A Message from the President
Life is about moments; big, small and everything in between. No matter what comes along, seeing the good in any situation allows us to persevere. Our team strives to bring this optimism to our work with donors and caring community members across southwest Washington. The impact we created together this year shows that opportunity is everywhere — chances to learn, grow and tackle whatever comes next. This pursuit makes our collective work rewarding, so I can’t think of a better time and place to be engaging in community efforts.
This year, we partnered with fundholders to respond to the housing crisis in significant ways. Together, we granted nearly $4.5 million toward emergency shelters and housing, mental and behavioral health services, and other critical supports. In addition, our scholarship program awarded more than $1 million for the first time in its history. Even more impressive than the numbers, are the students and donors who fuel this impact.
At the same time, our strategic grantmaking programs invested in 50 nonprofits driving change. These incredible organizations provided vital community resources, including culturally specific food pantries for Native Americans, mental health support for Latinx communities, enriching environments for local youth, and small business and skills training for neighbors who are charting their own course toward prosperity.
The conversations we are having and the issues we’re tackling operate on a higher plane, and we see our partners and local communities rolling up their sleeves. Our region is full of people who are digging into the data and working together on solutions that address both urgent needs and root causes.
Every effort is important, and as long as we keep seeing the good—in each other and our circumstances—we are sure to find positive results.
With gratitude,
Matt Morton
