In a city where university students are critical to the economy and rental properties constitute 65% of total housing, the pandemic quickly created an affordable housing crisis for many Pullman residents. Thanks to a $10,000 COVID-19 Response and Recovery grant from Innovia, the Community Action Center was able to support a Housing Solutions Program that […]
Community Action Center: Shelter in the Storm Read More »
Margery Muir had an immense impact on Pullman, where she lived for most of her life. While raising a family of her own with her husband Earl, she also dedicated her time to other children and families in the area. Between substitute school teaching, serving as Guardian Ad Litem for the juvenile court, and volunteering
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 »
Backyard Harvest’s four-county service region – Asotin, Whitman, Latah and Nez Perce – contains over 25,000 food-insecure people, including 10,000 people who rely on food access programs. And yet, the food donated to these programs is not always healthy; the obesity rate in the counties is over 28%. Fortunately, the region also contains farmers and
Backyard Harvest delivers fresh produce to food-insecure community members Read More »
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
Nonprofit vitalizes rural communities in the Palouse with leadership training courses Read More »
Barbara and Robert Johnson arrived in Pullman in 1957 to launch Robert’s 35 years as an English professor at Washington State University (WSU). It was the start of a distinguished career and a lifelong affection for the small college town. After Robert passed away in 2013, Barbara, who also worked for WSU, wanted to create
“Pullman has been a very good, supportive community. I want to help it stay that way.” 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 »
Since 2013, 53 homeless families with children in Latah County, Idaho, and Whitman County, Wash., have turned to Family Promise of the Palouse for help getting back on their feet. Family Promise of the Palouse was awarded a Community Strategies grant at Innovia Foundation to aid its mission of serving families in need. The grant will fund a portion of the
Family Promise of the Palouse supports homeless families’ long-term success 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 »
Milt Klettke started farming after completing 11th grade at Ritzville High School. In 1945, at age 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in the European Theatre of World War II. Milt met his future wife, Beth Scheeler, on a blind date in 1947 while she was a student at Pacific Lutheran
Colfax farmer’s fund fulfills late wife’s philanthropic dreams Read More »
