Keep it local. It’s a catch phrase that has been circulating across the nation especially when it comes to food or labor.
On Orcas, Hilary Canty, director of the Orcas Island Community Foundation, is proud to say that her organization is keeping it local.
“Not only comes does our funding from the island, but it stays on the island,” she said.
National Community Foundation Week, Nov. 12- 18, creates a perfect time for Canty to look at past and future OICF successes.
OICF’s goal is to not only provide financial assistance, but to connect different organizations and the people in the community.
Former president George Bush, senior issued a proclamation declaring this week in 1989, which coincides with National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15. For Canty, working at the OIFC makes everyday feel like National Philanthropy Day.
“We’re here to make sure the human and financial services meet the growing needs of the community,” she said.
She added that OICF is always accepting contributions of “time, treasure or talent.”
OICF started 17 years ago and now serves the Orcas population of 5,000. Canty said community foundations usually only thrive in communities of 50,000 or more because smaller populations have trouble financially supporting philanthropic endeavors.
“It just goes to show that we have an incredibly generous community,” Canty said. “Over the last year we have facilitated over two million dollars in grants.”
But Canty said that the biggest turning point for OICF was financing the Food Bank Building in 2010. They found a local matching donor that agreed to funds to the tune of $50,000. In total, Canty said they raised about $170,000, with some of the money going into savings to invest in the Food Bank’s future.
OICF also helped the Food Bank set up bylaws, helped build boards and provided other training. They have helped to bring four dental vans this year to help provide dental care to those in need. In June, Canty worked with Rick and Marlace Hughes, owners of Ray’s Pharmacy to accept Medicaid. She is currently working with the Orcas Island Fire department to provide back-up refrigerator storage for vaccinations for the County Health Department and Orcas Family Health Center when the power goes out. OICF also works with the Orcas Island School to support education and assist the Booster Club. The foundation contributed $100,000 for building repairs, which served as a leverage point for Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, to secure $1 million dollars in capital funds to be used for improvements to the Orcas public schools.
Canty has been with OICF for seven years and has watched funding from the state disappear and the needs of islanders increase throughout that time.
“Things are going to happen, we know that,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a strong community foundation and know how to rally and to help, it is an incredible gift.”
For more information, visit http://oicf.us/.
