For the 8th time, the Children’s Forum will examine the condition of children, families and our community. The Forum begins at 8:30 AM, April 12 at the William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center at the Community College. Seating is limited. Contact Teri Barila for more information.
In addition to a review of a comprehensive data book on community health indicators, the Forum will discuss community wide initiatives to improve conditions for local children and families.
This year give a gift that continues giving throughout the year. Join us in making a gift to a Blue Mountain Community Foundation Impact! Fund. Your gift will go directly to local non-profits working to strengthen our communities.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation has launched our first ever year-end giving campaign!
Blue Mountain Community Foundation held it’s Annual Meeting on October 18th where it announced the grantees for it’s 2012 grant cycle. There were approximately 130 people in attendance which included, Grantees, Volunteers and Donors.
Lawson announced the grants by Impact! Area which include:
Arts!
Needs!
Economy!
Education!
Health!
Earth!
Neighbors!
Over $233,000 in grants were awarded.
To read more about the grants or to see a list of grantees please click here.
The Foundation’s Annual Report is also available on our website.
by Elise Pettyjohn
“Camp Amanda makes you feel more normal. It helps relieve your fears,” according to a camper who now serves as a counselor. Camp Amanda is a three-day uplifting experience located in the beautiful Blue Mountains.
This camp provides grieving children an opportunity to learn that they are not alone in their grief. In addition, Camp Amanda and its staff offer an encouraging environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings and beginning the journey through the grieving process.
Each year Camp Amanda impacts the lives of children dealing with the loss of a loved one. According to a parent of a camper, “My kids seemed more happy, like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.”
Camp Amanda is just one of the exceptional programs that Walla Walla Community Hospice offers. For a number of years, Blue Mountain Community Foundation has supported Walla Walla Community Hospice with critical ongoing financial assistance. Annual support from the Blue Mountain Community Foundation helps fund Hospice’s mission of providing compassionate care for patients nearing the end of their lives.
A fourth grade Camp Amanda attendee recently shared with a classmate attending the camp this coming year that, “It’s the greatest place, you’ll love it there!” Each year approximately thirty children ages seven to fourteen, along with thirty counselors, attend Camp Amanda.
A key factor in Camp Amanda’s success is the counselor to camper ratio, which is one to one. This ratio builds stronger relationships between the campers and their counselors along with providing a person who is always available for the child to talk to. These trained counselors offer a comfortable, friendly atmosphere to support children as they attempt to understand and accept the death of a family member while enjoying their time camping.
Some of the activities provided at this unique camp include crafts, campfire sing-a-longs, games, and swimming among other fun pastimes. In addition to the successful Camp Amanda program, Walla Walla Community Hospice offers end of life medical care for patients suffering from a variety of illnesses including AIDS, Alzheimer’s and cancer. Hospice also provides adult grief support services including counseling and workplace support groups. Hospice fills an essential need in the community by providing specialized care that focuses on the patient and their emotional, spiritual and physical needs.
The following eleven grants represents Blue Mountain Community Foundation‘s recent awards from its First Fruits Fund.
The 2012 First Fruits Grantees:
The First Fruits Fund was established in 2008 with a generous grant from the Vista Hermosa Foundation. Since that time, the Fund has made 66 grants exceeding $550,000.
The stated goal of the First Fruits Fund is to “encourage collaborative and innovative approaches to building self-sufficiency for the most under-served in our communities, including improved access to such basic needs as housing, food, education and livable wages.” Founders believe that the most impactful way to achieve that goal is to support community-based initiatives that empower people themselves to identify their needs and collectively own the process of change.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First FruitsFund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised we will be announcing recent grant awards over the next few weeks.
Great things continue to happen at the newly dubbed Health Center at Lincoln. This clinic, situated next to Lincoln High School, provides free medical and mental health services to the student population at Lincoln.
Through the generosity of the community, including volunteers and local funders, the Health Center has been able to expand not only its space, but also its services. A recent addition to the clinic site is a handicap access ramp.
As of April 25, 2012, the Center had served 191 different students for over 1342 visits. The goals of the Health Center are:
Funds from this grant will be used for existing program support, including development of a new site at Blue Ridge Elementary School.
To view an amazing video about the work at The Health Center at Lincoln click here.
The First Fruits Fund was established in 2008 with a generous grant from the Vista Hermosa Foundation. Since that time, the Fund has made 66 grants exceeding $550,000.
The stated goal of the First Fruits Fund is to “encourage collaborative and innovative approaches to building self-sufficiency for the most under-served in our communities, including improved access to such basic needs as housing, food, education and livable wages.” Founders believe that the most impactful way to achieve that goal is to support community-based initiatives that empower people themselves to identify their needs and collectively own the process of change.
2012 First Fruits Grantees:
Looking at the CDC’s ACEs study this morning, I noticed a tie-in with Wednesday’s post about health inequity. Previously, I had associated ACEs primarily with psychological impairments, but taking a quick look at the CDC’s pyramid chart I’m reminded (once again!) of the effect socioeconomic status has on health and longevity.
Just wanted to share these links on…well, obviously…the social determinants of health. :-} The third includes several interactive scenarios designed to illustrate the dynamics of poverty and poor health. (Given my visual learning style, I had fun with these). Hope you find them interesting, relevant, and maybe even fun, as well.
http://www.naccho.org/topics/justice/
Blue Mountain Community Foundation, P.O. Box 603, Walla Walla, Washington 99362 509-529-4371 Fax: 509-529-5284
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