Community Foundation honors pair at annual luncheon
Their philanthropy, not so much in word as in deed and in giving, has been felt by most Orcas Islanders, either directly or indirectly.
It includes assistance to the library, OPALCO, the community band, Orcas Center, OPAL Housing Trust, the Music Advocacy Group, the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, Friends of the San Juans, and this year, the first Orcas Island Relay for Life, just to name a few of the non-profits and community organizations of which they have been an essential part.
On Sept. 11, The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) celebrated the commitment to community of two long-standing island philanthropists, Marilyn Andrerson and Rachel Adams.
Former Orcas Center Executive Director (from 1995 to 2000) Molly Herzog described them as “Two very different people with compatible yet distinct passions.” As Herzog described Rachel’s passion for nature, and Marilyn’s for organization, she said, “They serve for serving’s sake … two golden threads in the fabric of life, and stunning examples of giving as its own reward.”
Aloysia Friedmann also spoke of the assistance she received from Rachel and Marilyn in establishing the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, and their continued (and detailed) support of it. Friedmann recounted the time she proposed asking $50 for an event donation, and Marilyn responding, “Well if Rachel and I are going to spend $50 to come from Crane Island [where they then lived] for the day, we’ll probably spend $100 to do it.”
Friedmann also mentioned that, somehow, the first day of her and Jackie Parker’s honeymoon included a board meeting of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival at Marilyn and Rachel’s home.
Mary Riveland honored Marilyn and Rachel for being role models of philanthropy, giving time, money and encouragement for others to give.
For their part, Herzog quoted Rachel, saying she and Marilyn were “two lucky herring scooped up in the Community Foundation’s net as examples.”
Preceding the celebration of Marilyn and Rachel’s philanthropy, officers of the OICF reported on its situation.
President Susan Geiser Gudgell introduced the event, saying “Our community is a tapestry interwoven with the talents and needs of each other. The Community Foundation is the means by which donations of all sizes can be accepted and used to benefit the community, maximizing the returns of all funds.
“A real spirit of collaboration is emerging,” Gudgell said, “and Orcas Island is uniquely charitable – a true culture of neighbor helping neighbor.”
Bob Waunch, OICF Treasurer and founding trustee, described the OICF’s current financial situation: it manages 55 funds, for a total value of $5,300,000, of which $1,100,000 is invested in the Community Endowment Fund, used for annual grants programs on Orcas Island. Grants awarded to community non-profits through OICF totaled $73,000 in 2008, of which the Community Endowment Fund contributed $33,000. Over $40,000 was donated through the Partners in Philanthropy program of individual donors.
OICF Executive Director Hilary Canty thanked the gathering for what the community gives in “time, treasure and talent.”
She described OICF’s continued growth acting as a convenor, building coalitions. Canty cited Bob Henigson’s challenge last year, as he was awarded the annual philanthropist award, to focus on education and to do more to fund public schools. One result, said Canty, was the Education Initiative, a “multi-faceted approach for long-range solutions.”
Canty also noted the Legacy Endowment Program, an ongoing process to educate islanders on planned giving.
Canty also thanked the support of the “large and active Board of Trustees who bring a depth to our programming that we couldn’t have without them.”
Joe Cohen, the OICF Chair of Development, described Orcas as “unique in taking care of its own.” He said the Foundation serves three constituencies: donors; non-profits; and the community at large.
Cohen described a new program of sustaining contributions, called “Community Cornerstones,” whereby donors pledge annual gifts to the community in excess of $1,000.
Mary Riveland, President of the San Juan Preservation Trust said, “The OICF enables all of us to be involved in the community organizations we care about.” She urged the luncheon attendees to expand their personal and network philanthropy, “just as Marilyn and Rachel have done, through volunteering, leadership, and asking for financial support.”
Riveland described her introduction to Marilyn and Rachel and their immediate invitation for her to join community non-profits such as the Orcas Center and the San Juan Preservation Trust.
“It is important for all of us to consider stepping up to a leadership role on Orcas Island,” said Riveland, quoting Marilyn, “If you believe in organization and work worth doing you need to find a way to be comfortable about fundraising.” There followed “tapes, training and mentoring” in the art of asking others to donate, Riveland said.
She was glad to have that training when, as President of the San Juan Preservation Trust, she played a leadership role in the purchase of Turtleback Mountain with the Land Bank and the Trust for Public Land.
Fund-raising is addictive, Riveland said, “and the challenge before us today is to honor Marilyn and Rachel by following their lead, passing the value of philanthropy to newcomers, leading by example, and encouraging others to give.”
For the full text of Molly Herzog’s comments, go to www.islandssounder.com and click on “Community.”
Correction:
In the Sept. 17 issue of the Sounder, Marilyn Anderson was referred to as Marilyn Andrews. Mary Riveland was identified as Barbara Riveland, a trustee of the Orcas Island Community Foundation. Riveland is not a trustee of OICF, but the President of the San Juan Preservation Trust. The Sounder regrets the errors.
