The work of the Astrup Family Foundation has been very exciting this year as we grow and discover so many unique 501(c)(3) organizations to which to give. We continue to focus primarily on our five key goal areas: family values, Christian faith, healthcare, education, and strengthening the communities in which we serve. 

This year, we are excited to continue learning about more organizations in the communities in which we have pharmacies—we especially enjoy donating generously in those communities. We love to partner with our stores in fundraising campaigns. 

THANK YOU to all who helped our company EXCEED our Alzheimer’s fundraising goals in June. The hard work and generosity of our Sterling employees and customers allowed us to exceed the $25,000 goal. The Astrup Family Foundation had agreed to match up to $25,000, but when that goal was exceeded, our board of directors decided to match EVERY dollar that was raised. 

Coming up in November, the stores will be doing another fundraising campaign. This time, each store has chosen which local non-profit they want to raise funds for in their community. This makes it very personal for each store. Our foundation has again agreed to match up to $25,000 for this November campaign.

Also coming up is Sterling’s and the Astrup Family Foundation’s partnership with an organization called Best Christmas Ever. We are hoping to eventually do this in every town in which we have a store. This requires having a captain from each community. At this time, we have captains in Austin and Worthington, so—at minimum—we will be able to bless one family in each of those communities. Families can be nominated, and then one will be chosen. These are families that have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. Our foundation will make a significant contribution to each family along with support from the entire community (gifts and cash) to bring the selected families the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.

It is hard to believe it has been seven years since my dad (Leonard Astrup, founder of Astrup Companies) died—and seven years since we started the Astrup Family Foundation. Each year, we continue to get more and more requests for grants. We have now been able to make grants/donations to over 100 organizations! It isn’t possible to print all of those, and it’s hard to choose any to highlight, but here are a few from 2021:

• Thus far this year, the Astrup Family Foundation has provided nearly $70,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association
• Organizations focused on mental health and addiction are a priority
• Provided air conditioning for a home for homeless women and children—and got it done in time for most of this very hot summer
• Generously supported long-term care and memory care facilities to enhance their facilities and provide pastoral care to residents
• Provided financial support for organizations focused on families that have a child diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness or that have a child with other critical healthcare needs in an intensive care setting
• Helping provide affordable daycare for families in need
• Supported an organization that teaches life, leadership, and employment skills to teens of color through their work in non-profit bakeries
• Annual support of free clinics in some of the towns in which we have stores—they provide medical care for those who are uninsured or unable to afford healthcare, which has been especially important during the pandemic
• Provided start-up support to an organization focused on making use of the great waste that occurs in the pharmacy industry—they offer safe and affordable medications to Minnesotans in need by redistributing unused medications from pharmacies and long-term care facilities
• Enabled a water ski association to purchase two adaptive skis so those with disabilities can have the incredible opportunity to be honorary members of a ski team and participate in water ski clinics

The Astrup Family Foundation loves to hear from Astrup Companies employees. Please visit AstrupFamilyFoundation.org to submit a grant request for organizations that are important to you. We meet quarterly and review all applications at those meetings.

As my mom used to tell our family, “Just as you have been blessed, now GO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!”

It is an honor for me to lead the Astrup Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3)—non-profit—organization affiliated with Astrup Companies. We are growing and continue to provide grants to many worthwhile organizations, primarily in the communities in which we do business and/or those that support individuals in these communities.

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, so we are hopeful that our grants to other non-profit organizations are especially impactful. We have made some extra gifts to organizations that are struggling due to COVID-19 and by the unrest in Minneapolis. These gifts have been made to organizations such as local community food shelves, free clinics that provide healthcare to those with no access to healthcare, the Lake Street Council, and services for aging Minnesotans made possible through Lutheran Social Services.

The Astrup Family Foundation is highly supportive and generous with organizations in the communities in which we have pharmacies/stores. We have partnered with Sterling to match all donations raised for local food shelves in EVERY Sterling community. Together, we have donated a total of nearly $50,000 to local food shelves. We also partnered with the stores in their much-appreciated efforts to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s and other dementias by matching those dollars raised up to $25,000.

Our donations continue to be focused on these areas: healthcare (including but not limited to mental health, addiction, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias), family values, Christian faith, education, and supporting/strengthening the communities in which we serve. Our Foundation continues to be a strong partner with the Alzheimer’s Association, which has been especially important during these times of the pandemic. 

