Tag Archives: First Fruits Fund

Two Additonal Grants from Blue Mountain Community Foundation’s First Fruits Fund!

Posted on by
Reply

Blue Mountain Community Foundation has awarded two additional grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of the Foundation.

Community Council, a citizen led group that brings people together to study regional issues and follow up with actions, was awarded $3,395.00 which helped them meet their $80K fundraising goal for the fiscal year and receive a Sherwood Trust matching grant. Community Council has completed three community studies in the four years since the organization was founded on the following topics:

  • Enhancing the Educational Attainment of our Region’s Children
  • Optimizing Resources; Value-added Agriculture
  • Reducing Gang Membership Through Prevention

Links to the study reports can be found here. A new study on Effective Communication between Citizens and Government will begin this fall. Visit Community Council’s website at www.communitycouncil.org to learn more about the work Community Council is doing and the process used to study issues.

Walla Walla Public Schools’ Farm to School Program was awarded $6,200.00 to help establish a program that will bring more local farm fresh produce to school lunches and will expand the school garden programs and curriculum. This effort led by Beth Thiel has already been able to bring local farm fresh asparagus to Sharpstein and Blue Ridge this spring. Click this link to read an article in the Union Bulletin about the program.

The First Fruits Fund was established in 2008 with a generous grant from the Vista Hermosa Foundation.  Since that time, the Fund has made 69 grants exceeding $567,000.

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.

First Fruits Fund Grants of Spring 2012: 11 totaling $118,000!

Posted on by
1

The following eleven grants represents Blue Mountain Community Foundation‘s recent awards from its First Fruits Fund.

The 2012 First Fruits Grantees:
11. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
10. College Spark Program  - $5,000
9.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
8. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
7. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
6. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
5. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
4. Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps – $10,000
3. Student Health Options – $10,000
2. Lincoln High School – $20,000
1. Commitment to Community – $30,000
TOTAL: $118,000

 

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.

 

 

Commitment to Community: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
2

Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised, we are announcing grant awards over the next few weeks.

The Eleventh grantee is…

Commitment to Community, $30,000

Commitment to Community, a grassroots movement, commonly known as C2C, serves four Walla Walla neighborhoods, namely Blue Ridge, Edith Carrie, Jefferson Park and Washington Park.  The residents of these neighborhoods are predominantly low-income and roughly 60% of the residents are white and 40% are Latino.

The goal of C2C is to develop a sense of ownership among neighbors through ongoing relationship building and project activity, based on the neighbors’ priorities and initiatives.  C2C also seeks to build relationships with new and existing major stakeholders, including funders and service providers.

The neighborhoods recently identified goals specific to their area.  Examples are a Spring graffiti clean-up and Summer trash clean-up in the Blue Ridge area, organizing the fourth season of the community garden in the Edith Carrie neighborhood, Spring clean-up, Summer BBQ and December Tree Lighting at Jefferson Park and the 6th Dia de los Ninos (Children’s Day) held in Washington Park.

Funds from this grant will provide ongoing program support for C2C.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
11. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
10. College Spark Program  - $5,000
9.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
8. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
7. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
6. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
5. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
4.  Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps – $10,000
3. Student Health Options – $10,000
2.  Lincoln High School – $20,000
1. Commitment to Community – $30,000

 

Lincoln High School: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
Reply

Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised, we are announcing grant awards over the next few weeks.

The Tenth grantee is…

Lincoln High School, $20,000

The effort of faculty and staff at Lincoln High School continues to impact positively the lives of students.  Funds from this First Fruits grant will support the school in ways that Lincoln Principal Jim Sporleder decides.  This is the fourth grant from the First Fruits Fund, totaling $68,000.

During the time that Blue Mountain Community Foundation has been making grants to the school, Lincoln’s faculty and staff implemented an innovative approach to discipline, the result of which has yielded an 85% drop in suspensions.  The changes began in the classroom.

“Teachers started becoming detectives,” says Erik Gordon, Lincoln High School Science Teacher. “We began focusing our concern on what we know that’s going on that might be causing behavior in a kid,” versus what type of punishment to mete out.

