Vancouver Women’s Foundation: First Giving Circle

Every day, thousands of women in southwest Washington juggle competing responsibilities while trying to achieve their goals. Some also live on razor-thin margins. For them, a few hundred dollars can be life-changing. A flat tire can mean choosing between paying rent or losing a job. An $85 bus ticket might stand between an abusive relationship …

Carl Butler: First Bequest Gift Received

Love shapes our lives in incredible ways. For Carl Butler, the 65 adoring years he spent with his wife Myrtle brought two daughters, an adopted granddaughter and 45 years of operating grocery stores together.

Carl founded the Quick Shop Minit Mart chain, which kept them on the go. But, in 1976 Myrtle was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, …

E.W. and Mary Firstenburg: First Fund Established

E.W. and Mary Firstenburg turned a small, rural bank into the region’s largest locally owned, privately held financial institution. First Independent Bank was also known for its blend of customer and community service, providing countless hours of volunteerism and corporate contributions to local causes.

E.W. and Mary led by example, donating tens of millions to local …

Mary Granger: Our Fearless Founder

A tireless visionary who cared deeply for southwest Washington, Mary Granger found solutions, rallied people and always delivered results.

In 1984, she founded the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. Her purpose: to create lasting charitable support for local projects and programs. A recession was raging, and many doubted it could be done. Mary knew it had …