MRD Founder Allan Law was a teacher in the Inner City Minneapolis Public School System for 32 years, from 1967 to 1999. His entire life has been consumed passionately and unselfishly serving the poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged youth, and their families. He has personally volunteered more than 175,000 hours in the past 44 years, serving with love and compassion and delivering a message of hope to those most in need . Since 1967, he has volunteered an average of 10 hours a day, and increased to 18 hours a day in 1999 when he “Retired”. He is also on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergency needs. Throughout his 44 years of volunteering he has served 7 days every week, and has only taken a total of 8 days off. For 29 years he funded MRD entirely himself, with more than $500,000 out of his modest salary as a public school teacher. In 1996 Minneapolis Recreation Development, Inc. was granted 501(c) (3) Nonprofit Status: 41-1836443 which has helped offset the increasing needs in the community and ongoing expenses.
When asked what motivates him Mr. Law explains humbly “Because I care…..and this is what I believe God put me here to do each and every day…for the rest of my life. I was also blessed with a remarkable mother, Arlene, who gifted me with a lifetime supply of love and inspiration”. His mother grew up poor in rural North Dakota during the depression, and quit school at 13 to help care for her family after her father died. As an adult she was a loving wife, mother of 5 sons, and a dedicated Church volunteer and longtime Sunday school teacher. After her family was grown, she went back to school and became a secretary for her husband’s company, Loren L. Law & Associates. The last 8 years of her life she lost both her sight and hearing, and passed away in 2010 at age 94 after a long struggle with cancer. Mr. Law adds that “My mother never complained a day in her life, and she was the most caring, compassionate, and devoted person I have ever known. She has always been the source of my inspiration, and I dedicate all of my efforts in honor of her memory.”
Mr. Allan E. Law Awards & Recognition:
• Recognition from President George H. W. Bush
• Recognition from President Bill Clinton
• Recognition from President George W. Bush
• Congressional Record Recognition from U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone
• Recognition from Governor Tim Pawlenty
• Recognition from Governor Jesse Ventura
• Honored by U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad
• Recognition from Senator Mark Dayton
• Recognition from Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch
• American Institute for Public Service "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Gold Medallion" | Presented at the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C.
• American Institute for Public Service National "Jefferson Award" | Presented at the U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
• Received the Martin Luther King Award from the City of Minneapolis
• Honored by the American Institute for Public Service, Pittsburgh, PA. - Keynote Speaker
• Received "Heroes in the Making" Award from Jostens and the Minnesota Timberwolves
• Received National "Daily Points of Light Award" at Minneapolis Convention Center
• Received Recognition Award from North Minneapolis Event
• Recognition Minnehaha Academy Alumnus of the Year
• Received The Minneapolis Award
• Received Ventura for Minnesota Program Award
• Received McKnight Foundation "Awards in Human Service" Award
• WCCO Radio Interview - Don Shelby
• Received WCCO Radio "Good Neighbor" Award
• Received WCCO TV "Hometown Hero" Award
• Received City Business Newspaper "100 Unsung Heroes" Award
• Received KARE 11 TV "Eleven Who Care" Award
• WCCO TV "Dimension Feature"
• Front Page Article - Minneapolis Sunday Tribune - Bob Franklin
• Star Tribune Feature Article- Doug Grow
• Star Tribune Feature Article- “Sandwiches From a Savior”- Mary Jane Smetanka
• St. Paul Pioneer Press Feature Article - Bob Shaw
• Sun Newspapers Feature Article- Katie Mintz
• KARE 11 TV “Spotlight” News Feature