Twin Cities couple plan to give away around $100M, concentrating on disadvantaged youth

Neal St. Anthony @STANTHONYSTRIB
John and Denise Graves have enjoyed the fruit of 28 years of labor since they sold their business in 2014 for more than $150 million.

The Excelsior couple also own a place in California and part of a nearby winery. But the Graveses, unassuming and grateful, have spent much of their time coming up with a plan to give most of their money away through a family foundation that bears their name.

"By the time we kick the bucket we probably will have granted $100 million to our family foundation," said John Graves, 69, who with his wife started investing in disadvantaged Minneapolis youth long before they became wealthy.

Bill Graves, 37, the oldest of the couple's three children, left his career in 2014 to help his parents build the John and Denise Graves Foundation. The foundation, which spends about $4 million annually, contains about $57 million. There will be more.

Read more: https://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-couple-plan-to-give-away-around-100m-concentrating-on-disadvantaged-youth/600121623/