Grant recipients to be named…

Pamela from the San Juan Island Community Foundation wanted to let you know:

Critical Needs Task Force to Award Grants to Local Non-Profits and Agencies to Alleviate the Effects of Economic Hard Times

The impact of the economic downturn has affected many lives in the San Juans.  Lost jobs, closed businesses and mortgage foreclosures have sent many of our working and retired citizens into a tailspin.  Use of community support services has dramatically increased.  Organizations such as the Food Bank, Family Resource Center and Senior Services are faced with an ever growing list of clients. Now, through the diligent work of over 300 local volunteers working under the structure of the Critical Needs Task Force, many of those needs will be met.

The Task Force, formed early this year under the sponsorship of the San Juan Island Community Foundation, has developed a list of short term funding priorities which will help lessen the impact of the crisis and support the process of local economic recovery.

Based upon these recommendations, The San Juan Island Community Foundation has developed a special fund and will be awarding over a dozen grants, totally more than $50,000 at a special Critical Needs Awards Ceremony.  The funds will be used to support range of existing and new programs, including basic food distribution, healthcare and improved access to safe and enriching environments for children.  A portion of the funds will be dedicated to improving the capacity of our existing community organizations that are faced with rapidly growing requests for services.

The Critical Needs Award Ceremony and Celebration will be held on July 15th, from 5:30 – 7pm in the Steele Garden/Gubelman Room at the San Juan Community Theatre.  Light refreshments will be served.  All are welcome.

The Community Foundation serves as a non-profit philanthropic umbrella organization helping donors, non-profits and public organizations to achieve their goals through direct grants, organizational assistance and philanthropic resource management.  The Critical Needs Task Force grew from the Foundations’ desire to address the immediate critical needs in the community as a result of the economic downturn.

For more information contact the Community Foundation office at 378-1001.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.