Whatcom Community Foundation invests $173,000 to build connections
What could a ‘tween meet up, bi-lingual Zumba, a street mural project, a solar energy awareness program, Indigenous children’s books, a senior meal gathering, tree planting and adaptive water recreation possibly have in common?
All are recipients of this year’s Project Neighborly grants, awarded to groups from Point Roberts to Kendall that have great ideas about how we can all be better neighbors. Efforts focus on connecting people who might not otherwise meet to foster a sense of belonging and build trust.
With this year’s grants totaling nearly $173,000 for more than 30 organizations, the Community Foundation’s investment tops half a million dollars since Project Neighborly was established in 2016. Grants have ranged from $360 to $5000, with projects coming from all corners of the county and all manner of groups, from neighborhood associations and faith organizations, to schools, local government and tribes, a range of arts, environmental and social service nonprofits and Western Washington University.
“The thing that strikes me is how many people are trying to make a difference in our community,” said Francisco Rios, former board chair and member of the Community Foundation’s grants committee. “It’s uplifting even when we have to make hard decisions.”
Visit https://whatcomcf.org/community-ventures/project-neighborly/ for a list of grant recipients and projects funded.
Everyone who lives here thrives. That’s Whatcom Community Foundation’s vision.
Achieving it means cultivating neighborliness, lifting community voices, and investing in equity and hope. You can learn more about the many ways we do that here. Like all the 1,000+ community foundations across North America, the Whatcom Community Foundation is a charitable organization created through gifts from people who care about a particular place. Anyone can contribute any amount of money to a community foundation, which pools and builds assets to meet local needs.
Please contact Jenn Daly, Director of Engagement & Philanthropy, at jenn@whatcomcf.org with questions.
