ronald McDonald House when they travelled frequently for out-of-town medical appointments for their youngest son, Blake. Mark and Micheale were always so thankful for the assistance received. It was always so wonderful to hear of the hospitality they received when they needed it the most during unbelievably stressful and uncertain times. Sadly, Blake passed away in February 2019. To keep Blake’s memory alive and to help organizations who exist to help families with similar circumstances, the Blake Grotberg Foundation was born. We hold multiple events each year to raise money for these organizations. We are proud to say the foundation donated $5,000 this past October to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley. October is special to the foundation as it is both Blake’s birthday month and Down Syndrome Awareness month. We are excited to continue the mission of the foundation to raise money and awareness for organizations who exist to help ease the financial burden associated with childhood illness.