Greater Polson Community Foundation

Our vision: to create a permanent endowment fund to support community needs.

Our mission: The leaders of the Greater Polson Community Foundation will: Gather permanent funds; offer donors various gifting options; award grants; develop partnerships through collaboration with others; promote philanthropy; inspire community pride and unity.

The Greater Polson Community Foundation was born from the desire to give something back to our community and from the example and accomplishments of other Montana community foundations. Our initial meeting, Dec. 15, 2007, was followed by an ambitious plan for the New Year to become completely organized before we introduced the foundation to the community. With guidance from the Montana Community Foundation (MCF), we evolved from a group of interested volunteers into a strong board of directors with a clear vision/mission.

 

Donations from our board members allowed us to qualify for the total of $7500 in challenge grants from MCF. When our endowment reached $25,000, funds from the Lake County Community Foundation held by MCF, but dormant for many years, were transferred to our endowment.

 

A presentation to the Polson Rotary Club, newspaper articles, a brunch attended by community leaders, and the establishment of a “Founders Circle” for initial donors resulted in donations totaling nearly $51,000 by the end of 2008.

 

We have completed our grant application form which is now posted on our website.  Our first grants were awarded in August 2009, and will be awarded once a year thereafter. 

Greater Polson Community Foundation  Founders' Circle - 2008
George and Joleen Barce
William D.Barron
James M. and Patricia S. Binger
Joe and Gerry Browning
Joyce Cadieux
Jules J. and Ann E. Clavadetscher
Catherine Cooney
John S. and Elaine C. Cowan
Jack and Lieanne Cross Family
Duford Family Trust
Bob and Sharon Fulton
John and Nancy Glueckert
Jens and Jacqueline Gran
Hib and Mildred Hanson
Arn and Lois Hart
Charles M. and Henrietta M. Jarecki
Gregory T. and Susan R. McCormick
Lou and Irene Marchello
Jon and Liz Marchi
Bob Marsenich and Karen McMullen
John and Tina Mercer
Mauri and Barbara Morin
Carmine Mowbray
William E. and Margaret A. Olson
Matthew H. and Evonne S. O’Neill
Mickey Rosa and the Estate of Richard Rosa
Carl and Peggy Seifert
Dr. Gayle and Helen Siemers
Rick and Kathy Skates
Jim and Barb Sohm
John R. and Patricia M. Stene
Stene Aviation
Michael A. and Janna J. Taylor
Marcus A. and Becky S.Vergeront
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Montana Community Foundation
Polson Rotary Club
Soroptimist International of Polson
First Citizens Bank
First Interstate Bank
Glacier Bank

 

Penny Jarecki, President; Nancy Glueckert, Vice President; Elaine Cowan, Secretary; Arn Hart, Treasurer; George Barce; Liz Marchi; John Mercer; Bill Olson; Dave Rensvold 

At the conclusion of our first year, we are able to award our first grants in 2009. 

Because of our donors:

§        Girls ages 11 to 14 will learn leadership skills at a summer camp that lead to productive, meaningful, violence-free lives. (Domestic Violence Education Services: DOVES).

§         Residents in the greater Polson area will receive clearer details on numerous benefits gained by establishing a North County Public Library District. (Polson City Library grant.)

§         Parents will learn how to capture teachable moments that enhance their child’s language, social development, and motor skills. (Coalition for Kids.)

§         An educational series will be held next summer at Polson Flathead Historical Museum in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of homesteading on the Reservation.

§        A Saturday night hang-out for youth looking for good clean fun with like-minded peers will receive matching funds for a projector to provide more activities at the Zone Café.

§         Mission Valley Aquatics will be assisted in printing the “Case for Support” folders, a marketing tool to  complement their capital campaign.

§         Cancer patients and families will have a more spacious, private and accessible area used for weekly oncology visits. (St. Joseph Medical Center.)

§         The John Dowdall Theatre will soon be enhanced with more spacious and beautiful landscaping for intermission enjoyment. (Mission Valley Friends of the Arts.)

§         A community art studio will be available through a remodel of Sandpiper Gallery.

 

Your contributions, bequests and memorials will make a difference for future generations. Help us build a permanent savings account, the earnings of which will benefit our community forever. Send your gift to Greater Polson Community Foundation, P. O. Box 314, Polson, MT 59860 or contact us.

You can also make you donation online by clicking here.

Grants will be awarded once a year to 501 (c) 3 non-profit organizations in the Polson area.

 

Download a grant application

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GPCF NAMED AS RECIPIENT OF $10,000.00 GRANT

Astonishment, gratitude, joy were only some of the emotions felt by the GPCF board of directors when they heard the recent news that the GPCF had been named as a recipient of a $10,000 operating grant from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. President Penny Jarecki said, “First of all, this gift symbolizes the very generous heart of the donor. It also tells me the donor believes in the positive effect a foundation can have on a community, and it is a terrific vote of confidence for the GPCF specifically.”

FIRST GRANTS AWARDED
In this, the first granting cycle, the Greater Polson Community Foundation received grant applications from 14 local non-profit organizations. GPCF was pleased to allocate $11,000 among the following nine qualifying organizations whose special projects share the goal of “Making Polson the Gem of Flathead Lake.”

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

DOVES—Domestic Violence Education Services received a grant to provide funding for their 2010 Summer Outdoor Adventure camp for girls ages 11-14. Adventure Camp emphasizes learning leadership skills that build confidence, and leads to productive, meaningful, violence free lives.

FAMILY MATTERS/LAKE COUNTYCOALITION FOR KIDS-A grant awarded to them provides funding assistance for the “Parents as Teachers Program.” Family educators help parents learn what to expect at each stage of a child’s development, how to capture teachable moments and how to encourage language, social development, and motor skills.

 YOUTH WITH A MISSION will receive matching funds if they raise half the cost of equipment they want to purchase for the Zone Café, the one downtown location for young people to meet on Saturday nights.
 

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

MISSION VALLEY AQUATICS—This grant provides funding assistance for printing the “Case for Support Folders,” a marketing tool to complement their capital campaign.

ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER received fund to help remodel third floor space used for the weekly oncology clinic. This will make the space more accessible and comfortable for cancer patients and their families who come there for examinations and chemotherapy.

THE ARTS:

SANDPIPER GALLERY was granted funding for the renovation of an adjacent room to expand the gallery and provide space for art-oriented workshops for children and adults.

MISSION VALLEY FRIENDS OF THE ARTS was granted funding to help with the renovation of landscaping around the John Dowdall Theater.

CULTURE:

POLSON FLATHEAD HISTORICAL MUSEUM received funding to cover the cost of organizing an educational series in summer, 2010 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the opening of the Flathead Reservation to homesteading. The commemoration will include storytelling, educational programs, special events, exhibits, and tours.

 POLSON CITY LIBRARY was granted funding for its communications plan to inform and educate the greater Polson area about the benefits of establishing a North Lake County Public Library District.