Fun times, serious cash
LOREN BENOIT/Press The calculated amount to be granted throughout Kootenai County this year is $115,000 at the 3Cs Appreciation Lunch awards banquet on Aug. 19, at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. This year, 30 Kootenai County 501 3(c)s will receive funds. Front row, from left: Linda Pedersen, Barbara Newland, and Rhonda Newton. Back row, from left: Dianne Lipscomb, Linda Juergensen, Judy Gardner, Sally Barnett, Sandie Rolphe, Lisa Thomas, Mary Ann Herston, Ann Dare and Bobbi Freeman. Not pictured: Sonia Morgan and Mary Ward.
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
For more than five hours on Tuesday, members of the 3Cs Cancer and Community Charities discussed an important question: How do we split $115,000 in 30 ways?
"One thing about the 3Cs Appropriations is the care that we take in appropriating their money so that it stays within the county," said 3Cs Appropriations Committee co-chair Linda Pedersen. "We try to give to the little guys as much as possible because they’re the ones that need it the most. It’s a process that nobody can believe until you're on the committee."
The 3Cs, a fundraising powerhouse, collects funds throughout the year to distribute to nonprofits and charitable causes in Kootenai County. Made up of philanthropic female volunteers, 3Cs has a number of groups that contribute to the financial pool, such as the book club, garden club and the Coeur d'Aleers singing group.
Each year in early spring, 3Cs members begin receiving applications for the grant funds. The ladies conduct interviews and hash it out at a member's house as they determine where to allocate that money.
"It's really very rewarding for all of us on the committee," Pedersen said. "We feel good about keeping it in our community because those are the people we want to help. It's a great feeling to be able to do this for nonprofits."
President Barbara Newland said she's very proud of the 3Cs and what it's been able to accomplish through the years.
"It's just gotten bigger and better," she said. "It's a fabulous group of people who work all year long."
The $115,000 will be distributed and recipients announced Aug. 19 during the 3Cs Appreciation Lunch in The Coeur d'Alene Resort. The public is welcome at 11 a.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by contacting Judy Gardner at 208-664-4604.
The 3Cs golf tournament will be Sept. 28 and the craft fair will be Oct. 26.
Info: www.ccc-northidaho.org