Editor’s Note: This story was written by Louis Hoglund of the Pelican Rapids Press community newspaper and appeared in the October 27, 2021, edition. The Press has given us permission to feature this abridged version. The full version is available through subscription at www.pelicanrapidspress.com. Do you have examples of community alumni who give back? Is your community keeping up ties to your alumni or would you like to start? Let’s talk!
Few are watching the Pelican Rapids community pool-aquatic center progress as closely as “hometown girl” Charlotte (Stoen) Moline.
“I have a soft spot in my heart for children swimming. Everybody should learn how to swim,” said Moline, a Pelican area native who has lived most of her life on the northwest U.S. coast.
But Charlotte’s fondness for the years of her youth, “growing up Pelican” have inspired her on a remarkable path of generosity to her old hometown, one she has kept up with throughout the years through the weekly newspaper.
Charlotte first put up a substantial gift to the Pelican Rapids schools, then followed that up with a six-figure donation for the community pool. Then she pledged another large donation as an incentive to pool donors by offering a dollar-for-dollar match to other contributors. In large part thanks to Charlotte’s pledges, the pool fund is well past $2.5 million.
“We are so grateful for this generous donor to give back to our amazing community,” said Kate Woolever Martinez, pool committee member. “She sees the great value in our new pool facility that focuses on inclusion and safety amongst our youth while keeping our community healthy and active, and further enhancing our economic development. The pool project is a win for everybody and we are so grateful for Charlotte’s kindness.”
A 1955 Pelican Rapids High School graduate, Charlotte walked the stage of the old, classic auditorium to receive her diploma. Charlotte’s donation put the new school auditorium enhancement project over the top — including a new Steinway piano for the stage.
Four Class of 1955 reunions were attended by Charlotte over the years so she has definitely maintained connections to her roots—along with reading the hometown paper every week as a loyal Pelican Rapids Press subscriber.
“She has so much empathy and attachment to the Pelican Rapids area,” said Rebecca Petersen, Director of Development for West Central Initiative, the non-profit that serves as fiscal agent for both the auditorium and pool projects. “These have been labors of love for Charlotte. She has such strong feelings of nostalgia of her years growing up in the Pelican area.”
“When Charlotte came to town last summer, she wanted to get together with me right away, at the Muddy Moose,” Rebecca added, noting that Charlotte “had a blast getting out in the community; she had a great visit.”
David Aas, who grew up in the same rural neighborhood as Charlotte, said her giving spirit toward the Pelican area is truly heartfelt. “She is very humble and caring. She and (husband) Frank had a goal to accumulate wealth, but to give it to organizations and places that could really use it—rather than thinking only about their personal wealth,” said Aas.
He also noted that Charlotte has also given to other charitable projects and churches, but remained anonymous. “And nobody is likely to ever know about those acts of kindness,” he said.
