Innovia Foundation awards $446K to North Idaho nonprofits
The Innovia Foundation has awarded $446,000 in grants to 48 nonprofit organizations serving North Idaho.
The grants are part of the foundation’s annual Community Grants Program, which supports education and youth development, health and well-being, arts and culture, economic opportunity and improved quality of life. This year, the program distributed a total of $1,089,400 in grants to 112 organizations across 20 counties in eastern Washington and North Idaho.
The Community Grants build upon more than $100,000 already distributed this year in recognition of the foundation’s 50th anniversary theme of “Celebrating Community.” Those grants are providing free and low-cost, family-friendly events that showcase cultural diversity, parades, local musicians, art fairs, museums, carousels, historic movie theaters, outdoor recreation opportunities and more.
“As Innovia marks 50 years of community impact, we recognize the importance of programs and activities that celebrate the people and places that make our region special," Innovia CEO Shelly O’Quinn said in a Thursday news release. "In this year’s Community Grants round, our local review committees aimed to prioritize proposals that align with our 50th anniversary theme of bringing people together, while funding projects across all our impact areas."
Nonprofit organizations form the bedrock of local communities, bringing people together to support causes that matter, O’Quinn said.
“Through Community Grants, we are honored to invest in the important work of dozens of North Idaho nonprofits, benefiting local needs from food and housing security to music education and literacy programs," she said.
A $15,000 grant to Children’s Village, Inc. will help develop a 5,000 square-foot Family Support Center that will provide tailored assistance to struggling families. The funding will sustain the organization's efforts to help youth regain stability and create a sanctuary in times of crisis. The Multi-Agency Resource Family Support Center promises to connect at-risk youth and families with the resources and support they need to succeed.
A $10,000 grant to the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation will fund construction to expand the teen area of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The new space will allow larger groups of teenagers to participate in the library’s activities and supply furniture, art supplies and iPads. The expansion encourages teens to develop their interests while growing their community.
The Innovia Foundation awarded grants to the following organizations in Kootenai County:
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Kootenai County, $15,000 | Summer learning programs for Kootenai County youth
• Children's Village, $15,000 | Children's Village Family Support Center
• Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation, $15,000 | Enhancing the teen area
• Coeur d'Alene Backpack Program, $7,500 | Help feed kids in need
• Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra, $15,000 | Music to support physical/mental/behavioral/emotional health
• Family Promise of North Idaho, $5,000 | Family Promise change agent
• Growing the STEM, $10,000 | STEM after-school programs
• Kootenai Health Foundation, $12,000 | Heart to Heart screening and educational series
• North Idaho Pride Alliance, $15,000 | Outreach and Volunteer Support
• Safe Start: Infant and Child Health and Safety, $10,000 | Rural Education Outreach program
• The Literacy Project of North Idaho, $10,000 | Language Learning Expansion Project
• TESH Inc., $7,500 | Camp Tesh — Summer program for youth with disabilities