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REI distributes nearly $400,000 to
Puget Sound-area nonprofits
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) has provided nearly $400,000 in 2008 to 33 nonprofit organizations in Puget Sound that share the company’s commitment to increase participation in outdoor recreation and the conservation of shared outdoor spaces.
The company places an emphasis on supporting youth-oriented organizations. The North Cascades Institute of Bellingham received a $5,000 grant from REI to connect students to the diverse ecosystems and communities of North Cascades National Park through outdoor hands-on, experiential-based education.
In 2008, REI will distribute $3.7 million across the country to local and national nonprofits that share the company’s commitment. REI expects this funding will help support approximately 400 nonprofits, of which a majority will be youth-oriented organizations.
REI’s grants program is one element of the company’s comprehensive outreach efforts in the community. Employees actively volunteer by coordinating service projects to preserve natural spaces, and teaching outdoor ethics to youth through its Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids program.
Brooks Manufacturing pledges $25,000 to
Boys & Girls Clubs
Brooks Manufacturing has pledged $25,000 to the Dick Metcalf Memorial Project of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.
Brooks’ donation will help fund the construction of the new Ferndale Clubhouse in Pioneer Park. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County held a groundbreaking on Sept. 23 for the new Ferndale Clubhouse, scheduled to open its doors in December of 2009.
Founded in 1946, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County operate clubs in Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lummi Island, and Lynden. The clubs provide a range of important services such as tutoring, computer education, sports training, homework help, mentoring and instilling positive values to area youth.
Airporter Shuttle recognizes Boys & Girls Club
Airporter Shuttle/Bellair Charters has donated a bus to the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club, recognizing them for the important work they do in the community.
The bus, a 24-passenger Krystal Coach International, had been part of the Airporter Shuttle fleet for several years, and will be used by the Boys & Girls Club for their after-school program.
Established in 1946, the Whatcom County Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 6,300 members in their Clubhouse, athletics, and outreach programs. Their website is www.whatcomclubs.org.
Airporter Shuttle / Bellair Charters, established in 1985, has transported more than two million passengers to SeaTac Airport, Seattle and countless points in the western U.S. and Canada. Their website is www.airporter.com.
Results for Raise the Roof Auction
More than 300 supporters donated 231 silent auction items, 29 live auction items, and 30 desserts for the Dessert Dash toward Habitat for Humanity’s 2008 Raise the Roof Auction.
The event raised approximately $50,000 and halved the expenses over the previous year.
Habitat for Humanity would like to express its gratitude to all that helped make the event a fun and successful evening.
Food Pavilion, Cost Cutter stores raise money
to fight hunger
For the tenth year in a row, all Whatcom County Food Pavilion, Cost Cutter and Market stores have partnered with Food For All to fight hunger during the holiday season.
The event began Nov. 15 and will run through Jan. 3. Customers and employees will have the opportunity to help feed the hungry in the community by donating $1, $3 or $5 at the check stand.
Over the past nine years, the stores have collectively raised more than $150,000 for local anti-hunger programs. This year, the stores are determined to raise a record amount for local charities, including the Nooksack Valley Food Bank, Bellingham Food Bank, Blue Skies for Children, Lighthouse Mission, Ferndale Food Bank, Southside Food Bank, and the Blaine Food Bank. More than 8,000 supermarkets will join in fundraising.
Another option for customers is to make a donation of a Helping Paws bag for cats or dogs, or prepackaged bags with food items and treats available at each store for $10. The bags are donated to the Whatcom Humane Society. Helpful Harvest bags, also prepackaged with nonperishable foods, are available for $10, and are given to the Food For All charities as well as Project Hope in Lynden.
Customers can find the donation materials at Lynden and Southside Food Pavilion, the Market at Everson, and Blaine, Ferndale, Meridian, Sunset and Lakeway Cost Cutter stores.
Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts marketing
grant celebration
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington has been awarded a $7,000 marketing grant from Bank of America and will receive it during a ceremony Nov. 18.
Awarded by the Washington State Mentors’ Bank of America Mentoring Initiative, the grant will allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to recruit enough new volunteer mentors to meet goals for 2009. Lt. Governor Brad Owen will be presenting the award at 1 p.m. at room2think, located at 114 East Chestnut Street.
The grant will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide 360 children with mentors over the next year. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches volunteer mentors with children in one-to-one relationships. The organization provides support, friendship and fun to the children of Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
For additional information, please contact Marinda Peugh at (360) 671-6400.
Haggen Stores, Lummi Island Wild Co-op support
salmon association
Under a recent agreement, Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores and Lummi Island Wild Co-op are supporting The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring sustainable wild salmon runs in Whatcom County.
Providers of reefnet wild salmon, Haggen stores and Lummi Island Wild Co-op are donating $3,400 to the salmon association. The donation represents a portion of customer purchases of Lummi Island Wild salmon at Haggen stores.
Haggen employees will adopt a local stream and volunteer for the organization’s work parties that will improve salmon habitat. Haggen also will provide informational material at its Whatcom County stores that increases public awareness about the cause.
Bellingham-based Haggen, Inc. offers Lummi Island Wild salmon throughout its 33 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon, including four Haggen stores in Bellingham and one in Ferndale.
Success and support for Blue Skies for Children
Blue Skies for Children held its 8th Annual Dinner and Charity Auction on Nov. 8, which was a great success.
The event was held at the St. Luke’s Health & Education Center and raised more than $60,000. Blue Skies wishes to thank all its donors, attendees, volunteers and its many generous sponsors including Absorption Corp., Moss Adams, Steve Hall, K&K Industries, TransOcean & J.V. Industrial.
Marv Bott of Allstate Insurance has again presented Blue Skies for Children with a grant from the Allstate Foundation in the amount of $500. Banner Bank has donated $975, the Eleanor & Henry Jansen Foundation has given $750 and US Bank has granted $2,000.
The Little Wishes Enrichment Program offers children who are homeless, low-income and in foster care an opportunity to participate in enrichment activities sponsored by Blue Skies. With few exceptions, the enrichment activity can be just about any type of sport or lesson they wish to participate in, such as martial arts, swimming, gymnastics, ice hockey, skating, dance, art, or music lessons.
To ensure longevity of the Little Wishes Enrichment program and increase capacity, Blue Skies has rolled out its Sponsor-A-Child program. This program ties one individual or business to one child and allows that sponsor to support the enrichment activity on an ongoing basis. The sponsor receives a photo of the child they support and quarterly progress reports. The cost is $50 per month to Sponsor-A-Child.
For more information call 756-6710.
WTA donates 812 pounds of food after
“food-for-Fare” day
WTA collected 812 pounds of non-perishable food items from riders and employees for “Food-for-Fare” Day on Oct. 13.
Throughout the day, riders contributed a can of food in lieu of the regular cash fare.
Donated items were contributed to the “Feed the Need” Community Food Drive, sponsored by the Industrial Credit Union, Haggen Food and Pharmacy, and Cascade Radio Group. The “Feed the Need” Community Food Drive collected more than 200,000 pounds of non-perishable food items for Whatcom County Food Banks.