Read more about the work that the staff at Lincoln is doing by following this link. The article details the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) on a child’s ability to learn. Much of the work that is being done with the students at Lincoln is in conjunction with 2012 First Fruits Grantee, Children’s Resilience Initiative.

The work at Lincoln is changing the climate of the school. Past grants supported the Boy’s Basketball program, Girl’s Volleyball team and a weekend retreat for students. These are programs that build students’ pride in their school and build community within the student body.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
11. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
10. College Spark Program  - $5,000
9.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
8. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
7. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
6. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
5. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
4.  Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps – $10,000
3. Student Health Options – $10,000
2.  Lincoln High School – $20,000
1. stay tuned….

 

 

 

 

 

Student Health Options, The Health Center at Lincoln: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
1

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.

The Ninth grantee is…

Student Health Options, The Health Center at Lincoln, $10,000

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:

  • Deliver primary health and mental health care and substance abuse counseling for all the students at Lincoln High School.
  • Enable the students to obtain care that they need in a professional, confidential setting so that they may thrive.
  • Educate the students on being stronger medical consumers, while working to keep them connected to school and developing healthier choices.

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

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:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
7. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
6. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
5.  Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps – $10,000
4. Student Health Options – $10,000
3. Stay tuned…

 

 

Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
Reply

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.

The Eighth grantee is…

Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps, $10,000

Skill Steps, a program made possible by a partnership between Walla Walla Community College, BMAC, and the Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development Council. Skill Steps brings together 18– to 24-year-olds whose education levels prevent them from getting into college courses, but who are motivated to improve themselves and enroll in credit-bearing college programs.

Currently there are twenty-one young adults enrolled in the program. Students belong to a cohort “learning community” which fosters peer support and grows mentors from within the program. This program provides students with individualized intensive advising, mentoring and academic coaching. They also receive targeted instruction in reading, writing, language and math with workplace readiness skills integrated into their coursework.

Each student will exit Skill Steps having gained academic skills, persistence, knowledge about services, ability to advocate for themselves, and time management and organizational skills. Graduates of Skill Steps will also qualify for a $1,000 scholarship to attend college on their new journey to a successful future.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
7. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
6. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
5.  Blue Mountain Action Council Skill Steps – $10,000
4. Stay tuned….

 

Columbia School District: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
Reply

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.

The Seventh grantee is…

Columbia School District, $10,000

by Lawson Knight, BMCF Executive Director

The Blue Mountain Community Foundation’s service area includes all of Walla Walla County.  Historically, the Foundation’s grantmaking has not reached the banks of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, specifically Burbank.

To understand why I visited Burbank to learn about its nonprofit sector, which might be traditionally defined by 501(c)3 public charities. In reality, there are few charities in Burbank.  Most are 4-H clubs and churches.

Even though there are no public charities based in Burbank that, in my judgement, meet the guidelines of the First Fruits Fund, there most certainly are people and institutions that do.  My outreach took me to the office of Columbia Elementary School Principal, Ian Yale.

It doesn’t take long to see that Ian knows his children, families and community.  As a staff, the Columbia School District struggles to meet the needs of children that extend beyond the classroom to categories like mental health and hunger.  But, they do.  The limits to their efforts right now are bounded only by financial resources not effort or resourcefulness.

This grant takes a step to empower district leadership to help their students in ways they see fit.  It will be exciting and fun to learn from their experience.  I expect to see remarkable ingenuity and innovation in the use of these resources.  The grant from the First Fruits Fund of $10,000 is to support students at the discretion of the Columbia School District Administrative Leadership Team.

2012 First Fruits Grantees:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
7. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
6. Columbia School District General Support – $10,000
5. Stay tuned…

Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
2

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.

The Sixth grantee is…

Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative (CRI), $10,000

The Children’s Resilience Initiative (CRI) builds the community’s capacity to strengthen families.  By identifying ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences), the CRI has created a model of our community’s services and roads to follow to build resilience.

