Ninety-year-old Fred Whitridge, who is a legend among nonprofit boards, brought the audience to tears as he accepted recognition from the Orcas Island Community Foundation for his leadership in philanthropy. The foundation honored him at its annual report to the community luncheon.

Doug Bechtel, who helped introduced Whitridge, said he personified the saying: “I don’t want to be an officer, I want to be an enlisted man.”

Whitridge was instrumental in the development and support of many island organizations, including the San Juan Preservation Trust, OPAL Community Land Trust, Orcas Center, the library and OICF.

In 2011, the foundation distributed $116,507 in endowment funds to eight organizations; $153,825 in donor advised funds; and $288,756 to community impact initiatives. Twenty-seven different organizations received grants that totaled $100,248.

“We blow every other community foundation in Washington state out of the water. It’s incredible,” said OICF Director Hilary Canty.