— from the program for the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF)–
The Orcas Island Community Foundation, with its Partners in Philanthropy, gave out the following awards at its annual Grant Awards Celebration on Monday, May 18:
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS): $30,000 for prevention education program and operations. Funded by Anonymous (2), Helen Bee, Carl de Boor, Steve Jung & Susan McBain, Coleen O’Brien, Ed & Diana Sheridan, Andy Wickstrand, and OICF.
Orcas Island School District (OISD) Primary Intervention Program: $5,000 to introduce skills to promote academic and social success. Funded by Anonymous, Helen Bee, Carl de Boor, Nancy & Kevin O’Brien, Jaxon Paulsen, and OICF.
OPAL Community Land Trust: $10,000 to complete a business plan for a non-profit community loan fund. Funded by Anonymous, Janet Alderton, Bonnie Burg, Lisa Byers & Laurie Gallo, Erik Conrad, Sarah Jane Johnson, Jennifer Wallace, and OICF.
Orcas Family Connections: $25,000 to strengthen our safety net to support the Orcas Community. Funded by Anonymous (3), Helen Bee, Bonnie Burg, Diane Berreth & David Kobrin, Chandler Memorial Fund, Carl de Boor, Camille & John Fleming, Mary Gropp, Ken Katz, Steve Jung & Susan McBain, Midge Kraetzer, Stewart Mehlman, Coleen O’Brien, Orcas LGBT Fund, Susan Singleton, and OICF.
Orcas Island School District 137: $25,000 for a mental health counselor to promote student success and well-being. Funded by Anonymous, Helen Bee, Janet Brownell & Lance Evans, Carl de Boor, Camille & John Fleming, Marny & Randy Gaylord, Coleen O’Brien, Nancy & Fred Reas, Blythe & Tony Simpson, Alyson & Andrew Stephens, Stu & Patsy Stephens, Susan Stoltz & David Kau, David & Geri Turnoy, Ed & Kristen Wilson, Miette Woolworth, and OICF.
San Juan County-Health Department: $1,500 for ‘Market Bucks’ program: promote healthy habits. Funded by the Vincent J. Coates Foundation.
Farm to Cafeteria/OIEF: $2,500 to help us raise the hours of our amazing school garden keeper! Funded by the Vincent J. Coates Foundation.
Orcas Island Food Bank: $11,520 for weekend packs for kids-year round. Funded by the Vincent J. Coates Foundation and Andy Wickstrand.
Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture: $2,500 to empower Islanders to be creators of the food that nourishes them. Funded by Anonymous (3), Janet Alderton, Tom Bayley, Katy and Don Breazeal, Hilary Canty, Tom & Jean Herlihy, Dan Rackauskas, Siobhan Teahan, Joe Symons.
Hearts and Hands/Senior Services Council of San Juan County: $4,500 to help seniors by coordinating volunteer services. Funded by Anonymous, Helen Bee, Bonnie Burg, Carl de Boor, Dr. Edgar & Judith Zimmerman.
Orcas Senior Center: $6,160 to expand senior lunch and home delivered meals program. Funded by Anonymous (10), Fred Domenigoni, Mary Gropp, Audra Lawlor, Sarah Jane Johnson, Jami Mitchell, Nancy & Fred Reas, and Dr. Edgar & Judith Zimmerman .
Art for Orcas Kids (AOK)/OIEF: $5,120 to bring art instruction to Orcas Elementary & Middle Schools. Funded by Anonymous (2), Janet Brownell & Lance Evans, Carl de Boor, Bonnie Burg, Camille & John Fleming, Mary Gropp, Steve Jung & Susan McBain, Marlis Sandwith, Alyson & Andrew Stephens, Stu & Patsy Stephens, Tony & Blythe Simpson, Geri & David Turnoy, Bob & Marsha Waunch, and the Horowitz Fine Arts Fund.
Orcas Center: $3,070 to support subsidized ticket program. Funded by Anonymous, Marilyn Anderson, Robert Austin, Hilary Canty & Hank Date, Mary Gropp, Sarah Jane Johnson, Steve Jung & Susan McBain, Annie Moss More, Fred & Nancy Reas, Carla Weston, Eska Wilson, Dr. Edgar and Judith Zimmerman
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival: $960 for the OICMF Summer Tune-up! Funded by Anonymous, Carl de Boor, Anne Hay & Joe Floren, and Louellen McCoy.