Previous First Fruits Fund grants have helped the founders of CRI, Teri Barila and Mark Brown, develop this model and create a website to disseminate vital information about ACES and how families and individuals can use certain tools to better their lives.

The success of this program is evidenced by the fact that CRI leaders have been asked to make presentations both locally and at national conferences, where there is an interest in replicating the model elsewhere. This grant is earmarked as support to help the CRI team move forward in its efforts toward providing information and tools to existing organizations and programs and embedding the main principles and ideas into the daily work of those organizations.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
7. Friends of Children of Walla Walla, Children’s Resilience Initiative – $10,000
6. Stay tuned…

 

Children’s Home Society Family Support -2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
Reply

Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised we will be announcing recent grant awards over the next few weeks.

The Fifth grantee is…

Children’s Home Society Family Support, $10,000

Children’s Home Society of Walla Walla offers a wide variety of services and activities that promote healthy development in children. Families receive the support they need through relationship building groups, parenting classes, and mental health counseling as well as counseling to child victims of sexual abuse/assault and other crimes. Summer recreation programs, tutoring programs, and early learning programs help support children’s academic success.

The 2012 First Fruits Grant will help to fund interactive workshops based on research by Drs. John & Julie Gottman Ph.D. of The Gottman Relationship Institute. This service is designed for couples and single parents to strengthen relationships with the people who matter most – their children and family. Parents learn relationship-building skills and how to apply them in everyday life situations. This service will be implemented using a group format as well as individual family support services for families as assessed throughout delivery of service.

The primary target population will be families who currently live at the Christian Aid Center and the YWCA, or are in transition to living independently of community or public assistance.

Over the past four years Children’s Home Society has delivered Gottman focused services.  Following is data collected over that time period:

  • 97% of parents report being satisfied with the program.
  • 93% of parents report their communication skills improved as a result of the program.
  • 93% of parents report their conflict resolution skills improved as a result of the program.
  • 87% of parents report their contentment in their relationship improved as a result of the program.
  • 89% of parents report their commitment to their relationship improved as a result of the program.

Drs. John & Julie Gottman Ph.D. have more than 35 years of relationship research discovering what makes relationships succeed, fail or are in chronic ailment. What they have learned and put to practice in many ways both in the private and public sector is that when couples/parents learn a specific set of skills based on their experience throughout life their relationships get better.  The underlying concept behind Gottman work is the Sound Relationship House Theory.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10.Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Children’s Home Society Family Support – $10,000
7. Stay tuned…

 

Trilogy Recovery Community: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on by
Reply

Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised we will be announcing recent grant awards over the next few weeks.

The fourth grantee is…

Trilogy Recovery Community, $7,500

Trilogy is a community dedicated to walking alongside youth who are struggling to overcome alcohol or other drug problems while also supporting their families.   Trilogy makes recovery a reality by providing comprehensive recovery support services free of charge to anyone in need.  Founded in 2003 by nationally-renowned author on addiction, Kathy Ketcham, Trilogy is a member of the national Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO) and an affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).  A film about their work, The Missing Piece, can be found here.

Trilogy provides a sanctuary for youth and families who often feel they have nowhere else to go. Trilogy is dedicated to identifying gaps in services, educating our citizens about adolescent drug use and addiction, supporting family members and giving young people the help – and the hope — they need to lead healthy, productive lives.

Trilogy’s programs include:

  • Youth Recovery Support Groups
  • Family Support Group, serving over 70 families since 2004
  • Educational Support Group at Juvenile Justice Detention Center
  • Yoga, Art Therapy and Nutrition Classes

In September 2011, Trilogy moved into its new “home,” a house leased from Providence/St. Mary Medical Center for a $1 per year and refurbished with the leadership of Opp & Seibold construction.

The grant from the First Fruits Fund of $7,500 is for general support.

The First Fruits Fund

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:
12. Community Health Assessment Task Force (CHAT) – $500
11. College Spark Program  - $5,000
10. Walla Walla Symphony, Rock n’Roll Camp – $5,000
9. Trilogy Recovery Community – $7,500
8. Stay tuned…