Central Mesabi Medical Foundation

03/18/2026

✨Meet our Vice President Marella Warner!✨

Greetings, my name is Marella Warner and I am the Vice President of Central Mesabi Medical Foundation, I have been a board member since 2023.

I am a lifelong resident of Hibbing with a passion for improving the health outcomes for our community and our residents. The foundation is an avenue that affords me the opportunity to serve others. The passion I have for community is a shared one that is rooted back several family generations, as my great-great grandmother was one of the first settlers of Hibbing in the late 1800’s.

When I am not giving back to the community, you can find me traveling, fishing and enjoying God’s country with my husband and our family.

One of my favorite CMMF events is the annual Golf Classic. Everything from planning the event leading up to the signature shot gun moment, is an opportunity to connect with community members who share the same values. Seeing the fun and creative team attire seems to be a newer theme that I truly embrace!

It is important for the community to know how dedicated and personally invested each member of this foundation is. They are all a joy to serve with and take heart with every opportunity they can to give back to the medical communities we serve from Nashwauk to Mt. Iron. We are forever grateful for our past, present and future donors and the legacy they leave behind. The meaningful financial support that we provide our local healthcare service areas could not exist without them.

I am proud to serve on this very foundation that maintains a strong mission:
“The Central Mesabi Medical Foundation strives for excellence in local healthcare through the support of education, equipment, and programs that benefit the people of our community.”
Please consider a donation to the foundation for a promising future of healthcare in our beloved community.
https://www.givemn.org/organization/Central-Mesabi-Medical-Foundation

02/13/2026

⛳️ It’s time to gather your friends and coworkers for a day on the course filled with great food, exciting prizes, and meaningful community connection — all in support of the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation!

02/02/2026

The Central Mesabi Medical Foundation (CMMF) is currently seeking applications for a variety of scholarship opportunities for the 2026-2027 academic year. Scholarships are intended to serve students who graduated from high school or are permanent residents of the Iron Range. The application deadline is May 15, 2026.

🩻Health Care Career Scholarship — Established to provide financial assistance to area students majoring in healthcare-related careers. Scholarships are available to students enrolled in programs such as nursing, medical laboratory technician, diagnostic imaging, or other healthcare-related fields. A general major, such as biology, does not apply. First preference is given to individuals who graduated from or are permanent residents of Hibbing, Chisholm, Buhl, Kinney, Nashwauk, Keewatin and Mountain Iron.

📚Max and Sara Edelstein Professional Health Career Scholarship Funded through the generous support of the Max and Sara Edelstein family, this scholarship is offered to a student pursuing an advanced professional health care career and planning to return to the central Iron Range area. Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in programs such as physician assistant, nurse practitioner, medical school, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. Preference is given to students from Hibbing, Chisholm, Buhl, Kinney, Cherry, Mt. Iron, Nashwauk and Keewatin.

🩺Svigel Triplets Nursing Scholarship - The Svigel Triplets Nursing Scholarship was established in 2021 to honor the first triplets born at the Hibbing General Hospital on May 1, 1953. This scholarship is established by and funded through the generous support of Elaine Svigel Dunda and Stefan Dunda to honor Elaine’s parents, Hilda and John Svigel, and her siblings. The scholarship will be awarded to an eligible student enrolled in an accredited Bachelor of Nursing Program. The scholarship will be awarded in the second semester of study, or in the second or subsequent year(s) to a student who demonstrates successful progress in the program. Preference will be given to applicants who are graduates of Chisholm High School or reside in Chisholm.

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️The Dr. Benjamin P. Owens Healthcare Career Scholarship for Incumbent Workers – This scholarship is offered to individuals currently employed in a healthcare field at Fairview Range/ Mesaba Clinics who wish to advance their career through education and plan to remain at the organization. The employee/student must be accepted and/or enrolled in an accredited health care program such as nursing, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, medical school, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. This scholarship is funded through the generous support of Dr. John Shenk through the Dr. Benjamin P. Owens Charitable Foundation and is administered by the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation (CMMF).

Scholarship applications may be obtained by contacting Stephany Vesel, Executive Director, email: stephany.vesel@fairview.org

01/26/2026

✨We would like to introduce CMMF President Andi Macenski✨

Andi Macenski is currently in her fourth year serving on the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation (CMMF) Board. She works full time at Range Mental Health Center as the Director of Administration. She enjoys traveling and looks forward to at least one family vacation each year.

Andi’s favorite CMMF experience is allocation day, when board members carefully review applications and award funding to deserving candidates—an especially rewarding part of supporting the community.

She would like the community to know that CMMF is made up of both Fairview employees and community members. While the Foundation does provide funding to Fairview Range, its impact extends far beyond that. CMMF also supports a variety of community initiatives and offers a scholarship program that many people may not realize exists.

Andi also wants people to know that the CMMF Board is a fully volunteer board. Members are not paid—many continue to work full-time, while retired members stay busy enjoying travel and family life. The Board is always welcoming new members who are interested in giving back to the community.

