The James Green fund was created by a bequest made by James Green in 1974 through the Serkland Law Firm and Wendell Herman. James Green left this gift to create the James Green Fund to provide financial support for programs that serve underprivileged children, and/or those with physical and mental limitations.  

James was born in 1881 at Prince Albert Island; however, his family settled in Neche and Hamilton, North Dakota.  After attending college, James worked in St. Paul, moving to Fargo in 1928 where he opened a drug store near the Powers Hotel. James and his wife Edith had two daughters, and one grandson, Clement “John,” who he raised after John’s parents separated.

James was a very knowledgeable man, who took his grandson to the local library for entertainment - where they read “The Wall Street Journal.” His grandson has many fond memories of growing up in Fargo. He worked as a bell boy at the Powers Hotel to support himself while attending Minnesota State University Moorhead.

John believes his grandfather focused his fund on underprivileged children, or those with mental or physical limitations, because of his own limitations. James was very hard of hearing. Additionally, James was born with a club foot, which required him to wear soft leather shoes – often blue suede shoes.

James was 93 years old when he created the bequest that became his fund at the FM Area Foundation. A five-year grant to support the BackPack Program for students at Madison Elementary in Fargo was the first grant awarded from this endowed fund. Today, James’ legacy continues to live on by helping support underprivileged children in the Fargo-Moorhead area.