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

Posted on July 2, 2012 by admin

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.

Blue Mountain Community Foundation Awards over $338,500 in College Scholarships!

Posted on June 12, 2012 by admin

The Board of Trustees of Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently approved over $338,500 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and college students!

The BMCF Scholarship Program awards both need-based and special requirement scholarships. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the BMCF Board of Trustees for approval. Additional scholarships are awarded from BMCF component funds according to criteria established by fund donors.

Over the course of the next few days we will announce the recipients from area high schools. Congratulations!

The scholarship recipients from Walla Walla High School are:

Name	College	Fund	Amount
Cristina Sosa	Eastern Washington University	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Fund	$ 4,200.00
Matthew J Rothstrom	Washington State University	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 3,200.00
Chelsea Cavazos	Western Washington University	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 3,200.00
Erika E Torres	University of Washington	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 3,000.00
Lara Ana Andrade	Walla Walla Community College	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 2,700.00
Jocelyn Vargas	Stanford University	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 2,700.00
Itsel Corona	Washington State University	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 2,500.00
Soriano Cynthia Jara	University of Washington	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 2,200.00
Lucero Garcia	Walla Walla University	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 2,200.00
Clara Lara-Diaz	Walla Walla Community College	T.B. Elliott Student Scholarship Loan Fund	$ 1,900.00
Yvonne Segovia	Eastern Washington University	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,800.00
Kory L Handley	Walla Walla Community College	T.B. Elliott Student Scholarship Loan Fund	$ 1,800.00
Ivette Perales	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,800.00
David Woodrow-Salazar	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,800.00
Claudia Perez	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,800.00
Brenda Robles	Walla Walla University	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,800.00
Ashley Stephenson	Whitman College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Fund	$ 1,800.00
Alexi R Storm	Washington State University	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Fund	$ 1,800.00
Aaron Gogl	University of California, Berkeley	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,800.00
Giovan Ruiz	University of Washington	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,700.00
Bridon K Maiden	Victoria’s Academy of Cosmetology	Howard and Pearl Burgess Scholarship Fund	$ 1,700.00
Jorge Velez	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,600.00
Tabitha Jones	Arizona State University	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,500.00
Stephanie Maldonado-Salgado	Walla Walla Community College	William E. and Mary G. Falconer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,500.00
Mackenzie Clifton	Cornish College of the Arts	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 1,500.00
Itzel Lopez	Eastern Washington University	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 1,500.00
Guillermina Santiago	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,500.00
Daniela C Villa	Walla Walla University	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,500.00
Andrea Ortiz	Eastern Washington University	William E. and Mary G. Falconer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,500.00
Miranda Freeman	University of Washington	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,400.00
Marlenne Fernandez	Walla Walla Community College	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 1,400.00
Leonardo Pedroza	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,400.00
Max I Troin	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,200.00
Estrella Ramirez	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 1,200.00
Irma Pena	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,100.00
Sean Hollenbeck	University of Washington	Larry Jay Brittain Memorial Fund	$ 1,000.00
Samantha E Lizardi	Mesa Community College	William E. and Mary G. Falconer Scholarship Fund	$ 1,000.00
Ana C Diaz	Spokane Community College	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 1,000.00
Carlos Leon	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 900.00
Amy N Sinden	Trinity International University	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 895.00
Robert R Gordon	Moody Bible Institute	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 845.00
Jonathon Klem	Whitman College	Ralph and Elsa Emigh Fund	$ 845.00
Leslie Perez	Walla Walla Community College	Kenneth Garner Scholarship Endowment Fund	$ 800.00
Isela Arias	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 800.00
Andrew Hoffman	St. Olaf College	Bayne Family Scholarship Fund	$ 720.00
Nick Peasley	Central Washington University	Mick Blackburn Memorial Basketball Scholarship	$ 500.00
Andrea Hamada	San Diego State University	Mick Blackburn Memorial Basketball Scholarship	$ 500.00
Amairany Alvarado	Walla Walla Community College	Ralph R. Bennett and Mary Ellen Bennett Scholarship Fund	$ 500.00
Marcos Medina	Gonzaga University	Ann Weatherill Memorial Scholarship Fund	$ 440.00
Manuel Franco	Walla Walla Community College	Roberta Bell Kraemer Scholarship Fund	$ 300.00
Alyssa Banks	Spokane Falls Community College	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 300.00
Jessica Fuquay	Mesa Community College	Earl and Lucille Blake Scholarship Fund	$ 300.00

Lincoln High School: 2012 First Fruits Grantee

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Mari

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.

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 April 30, 2012 by Mari

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.

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…

Grants that Change Lives – Carnegie Picture Lab

Posted on February 9, 2012 by admin

by Mari Sanders

Did you know there is a program in the Walla Walla Valley that brings art presentations and projects to every elementary school child three times a year?

Did you know that this program serves over 3,000 children and is staffed with over 60 volunteers, who donate over 1,500 hours per year?

Did you know this program is called Carnegie Picture Lab?

Carnegie Picture Lab, formerly known as the Carnegie Art Center’s Picture Lady Program, is a non-profit volunteer-led organization founded in the early 1970’s, which provides art education to children in the Walla Walla Valley from Kindergarten through 5th grade.

The concept of bringing arts education to Walla Walla’s elementary school students is not new. The Picture Lady Program has been presenting art history lectures in second grade classrooms for over 30 years. In 2008, Augusta Farnum was approached by the Carnegie Art Center Board of Directors and asked to take over management of the Program.

