More than $283,500 in funding presented at event

Abbey Cameron, chief executive officer of the foundation, speaks during the 3 Rivers Community Foundation's Celebration of Philanthropy event. Sixty-eight Tri-Cities nonprofits received grants during the Nov. 30 event.

Kristina Lord

‘Tis the season for giving and the Tri-Cities community stepped up to help fund 68 nonprofits by donating more than $283,500.

The 3 Rivers Community Foundation distributed the grants Nov. 30 during its Celebration of Philanthropy event at the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick.

“The grants we give tonight represent a web of donor support, community connections and grantmaking experience, all connected to help our neighbors and better our community for all,” said Abbey Cameron, chief executive officer of the foundation.

She made it clear that the community’s generosity is the key to its philanthropy. To drive home the point, each table setting at the dinner event featured an old-fashioned key with a tag echoing this message.

The 3 Rivers group oversees a collection of separate endowed funds established by individuals, families and charitable organizations that are pooled and invested. Income from the investments is used to distribute back into the community.

The Nov. 30 event included a buffet and program honoring the grant recipients.

| Courtesy 3 Rivers Community Foundation

Kat Lawrence, chairwoman of the foundation’s board, said she and fellow board members take their job seriously when selecting worthy nonprofits because their goal is to be good stewards of the community’s donations. She said the board dove into reviewing and considering the wide diversity of requests it received, a process that also included interviews with representatives from the nonprofits.

She noted that the grants presented during the event represented less than half of the funds requested by applicants this year. “I invite you to join us in unlocking philanthropy in Benton and Franklin counties,” she said, encouraging the audience to consider additional donations to the foundation.

This year’s grant recipients were called to the stage — grouped by the type of service they provide — to receive their checks and a round of applause before posing for a photo.

The nonprofits receiving grants were:

Education support — $13,500

• American Indian Science and Engineering Society

• B5

• Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council

• The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia

• United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties

• Washington DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)

Food security — $25,000

• Bethel Church

• Martha's Cupboard

• Master Gardener Foundation of Benton-Franklin County

• Restoration Community Impact

• Second Harvest Inland Northwest

Safety and support — $72,500

• All Saints’ Episcopal Church

• Benton Franklin Legal Aid Society

• Catholic Charities Tri-Cities

• Columbia Basin Veterans Center

• Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties

• Fosterful

• Grace Kitchen

• Kennewick Police Department Foundation

• Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program (KC HELP)

• Leadership Tri-Cities

• Mo’s Place

• Richland Firefighters Community Outreach

• West Richland Community Care Foundation

• Wishing Star Foundation

Animal benevolence — $8,064

• Benton Franklin Humane Society

• Forgotten Dogs Rescue

Health care — $12,710

• Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Jubilee Ministries of Prosser

• Kadlec Foundation

Senior programs — $13,000

• Adult Day Services of the Tri-Cities

• Meals on Wheels, Senior Life Resources Northwest, Inc.

Youth programs — $45,500

• Bikes for Tikes

• Boys & Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties

• Tri-Cities Chaplaincy

• CJ MITCHELL Sports Officials Academy

• Forge Youth Mentoring

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington Northern Idaho

• Heartlinks Hospice & Palliative Care

• League of Education Voters Foundation

• Skyline Adventures

• The Big Bro Joe Foundation

• YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities

Housing for all — $18,000

• Community Action Connections

• Elijah Family Homes

• Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity

Mental health — $27,000

• Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition

• FREE2LUV

• Lutheran Community Services Northwest

• NAMI Tri-Cities

• Safe Harbor Support Center

Art and history — $25,771

• Academy of Children's Theatre

• Camerata Musica

• East Benton County Historical Society & Museum

• Mid-Columbia Ballet

• Mid-Columbia Children's Museum

• Mid-Columbia Mastersingers

• Mid-Columbia Symphony

• The Rude Mechanicals

• The Princess Theatre

Developmental disability support — $22,500

• Children's Developmental Center

• Columbia Industries

• Special Olympics Washington

• Spectrum Studios

• The Arc of Tri-Cities

• The IDEA Project

• Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities (TROT)

• Three Rivers Carousel Foundation

Cameron also announced the launch of the 2023 Holiday Giving Catalog featuring 59 organizations. The online crowdsourcing platform supports direct giving to qualified nonprofits in the Tri-Cities area. The catalog allows donations in any amount. The catalog is available through Jan. 31, 2024.