Gate City Bank, CVIC retiree honored with national awards from DomesticShelters.org for their commitment to domestic violence prevention and advocacy
Grand Forks, ND — For the third consecutive year, a Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) nominee has been honored with national recognition through the 2025 Purple Ribbon Awards.
Presented by DomesticShelters.org, a leading online hub for survivors of domestic violence and the professionals and organizations that support them, the Business Partner of the Year award goes to Gate City Bank for its path-breaking role in funding and supporting the Green Dot Greater Grand Forks program, an evidence-based violence prevention initiative that empowers bystanders to safely intervene in potentially harmful situations.
“This partnership that we have is such a gift,” said CVIC Board Member and Gate City Bank Senior Vice President of Northeastern North Dakota Becky Mindeman. “The opportunity that we have to support such a tremendous need in our community really is more rewarding than I could possibly put into words. We are grateful to be a part of such a remarkable vision to end interpersonal violence.”
The Green Dot program engages the community through education and awareness events with a goal of permanently reducing rates of violence and empowering residents to proactively engage in healthy relationships.
Uniquely, Gate City Bank has partnered with CVIC on the Green Dot program since 2019 and continues to support the program’s efforts in order to further the mission of ending violence in two generations.
Julie Christianson earns Lifetime Achievement Award
Recently retired CVIC Director of Grants Management Julie Christianson is the recipient of a LifetimeAchievement Award for her decades-long dedication to ending interpersonal violence with her unwavering support of CVIC’s programs and services.
“I am so honored to be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and recognized for the passion and commitment I have for ending interpersonal violence,” said Christianson. “Working alongside so many others who share that passion made those dreams and accomplishments come to fruition.”
Christianson’s pivotal involvement with CVIC began more than two decades ago, during which time she accelerated funding support for the organization through strategic grant programming and management.
“Julie’s dedicated service to CVIC for more than 20 years helped shape our agency into the comprehensive, leading organization it is today,” said CVIC President/CEO Coiya Tompkins Inman. “We are a stronger agency—and better people—because of Julie’s presence over the past two decades. We are deeply grateful for the passion and commitment she brought to advancing our mission.”
Virtual award ceremony on May 22 will celebrate award winners
The Purple Ribbon Awards are hosted annually by DomesticShelters.org and Alliance for HOPE International, which honors individuals and organizations who demonstrate exceptional commitment to ending domestic violence and supporting survivors.
This marks the third consecutive year that a CVIC-nominated partner has earned recognition:
- 2023: Outstanding Legislative Partner – Representative Mark Sanford
- 2024: Business Partner of the Year – Rydell Angels on Wheels Program
- 2025: Business Partner of the Year – Gate City Bank; Lifetime Achievement Award – Julie Christianson
Award recipients will be celebrated during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, where selected winners will also be eligible to receive grants from a $30,000 funding pool in support of their affiliated nonprofits.
About CVIC
With a bold, comprehensive and nationally recognized approach, we disrupt cultural norms to end violence in two generations. We deliver vital safety and healing services to adults and children experiencing trauma and educate youth and professionals about how to prevent violence and develop healthy relationships. Because violence is predictable, we know it is preventable and through an alliance of collaborative partners and donors we are creating a safer tomorrow.
About Gate City Bank
A $3.8 billion mutual bank founded in 1923, Gate City Bank is the region’s leading financial institution and the #1 mortgage lender in North Dakota. For over 100 years, the bank has created a better way of life for customers, communities and team members, and today it employs more than 770 team members at 45 locations in 23 communities across North Dakota and central Minnesota.
Since 2003, Gate City Bank has contributed $45.2 million in philanthropic giving and more than 338,000 volunteer hours. The bank has also received a five-star rating from BauerFinancial for the past 29 years, and has been named one of the “50 Best Places to Work” 11 years in a row by Prairie Business magazine. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.