Spokane, WA, March 25, 2024 – In April, our region springs to life with community gatherings and celebrations that bring people together around causes that matter. Throughout the month, Innovia Foundation will invest in free, family-friendly events that educate and build awareness around causes important to local communities, including sparking imagination through science education, inspiring creativity in the arts and building hopeful futures for youth.

“As the community foundation serving Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we depend on the voices of our communities to guide our impact,” says Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “This month, we celebrate the importance of that partnership by investing in events that provide the opportunity for children, families and neighbors to discover more about their community and the world around them.”

The series of events will kick off on April 6 with free admission to the Palouse Discovery Science Center in Pullman where children of all ages are invited to learn more about their world through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). Attendees will be treated to a special Solar Science Saturday with activities centered on the upcoming solar eclipse. Included will be glow-themed activities with Northwest Public Broadcasting, read-alouds with Ms. Rachael from the Neill Public Library, planetarium shows in the pop-up dome and face painting.

From April 19 to 21, Innovia will sponsor free entertainment at the Lewis-Clark State College’s Art Under the Elms Festival, a three-day annual celebration of creativity, community and culture in Lewiston, part of the month-long Dogwood Festival. Free and open to all, the live entertainment promises to delight audiences as they learn more about local arts, culture and heritage. The engaging lineup includes cultural performances from the Oinkari Basque Dancers of Boise and Nez Perce Tourism, Folklóriko dance and numerous musical performances.

“Lewis-Clark State College is delighted to partner with Innovia Foundation in fostering creativity and cultural enrichment for our community at the Art Under the Elms Festival. Through our partnership with Innovia, we are excited to welcome musical acts and cultural performances to the festival that honor the vibrancy and diversity of our region,” says Jennie Jones Hall, Executive Director of the Lewis-Clark State College Foundation.

In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Innovia will partner with Our Kids: Our Business (OKOB), a local coalition that advocates for children, to provide a free family movie day at the recently re-opened historic Garland Theater in Spokane. Free showings will be held on April 21, featuring Despicable Me and Paw Patrol. Families are invited to take a pinwheel home to display, joining with businesses and families around Spokane to symbolize the vital importance of child safety and wellbeing.

“The pinwheel represents the happy, healthy childhood every child in our community deserves,” shares Dena Chappell, a member of OKOB. “By focusing our energy on prevention, communities and individuals, we can protect children and strengthen families by providing opportunities for children to thrive and reach their full potential.”

Solar Science Saturday at Palouse Discovery Science Center

Pullman, WA

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Free admission, face painting, read-alouds, planetarium shows and glow-themed activities.

Art Under the Elms at Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID

Friday, April 19, Noon – 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Free, live entertainment sponsored by Innovia Foundation, including cultural performances from the Oinkari Basque Dancers of Boise and Nez Perce Tourism, Folklóriko dance and numerous musical performances.

The Garland Theater

Spokane, WA

Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024

Free showings of Despicable Me will be held at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. A free showing of Paw Patrol is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. A free pinwheel will be available for all attendees.

This investment is part of a series of events and activities Innovia is gifting to communities across Eastern Washington and North Idaho in celebration of the Foundation’s 50^th Anniversary in 2024. More information about these events can be found at innovia.org/fifty.

Celebrating Community in 2024 

Together with media partner NonStop Local KHQ, Innovia is 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. Each month, 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. Event details will be released at the beginning of each month throughout 2024. 

50th Anniversary Calendar of Events 

In addition to 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.  

Photo Drawing 

Community members who attend Innovia-sponsored community events this year are invited to submit their photos from the event for a chance to win a photo drawing. Winners will be selected in March, June, September and December to receive a $250 grant to a nonprofit of their choice. Entries can be submitted by posting photos on Instagram with the hashtag #innoviacelebratescommunity or by submitting through an online form. Full drawing details and rules, including the online submission form, can be found at innovia.org/fifty. 

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

Innovia Foundation is proud to partner with NonStop Local KHQ for community coverage of these family free events.