01/06/2026

✨Another generous thanks from Fairview Range Medical Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Infusion Teams including patient stories. ✨

Dear CMMF Foundation,

The Medical Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Infusion teams would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous gift to our departments in 2025. Your support has made a direct impact on our patients by providing both gasoline and grocery gift cards. These cards have benefited 50 patients, most of whom live below the federal poverty line and face significant expenses related to cancer treatments. Many patients who received gas cards travel long distances for each appointment—sometimes 25 or more visits, totaling 204+ miles per day and over 5,000 miles throughout their treatment cycle. The gas cards have been especially helpful for patients traveling daily to and from International Falls for their treatments.

Our patients have expressed deep gratitude for CMMF’s generosity and have shared heartfelt feedback about how these gifts have supported them. Please find some of their stories below.

One cancer patient has chronic back pain and has had to make many trips to Duluth. He does not have a vehicle to drive himself; therefore, we were able to give a gas gift card to a friend of his to take him to and from his appointments.

One patient and his spouse are both dealing with a cancer diagnosis, causing them to both retire and live on social security. It has been difficult making ends meet, and they both greatly appreciated the grocery and gas gift cards.

One patient noted, very appreciatively, “it’s help like this that keeps me going during uncertain and scary times.” These gifts have provided hope for patients going through an uncertain and scary battle of a cancer diagnosis.

One patient has been out of work for 3 months and does not have the opportunity for long-term disability through her employer. She currently has $0.00 in income and has been relying on the support of her sisters to help pay accumulating bills. She’s been threatened with being sent to collections. With the support of local non-profit gifts and the support of the CMMF foundation, the patient says she feels “a lot better” knowing there is help to get her through her treatments.

Many patients who have been advised to drink Ensure drinks to gain weight and maintain adequate nutrition have benefited from grocery cards, as they live on a limited income and find these supplemental beverages very costly.

One patient who was $1,000 behind in rent benefited greatly from having extra money she would have put towards groceries to be put towards her rent bill, instead.

These are only a few patient stories. Many have expressed appreciation and gratitude for the funding from CMMF.

Our teams see firsthand how your support has made a noticeable difference in the lives of these patients. We appreciate your support so much!

With gratitude,
The Medical Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Infusion teams

Donations that you make to CMMF are able to make a difference at Fairview and out in the community. To learn more or donate, please visit

On behalf of everyone at the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation, we are grateful for your support, your partnership, and your investment in a healthier future.Your generosity makes an impact by strengthening our ability to provide high-quality care to patients and families,...

01/02/2026

✨A very heartfelt thank you from Range Mental Health Center✨

Range Mental Health Center- CMMF Equipment Outcome Report 2025

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude again for the generosity of CMMF to our detox unit at Range Mental Health Center earlier this year! We were granted a total of $2979.61. We purchased a new locking medication cart and vital signs machine. The med cart has been a massive relief- staff love it. We spent $2460.93 on the cart. Easy to use, while still very secure. As a leader, knowing the medications are properly stored and inventoried is a weight lifted. Likewise, the vital signs machine. We spent $800.00 on the vital signs machine. Staff like it of course as it is easier and quicker. As a provider, I like knowing that we are getting consistent measurements across different staff, no matter who is working.
These are items that we would have gone without due to our tight budget, and it means so much that you see the value in what we do here. We recently had an audit from the Department of Health, and having the cart and the vital signs machine were marks in our favor. A non-profit like ours, as well as our community, is so lucky to have the support of CMMF!

Best,

Jill Barger DNP, PMHNP
Medical Director
Range Mental Health Center

Send a message to learn more

12/30/2025

✨A Thank you note from allocation grant donation to the Fairview Range Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab Department. ✨

The Cardiac and Pulmonary staff would like to “thank” the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation for the recent purchase of the True Recumbent Elliptical for the usage of our rehab patients, employees, and WEL participants.

This new addition has afforded individuals who struggle with lower body joint mobility to participate in low-impact workouts, while reaping the rewards of a cardio-based exercise. Participants have commented on the “smooth” leg extension that engages multiple muscles without compounding joints that may otherwise be compromised by arthritis or other injuries.

The unique wide base step-through platform design supports ease of entrance and exit onto the machine; providing stability for our clientele who require more support transitioning.
Since obtaining the seated elliptical, participants have enjoyed the state-of-the-art touch screen offering virtual courses, preset workouts, high intensity interval training programs, and much more. The integration of the True Elliptical has provided positive feedback from a therapeutic standpoint, as clinicians monitor cardiovascular and respiratory responses during monitored classes.

Thank you for the continued support of our cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs offered at Fairview Range.

Fairview Range Medical Center, Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab Department

12/24/2025

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season

12/03/2025

Reminder: Community Allocations are due December 31, 2025. Please reach out to Stephany Vesel for an application. stephany.vesel@fairview.org

11/27/2025

Wishing everyone a blessed day! We are especially grateful for the continued support and donations that have helped keep our foundation going strong since 1967. Thank you for being part of our journey!

11/07/2025

10/03/2025

We are currently taking application requests for the 2026 CMMF Community Allocations. Please reach out to Stephany Vesel at 218-312-3034 or stephany.vesel@fairview.org for a application. Due date is December 31, 2025.