Submitted by San Juan Island Community Foundation
The San Juan Island Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that a record-setting $139,000 was donated during its annual County Fair Matching Grant campaign. More than 900 donations were made during the 4 days of the “virtual” fair through SJICF’s new online giving catalog.
The catalog featured 30 local nonprofits in a wide variety of interest areas, including education, visual and performing arts, animal welfare and health and human services.
SJICF matched the first $1,000 raised for each project and awarded bonus grants of $2,500 for virtual “games” during the fair. The winners of the bonus grants were SJI Library ($1,000), Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood ($500) and APS Friday Harbor ($1,000). After matching and bonus grants, 15 of the featured projects were fully funded!
Total grants awarded after matching were nearly $173,000. Grants fully-funded include Alchemy Art Center, Community Art Program; APS Friday Harbor, food for hungry mouths; Canoe Island French Camp, greenhouse project; Compass Health, grocery cards for local clients; Island Haven Animal Sanctuary, Senior Animal Medical Fund; Leadership San Juan Islands, participant fees and operations; Mullis Community Senior Center, help with operating costs; San Juan Island Sailing Foundation, Friday Harbor High School Team Sailing; SJ Community Home Trust, Holliwalk Homes Project; SJ Community Theatre, new theater appliances; SJI Family Resource Center, Building Youth Resilience Program; SJI Library, help with new library property purchase; SJICF Women’s Fund, summer membership drive; Spring Street International School, COVID-19 mitigation measures; Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center, Salish Sea Harbor Seal Rehab.
Other nonprofits that received partial funding include Family Umbrella Group, preschool financial assistance; Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS), virtual education programs; KWIAHT, islands edible outdoors program; Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, Friday Harbor Health Center support; PADs for Parkinson’s, help with operating costs; Safe San Juans, school-based violence prevention education and services to victims of violence; San Juan Center Head Start, new home for Head Start; San Juan County Arts Council, help with operating costs; SJ Historical Museum, disaster-proof photo filing cabinet; SJ Public School District, re-imagining and relaunching Griffin Bay School; SJ Public Schools Foundation, art supplies for public schools; SJC Fairgrounds, safety padding for main fairgrounds building; SJI Agricultural Guild, operations support for Brickworks; SJI Museum of Art, world-renowned art exhibit: African Twilight; and Youth Conservation Corp, youth stewardship opportunities.
Carrie Unpingco of SJICF said, “Our fair booth matching grant program is always popular at the live venue, but we weren’t sure how a virtual catalog would compare to previous years. We were so touched by the outpouring of generosity from our friends and neighbors. Everyone quickly adapted to the online format, and we raised more than 3 times the amount we usually raise during the fair. On behalf of our staff and board, I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and participated. You have made a huge impact in our community in just four days!”
If you missed out on the fair program and wish to help the nonprofits who didn’t reach their funding goals, contact the Foundation office at 360-378-1001. To learn more, visit sjicf.org.