The Astrup Family Foundation was a primary sponsor for the 2020 Alzheimer’s Virtual Purple Gala. Though the Walk to End Alzheimer’s was also held virtually this year due to COVID-19, some of the extended Astrup family members gathered safely on their own to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on September 26. We are passionate about doing what we can to put an end to Alzheimer’s and support families that are caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

The Astrup Family Foundation has already distributed over $1 million since our inception late in 2014 after our father/grandfather and company founder, Leonard Astrup, passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. Our Foundation is positioned to make a larger impact in the years to come and long into the future. 

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

— Norman MacEwan

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over five years since our dad/grandpa and founder of this company, Leonard Astrup, passed away. That means it has also been five years since we created the Astrup Family Foundation. The Foundation continues to grow through private donations, market appreciation, and contributions from company profits. This means that we are giving away more money each year to worthwhile organizations, hoping to make a difference for others.

This past quarter, we received the most grant requests since our inception. In addition, we have gone out to seek and learn about organizations that fit our five key goal areas—Christian faith, family values, education, healthcare, and strengthening the communities in which we do business. Most recently, we have given grants in these areas: faith-based addiction/mental health program support, homeless/transitional housing for women and children, community health agencies that provide access to healthcare for those uninsured and in need of free healthcare, campus mental health, healthcare needs of churches, pediatric cancer family support and housing, epilepsy/seizure education in schools, endowed college scholarships, healthcare research, and organizations that provide support and assistance to families in times of crisis, just to name a few. Almost all of these organizations are in the communities in which we do business.

It’s exciting to watch as the Austin Community Recreation Center is built. We continue our gift of $500,000 over five years as the building is constructed in Austin, Minnesota, where our company was founded.

In October, our Sterling retail stores participated in a round-up fundraiser. Each store selected a cancer-related 501(c)(3) organization within its community to be the recipient of these round-up dollars. The Astrup Family Foundation then matched those round-up donations—dollar for dollar—for a total of $17,000 going to these organizations. Thank you to our stores for their participation in this contest that involved our customers rounding up their purchases for such a good cause.

Once again, the Astrup family participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the Twin Cities. We donated the entire $15,000 match that we offered, raising a total of $32,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association and all they do in the areas of support and research. Thank you to many of you who donated to this important cause. The number of people 65 years and older with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to triple by 2050. We must find a cure to stop this relentless disease.

The Foundation’s board of directors meets quarterly, and we hope to hear from many of you in 2020. We encourage all employees to consider requesting a grant for a cause that’s important to you or one that you know is in need. To do so, visit AstrupFamilyFoundation.org and click on “Donation Request.” Together we can make a big difference in our communities.

Our lives were changed forever on March 15 when Corrine Astrup—beloved wife of company founder, Leonard Astrup, who we lost to Alzheimer’s disease in July 2014—passed away just days after having a massive stroke. Corrine was 94 years old and was sharp and active right up to the time of her stroke. She was a role model for all and a driving force behind the creation of the Astrup Family Foundation, where she served on the Board of Directors since its inception late in 2014. She was passionate about the Foundation’s mission and never missed a meeting, including one at the Sterling Specialty Pharmacy facility in Mendota Heights just a week before her death. She was an incredible wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandma, great-grandma, and philanthropist. She had a great love for humankind and was intentional about giving to and caring about others.

So far this year, the Astrup Family Foundation’s giving has covered all five of our focus areas: healthcare, education, family values, faith, and strengthening communities. Our giving has touched Alzheimer’s/dementia, pediatric cancer research, mental health/addiction, those with developmental disabilities, and providing access to medical care for those who do not have access. We have given many grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in the communities in which we do business—most recently in Austin, Owatonna, Northfield, Worthington, Fairmont, and Cresco—as well as many other worthwhile organizations in the state of Minnesota.

We continue to encourage all of you, Astrup Companies employees, to submit applications for grant requests for charities and organizations that you know are in need or that you are involved with and/or passionate about. These applications are due every quarter. The remaining deadlines for 2019 are October 1 and December 1, but you may submit them at any time. We have received some of these requests from Astrup Companies employees but not as many as we’d like or thought we would. This is one very helpful way for us to learn about and support organizations we may not otherwise know about. We love to support the communities in which we do business, and we would love to hear more about your involvement in organizations in our areas of focus! Recently, we received a request and made a donation that was submitted by a customer of one of our Sterling Pharmacy stores as well. Following her death, we made some large donations in memory of Corrine to some of her favorite charities. In memory and honor of both her and Leonard, the Astrup Family Foundation will continue to give generously long into the future. We miss them both so much and are incredibly grateful for all they did to make this possible and to help us make a difference for others.

