Build the Michael Brasel Fund for Youth

SAP Community Council Remembers Michael Brasel

By Scott Carlson

The St. Anthony Park community is embarking on a long-term goal to remember Michael Brasel.

The St. Anthony Park Community Foundation has started a youth endowment fund to honor Brasel, who in early May died of gunshot wounds as he interrupted car thieves in front of his house.

“The Michael Brasel Fund for Youth is an endowment managed by the St. Anthony Park Community Foundation to honor and remember a dedicated community member,” said Julie Drechsler, foundation executive director. “Michael Brasel found joy in mentoring and serving youth.”

Brasel was well known in the community as a youth hockey coach and the foundation wants to honor his legacy to youth athletics.

“Money donated to this fund will be part of the endowed fund, building principal which grows and stays intact in perpetuity while generating invested income which in turns is used in our annual grant program.” Drechsler explained.

In an interview with the Bugle, Drechsler said the foundation’s goal is to increase the availability to quality and innovative opportunities for students beyond classroom programs and activities. The foundation hopes to initially raise up to $50,000 for the endowed fund with a longer-range goal of growing the fund to $250,000, Drechsler said.

“We want to do something of longstanding significance and (showing) Michael’s commitment to the community,” she said. “It is creating a lasting legacy for Michael. He was a mentor to many kids.”

Drechsler said the Brasel endowed fund is the foundation’s first one designated for serving youth. The foundation has three other endowed funds, including one dedicated to supporting environmental projects, she said.

The foundation’s grant committee and Brasel’s family and close friends will select programs and activities for endowment grants, Drechsler said.

Foundation board members Brennan Townley and Andy McNattin are early supporters of the Brasel fund.

“I donated to the Michael Brasel Youth Endowment for many reasons—Michael was a friend and role model as a father and husband, he was a leader in our community and selflessly supported local programs like Langford Park Hockey,” Townley said. “I hope this endowment can be a small piece in Michael’s legacy and make an impact on the kids coming up in our community.”

McNattin added, “He (Michael) was an extremely genuine and generous man whose life was cut tragically short. My hope is that this fund will make a long lasting and far reaching impact to many people in his name for years and years to come.”

To contribute to the Brasel fund, write out a check to the SAP Community Foundation and mail it to P.O. Box 8038, St Paul, MN 55108. Or donate through the foundation’s GiveMN page, givemn.org/organization/Saint-Anthony-Park-Community-Foundation.