The Jesse Action Figure

Minnesota charities are starting to benefit from the sale of Gov. Jesse Ventura’s novelty merchandise. On Monday three charities became the first to receive $5,000 grants from Ventura for Minnesota, Inc., the nonprofit organization that licenses Ventura’s name and likeness. “This is just going to be the start of something that’s going to really, really continue to grow and . . . help Minnesota,” First Lady Terry Ventura said. Roughly 12% of the sale price of the Ventura dolls, T-shirts, key chains and other items, plus royalties, go to the VMI charity organization. So far VMI has taken in $66,000, and that figure doesn’t even include profits from the popular Jesse Ventura dolls.