GiveOrcas Wraps Up Successful Campaign

— from Hilary Canty for Orcas Community Foundation —

The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) distributed $234,000 to 20 programs serving the island community at the GiveOrcas Grant Awards Celebration on Wednesday May 23rd. The 2018 GiveOrcas campaign funded 82% of the requested $278,866 grants. Donations came from 377 Partners in Philanthropy—community members who contributed $10 to over $10,000—fully funding 13 of the 20 requests.

“Our goal is to have 10% of the community give through the GiveOrcas campaign,” says OICF Director Hilary Canty. “While we did not quite reach that this year, we did gain over 100 new Partners in Philanthropy; it’s great support for many vital programs.”

The Give Orcas grant making process is unique to Orcas. It is a collaborative effort in which all local nonprofits are welcome to apply and all community members are invited to donate as Partners in Philanthropy. This model enables the OICF to leverage their discretionary grant dollars, transforming $50,000 into $234,000. This funding supports all aspects of island life, from the Salish Sea to the schools, from youngsters to seniors, from the arts to the sciences.

The following programs were funded in this 2018 GiveOrcas grant cycle:

• Actors Theater of Orcas Island $11,970
• Art for Orcas Kids (A-OK) / OIEF $6,000
• Early Childhood Education Initiative $25,000
• Funhouse Commons $7,446
• KWIAHT $2,850
• Orcas Animal Protection Society $6,480
• Orcas Christian School $1,900
• Orcas Community Resource Center $25,000
• Orcas Family Health Center/OWL Program $8,040
• Orcas Grange #964 $7,000
• Orcas Island Parks & Rec District/Soccer Club $6,000
• Orcas Island School District 137 $45,000
• Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps $3,000
• Orcas Senior Center $16,517
• SAFE San Juans $26,000
• SeaDoc Society $15,000
• Washington Vocational Services $9,000
• Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center $4,640
• Woman in the Woods Productions $5,250

The highlight of the Awards Celebration was the announcement of the Youth Philanthropy Awards. The senior class at the Orcas Island School District receives $5000 from a local donor and given the opportunity to give back to the community. They conduct their own process and navigate selection as a class. This year’s seniors funded the Booster Club ($2000), Funhouse/Commons ($1000), Orcas Parks and Recreation ($1000), and Safe San Juans ($1000). To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.oicf.us or contact 360-376-6423.