Yakima Valley Community Foundation - Latest News

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL IS FORMED

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:34:00 GMT

Members of the 2010 Youth Advisory Council are:

A. C. Davis: East Valley:

Rachel Davis Sam Johnson

Mia Walsh Isabel Zarate

Eisenhower: La Salle:

Megan Kinney Sam Glazier

Xavier Ramirez Jessica Serrano

Riverside Christian: West Valley:

Katherine Boothman Reina Almon

Dimitri Kupanoff Kayla Rothenbueler

Here's how the work of the YAC will unfold in 2010:

Prior to her death in October of 2008, Yakima philanthropist Helen Jewett arranged for a testamentary gift to YVCF that will provide $50,000 a year (in perpetuity). At her request, a special grant cycle will be led by the Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Mentored by YVCF staff and members of the Grants & Program Committee, YAC members will review Letters of Request, score the applications, participate in site visits and make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.

The application deadline for this year's Jewett Grant Cycle is July 30, 2010. Members of the Youth Advisory Council will then review and score the Letters of Request, and site visits will then be scheduled to finalist agencies. Award recipients will be announced on National Philanthropy Day, November 16, 2010.

If you have questions, please use the navigation bar in this Web site (see Grant Guidelines) or call the Foundation office at (509) 457-7616.

Ready by Five Wins $1,000 Grant

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:04:00 GMT

YVCF recently asked Yakima County nonprofit organizations to complete a survey concerning training and educational needs of respective agencies. The purpose of the survey is to assist the Community Foundation's Nonprofit Advisory Committee in planning meaningful workshops and seminars that will increase the capcity of participating staff and Board members.

As an incentive to respond, each organization that completed the survey became eligible to receive an unrestricted grant of $1,000 via a drawing. The lucky response was submitted by Ready by Five.

Members of the advisory committee will reveiw the information gleaned in the survey and make recommendations for future educational offerings.

Sincere thanks to all who participated in the survey - and heartiest congratulations to Ready by Five!

Helen Jewett Leaves a Legacy of Philanthropy

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:20:00 GMT

Distinguished philanthropist, the late Helen Jewett, established an endowment at the Community Foundation via her Last Will and Testament to carry out a twofold purpose. The first goal is to help young people learn about their neighbors in need. A second aim is to provide a permanent source of income that allows youth to help alleviate those needs.

Said Jewett in her directives to the Foundation: "Awareness is the first step. I think it is important for citizens of every age to become aware of their community's needs. To learn more about want and suffering - and to discover how each one of us can help."

Thanks to Helen, a Youth Advisory Council comprised of area high school students receives mentoring each year from YVCF staff on how to review and score grant applications, make site visits to nonprofit agencies and to recommend recipients of grants totaling $50,000. These grants are awarded each year in Helen's name - in perpetuity. Helen intended that this program guide students to a lifelong path of caring and sharing.

Last year's grants were announced on Novermber 10, 2009. Grant recipients included:

Catholic Family Housing Services $20,000

Funding to purchase outdoor playground equipment for children at Buena Nueva, a housing project for low-income families in Buena.

Salvation Army $5,000

Funds to replace worn-out equipment used at the Summer Day Camp program at Milroy Park.

Union Gospel Mission $25,000

A grant to fix-up a multi-purpose athletic court adjacent to the Madison House Youth Center, and funding for equipment to create a tennis-mentoring program for inner-city kids.

MOLLIE DAVIS BEQUEST TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:08:00 GMT

Yakima resident Mary Monroe "Mollie" Davis, who passed away at age 94 in November of 2008, named Yakima Valley Community Foundation as the beneficiary of approximately $20,000,000 for college scholarships. (Use navigation bar above to read more in the Foundation's 2008 YVCF Annual Report.)

The Yakima Rotary Trust was named by the donor as administrator of the scholarship program. The scholarships are earmarked for Yakima County students who have been accepted for admission to a college where they will be enrolled full time in a program of study leading to a Bachelor's or Associate of Arts degree.

The application deadline to apply for 2010 - 2011 scholarships was February 15, 2010 but interested students are encouraged to learn more about this opportunity now, in order to particiapte in future scholarship cycles. For more information, please visit
http://sms.scholarshipamerica.org/marymonroedavis.

NEW FUNDS CREATED

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:41:00 GMT

The Yakima Valley is home to generous people!

And the Community Foundation has been blessed by a number of bighearted donors who have responded to the foundation's query: "What's Your Dream?" Such generosity mightily propels the YVCF mission to improve the quality of life in this part of the world.

Several examples are highlighted in the 2008 Annual Report. Please use the navigation bar above to see how Yakima County residents will enjoy a bright tomorrow because of bequests of two Yakima women who passed away last fall: Helen Jewett and Mollie Davis.

Listed below is a sampling of other distinguished donors who have chosen Yakima Valley Community Foundation as their partner in philanthropy:

Doug & Darlene Picatti established an Unrestricted Fund that will enable the foundation to respond to ever-changing needs. Other Unrestricted Funds have been established by the Sisters of Providence, Health Management Associates (HMA), Bill & Sally Douglas, the family of Madeline & Albert Kloster, LeMaster Daniels and Mike & Shannon Richardson.

The daughters of Earl & Barbara Powell (Terry Powell, Leslie Paddock & Billie Woodcock) set up a Field of Interest Fund to honor their parents, with proceeds earmarked for improved mental health services. Other such funds have been established by Ken Messer (minority youth education) and the Ray & Laurene Colgan family (women and children).

Dennis & Karen Green chose a Designated Fund to support their favorite charity, Young Life. Marvin & Pat Sundquist did the same in support of Camp Ghomley.

Donor Advised Funds, which allow donors to recommend grant recipients, have been established by Baker Boyer Bank, Terry Abeyta, the families of Lynn Hanses Katz and Gavin J. Gress, Greg & Jan Luring, the Ceres Fund and the Tieton River Conservation Area.

A number of local nonprofit organizations have established Nonprofit Endowments at YVCF for management of long-term assets. Among them: Parker Youth & Sports Foundation, Union Gospel Mission, United Way of Yakima County, Friends of Young Life, En Trust and La Casa Hogar.

Yakima Valley Community Foundation invites you to explore the ways you can transform your dream for this valley into a reality. For more information, please contact YVCF President, John Colgan, at 457-7616.