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2013 Lifetime Achievement Award

Dan and Mabel CobornCentraCare Health Foundation presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dan and Mabel Coborn on Nov. 26 at the La Gratitude event for benefactors.

The Coborn name is synonymous with top quality for grocery stores. Dan and Mabel’s focus on customer service and community involvement have been at the cornerstone of Coborn’s success.

Dan and Mabel have been active in volunteering for and supporting Boy Scouts of America, St. Cloud Kiwanis Club, Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, the College of St. Benedict, St. John’s University, St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Central Minnesota Community Foundation, United Way of Central Minnesota and the list goes on and on. Their generosity has touched so many lives.

The list of Dan and Mabel’s volunteer involvement with CentraCare also is quite long. They helped chair the first capital campaign “Investing in Health . . . Ensuring Excellence” and the most recent “Caring for Generations” campaign. Dan has been on the St. Cloud Hospital Board, the CentraCare Health System Board and the Foundation Board — 18 years of volunteering!

When Dan’s grandfather, Chester, opened a produce market, he probably never imagined that it would grow to an employee-owned grocery retailer with 48 stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. And don’t forget CobornsDelivers as well as stand-alone convenience, liquor, video and pharmacy locations. The family business now has 7,100 employees.

Back in 2002 when John Frobenius was co-president of CentraCare Health, the Coborn family made a substantial gift to create Coborn Cancer Center. John said, “The Coborns’ gift will make a profound difference for our cancer patients and their families.” Truer words were never spoken.

There have been many more gifts since to Coborn Cancer Center as well as St. Benedict’s Senior Community from the Coborn family.

Dan and Mabel’s son, Chris, is the president and CEO of Coborn’s, Inc., and he has continued the tradition that his parents have started. Under Chris’s leadership, Coborn’s, Inc., also supports cancer services through Grocers on the Green, which benefits St. Cloud Hospital Pediatric Cancer Services. In the past 12 years, Grocers on the Green has raised nearly $1.6 million dollars to make life better for kids with cancer. And there are other promotions such as Food for the Cure, Make a Purchase with a Purpose and Movember, which all benefit cancer services here in Central Minnesota.

Central Minnesota is lucky to have such generous community leaders such as Dan and Mabel Coborn, who are an inspiration to others.

Contact the Foundation

Feel free to email foundation@centracare.com or call 800-835-6652, ext. 52810. Get Directions.

Mailing address:

CentraCare Health Foundation
1406 Sixth Ave N.
St. Cloud, MN 56303-1901

Office address:

3001 Clearwater Road
St. Cloud, MN 56301