Spokane, WA, January 16, 2024 – Innovia Foundation proudly announces “Celebrating Community,” a year-long, region-wide celebration of the volunteers, citizens and organizations that have faithfully served the needs of communities for 50 years in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. 

Throughout this milestone celebration year, Innovia will gift the region with free, inclusive, family-friendly activities and experiences to commemorate the Foundation’s past, present and future of bringing people together to transform lives and communities. The slate of events includes family movie days, local festivals, community events and much more. Events will take place in every county of the Foundation’s 20-county region, with event details released at the beginning of each month throughout 2024. 

“This is a momentous year for Innovia Foundation as we celebrate 50 years of partnership with the people and communities of Eastern Washington and North Idaho,” says Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “Since 1974, community has been the driving force behind everything we do. We look forward to gathering together to celebrate the people and places that make our region special.” 

Rick Rasmussen, CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls, Idaho and Innovia Foundation Board President noted, “For five decades, Innovia has been connecting passionate community members to causes they care about. Thanks to continued contributions from generous donors, we have invested over $124 million into the community via grants, scholarships and transformative community initiatives. Celebrating the people and vibrant places we call ‘home’ is the best way we can commemorate our mission of igniting generosity that transforms lives and communities.” 

Innovia is proud to announce a media partnership for the year-long celebration with NonStop Local News, an organization with a long history of dedication to our entire region, especially our rural communities. NonStop Local Station Manager, Jason Ramsey, shared, “NonStop Local KHQ is excited to engage in a strategic partnership with Innovia, underscoring our collective commitment to enhancing the vibrancy of the local community.” 

January Kick-Off Celebration in Spokane 

The 50th Anniversary celebration will kick off on January 27, 2024, in downtown Spokane as Innovia celebrates half of a century of impact. The celebration will encompass three venues in and around Riverfront Park, including Numerica Skate Ribbon, the Looff Carrousel and Mobius Discovery Center. Entry to each venue will be free and open to all throughout the day.  

The skate ribbon will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the Carrousel will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mobius hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We are so excited to hold the kick-off event in Riverfront Park in recognition that Expo ’74 is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024! In Kootenai County, the celebration will take place at Coeur d’Alene On Ice located in McEuen Park. Families and individuals will enjoy free skate admission and skate rentals from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Additional details for each event can be found on the venue websites and at innovia.org/fifty. 

A highlight of the celebration in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene will be the culmination of the NonStop Local Giving food drive benefiting Northwest Harvest. Community members are invited to bring non-perishable food items to donate at collection bins conveniently located at each location.  

50th Anniversary Calendar of Events 

In addition to the Innovia-sponsored community events, the Foundation has launched an online calendar where individuals and organizations can submit information about celebrations and activities in their community. The calendar is open to any events within the Foundation’s region that are free or low-cost, family-friendly and have a broad community appeal. Calendar entries can be submitted at innovia.org/fifty.  

Our Roots – Expo ’74 

The Foundation was formed in 1974 as Spokane was preparing to host the World’s Fair. A group of concerned citizens, inspired by the change that was mobilized by the World’s Fair, united around the need for a foundation that could focus on continued community revitalization and generosity. That year, the Junior League of Spokane founded the Greater Spokane Community Foundation, a new entity that replaced the original Spokane Foundation, which had been established in 1915 with a single trust.  

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Foundation’s understanding of “community” grew, and began to reach beyond the Spokane area. Recognizing that people with common interests and concerns know best how to meet local needs, the Foundation’s service region expanded to include 10 counties in Eastern Washington, 10 counties in North Idaho and 6 tribal communities. 

In 2018, the Foundation rebranded from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation to Innovia Foundation to bring greater awareness and engagement around important issues in our region and the innovative impact that the Foundation creates by building connections with donors, communities, volunteers and partners across the region. 

“In the last 50 years, the generosity of our communities has been unwavering, changing countless lives and communities for the better,” says O’Quinn. “We are proud to have partnered with so many caring individuals and organizations throughout the decades who make this kind of transformational impact possible. We look forward to embarking on the next 50 years together.” 

More information about Innovia Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, 2024 celebrations and history can be found at innovia.org/fifty.