Nonprofits receive a boost from OICF

Published 5:09 pm Friday, May 31, 2013

It’s a new record for the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

The organization distributed more than $130,000 to island non-profits, the highest amount to date.

“The generosity is absolutely tremendous,” said Executive Director Hilary Canty during the awards ceremony on May 31.

The total amount requested was $260,000 and OICF was able to give $130,710 in 30 grants. Of that amount, OICF dedicated $31,000 from the community endowment. Additional funding was sought from Partners in Philanthropy, island neighbors who contributed money towards proposals they identified. The partners gave $99,710  – a huge jump from the $69,000 given in 2012.

Canty attributes that growth primarily to the online grants catalog, where the community was able to access the list of opportunities with ease.

Every year, the Orcas High School seniors are tasked with distributing $5,000 to non-profits of their choice. This year’s student presenters Jessica Gudgell and Cameron Schuh announced their class selections: The Phoenix Fund to rebuild the Exchange was given $1,000; Friends of Moran State Park received $500; Friends of the Library was given $500; the Orcas Island Food Bank received $1,000; Orcas Family Connections was given $500;  Island Reproductive Services received $500;  and the Booster Club received $1000.

The following is a list of the other grant recipients for the 2013 cycle.

Animal Protection Society: $1,000 for “Team Safe” program. Funded by Barbara Bedell ans Midge Kraetzer.

Coffelt Farm Stewards: $2,700 for bee structure and apiary workspace. Funded by anonymous (3), Marilyn Anderson, Carl de Boor, Becky Burkley, Charles and Michelle Clark, Dean and Ruthie Dougherty, Carol Owens, and Bob Wyatt.

DVSAS: $1,025 for therapy sessions. Funded by anonymous and David and Geri Turnoy.

Farm to Cafeteria/OIEF: $6,000 for bio-intensive gardener. Funded by anonymous, Joe Cohen and Martha Farish, Gerry and Audra Lawlor, Andrew and Cheryl Masterman, Doug and Joyce Pearson, and Nancy Reas.

FEAST/Funhouse Commons: $1,100 for program coordinator operational expenses. Funded by anonymous, and Barry and Debbie Rochefort.

Friends of Moran: $3,002 for AED defibrillator and emergency phones. Funded by anonymous (2), Joe and Kathi Ciskowski, Carl de Boor, and the Robidoux Foundation.

Funhouse Commons: $1,100 for Ninja Summer Camp program. Funded by anonymous and the Blanchard-Manning household.

Hearts & Hands: $3,500 for partial operations funding. Funded by Helen Bee, Carl de Boor, Midge Kraetzer and OICF.

KWAIHT: $2,000 for an “Appleyard” specimen orchard. Funded by two anonymous donors.

Long Live the Kings: $3,869 for Glenwood Springs Salmon Hatchery operations. Funded by Anonymous and Steven and Barbara Spence.

OISD: Elementary School Counselor: $19,025 for partial operational funding. Funded by Helen Bee, Hilary Canty and Hank Date, Carl de Boor, Coleen O’Brien, Orcas Island Education Foundation, Roach Youth Fund and OICF.

OISD – Orcas A Cappellagos: $300 for High School choir program. Funded by Helen Bee.

OISD – Primary Intervention Program: $9,000 for operations and consultations. Funded by Anonymous, Bob and Phyllis Henigson, and OICF.

OISD: PTSA: $5,000 for “Weekend Packs for Kids” program. Funded by anonymous (2), Sally and Bruce Buchanan, Hilary Canty and Hank Date, Tom Carter, Laurie King, Nancy and Kevin O’Brien, David and Kaaren Slawson, Smalldog Net Solutions, Dimitri and Lorena Stankevich, and OICF.

OISD – PTSA: $1,000 for emergency kits for classrooms. Funded by anonymous.

Olga Strawberry Council: $3,000 for electrical upgrade to historical building. Funded by anonymous.

Orcas Center: $1,000 for “Stage Right” lighting upgrade. Funded by anonymous.

Orcas Family Connections: $5,000 for OFC training and outreach. Funded by Helen Bee, Diane Berreth and David Kobrin, Carl de Boor, Bob and Phyllis Henigson and OICF.

Orcas Family Health: $140 for audiometer for hearing screenings for all island youth. Funded by Mary Britt, Ethna Flanagan, Ed Kamin, Kathryn Kier and Suzanne Olson.

Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival: $600 for filming equipment. Funded by Marilyn Anderson and Carl de Boor.

Orcas Open Arts: $2020 for “Elementary Artists-in-the-Schools” program. Funded by anonymous, Carl de Boor, Horowitz Fine Arts Fund and Janet Brownell and Lance Evans.

P-5 Literacy Alignment Collaborative/OIEF: $15,775 for preschool – 5th grade literacy teacher training. Funded by anonymous, Helen Bee, Bob and Phyllis Henigson, Nancy Reas and OICF.

Preschool Collaborative/OIEF: $23,000 for Early Achievers funding. Funded by anonymous, Joe Cohen and Martha Farish, Jim Connell, Bob and Phyllis Henigson, Clayton Philbrick and OICF.

San Juan County Arts Council: $850 for creation of an arts directory on Orcas. Funded by anonymous and Janet Brownell and Lance Evans.

San Juan Nature Institute: $2,297 for marine invertebrate course and $1000 for stream studies fifth grade curriculum. Funded by anonymous (2).

Senior Services of Orcas Island: $11,000 for life enrichment programs. Funded by anonymous, Helen Bee and Jim Connell.

Wrestling Club/OIPRD: $500 for equipment for new wrestling program. Funded by an anonymous donor.

The following donors made general partner contributions distributed by the grants committee: Diane Berreth and David Kobrin, Ron Claybourn and Jackie Daigle, Bruce and Marty Coffey, Kate Long and Chris Sutton, H.S. Wright III and Kate Janeway and Dr. Edgar and Judith Zimmerman.