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!
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:
Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF.
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.
Over the course of the next few weeks the Foundation will announce the 12 recent grantees. Stay posted!
CHAT is a group of leaders from across the community focused on improving the provision of local mental health services. With the help of nationally-regarded consultants, representatives from local hospitals, private practice, social service agencies, local government and school districts local leaders assembled to tackle this issue.
Meetings began in March 2012, with participants describing the impact of mental health issues on schools, law enforcement/legal system, medical system and social services. Plus they focused on the need for an improved, comprehensive approach to improve local mental health services, access, delivery and resources.
Currently, CHAT is identifying existing mental health resources and determining resources that should be available for a community with similar demographics.
The grant from the First Fruits Fund of $500 will assist with underwriting the process.
The Board of Directors of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart created an endowment for the first time in the organization’s history. In making the choice, the Board looked to partner with an organization for support and management, selecting Blue Mountain Community Foundation.
“This celebrates our 20 year history serving the Walla Walla Valley,” said Board President Oliver von Birkenwaldau. “And, our continued commitment to serve at-risk and vulnerable populations in the region for another 20 years. We are proud to work with such a respected institution to help establish a long-term fund in our own community,” stated Acting Executive Director Everett Maroon.
For the Blue Mountain Community Foundation’s part, Executive Director Lawson Knight shared, “it is gratifying whenever one of our nonprofit peers chooses to work with us. We believe we have a fine endowment program and an easy-to-implement method for local nonprofits to manage their endowment. The Foundation has been supporting the work of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart for many years through its grants program. Now, we have one more way that we are helping advance their mission.”
Blue Mountain Heart to Heart’s mission is to prevent new HIV and Hepatitis C infections & provide compassionate care and assistance for those infected and affected by these diseases and to encourage an environment of dignity and improved quality of life for the entire community. It has been active in this work since 1991. To learn more, visit www.bluemountainheart.org. Contributions to the Blue Mountain Heart to Heart Endowment Fund are tax-deductible and may be made directly to either organization.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation is a collection of charitable funds that awards grants and scholarships across the Blue Mountain area. Of the 266 funds held at the Foundation, 64 are agency funds like the one created by Blue Mountain Heart to Heart. Last fiscal year the Foundation eclipsed $30 Million in assets and nearly $2 Million in grants and scholarships.
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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