Booster Club of Orcas Island: $8,032 to implement positive coaching curriculum within youth sports. Funded by Anonymous (10), Angie Bartram, Julie Brunner, Hank Date, Tim Hance, Jeff & Angie Johnson, Laura Leicht, Emma Minnis, Katy Minnis, Nancy O’Brien, Orcas LGBT Fund, Amber Paulsen, Jason Paulsen, Judy Paulsen, Justin Paulsen, Roger Paulsen, Mandy Randolph, Roach Family Fund, Vala Ross, Dimitri & Lorena Stankevich, Alyson & Andrew Stephens, Stu & Patsy Stephens, Blythe & Tony Simpson, Sieglinde Simpson, Vicki & Larry Vandermay.
Funhouse Commons: $2,025 to expand and enhance the 2015 summer Ninja Camp Program. Funded by Anonymous, and Mary Gropp.
Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps / Madrona Institute: $6,000 for the 2015 Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps. Funded by Anonymous (2), Janet Alderton, Camille & John Fleming, Kate Long & Chris Sutton, Pearson Family Fund, Sandra Sampeer, Blythe & Tony Simpson, Stu & Patsy Stephens.
Orcas Island Rowing Association: $3,120 for a rescue launch: 24 ft twin hull launch, trailer & rescue equipment. Funded by Anonymous (2), Camille & John Fleming, and the Abramovitz Family.
Sail Orcas -A Sailing Education Foundation: $2,300 to upgrade/replace sailing equipment for our youngest sailors. Funded by Anonymous and the Masterman Family.
KWIAHT: $2,485 to help kids discover the world with quality school microscopes. Funded by Anonymous and Janet Alderton.
KWIAHT: $1,600 to protect native pollinators for food security and flowers. Funded by Anonymous, Bonnie Burg, and Kathi & Joe Ciscowski.
San Juan Nature Institute: $1,600 for watersheds grades k-6. Funded by Anonymous, Coleen O’Brien.
San Juan Nature Institute: $1,800 for inter-tidal life and diver for a day for 6th grade. Funded by Anonymous, Coleen O’Brien, and Victoria Parker.
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue: $2,393 for bicycle helmets & smoke detectors for Island residents & visitors. Funded by Anonymous.
Islands’ Oil Spill Association: $2,450 for spill response equipment drill & wildlife rescue training. Funded by Anonymous and Susan Singleton.
Orcas Island Historical Society: $700 for installation of security cameras & new wireless security system. Funded by Sarah Jane Johnson and the Pearson Family Fund.
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center: $1,470 for education displays and volunteer outreach. Funded by Anonymous (2), Shona Aitken, Malia Brown, Marcy Brown, Julie Duke, Ross Lockwood, Joe Thoron & Lisl Thomsen, Robert VanBuskirk, Lael Watson, Kathy Wehle, Nisha Woolworth.
Orcas Medical Foundation: $9,000 to promote early childhood literacy. Funded by the Henigson Family Fund.
Orcas Montessori School: $1,050 for outdoor education upgrade. Funded by Anonymous, Teresa Chocano, and Joe Thoron.
The Following Donors made general Partner contributions distributed by the Grants Committee: Anonymous (4), David & Sonya Alexander, Diane Berreth & David Kobrin, Jeff & Angie Johnson, and JoEllen Moldoff.
OICF Trustees Coleen O’Brien & Steve Jung hosted the ceremony, with remarks from OICF Director Hilary Canty.
Grant Committee Members for 2015 were Diane Berreth, Michael Brennan, Sally Buchanan, Bonnie Burg, Kathi Ciskowski, Alex Conrad, Ken Katz, Wylie Kau, Jude Nash, Coleen O’Brien, Michele Reed, Susan Singleton, Joe Thoron, & Geri Turnoy
The OICF also issued thanks to:
- Community Cornerstones whose sustaining annual contributions to OICF make the following programs possible: Focus Area Grants including Dental Van visits to Orcas, Fiduciary services for over 100 community funds, Nonprofit & Services Directory (oicf.us/oicf/directory), Best practice educational programs for nonprofits, Partners in Philanthropy
- The Orcas Center for use of the Madrona Room;
- The Islands’ Sounder for collaborating on its Special Insert;
- And to All of You for working to keep our community strong!
Orcas Island Community Foundation Board of Directors are Diane Berreth, Janet Brownell, Sally Buchanan, Jim Connell, Margie Doyle, Martha Farish, Martha Fuller, Jeff Johnson, Steve Jung, Jim Keyes, Jude Nash, Coleen O’Brien, Joan Pedrick, Dimitri Stankevich, Dick Staub, & Joe Thoron.
Staff are Hilary Canty, Kate Long, & Jennifer Wallace.
It is worth noting that the total of $183k awarded this year set a new record for the Community Foundation’s annual grant program (by over $50k). Further, that over 120 Partners in Philanthropy contributed through the Give Where You Live catalog…doubling last year’s number. Orcas Islanders truly care, and I’m personally very grateful.