Augusta, an artist herself and a parent of two young children, was an ideal choice to lead the cause. She quickly began discussing the idea of expanding the original vision with her friends. It didn’t take long for her to convince a few to join her in managing the Program, with an expanded vision of bringing art history presentations and art projects to all Walla Walla elementary school students three times a school year! The Program’s expansion has been a testament to Augusta’s vision, enthusiasm and her many connections in the community, both in the schools and the Walla Walla arts community.

My involvement with Picture Lab began with a conversation Augusta and I had in 2008. While my children had not yet been participants in the Program, I was aware that Carnegie had volunteers presenting art history lessons in second grade classrooms. I had been a student of a similar program way back in 1980 when I was in the fourth grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Whittier, California. I will never forget the day a volunteer visited my classroom with a large vibrant poster of Monet’s Water Lilies. I don’t know if the volunteer was a man or a woman, young or old, but I remember that poster, and how engaged I was with the art and artist. You can imagine how that memory quickly came back to me when visiting Paris a number of years later and having the opportunity to see the original Water Lilies! Because of those experiences, I was immediately onboard with Augusta’s vision for continuing and expanding the Program in schools. I couldn’t wait to be a classroom volunteer and to be the one holding the poster!

My first presentation was in a first grade classroom. The artist was Wassily Kandinsky, and the project was water color painting to music. I was so excited to see the children’s reactions. Never before had I seen kids encouraged to dance and paint at the same time. It was inspiring! I was hooked and I have been serving on the Board and presenting in
classrooms ever since. Over the last four years, Carnegie Picture Lab has continued to grow and refine the Program. A Board of nine members has embraced the mission of nourishing creativity by supporting and enhancing art education for elementary school
children in the Walla Walla Valley.

There have been many supporters of the Program, including individuals, businesses, and the public and private schools we serve. Picture Lab has also been the recipient of grants from local funders including, Blue Mountain Community Foundation, the Sherwood Trust and Carnegie Art Center Fund for the Arts to name a few. It is because of the vision of the volunteers and the support of our local community that we hope to bring Picture Lab to elementary school classrooms in the Walla Walla Valley for many years to come.

Apply now for Foundation Scholarships

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Lawson

Blue Mountain Community Foundation scholarship applications are currently available for students seeking financial aid for the 2012-2013 school year.

One application form will qualify applicants for consideration for a variety of scholarships. While most awards are for need-based aid to graduates of Walla Walla County high schools or individuals who have resided in Walla Walla County for at least three years, there are additional scholarships available to students in Columbia and Garfield Counties and northern Umatilla County.

Plus, there is an array of scholarships for student who meets special requirements. For example, the Northwest Grain Growers Robert Abbey Memorial Scholarship is available to students whose families are members or employees of Northwest Grain Growers, Inc. The Betty Rae and Luetta Anderson Scholarship is for students who study foreign language in college, with a preference for German students. In all, there are fourteen scholarships that are unique to students from backgrounds that include 4-H participation to a parent in public safety, in addition to need-based scholarships.

For full details, download an application or call the Foundation office at (509) 529-4371. The deadline for consideration is March 1, 2012.

Since its inception in 1984, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation has enhanced and improved the quality of life in Southeastern Washington through the annual award of scholarships to individuals and grants to local nonprofit organizations

Five tips for a great scholarship application

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Lawson

Walla Walla High School in association with WSU Gear Up hosted a forum November 14, 2011 on the 3 Ways to Pay (for college): Grants, scholarships and loans. I was asked to talk about making your scholarship application stand out. I offered this five tips:

Apply

Check to see if you are eligible for a scholarship. If so, complete the application. You won’t get a scholarship if you don’t ask for it.

Study

Don’t slow down! Take rigorous classes through your Senior year. People who review your scholarship application look at your transcript to see what you are taking.

Start Now

Procrastination is the enemy of successful scholarship applicants. Waiting leads to incomplete applications and pressure-filled deadlines. Consider timelines of others, like the registrar’s for official transcripts.

Write Well

Most scholarship applications require at least one essay. Be able to write about yourself. Draft. Revise. Edit. Proof read. Check spelling. Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing.

Do more

Don’t be satisfied with just going to class. Join a club. Or, have a job. Or, help your parents. There is more to life than going to class and playing video games to the folks who review scholarship applications.

Gillespie Golden Onion recipients demonstrate excellence in the classroom

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Lawson

Longtime Walla Walla residents Dr. Mike Gillespie and his wife Sue established the “Golden Onion Award” to provide school supplies, equipment and professional development funds to Walla Walla educators. This is the first year of the award.

The “Golden Onion Award” is presented annually to three district teachers representing elementary (P-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) grade levels. Each recipient will receive $500 for use in their classroom or to better their teaching skills. The awards are peer nominated and peer judged.

2010-2011 Recipients
- Elementary Award: Kathleen Gilmore, Special Education (Autism)
- Middle School Award: Shannon Ahrens and Sue Schulz (Garrison MS Science Teachers)
- High School Award: Julie Johnson, Walla Walla High School Social Studies Teacher

Source: Mark Higgins, Walla Walla Public Schools Week in Review

BMCF Donors Establish the “Golden Onion Award” to Recognize Educator Excellence

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Deborah

Mike and Sue Gillespie established the Gillespie Teacher Development Fund recently as a way to recognize and support outstanding area teachers. Read the Walla Walla Public Schools article for the touching story of Sue Gillespie’s tribute to her husband and to their forty-five year marriage.