Community Foundation for Southwest Washington lauds commitment at luncheon

How can philanthropists, nonprofits and communities overcome seemingly unimaginable challenges?

That was the query on everybody’s thoughts Tuesday afternoon on the Neighborhood Basis for Southwest Washington’s annual luncheon, which was held on the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

Tons of of individuals have been in attendance, marking a triumphant return for the occasion following a two-year hiatus spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. This 12 months’s theme was “transferring mountains.”

The occasion started with a farewell. Jennifer Rhoads used the occasion to say goodbye to the group that she served for 9 years as president.

“Due to the pandemic, I haven’t been capable of say a correct goodbye to everybody,” she mentioned. “I wish to thank the excellent crew that I’ve had the respect of working alongside over these years. Each co-worker on the basis lives out their values, and I’m so proud to have labored with them.”

Throughout her tenure, the inspiration distributed greater than $100 million in grants.

“Throughout the identical time, donors and fund holders grew our area’s charitable belongings greater than fivefold, making this group basis the second largest within the state of Washington,” Rhoads mentioned.

Following her speech, Rhoads welcomed incoming President Matt Morton to the stage. Earlier than stepping away, nonetheless, Morton, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe, introduced her with a present: a ceremonial blanket.

“I wish to take a second to acknowledge Jennifer and people many, many contributions that she’s made to each our group and in addition our area,” he mentioned. “You’ve constructed trusted, lasting relationships and assembled a outstanding crew. You will have really lived your values, and we’re all the higher for it.”

Morton went on to debate how the inspiration has helped develop nonprofits all through Southwest Washington.

“All through our work, we’re constructing deep lasting partnerships with nonprofits and in addition prioritizing connections between communities to search out frequent floor, the place work can actually take root,” he mentioned. “The progress we’ve made collectively represents the immense chance of the place we will go from right here. On the Neighborhood Basis, we’re transferring mountains by placing belief, collaboration and fairness to work.”

Then, a video that includes native nonprofits reminiscent of iUrban Teen and YWCA Clark County was proven.

“The imaginative and prescient of those nonprofits displays the imaginative and prescient of our communities,” Morton mentioned. “Transformative work is going on as a result of our group reveals the braveness to attempt to the dedication to see it via.”

The luncheon marked the primary anniversary of the inspiration’s Social Justice Resiliency Fund that was launched in response to the pandemic. The fund is geared toward addressing systemic inequities and has thus far granted $550,000 to native organizations.

“Because of the laborious work of the employees and board and the generosity of our donors, on the finish of final 12 months, your Neighborhood Basis had $413 million of charitable belongings invested for a shiny future in our group,” Morton mentioned. “On the finish of the day, these charitable investments don’t make an affect until we’re transferring sources into communities with the deepest wants. So we’re doing simply that. In 2021, we granted greater than $26 million to nonprofits and community-based organizations.”

Following Morton’s remarks was an award ceremony. The late Vaughn Lien, a founding principal at LSW Architects, was awarded the Good friend of the Basis award for his help for the inspiration. Gerri Hiller was awarded the Neighborhood Champion Award for her almost 20 years of volunteer work with the Winter Hospitality Overflow shelters and her ongoing work supporting folks experiencing homelessness in Clark County. And Ron and Terry Prill have been awarded the Philanthropists of the Yr Award for his or her twenty years of help for organizations centered on youth improvement and well being care.

Keynote speaker Tyler Monk, a first-generation school graduate, entrepreneur and founding father of The Underdog Mentality, spoke of the significance of braveness, dedication, confidence and group.

Morton closed the occasion by reflecting on transformational change.

“That is my first annual luncheon, however I’m simply really amazed not solely by the honorees and the feelings which were shared, however by the breadth of information, the love, the expertise and the vitality that we have now on this room, which I feel is admittedly essential for us, as a result of we’re speaking about transferring mountains,” he mentioned. “One factor I heard from our nonprofits and our honorees is that fixing massive issues takes communities working collectively. Our group supplies the energy and momentum to make programs change and tradition shift potential.

“One of the simplest ways to maneuver a mountain is one piece at a time.”