Generosity has a ripple effect. For students growing up in the rolling hills and close-knit farming communities of Ralston and Rimrock, this has never been clearer. In 2002, Gerald Ray established the David L. and Francis G. Ray Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of his parents and benefit students from his hometown communities.
Over half of rural high school graduates in Washington State do not pursue any type of postsecondary education in the year following graduation, greatly reducing future career opportunities. In an effort to change the trajectory and create better outcomes for those graduates, Innovia launched a two-year initiative to strengthen school-community connections in five rural school districts: Dayton, St. John Endicott, Lind-Ritzville, Riverside and Inchelium.
Pamela Javier never hesitates to put the needs of others before herself. Whether she is caring for her infant daughter or volunteering at a local charity, her compassionate heart and determined spirit are hard at work. As a young mother and first-generation Asian American college student, Pamela dreams of becoming a registered nurse.
Growing up in the shadow of two famous uncles, Fred Hutchinson and Dr. William Hutchinson, William A. Crosetto, or Bill as his friends called him, never thought he could make a difference in anyone’s lives. When Bill passed through Othello during a field trip from Bellevue High School, he never imagined he would one day …
Vietnam Veteran gives back to Othello with trust to preserve outdoor community Read More »
As the first person in his extended family to earn a college degree, Mark Burkett knows firsthand the difference higher education can make in one’s life. Thanks to a scholarship, Mark was able to attend the University of Pacific, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. Now retired after a successful 26-year career in …
Couple creates scholarship fund for high-achieving students with financial need Read More »
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, …
“Every person deserves healthy food every day.” Read More »
William A. Crosetto – or Bill, as his friends called him – knew he wanted to improve the way we live in the Inland Northwest. Since he partnered with Innovia Foundation, his generosity is doing just that, creating a legacy for the quiet rancher from the farming community of Othello. Although Bill passed away earlier …
Retired cattle rancher establishes second career as philanthropist Read More »
In 2009, Roger and Teresa Woodworth established an endowed donor-advised seed fund at Innovia Foundation to benefit general charitable causes the family supports. Rather than funding these causes all at once, a seed fund allows donors to donate a small amount each year for a set period of time until the fund reaches the desired …
Philanthropic couple establishes seed fund at Innovia Foundation Read More »
Tucked between I-90 and expansive wheat fields 60 miles west of Spokane, the rural town of Ritzville, Washington, is a mere speck on most road maps. But the quaint farming community holds a big place in the hearts of Willard and Patricia Hennings. Both born and raised in the town of about 1,800 people, Patricia and …
When Christie Querna completed her work on the Spokane School Board and the College Spark Foundation Board, she did not retire her passion for education. During her tenure on the Innovia Foundation Board of Directors, Innovia Foundation began work on an initiative in Spokane Public Schools to improve graduation rates. In 2014, when Christie completed …
College Spark Foundation honors education advocate with fund for low-income families Read More »
