Spokane, WA, July 23, 2024 – Every summer, children gather at the iconic Coeur d’Alene Carousel for a day of free rides and fun. Hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation, the annual celebration is held in honor of National Carousel Day to bring the community together and recognize the carousel as an iconic symbol of Kootenai County history. On July 25, Innovia Foundation is proud to sponsor this year’s gathering, in honor of its 50^th anniversary theme of “Celebrating Community.”

The free carousel day will take place from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. In addition to free rides, families are invited to enjoy a variety of other free attractions, including a prize wheel, balloon animals, face painting and old-time popcorn.

“Ensuring the legacy and ongoing maintenance and preservation of our community carousel is very important to us,” says Rita Snyder, President of the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation. “With Innovia’s wealth of experience supporting the communities it serves through endowments, grants and partnerships, we feel we have found the help we were searching for.”

Originally part of Coeur d’Alene’s Playland Pier amusement park, the brightly colored carousel has delighted the community since 1942. After a catastrophic fire in 1975, the park closed, and the carousel disappeared. Under the care of the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation, the carousel was located and refurbished for a grand reopening in 2017.

“The reclamation and reopening of the beloved Coeur d’Alene Carousel is a testament to the unity and strength of the community,” says Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “Innovia is proud to partner with the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation this year to bring the community together once again for a fun-filled day of free rides and celebration.”

Innovia’s investment in Coeur d’ Alene’s Free Carousel Day is a 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 50th 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.

About Innovia Foundation

As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact. Our mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. We envision vibrant and sustainable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. Each year, Innovia Foundation invests $10 million into our communities through grants and scholarships.

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