Thank you to those of you who donated to Team Leonard for the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer’s! Team Leonard was—for the second straight year—the number-one fundraising team, raising nearly $59,000! Team captain Dan Astrup and his granddaughter, Lila, accepted that award on September 15 at Target Field. The Astrup Family Foundation matched the entire $25,000 they offered. This was in addition to the $22,593.76 from the stores’ Alzheimer’s pin-up sales in June. Being involved with and giving to the Alzheimer’s Association to partner in the fight to end this disease is important to the Astrup family after seeing how devastating this disease was for Leonard, our father/grandfather and company founder. If you would still like to donate to this important cause, you may do so through December 31 by visiting Smart-Fill.com/alz2018.

There are some strong partnerships between our pharmacies and their local communities. Recent grants/donations have benefited many local organizations in Iowa and Minnesota that focus on healthcare (Alzheimer’s, cancer, mental health, and addiction) and education, including organizations in our business communities, to help the uninsured find access to healthcare. Another recent grant helps college students attend college while in addiction recovery—a student should not have to choose between recovery and getting an education. This is an exciting program and one of the biggest and best of its kind in the country!

In addition, several recent grants/donations from the Astrup Family Foundation have gone to 501c3 organizations that were submitted by Astrup employees—those that our own employees are involved in and/or are passionate about. Most of these are in communities in which we have stores. Getting these applications/requests from Astrup employees has been a great way to learn about organizations that would otherwise not be known to us. Please consider requesting a donation for any 501c3 organization that you are passionate about that fits in the Astrup Family Foundation goals: healthcare, education, faith, family, helping those less fortunate, and strengthening the communities in which we do business. The foundation board has decided to continue receiving employee grant requests. The next quarterly deadline is March 1, 2019, but applications can be submitted at any time. Applications can be found on the foundation website (AstrupFamilyFoundation.org) or from your manager. They should be sent to Giving@AstrupFamilyFoundation.org or can be mailed (address on website). We’d love to hear about how the Astrup Family Foundation might be able to help the organizations that you feel are worthwhile.

In the last issue of The Lunchcounter, I mentioned being apart of the establishment of a shelter for women and children. One of our retired pharmacists from Astrup Companies has been instrumental in making this home become a reality. I recently toured it, and it is so exciting to see the progress!

I am grateful to lead this foundation in partnership with Astrup Companies.“God has given us two hands — one to receive with and the other to give.” —Billy Graham

This year has flown by. The Board of Directors for the Astrup Family Foundation continues to meet quarterly to make decisions on grants and learn about organizations that could benefit from a grant from our foundation. Exciting and rewarding work! The grants most recently distributed have been to organizations that focus on health care, faith, family, and strengthening communities. In August, we provided a large grant for capital expenses necessary to open a new home for homeless women and children in SE Minnesota. This grant will enable them to open their doors to their first guests in a few short months. The hope for this home is greater than providing these women and children with a place to stay—we hope it will help them to gain a foothold on life so they can eventually provide a life for their family.

We were thrilled to receive so many donation requests from Astrup Companies employees and hope that continues next quarter. The next deadline is Saturday, December 1. We want to hear about and donate to 501(c)(3) organizations and causes that are important to you!

The Astrup Family Foundation, in combination with gifts from Astrup Companies and individual Astrup family members, made a $500,000 donation toward the new Austin Community Rec Center. This center is not only aligned with our mission and values, but it is especially significant because it is in Austin, where company founder (Leonard Astrup) began the business and where he and his wife (Corrine) raised our family. Leonard passed away in 2014; Corrine is still living in Austin and is a strong supporter of the Austin and SE Minnesota community.

Our entire extended family will again be walking in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this month (September 15) in memory/honor of our dad, husband, grandpa, and father-in-law (Leonard), as well as other loved ones. Team Leonard members have been fundraising this summer/fall in an effort to advance research and provide support for families living with Alzheimer’s disease. All donations go to the Alzheimer’s Association in hopes of one day living in a world without Alzheimer’s. This year, the Astrup Family Foundation is matching all walk donations dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000. This is in addition to the $22,593.76 the Astrup Family Foundation matched in the Alzheimer’s pin-up sales from our stores in June—thank you to the stores for that incredible effort and for exceeding your $20,000 goal! Donations to Team Leonard can be made on our website through December 2018 by visiting Smart-Fill.com/alz2018. You can still contribute. Thank you for your consideration, and thanks to those of you who have already donated!

If you know anyone who has Alzheimer’s or any family members who need support for any issues relating to Alzheimer’s, please don’t ever hesitate to call the 24/7 Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at 1-800-272-3900. Our family received so much help and support during Leonard’s difficult journey with Alzheimer’s, and it all started with a call to that number.

