Grants for Good, Helping Good Causes Do Good

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Community: Camas-Washougal Community Chest

An illustration of people watering a grant tree.

The Camas-Washougal Community Chest will launch its annual fundraising drive Oct. 1, 2023 with a goal of raising $120,000 for 2024 grants. In a continuing partnership with CWCC, the Camas–Washougal Rotary Foundation and the Camas Lions Club plan to provide additional grant funds. The combined monies are used to fund grants to local nonprofit organizations that serve Camas and Washougal residents in need, at-risk youth programs, address natural resource conservation, foster education and strive to enhance diversity, equity and inclusivity in Camas and Washougal. Since 1946, the CWCC has been all about helping local charities thrive.

The CWCC, CWRF and Camas Lions Club just wrapped up a successful 2023 campaign, which featured 30 grants for a total of $135,500. Programs and projects funded in 2023 include: (1) support of the local food bank run by Inter-Faith Treasure House; (2) funding for family support programs run by Children’s Home Society of Washington; (3) funding a portion of Family Promise’s Cares prevention program to help low-income families avoid losing their home; (4) funding habitat improvements in the Gibbons Creek watershed conducted by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership; and (5) funding for food and food service supplies for the local Meals on Wheels People program.

Other grants provided funding for cancer treatment costs and living expenses not covered by insurance; funding for several local reading programs; funding registration fees, transportation costs, and food and housing costs for local low-income robotics team members; and for temporarily housing at-risk youth in a secure facility.

Major support for the 2023 fundraising campaign came from Georgia Pacific employees and the Georgia Pacific Foundation. Other major donors in 2023 included HP employees and the HP Corporation, Camas and Washougal School District employees, City of Camas and Washougal employees, Port of Camas-Washougal employees, Watercare Industrial Services, Columbia Rock Products (Sauer Holdings LLC) and Waste Connections. The following foundations provided major support: Windermere Foundation, the Tidland Christian Development Fund and the Hinds Charitable Fund.

A boy benefiting from a grant engaged in a learning activity,

To reach its $120,000 goal for the 2024 campaign, the CWCC needs donations from individuals and businesses in Camas and Washougal. More information and donation forms can be found on the CWCC’s website at: www.CamasWashougalCommunityChest.org.

The CWCC is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization for federal charitable tax deduction purposes. Says CWCC President Mindy Schmidt, “giving to the Community Chest is an easy and efficient way to help people in need in our hometown.”

Local nonprofit organizations planning to apply for a grant can download the 2024 application form from CWCC’s website after Oct. 15, 2023. Applications for 2024 grants are due no later than Dec. 15, 2023. Applicants will be informed during March 2024 as to whether their project or program is funded and at what level. Grant payments are made quarterly beginning with initial payments in March 2024.

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must provide services in Camas and/or Washougal, be a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and provide service in one or more of the following areas: education, youth activities, aid to people with special needs, natural resource conservation, health and welfare programs, crisis and emergency services, and diversity, equity and inclusivity.

2023 Programs by the Numbers

30 grants awarded | $135,500 grants awarded | 19,500+ individual services funded

For more information contact Mindy Schmidt, President, at 360-834-8146 or mindyschmidt61@yahoo.com; Richard Reiter, Campaign Chair, at 360-834-7807 or richardreiter@comcast.net.

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