Greater Gig Harbor Foundation

THE GREATER GIG HARBOR FOUNDATION WORKS TO HELP STRENGTHEN WASHINGTON STATE'S SOUTH PUGET SOUND COMMUNITIES OF THE GREATER GIG HARBOR AND KEY PENINSULAS THROUGH PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND SERVICES, ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE CHARITABLE GIVING, AND BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE GREATER GIG HARBOR FOUNDATION SERVES A COMMUNITY OF 70,000+. IN 2021, WE LOGGED MORE THAN 6,860 PROGRAM HOURS. WE RAISED FUNDS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, DIVERSE COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND TO PROVIDE GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, ASSISTANCE, AND SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE EMERGED FROM NEARLY 18 MONTHS OF ALTERED OPERATIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PROGRAMS AS OUR CURIOUS BY NATURE EARLY LEARNING CENTER, GIG HARBOR SENIOR CENTER, AND GGHF ENVIROCORPS RETURNED TO IN-PERSON OPERATIONS IN 2021. SIMILARLY, EVENTS WHICH PROVIDE CRITICAL FUNDS ACROSS FIVE CORE AREAS, SUCH AS CIDER SWIG, SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM, STUDENTS OF DISTINCTION, GIG HARBOR BASKET BRIGADE, #COMMUNITY HARVEST, AND THE GREEN GIG, RETURNED. SUPPORTING SERVICES WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO PIERCE COUNTY AND LOCAL PARK DISTRICTS THROUGH THE GGHF ENVIROCORPS PROGRAM (NOW IN ITS 17TH YEAR), WHICH IS DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING AND FULFILLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ENGAGE IN EFFORTS TO HELP MAINTAIN PARKS, TRAILS, ROADS, AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS - KEEPING THEM SAFE, CLEAN AND LITTER FREE. ADOPT-A-ROAD AND TRAIL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO PENMET PARKS THROUGH MAINTENANCE OF AREA PARKS AND TRAILS, TO THE CITY OF GIG HARBOR THROUGH INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND OTHER SERVICES TO HELP MAINTAIN AREA PARKS, AND TO PIERCE COUNTY THROUGH LITTER COLLECTION AND REMOVAL ALONG AREA ROADWAYS. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO PIERCE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE REMOVAL OF 2-TONS OF WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND SITE RESTORATION OF A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, GGHF PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES, A SAFE PLACE FOR KEEPING FUNDS IN PERPETUITY TO MEET DIVERSE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ACTS AS FISCAL SPONSOR TO A NUMBER OF AREA GROUPS, PROJECTS, AND PROGRAMS, WHICH ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH GGHF'S MISSION. IN 2021, WE GAVE OVER 12,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, COLLECTED MORE THAN 175 BAGS OF LITTER, 78 BAGS OF RECYCLABLES, PROVIDED 112 HOURS OF LITTER PATROL, AND 126 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE TO PENMET PARK DISTRICT. THIS WORK HELPED MAINTAIN 22 ROAD SECTIONS WITHIN GIG HARBOR'S CITY LIMITS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF OUR GIG HARBOR AND KEY PENINSULAS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CLEARED FOUR SECTIONS OF PENMET PARKS' TRAILS OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND TRASH. THE FOUNDATION RAISED $120,500 FOR RENOVATIONS REQUIRED TO TURN THE FORMER HOMES AND GARAGES AT THE COMMUNITY CAMPUS SITE INTO CLASSROOMS, LEARNING LABS AND GARDENS, AND PROGRAM OFFICE. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FRIENDS OF HARBOR HILL ENVIRONMENTAL SANCTUARY PROJECT FOR 2021 TOTALED $55,618.40.