The Foundation continues to focus its giving in the areas of faith, family, education, health care and mental illness, building strong communities, and making a difference for those who are less fortunate.

The Astrup Family Foundation—the non-profit side of Astrup Companies— continues to grow and make both large and small donations to some great organizations. In 2017, our donations were largely focused on healthcare and education, including some new organizations discovered late in the year that we were able to positively impact in December. These were organizations focused on healthcare, healthcare research, organ donation, and homelessness.

In February 2018, the Foundation kicked off an initiative to solicit ideas from employees across all of Astrup Companies. We want to hear about organizations you are passionate about in your local area as we look for ways to make a difference in the communities our businesses have served over the past 65+ years. If you know of worthy 501(c)(3) organizations that could benefit from a donation from our Foundation, please complete the request form and the required one-page summary. See your manager if you need a copy of these forms. We want to donate to causes that are important to you while also meeting the mission, values, and goals of the Astrup Family Foundation.

At our March meeting, we approved our first two donations from Astrup Companies employees! Thank you to those of you who took the time to make a request. While not all requests will be approved, it is exciting for us to learn about organizations that our own employees are involved with and/or passionate about. Deadlines for the remainder of 2018 are June 1, September 1, and December 1. Please consider making a donation request!

During early 2018, we’ve also begun creating a new website and researching multiple organizations (primarily in the Midwest) that align with our mission and goals. We are supporting some educational organizations that offer healthcare majors as well as those that encourage students to enter the healthcare field with or without a major in healthcare. We have also been introduced to some outstanding organizations focused on mental health and addiction. We will continue our commitment to Alzheimer’s research over the coming years in hopes of increasing awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias and—ultimately—to end this horrible disease that took the life of my dad and company founder, Leonard Astrup. It is affecting more people each year, and the statistics are staggering.

The Astrup Family Foundation focuses its giving in the areas of faith, family, education, healthcare, mental illness, building strong communities, and making a difference for those less fortunate.

Everyone who has a brain is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, a fatal disease that is often misunderstood. Even Alzheimer’s caregivers who are in the healthcare industry are not immune to the questions, uncertainty, and stress that accompany the disease. When company founder Leonard Astrup first showed signs of memory loss, his family was unsure of what to expect and where to turn. Although a friend had recommended the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline a couple years earlier, the family hesitated to call, thinking they could figure things out on their own. Finally, at a very difficult time, they called and were connected to reliable information, incredible support, guidance, and help with problem solving. A care consultant met with the family for a family care conference and was able to help with decision-making support, crisis assistance, and education on difficult issues that many families of Alzheimer’s patients must also face every day.

In honor of Leonard, the Astrup family has rallied behind raising awareness and changing the stigma of Alzheimer’s. “I don’t know what we would have done without getting connected to the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Susan Astrup Lundquist. “The support we received was critical in caring for our dad, and we wish we would have discovered the Helpline and other resources sooner.”

The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing age, and with an aging population and no known treatment, prevention, or cure for the disease, that number is expected to soar and has driven the Astrup family to take action. The Astrup Family Foundation was formed in 2014 after Leonard’s death. One of its focus areas is healthcare—specifically dementia, mental health, and epilepsy. Alzheimer’s disease has been a primary focus due to seeing firsthand how the disease progressed with Leonard. Susan, Leonard and Corrine’s youngest daughter, joined the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota Board of Directors in 2015 and is now on the Executive Committee. She is also team captain of Team Leonard for the Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which will be held on September 9, 2017. Learn more about the Walk or join the Astrup family in their fight to end Alzheimer’s at:

www.smart-fill.com/alz2017

You can walk with the team and/or donate. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Astrup Family Foundation, up to $50,000! Please consider giving generously and joining the Astrup family in doing all we can to put an end to this horrific disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a full range of programs and services available in person, over the phone, and online—free of charge. If you or someone you know is concerned or has questions about Alzheimer’s or another dementia, call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/mnnd. Don’t wait… and spread the word!

Thank you to all who contributed to the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s! Team Leonard received an award at Target Field on September 9 for being the #1 fundraising team in the Twin Cities walk.

Team Leonard raised a total of $61,080 in this year’s walk to join the Alzheimer’s Association in the fight to end this horrific disease. All contributions were matched dollar-for-dollar, which means the Astrup Family Foundation matched $30,540 for the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in addition to the $16,032 that was matched in June from our stores’ pin-up sales. Thank you to all who were so kind to make a contribution, no matter how big or small. Twenty-eight of us participated in the walk by fundraising and/or walking in the event. As you can see in the photo to the right, we proudly wore our donated Team Leonard t-shirts for the event. Founder Leonard Astrup would be proud.

