Stories - Innovia Foundation

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper keeps local waters swimmable, fishable and drinkable

Thousands of Bonner County residents and visitors visit Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille river to swim and fish. The lake and river also provide a source of clean water for drinking and irrigation. But the water does not stay clean on its own, especially due to water pollutants such as pesticides, wastewater and […]

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“Every person deserves healthy food every day.”

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One out of every eight people in the Inland Northwest struggles with hunger. For the region’s children, the number is one out of every five. Especially in rural areas – where hunger-relief services are scarcer – many low-income families simply do not have the food they need to live healthy and happy lives. Each day,

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Scholarship fund opens the path to college for underprivileged Mongolian students

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For a child growing up in a struggling Mongolian family, the idea of attending university can be a seemingly impossible dream. The majority of Mongolia’s universities are based in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, a distant step from the rural settings where many families make their home. With grants from the Matthew Girvin Scholarship Fund

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Nonprofit develops pig farm to combat sex trafficking in Uganda

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Sex trafficking is a tragic epidemic in Uganda. Eternal Hope is a locally based Christian non-profit organization committed to rescuing girls from this exploitation. “I was struck by a simple fact early in this undertaking: the girls who have been forced into prostitution have no one to turn to,” said Chris Cheeley, an Eternal Hope

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Medical research institute seeks cure for ALS

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Each year, over 5,600 people are newly diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which gradually deteriorates motor neurons in the brain and usually causes death within three to five years. As their muscles atrophy, ALS sufferers slowly lose the ability to move, eat, speak and – eventually – breathe. Medical professionals are as helpless to

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Nonprofit vitalizes rural communities with leadership training courses

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Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting rural communities in today’s challenging economy. One of RDI’s primary methods of vitalizing rural communities is its Rural Community Leadership Program, a highly interactive course that is designed for a varied set of community members. Innovia Foundation, Avista, and Empire Health Foundation are the

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Community funding partners invest in the education of Spokane’s youth

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Along with eight other funders, Innovia Foundation is investing in the education – and thus the future success – of Spokane youth. By supporting at-risk students and helping local non-profits interact with schools, the Community Partners for Middle School Success (CPMSS) fund aims to improve educational attainment for students at Shaw and Garry middle schools.

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Opening Books, Opening Doors helps kids meet grade level reading goals

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Reading proficiency by third grade is a key predictor of whether a student will graduate high school and achieve career success. Seventy-five percent of students who struggle with reading in third grade never catch up, and they are four times as likely to drop out of high school. Opening Books, Opening Doors is a community

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SCRAPS Hope Foundation gives a second chance to thousands of abused and abandoned pets

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Each year, Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) helps give a second chance to more than 10,000 abandoned, abused and homeless pets. Before they can be placed in new homes, most of the cats, dogs and other animals need vaccinations and essential medical care. With no in-house veterinary care, SCRAPS staff spend several hours

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Global Neighborhood provides job training for former refugees

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For the more than 500 former refugees who come to Spokane each year in search of a better life, the transition isn’t easy. Among many other challenges, language and cultural barriers make it nearly impossible to find employment. Global Neighborhood received a grant from Innovia Foundation to support its mission of helping former refugees earn

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