THE GREATER GIG HARBOR FOUNDATION'S LARGEST PROGRAM IS GGHF CURIOUS BY NATURE SCHOOL (CBNS) OUR COMMUNITY'S ONLY NATURE-BASED EARLY LEARNING CENTER WHICH HELPS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO SUPPORT A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS IN MATH, SCIENCE, LANGUAGE, AND THE ARTS. SINCE 2012, GGHF HAS SUPPORTED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR MORE THAN 3,000 CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 6 AND HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $45,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO AREA FAMILIES IN NEED TO HELP CLOSE THE ACCESS GAP TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. IN 2021, WE SERVED OVER 350 CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 10 THROUGH ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED CAMPS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; AWARDED $4,500 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO FAMILIES THROUGH THE STEWARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND, EXPANDED TO A 100% OUTDOOR IMMERSION PROGRAM TO MEET GROWTH AND DEMAND, SUPPORTED VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH FREE HANDS ON EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND GRANTED OVER $5,000 IN SUPPORT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS EARLY LEARNING PRIORITIES IN MATH, LITERACY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. CBNS WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO EARLY LEARNING CENTERS / PRE-SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA THAT REMAINED OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC BY PIVOTING PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS AND DEVELOPING ACTIVE LEARNING KITS TO ENSURE THERE WAS AS LITTLE DISRUPTION AS POSSIBLE TO OUR STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS. CBNS ALSO CONNECTED 300+ CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY, NATURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN 2021 THROUGH ITS JR. EXPLORERS PROGRAM. EXTERNAL SUPPORT FOR CBNS IN 2021 WAS RECEIVED THROUGH SEVERAL GRANTS. THE SCHOOL WAS ADDITIONALLY SUPPORTED BY MORE THAN 2,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS FROM PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, INTERNS, SCIENTISTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHERS.

GGHF'S SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM IS THE GIG HARBOR SENIOR CENTER (GHSC) THE ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED, SELF-FUNDED CENTER FOR ACTIVE SENIORS IN THE GREATER GIG HARBOR AREA. ORGANIZED IN MAY 2019, THE GHSC WAS FORCED TO CLOSE ITS PHYSICAL DOORS ON MARCH 13, 2020, DUE TO THE COVID-19 SHELTER IN PLACE MANDATE. TO ASSURE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S SENIORS, WE REIMAGINED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. OUR DYNAMIC TEAM ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS INCLUDING WEBSITE ENHANCEMENTS TO INCLUDE COVID-19 PROGRAMS & RESOURCES, AND TECHNOLOGY TUTORIALS; THE DELIVERY OF NEARLY 10,000 SIP'M (SHELTER IN PLACE MEALS) WITH A VALUE OF $61,077; DELIVERY OF 3,300 BAGS OF FRESH LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE WITH A VALUE OF $13,629 AND 250 BAGS OF DRY GOODS GROCERIES AND ESSENTIALS VALUED AT $8,750; FACILITATING NEARLY 300 AREA SENIORS 60+ TO COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS; CONDUCTING WEEKLY HOSPITALITY CALLS TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF AREA SENIORS; AND, THROUGH THE SILVER SHOPPER SERVICE DEVELOPED TO HELP KEEP AREA SENIORS SAFE BY PROVIDING GROCERY AND ESSENTIAL SHOPPING AND DELIVERY SERVICE, FREE OF CHARGE. THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WERE SUPPORTED IN PART THROUGH MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM FEES, PRIVATE GRANTS, SPONSORSHIPS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES, PRIVATE DONATIONS, PIERCE COUNTY, AND CARES ACT FUNDING, WITH THE BALANCE OF SUPPORT PROVIDED BY GGHF. THE CENTER REOPENED FOR REGULAR PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, MEALS AND MORE IN LATE JUNE 2021. FOR 2021, ABOUT 69% OF THE GHSC'S ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $84,000 