Since the inception of the Astrup Family Foundation at the end of 2014—following Leonard’s death earlier that year—the Foundation has donated 
over $230,000 to help impact individuals, other non-profits, and communities. The Foundation focuses its giving on the following:

• Preserving family values
• Christian faith
• The value of education
• Select healthcare initiatives
• Building strong communities, especially those in which we do business
• Making a difference for those less fortunate

The Foundation’s giving thus far has largely focused on healthcare—Alzheimer’s/dementia-related causes, epilepsy, and breast cancer, to name 
a few. In addition, we are focusing on the value of education by giving stipends and scholarships to students at the University of Minnesota Pharmacy School and Gustavus Adolphus College. We have also made many contributions to causes in communities where we have done business over the years, including large contributions to build the Interpretive Center at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin and a brand-new cabin (called Sterling Drug) at Good Earth Village in southeastern Minnesota.

The Astrup Family Foundation is always looking for opportunities to give money to honorable organizations that meet our mission and goals. We will continue to give generously and are excited about the potential of the Foundation to make a difference in many lives through donations to organizations both large and small. By doing so, the Astrup family is carrying on the legacy started by founder Leonard Astrup and his wife Corrine, who is active on the board of directors for the Astrup Family Foundation.

Current board members for the 
Astrup Family Foundation include 
Ann Astrup, Bob Astrup, Chris Astrup, Corrine Astrup, Dan Astrup, Andrea Astrup Becker, Susan Astrup Lundquist, and Anna Lundquist.

The Astrup Family Foundation is a private family foundation that was established by Corrine Astrup and her four children: Ann Astrup, Chris Astrup, Dan Astrup, and Susan Astrup Lundquist. The foundation is made possible by the success and legacy of Leonard and Corrine Astrup, who began the pharmacy in 1952 that has now grown into a successful chain of regional independent pharmacies we know as Sterling. Leonard, a pharmacist himself, passed away in July 2014 after a difficult journey with Alzheimer’s.

The Astrup Family Foundation board consists of Corrine, the four children, and three grandchildren. Its goal is to give money annually towards supporting honorable programs that affect individuals and communities nationwide, but with a primary focus in the Midwest, where the business was built, and where Leonard and Corrine raised their family. The Astrup Family Foundation’s mission statement was set by Leonard’s wife and children after his death as a way to give back to the communities they served through the years.

The Astrup family is excited about the opportunity to make a difference in many lives for years and years to come. Through this foundation, the family hopes to carry on the legacy started by Leonard and Corrine Astrup by giving generously to others. The mission of the Astrup Family Foundation focuses it’s giving on preserving family values, commitment to their Christian faith, the value of education, supporting selected healthcare initiatives, and building strong communities. More specifically, the Astrup Family Foundation supports organizations with a focus in the areas of:

• Providing opportunities for individuals/groups in the areas of faith, education, service, and mission.
• Support of healthcare initiatives focused on (but not limited to) dementia, epilepsy, and mental illness.
• Assisting (primarily) Midwest communities following natural disasters.
• Supporting programs that strengthen individuals and build strong communities.
• Making a difference for others less fortunate, including the poor and the homeless, by giving them opportunities they otherwise would not have the opportunity to do.

Since the inception of the foundation at the end of 2014, the Astrup family has given donations to each of the following organizations:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• Austin Community Charitable Fund
• Back2Back Ministries
• Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
• Good Earth Village
• Hormel Nature Center
• Hormel Institute (Breast Cancer research/dollar-for-dollar match in our stores)
• Karl Potach Foundation
• Luther Seminary
• Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
• University of Minnesota Foundation (U of M School of Pharmacy)

The Astrup Family Foundation is an IRS-approved 501c3 organization.

To the right are two photos. The first is a photo of the Dan and Holly Ravenhorst family from Austin, MN. The foundation supports the Ravenhorst family as they are currently serving in Haiti with Back2Back Ministries. Pictured with the Ravenhorsts are Susan Astrup Lundquist and her daughter, Anna, who had an opportunity to serve side-by-side with the Ravenhorst family and Back2Back Ministries in July 2016 by working in orphanages in Haiti.

The second photo is the new “Sterling Drug” cabin that was built with Astrup family funds in the summer of 2016 at Good Earth Village Camp and Christian Retreat Center in Spring Valley, MN.