First Fed Foundation, formerly First Federal Community Foundation, announced on Nov. 29 that it has awarded 22 organizations a total of $400,000 in funding in its fall grant cycle — including several entities in Clallam County.
The contributions bring the foundation’s giving in 2022 to $800,000 and grantmaking since 2015 to $6,101,500, noted Jan Simon, the foundation’s executive director.
“The nonprofits receiving grants are bringing housing, help, and hope to community members in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom Counties, and the city of Bellevue,” said Norm Tonina, President of First Fed Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“In this grant cycle, we focused our giving on several of the greatest needs in our communities, including averting homelessness, increasing the availability of and access to affordable housing, addressing food insecurity and the lack of childcare, and supporting opportunities to stimulate economic development,” Tonina said.
Recipients of First Fed Foundation’s Fall 2022 grant awards include:
Assistance League of Bellingham — $5,000 Community Support grant to provide low-income and homeless students from seven Whatcom County school districts and The Lummi Nation with new shoes and clothing.
Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 4 — $25,000 Community Development grant to purchase a gurney with a battery-operated lift capability, decreasing the risk of injury to volunteers and patients.
Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers — $25,000 Homelessness & Affordable Housing grant to provide legal advice and representation to low-income Clallam and Jefferson County renters who are at risk of losing their housing.
Eastside Legal Assistance Program — $25,000 Homelessness & Affordable Housing grant to provide legal advice and representation to Bellevue, Was., renters who are at risk of losing their housing.
Feiro Marine Life Center — $5,000 Community Support grant to support a hands-on education program for approximately 400 fourth-grade students from Sequim, Port Angeles and Crescent school districts.
Field Arts & Event Hall — $50,000 Economic Development grant to underwrite the costs to achieve LEED Certification, resulting in lower operating and maintenance costs; reducing energy and water usage, emissions and waste; and lowering Clallam County’s exposure to toxins.
Financial Beginnings Washington — $5,000 Community Support grant to support free financial literacy programs for 1,000 youth and young adults in Clallam, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.
Foster Hearts — $5,000 Community Support grant to underwrite costs for sports equipment, classes, lessons, school field trips, GED and graduation expenses, and more for Whatcom County foster children.
Kitsap Regional Library Foundation — $5,000 Community Support grant to fund backpacks, books and transportation so that more than 2,500 third-graders from 38 Kitsap County schools can connect with and visit their local library branch.
Kitsap Sexual Assault Center — $5,000 Community Support grant to provide emergency assistance for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes in Jefferson and Kitsap Counties.
Kulshan Community Land Trust — $30,000 Homelessness & Affordable Housing grant to provide the support needed for 15 low- to moderate-income households in Whatcom County to purchase their own permanently affordable home.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest — $10,000 Community Support grant to provide basic needs assistance for 10-15 families, or 30-50 individuals in Clallam County who are low-income and homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Mercy Housing Northwest — $100,000 Homelessness & Affordable Housing grant to fund construction of Millworks Family Housing & Early Learning Center, 83 units of permanently affordable family housing, and a six-classroom early learning center on Bellingham’s downtown waterfront.
New Day Ministry — $5,000 Community Support grant to provide individualized food and meals at no cost to elderly Kitsap County community members experiencing food insecurity.
Trinity United Methodist Church — $15,000 Community Support grant to replace the roof in the areas used by two preschool programs, making it safe, warm and dry, and helping address the critical lack of quality childcare in Jefferson County.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning — $7,500 Community Support grant to offer children with disabilities and developmental delays opportunities for socialization, developmental support, and peer learning, while providing their caregivers with information and support.
Whatcom Family YMCA — $7,500 Community Support grant to support the free delivery of quality food to more than 60 households weekly, mitigating the food insecurity crisis.
New Image — $5,000 Community Support grant to purchase new and gently used plus-sized clothing and undergarments for donation to low-income and homeless women in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
About First Fed, foundation
The First Fed Foundation is a private charitable corporation that began making grants in 2015 thanks to a gift valued at nearly $12 million from the parent company of First Fed, when the bank was converted to a publicly traded company.
First Fed is a local community bank in Washington serving customers and communities since 1923, with 16 locations in Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.