IS SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS, TWO FUNDRAISING EVENTS (INDULGE... A SIP & SAVOR EXPERIENCE AND SHAMROCK'N THE HARBOR 5K/12K WALK/RUN) AND RELATED SPONSORSHIPS, WITH ANOTHER 20% OF THE BUDGET SUPPORTED THROUGH PROGRAM REVENUE PER CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF GIG HARBOR AND MEMBERSHIP FEES ($50 ANNUALLY PP), AND THE REMAINING 11% IS SUPPORTED THROUGH IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS OF TIME, SERVICES AND GOODS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TWO LARGEST PROGRAMS UNDER GGHF, WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EVENTS THAT MAKE UP A SIZABLE PORTION OF OUR INCOME, WHICH THAN IS TURNED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PROGRAM SUPPORT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. CIDER SWIG IS OUR LARGEST EVENT, BRINGING IN UPWARD OF $46,000 IN NET REVENUE ANNUALLY. PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT GO DIRECTLY INTO THE LU WINSOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT FUND, WHICH AWARDS GRANTS TO LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OR EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS. WHILE OUR LARGEST EVENT IN ANY NORMAL YEAR, 2021 STILL PROVED TO BE DIFFICULT FOR MOST IN-PERSON EVENTS AND WE CARRIED OUT THE EVENT IN A PICK-UP N' GO MANNER. REGARDLESS, OUR TEAM WORKED HARD TO MAKE THE EVENT A SUCCESS AND TURNED THE ONE ANNUAL EVENT INTO TWO SEASONAL EVENTS TO ENSURE WE WERE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE $25,000 IN GRANTS TO AREA ORGANIZATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION AND RELATED EFFORTS. IN 2021, THE TWO EVENTS RAISED ABOUT $11,000, IN TOTAL, BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. OTHER MAJOR EVENTS INCLUDE THE GIG HARBOR THANKSGIVING BASKET BRIGADE, SHAMROCK'N THE HARBOR AND INDULGE: A SIP & SAVOR EXPERIENCE. THE LATTER MENTIONED BENEFIT THE GIG HARBOR SENIOR CENTER AND MAKES UP ABOUT 25% OF THE SENIOR CENTER'S BUDGET FOR PROGRAMS, STAFF, AND MEMBERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS. THE GIG HARBOR BASKET BRIGADE, WITH A TYPICAL ANNUAL BUDGET OF ABOUT $55,000, SERVES UP TO 1,500 AREA FAMILIES IN NEED, AND MILITARY FAMILIES AT THE NAVAL BASE IN BREMERTON AND U.S. AIR FORCE JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES RECIPIENTS A BASKET THAT INCLUDES ALL THE NECESSARY ITEMS TO HAVE A FULL, NOURISHING, THANKSGIVING MEAL, INCLUDING A TURKEY, AS WELL AS OTHER FOOD ITEMS, HATS AND MITTENS, AND ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR INFANTS. DUE TO THE LINGERING COVID-19 ISSUES, IN 2021, WE AGAIN PIVOTED AS WE WERE UNABLE TO GATHER SOME 450 VOLUNTEERS (IN A SINGLE LOCATION) THAT IT TAKES TO PUT TOGETHER THE BASKETS AND PREPARE THEM FOR VOLUNTEER DELIVERY TEAM. THOUGH, WE WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE FAMILIES A BIT OF RELIEF IN A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT YEAR. FUNDS RAISED FOR THE BASKET BRIGADE WERE USED TO PURCHASE FOOD-RESTRICTED GIFT CARDS FOR SEVERAL AREA GROCERY STORES AND VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED THEM TO RECIPIENT FAMILIES; FOR THOSE THAT COULD NOT GET OUT TO SHOP WE HAD VOLUNTEER SHOPPERS WHO DID THE SHOPPING, THEN DELIVERED THANKSGIVING BASKETS TO RECIPIENTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE ANOTHER LARGE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET EXPENDITURE. THROUGH THE STUDENTS OF DISTINCTION PROGRAM/EVENT, THE GREEN GIG: LOCALLY GROWN, JOEL WINGARD CROSS COUNTRY SCHOLARSHIP FUND, AND HERON'S KEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND APPROXIMATELY $35,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY. THE GREEN GIG IS THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER FOR THE CURIOUS BY NATURE SCHOOL, AND THE FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THE EVENT GO TOWARD CLOSING THE EARLY EDUCATION ACCESS GAP, GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS TO FAMILIES WHO MAY HAVE NOT OTHERWISE BEEN ABLE TO SEND THEIR CHILD(REN) TO EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE THREE OTHER SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GOING ONTO PURSUE THEIR SECONDARY EDUCATION GOALS.