A Day of Pure Joy at Valleyfair with Zanewood Recreation Center Scholars
There’s a special kind of magic in watching kids simply be kids—no deadlines, no worries, just joy in its purest form. That magic was alive and shining at Valleyfair, where the Minnesota CHILL Foundation and the Thielen Foundation proudly sponsored a full day of fun, adventure, and connection for the incredible scholars of the Zanewood Recreation Center summer program.
One Band. One Sound. One Unforgettable Night.
Last May 3rd, the MN CHILL Foundation proudly stood in harmony with fellow changemakers at the SOARNORTH Gala—Northside Achievement Zone’s largest and most impactful fundraising event of the year. Held at the iconic Armory, the evening was nothing short of extraordinary. From Jon Batiste’s electrifying performance to scholar Janiya’s powerful story of perseverance, every moment echoed the transformative power of community and opportunity.
A Groundbreaking for Change: Brooklyn Park Breaks Ground on “The Wood” — A New Teen Center at Zanewood
April 7, 2025, will be remembered as the day Brooklyn Park answered the call from its youth. With shovels in the ground and hope in the air, the city officially broke ground on “The Wood,” a state-of-the-art Teen Center at Zanewood Recreation Center — a long-awaited project fueled by purpose, passion, and people who believe in the power of our youth.
Marcus Hill is Building What Once Built Him
Marcus Hill grew up right here in Brooklyn Park. He played at Central Park, joined youth programs through Park and Rec, and became the kind of young leader those programs were designed to shape. Years later, he returned — not just to give back, but to create something that would change the future for kids coming up behind him.
Breaking New Ground & Serving Sweet Impact at The Wood
We want to extend a special thank you to our incredible partner, Fogo de Chão, for helping make yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Zanewood Teen Center — “The Wood” — even more memorable for our youth.
Cops & Teens Basketball Tournament: More Than a Game!
The Annual Cops and Teens Basketball Tournament is back at Zanewood Recreation Center—and we want to see YOU there!
Join us on April 17th from 5–7 PM for an exciting evening of basketball, music, concessions, special guests, and community connection. Open to students in grades 6–11!
Game Night for Change: Uniting Youth, Building Community
I want to give a huge thank you to the incredible staff at Zanewood Rec Center in Brooklyn Park for hosting the Third Annual Anti-Violence Game Night for our youth. It was a successful evening filled with games, food, and strong community support.
MN CHILL provides kids with tools for success
“C.H.I.L.L. stands for Community Helps Individuals Live and Learn. The MN CHILL Foundation’s motto is “If not me, then who?” The founders, William “Chuck” Hill and Cynthia “Cindy” Hill, help parents steer their children toward a successful future.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND: A GAME-CHANGING PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILL TECH STUDENTS!
Minnesota CHILL Foundation is proud to announce a transformative partnership with Allianz Technology of America bringing vital technology resources to students in our CHILL Tech program. Today, we picked up a generous donation of laptops from Allianz Technology of America—tools that will directly support the next generation of innovators, creators, and leaders in the tech industry.
Making Power Moves: Cindy Represents CHILL at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit
This week, our co-founder Cindy is stepping into a room where power, influence, and change collide—the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas, NV. As an invited guest of Black Enterprise, she’s representing both the Minnesota CHILL Foundation and Programming Solutions, INC, standing alongside trailblazing women who are shaping the future.