Brooklyn Park Business Owner Honored with Inaugural Community Impact Award
Roger Backstrom, a longtime Brooklyn Park business owner, is the inaugural recipient of Foundation Elevation’s inaugural Community Impact Award.
The award is designed to recognize community members who go above and beyond to help those around them.
Restaurant Owner, Civic Volunteer, Supporter of Youth
Backstrom owns the Brooklyn Park Godfather’s. There, he keeps busy.
“Owning a restaurant, of course, requires a lot of attention and time. It’s something I love to do,” Backstrom said.
If that wasn’t enough, he helps organize the “World’s Largest Smelt Fry” for the Brooklyn Park Lions Club. He also mentors and employs youth.
Backstrom said getting involved in the community years ago improved his life immensely.
“Its just filled my heart with a great deal of satisfaction, joy and just feeling like I belong someplace,” Backstrom said.
His support hasn’t gone unnoticed. You can ask any of his customers — many of whom have a story of when Backstrom helped them or supported them, donating Godfather’s pizza or hours of his time.
His work received formal recognition from Foundation Elevation, a Brooklyn Park nonprofit support group. Founder Katie Flanigan says this is is the group’s first year giving out a community impact award. To Flanigan, Backstrom was the perfect first candidate.
“Stories and stories about his different donations and support, and the time that he donates in the community. His volunteering, his impact is so powerful. And he helps a lot of people,” Flanigan said. “He’s really an inspiration and just a really good person to be around.”
Backstrom runs through a tunnel of supporters at the Osseo youth night.
Award-Winning Work
Backstrom was given the award at a youth night at Osseo High School last week, on Thursday, Jan. 30.
But Backstrom doesn’t want to take the credit– he said he’s following in the footsteps of many great leaders.
“You just can’t imagine the amount of joy and the amount of connection you can feel,” Backstrom said. “The amount of satisfaction of knowing you’re doing something positive to make the community where you live a good place to live, work or play.”
Behind the counter at Godfather’s, Backstrom focuses on nostalgia and connection. In that work, and outside the doors, he uplifts the city’s future.
Backstrom received the award last Thursday.
