$72,830.
That’s how much the Orcas Island Community Foundation has awarded to island non-profits for 2009.
The foundation held its annual grant award ceremony on Friday, May 22 at Orcas Center. The event celebrated the generosity of community members who have donated as well as the foundation’s Partners in Philanthropy, who provide additional money to the approved grants.
Susan Gudgell, outgoing president of the foundation, said that the donations provide a “critical safety net” for island groups.
“The response has been incredibly heartwarming given that everyone is tightening their purse strings right now,” she said.
Executive Director Hilary Canty echoed those sentiments, as did incoming president Moana Kutsche, who led the grant presentations.
“Some of the organizations who usually apply did not submit a grant because they were doing okay and wanted to leave it open for others who really needed it,” Kutsche said.
The foundation approved 31 of the 34 applications submitted. Of those 31, they were only able to fund 21. The foundation has produced a brochure outlining the groups that still need money; they are available at the Orcas Chamber office, Orcas Library, and the OICF office.
“The Partners in Philanthropy allow us to fund much, much more than we could have done on our own,” Kutsche said.
This year’s partners were Marilyn Anderson, Michael Brennan, Joe Cohen and Martha Farish, Clayton Philbrick, Cynthia and Sam Coleman, Betty Corbett, Phyllis and Bob Henigson, Hull Family Supporting Organization, Masterman Family Fund, The Olga Symphony, and the Wright Janeway Family Fund.
The 2009 grant recipients are Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services ($2,500), Farm to Cafeteria ($5,000), F.E.A.S.T. Program, The Funhouse – Summer high school program ($3500), Friends of Moran Park – Creatures of the Forest preschool program ($1,500), Friends of Moran Park – Mt. Constitution tower renovations ($3,600), The Funhouse – college counseling, SAT prep, and online high school classes ($3,800), Islands Oil Spill Association – emergency response training class ($925), Kaleidoscope – literacy program ($4,693), Kaleidoscope – operating funds ($1500), Kwiaht – Fishing Bay toxicant study on freshwater shellfish ($1,700), Long Live the Kings – Replace salmon egg incubator at hatchery ($3,400), Orcas Center – Second year of grant for school theater and dance programs ($4,000), Orcas Family Connections – ($8,000), Orcas Family Health Center – Ultrasound diagnostic machine for use by all medical practices ($2,500), Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival and Music Advocacy Group – Second year of three-year grant for preschool music program ($2,500 for 2009 and $1,500 for 2010), Orcas Island Historical Museum ($4,000), Orcas Island Recreation Program – summer activities ($2,000), Orcas Island Rowing Association – cox box and boat lights ($978), Orcas Montessori School – sandbox cover ($500), Primary Intervention Program, Orcas School – Child mental health specialist to train volunteers who help at-risk children ($1800), Readiness To Learn, Orcas School ($7,500), San Juan Nature Institute, Orcas School – Compound microscope for elementary ($530), and San Juan Nature Institute, Orcas School – fourth grade teacher training and salmon study program ($1,400).
The finale of the program was the presentation of high school youth grants to island organizations. A generous donor gave $5,000 to the high school seniors to award any way they chose. For a story about how the students decided upon the list, see the story by Maddy Smith in the “Community” section.
The student presenters were Elli Blaine, Emma Gallo-Chasanof, Edith Leonard, and Lily Sky.
Kathleen Collister’s class gave $1000 to the Funhouse, $1000 to Orcas Open Arts, $250 to Children’s House, and $250 to Kaleidoscope.
Val Hellar’s students gave $800 to Orcas Family Connections, $900 to Orcas Food Bank, and $800 to Orcas Family Health Center for the “Emergency Fund” for families that would otherwise not be able to afford treatment.
