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Whatcom Community Foundation meets philanthropic standards

The Whatcom Community Foundation received notice from the national Council on Foundations that it has met the highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability. The foundation holds more than $7 million in funds that benefit Whatcom County nonprofit organizations.

YWCA honors contributors

The YWCA of Bellingham honored businesses that supported its principal fundraiser, the 2007-2008 centennial capital campaign. The Rotary of Bellingham was honored for underwriting the renovation of the main floor area of the YWCA residence and The Bellingham Herald was honored for its editorial, advertising and financial support for the YWCA. Sponsoring the leadership breakfast, which raised nearly $50,000 in donations, were ConocoPhillips, BP Cherry Point Refinery, Cartwright Creative Group, Key Bank, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, Smile 4 U, the Community Food Co-op, C.P. Foster & Associates, Dawson Construction, Horizon Bank, Unity Group, K&K Industries, RMC Architects and SPIE.

Microsoft gives grant to Northwest Workforce

The Northwest Workforce Development Council received an $80,000 grant from Microsoft Corp. to provide basic IT skills training in Whatcom and Skagit counties. The grant, through Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential – Community Technology Skills Program, will expand an existing program, and will teach skills such as keyboarding, fundamental computer operations and word processing. Courses in Whatcom County will begin Aug. 21.

Village Books conjures donations for Literacy Council

The magic of Harry Potter extended to the Whatcom Literacy Council as Village Books conjured $8,724.10 during the release of the final installment to the series July 20. Village books donated $7.21 for each of the 1,210 copies sold before midnight July 20, a celebration that included Whatcom Literacy Council and the community.

PACCAR awards St. Joseph Hospital $100,000 grant

PACCAR, Inc. has given the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation a $100,000 grant for its emergency department expansion project. The grant will help fund the hospital’s new PACCAR Emergency Coordination Center, which will be used for coordination, planning and response to mass casualty incidents in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties.

Red Cross seeks volunteers

The Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a new volunteer orientation 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at 2111 King St. The chapter is seeking new volunteers to help the community prevent, prepare and respond to emergencies, including the upcoming flood season. The Red Cross is looking for people with varied skills and experiences for a variety of tasks, including finance, public affairs, fundraising, disaster response and CPR instruction. More training sessions will be held throughout December. The sessions are free. For more information, call 733-3290 ext. 3015 or visit www.mtbakerredcross.org.

Golf Classic to benefit Habitat for Humanity

The ninth-annual Benefit Golf Classic for Habitat for Humanity Whatcom County will take place Aug. 24 at the Avalon golf course in Burlington. Golfers can register for $120 before Aug. 10 and $140 from then up until the event. The entry fee includes a cart, green fees, snacks, a steak or salmon dinner, free range balls, entry into a putting contest and a raffle ticket for a stainless steel barbecue. There will also be a silent auction and other prizes during the event. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Northwest is sponsoring the event, and other businesses have sponsorship opportunities. Call 815-4170 for more information.

BP Cherry Point donates $50,000 to NSEA

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) received $50,000 from the BP Cherry Point Refinery in support of the environmental science program Streamside Science. The grant will help NSEA involve more than 2,000 Whatcom County students in the restoration of salmon streams in the area.

Whatcom Young Professionals benefit Whatcom Hospice

The Whatcom Young Professionals presented the Whatcom Hospice Foundation with $1,600 raised from their soccer tournament in early June. The tournament had four teams, each representing a different non-profit. The Bakerview Buzz group won the tournament and donated its winnings to Hospice at a Bellingham Bells game June 28.