Every year the Orcas High School senior class is given the opportunity to dispense $5,000 to island nonprofits through the Orcas Island Community Foundation‘s annual grant cycle.
This time around the class decided to donate the entire amount to one recipient: OPAL Community Land Trust. They requested that the money be spent on multi-family housing that OPAL is planning.
OICF announced its full list of grant recipients at its awards ceremony on May 18.
The total distributed in 2015 was $183,880 with more than $135,000 contributed by Partners in Philanthropy. A total of 122 community members participated as Partners in Philanthropy. Individual contributions ranged from $10 to $48,000.
Grant recipients
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services: $30,000 for prevention education programs and operations.
Orcas Island School District Primary Intervention Program: $5,000 to introduce skills to promote academic and social success.
OPAL Community Land Trust: $10,000 to complete a business plan for a non-profit community loan fund.
Orcas Family Connections: $25,000 to strengthen our safety net to support the Orcas community.
OISD: $25,000 for a mental health counselor to promote student success and well-being.
San Juan County-Health Department: $1,500 for ‘Market Bucks’ program: promote healthy habits.
Farm to Cafeteria/Orcas Island Education Foundation: $2,500 to help raise the hours of the school garden keeper.
Orcas Island Food Bank: $11,520 for weekend packs for kids year-round.
Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture: $2,500 to empower islanders to be creators of the food that nourishes them.
Hearts and Hands/Senior Services Council of San Juan County: $4,500 to help seniors by coordinating volunteer services.
Orcas Senior Center: $6,160 to expand senior lunch and home delivered meals program.
Art for Orcas Kids/OIEF: $5,120 to bring art instruction to Orcas Elementary and Middle Schools.
Orcas Center: $3,070 to support subsidized ticket program.
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival: $960 for the OICMF summer tune-up.
Booster Club of Orcas Island: $8,032 to implement positive coaching curriculum within youth sports.
Funhouse Commons: $2,025 to expand and enhance the 2015 summer Ninja Camp Program.
Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps/Madrona Institute: $6,000 for the 2015 Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps.
Orcas Island Rowing Association: $3,120 for a rescue launch: 24-foot twin hull launch, trailer and rescue equipment.
Sail Orcas – A Sailing Education Foundation: $2,300 to upgrade/replace sailing equipment for our youngest sailors.
KWIAHT: $2,485 to help kids discover the world with quality school microscopes and $1,600 to protect native pollinators for food security and flowers.
San Juan Nature Institute: $1,600 for watersheds grades k-6.
San Juan Nature Institute: $1,800 for inter-tidal life and diver for a day for 6th grade.
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue: $2,393 for bicycle helmets and smoke detectors for Island residents and visitors.
Islands’ Oil Spill Association: $2,450 for spill response equipment drill and wildlife rescue training.
Orcas Island Historical Society: $700 for installation of security cameras and new wireless security system.
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center: $1,470 for education displays and volunteer outreach.
Orcas Medical Foundation: $9,000 to promote early childhood literacy.
Orcas Montessori School: $1,050 for outdoor education upgrade.