Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Cheer Bags
One way we support our community is through our Cheer Bag Program. Cheer Bags is our way of brightening someone’s day through a small, random act of kindness. Each Cheer Bag is customized by age and consists of mental health tools and resources. We have four different age groups: Smiles for Seniors, Adult, Teen and 12 & Under.
Smiles for Seniors:
A cozy blanket
Crossword Puzzle Game
Night Light
Thumbs Up Coffee Cup
Hot Cocoa or Tea
Chocolate
Resource Guide
Adult Cheer Bag:
Mindfulness Adult Coloring Book
Colored pencils
Thoughtful Pop Open Box
Worry Stone
Keep Moving Forward Sticker
Keep Moving Forward Bracelet
Teen Cheer Bag
Breathing Straw Necklace
Teen Mindset Journal
Colored Pencils
Worry Stone
Stress Ball
Smile Button
Keep Moving Forward Bracelet
Stickers
Thumbs Up Beanie
$5 Coffee Gift Card
Resource Card
12 & Under Cheer Bag for Kids:
Usborne Activity Book
Colored Pencils
Bubbles
Smiley Face Sticker
Calm Down Bracelet
Stress Ball
Calming Jar
Smiley Face Balloon
Jump Rope
Calming Corners
What Is a Calming Corner?
A Classroom Calming Corner is a quiet area of the room equipped with soft furnishings and soothing materials to help a student de-escalate when upset.
Each calming corner can be customized for the specific age or classroom grade.
Calming corners can be equipped with many tools to help regulate emotions including but not limited to:
Bean bag chair(s) or floor cushions/large pillows
Soft rug
Relaxation CD and player or headphones
Books, magazines
Low partitions/dividers for privacy
Fidgets or Glitter Jars
Visual calming strategies like yoga calm posters or breathing exercises
Visual timer
Referral Assistance
Do You Need Assistance Paying for Counseling?
At Thumbs Up, we have a program that is built to aid individuals who are needing assistance paying for mental health counseling. Although we are not counselors ourselves, we have partnered with counseling professionals to help. Through our Referral Assistance Program, we can help you pay for five counseling sessions through our trusted partners. Our program is funded by members of the community who believe in supporting mental health care for all. To get started, select the counseling office of your choice, then fill out the form below.
Program Description
Thumbs Up High 5K, a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, (the “Organization”), offers to those the Organization serves as part of its charitable purposes as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, participation in a free, electronic referral program (the “Referral Program”) for referral of a participant to receive five (5) free sessions of counseling or therapy provided by a licensed provider.
Emotional Support Dogs
Emotional Support Dogs
Each year, we identify a family to receive an emotional support dog
And emotional support dog is defined as a companion animal that provides their owner with a therapeutic benefit or emotional support
Each emotional support dog takes A.K.C. Star Puppy Class and Canine Good Citizen Class through Your Dogs Best Friend
Emotional support dogs can help with high levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD and autism
What’s the difference between an Emotional Support dog and a service dog or therapy dog?
Survivors of Suicide Loss
You are not alone in this journey. Suicide affects millions each year. Thumbs Up can provide resources and walk alongside you through the grieving process.
When we learn of a death by suicide in the community, we will mail out a bereavement gift which includes a bell wind chime, worry stones, Keep Moving Forward bracelet and sympathy card
Middle & High School Youth Mental Health After School Program
Middle & High School After School Program Monday – Thursday from 2:15pm – 5:00pm
Located: 305 Jackson Ave. Suite B, Elk River, MN 55330
Weekly no-cost mental health activities including:
- Willow the Therapy Dog from You’re Not Alone
- Art Therapy Workshops from Art Lab RX & Parasol Wellness Collaborative
- Painting classes from Creative Studio 23
- Mental Health First Aid Training from The Heart and Mind Connection
- Partnership with CAER Food Shelf to provide healthy snacks and beverages for every student
Middle & High School Summer Program
Middle & High School Summer Program – Wednesdays from 11:00am-2:00pm
Located: 305 Jackson Ave. Suite B, Elk River, MN 55330
Weekly no-cost mental health activities including:
- Willow the Therapy Dog from You’re Not Alone
- Art Therapy Workshops from Art Lab RX & Parasol Wellness Collaborative
- Painting classes
- Mental Health First Aid Training from The Heart and Mind Connection
- Partnership with CAER Food Shelf to provide healthy snacks and beverages for every student
Where we work
Awards
Nonprofit of the Year 2022
I-94 Chamber of Commerce
External reviews

How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We send out a yearly survey asking how we are doing, what we could be doing better and collect other feedback from our donors and supporters
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.),
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
We made changes to our Annual Thumbs Up 5K & 10K run/walk/bike/blade event based on feedback from people we serve.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our board, Our community partners,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
We feel that we are best serving people when we are listening and asking for their feedback.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Thumbs Up High 5K, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 06/02/2022
Brenda Roux
Thumbs Up High 5K
Term: 2020 - 2023
Jessica Hackenmueller
Thumbs Up High 5K
Term: 2016 - 2023
Jessica Hackenmueller
Thumbs Up High 5K
Jody Kreuser
Thumbs Up High 5K
Brenda Roux
Thumbs Up High 5K
Kate Moyer
Thumbs Up High 5K
Amy Walz
Thumbs Up High 5K
Scott Ramsdell
Thumbs Up High 5K
Richard Bartos
Thumbs Up High 5K
Allie Schmidt
Thumbs Up High 5K
Moriah Prange
Thumbs Up High 5K
Jody Martineau
Thumbs Up High 5K
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.