Fran grew up during the Depression. He knows hard times. He took those life experiences and dedicated his retirement years to help those in need, especially children. Eighteen years ago, Fran began his mission by taking a donated crib and turning it into a thriving non-profit that provides free furniture and household goods to over 30,000 Minnesota families in need. His calls his non-profit project, Bridging.

Fran works tirelessly on behalf of families who live below the poverty line. He has dedicated his retirement years to help raise funding, acquire product for, and increase awareness about the less fortunate in our society. His charisma has attracted over 1,400 volunteers to the organization. The volunteers collect and distribute donated furniture and household goods to clients so they will have a bed to sleep upon, a chair to sit on, and a dish to eat from, transforming a place to stay into a real home.

Bridging benefits many of the working poor, and especially those in desperate need –– including refugees, immigrants, victims of domestic abuse, natural disasters, and the homeless. Over 84% of the families that use Bridging have annual household incomes under $15,000. Fran’s efforts help give the less fortunate a sense of dignity and stability as they rebuild their lives

Due to Fran Heitzman’s tireless commitment, over 125,000 Minnesotans, half of them children, now have the furniture to make their house a home and a place that gives them a sense of dignity. Fran has never forgotten his own struggles as a youth. At eighty-years-old and in his retirement, Fran Heitzman works harder than ever to help many of our working poor and disadvantaged not only to become economically self-sufficient, but also to know that they are as valued as the most fortunate in our society.

To learn more about Fran and his cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit:
www.bridging.org.

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