Cancer and Community Charities sets new fundraising record
LOREN BENOIT/Press) Members of the Cancer and Community Charities hold a check for $115,000 to be distributed across 27 different 501 3(c) nonprofits in Kootenai County this year. An awards banquet will be held on Aug. 10, at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. From left: Judy Gardner, Ann Dare, Sally Cannon, Diane Lawrence, Sally Barnett, Barbara Newland, Mary Ann Herston, Carol Peterson, Sandie Rolphe, Rhonda Newton, Sonia Morgan and Bobbi Freeman.
The Cancer and Community Charities’ 12-member Appropriations Committee spent about six hours Monday at the Post Falls home of the committee’s chairperson, Sally Cannon, to determine where to spread the $115,350 that was raised during this past year.
Back in March, the 3Cs sent out invitations to 39 different Kootenai County 501 3(c) s to apply for funds. The application process includes a questionnaire, requesting information like how much do you want to receive, what will you spend the money on, and if they had been a recipient last year, how was that money spent? They also request an annual budget report from each entity.
Members of the committee then go out and spend time interviewing all the candidates. The Monday meeting started with reviewing the applications and sharing the information from the interviews. Fundraising totals were calculated, and then heads came together to discuss and debate who receives and how much.
The calculated amount to be granted throughout Kootenai County this year came in at $115,000. But numbers aren’t always set in stone.
“We’ve been here since 9 o’clock this morning,” said 3Cs president Barbara Newland. “We went through it once, we went through it twice, and then we got down to the point where we had $115,000 to spend. But then we went, ‘Can’t we have 350 more dollars?’ So the treasurer and I said, ‘OK.’”
Most of the requests are granted, she explained, although once in a while a request is not feasible.
“We tell them to ask for whatever they want, but most that have worked with us over the years understand that there is only so much money.”
This year’s total is the largest to date; last year’s was the largest to date at that time, at $113,550.
Of the 39 invites that were sent by 3Cs, 29 came back requesting funds. 27 of those local nonprofits have been approved for funding, and will receive letters letting them know the good news. They will be invited to an awards banquet on Aug. 10, to be held at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Members of the military will be presenting the checks this year.
The ladies of the 3Cs spend the year raising money to spread throughout Kootenai County through gala events and various fundraisers. New this year will be a golf tournament on Sept. 19 at Highlands Golf Course, and returning after a successful first year will be a craft fair on Oct. 20 at the Coeur d’Alene Boys and Girls Club. They also have about a dozen fun activity groups including bridge, gardening, bunco, book club and golf, that meet for socializing and creating a bond of giving and camaraderie.
To date, 3Cs have donated more than $2 million to Kootenai County charities.
“It makes me feel wonderful. It’s just such a good feeling that in some way we’re able to help someone else.” said Marcia Saunders, publicity chair.