Mark Dayton, former U.S. senator, addressed a gathering of Minnesota Senior Federation members, sponsors and community and foundation partners at a donor appreciation reception Nov. 8 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. While the senator was on call for the keynote address, the appreciation was built around Dayton’s considerable commitment to and support of this organization’s health programs, especially affordable prescription drugs.

The reception also welcomed new and associate members into the Legacy Society, the MnSF’s leadership group for annual gifts. Board chair Barbara Kaufman welcomed Mary Ann and Paul Beneke, Linda Feist, Jerry and Nancy Irsfeld, Thomas A. McGrath, Gloria Phillips, Rob and Linda Pruden, Susie and Larry Ragland, and Marlys Wilson as recent members of the Legacy Society. Kaufman acknowledged new associate members of the Society: Louis and Joyce Keller, Dean and Helen Lemke, Nancy and Rich Nonini, Orwoll and Gladys Aalgaard Olson, Marcia Scheele and Clyde Thomas.

Approximately 65 people gathered to express their thanks to Dayton and to hear his thoughts on philanthropy and how it manifested itself in gifts to the Senior Federation. The gifts began in 2001 and continued through 2007 and constituted Dayton’s senate salary every year for six years to underwrite costs of bus trips to Canada for seniors to purchase affordable prescription drugs. While the number of bus trips has dwindled due to in large part to Part D, the prescription drug benefit of Medicare, the cost of providing information, counseling and community outreach has steadily risen. The Minnesota Senior Federation continually finds itself swamped with requests from individuals needing help with prescription drugs, cost and access.

Dayton’s address included remembrances of his encounters with senior citizens and their causes, many of which he brought to his work in the senate. As he closed his remarks, he talked about the joy of giving - he always received more than he gave. And the experience of giving, while it enabled others, ultimately ennobled everyone in the process. As Dayton acknowledged the considerable applause, MnSF interim executive director, Reid Zimmerman, presented Dayton with what he termed a long overdue certificate of membership in the Legacy Society and a poster strewn with photos of bus trips over the years and signed by everyone gathered, “Thank you Sen. Dayton - it was a great trip!”