Whitman County - Innovia Foundation

Nonprofit vitalizes rural communities in the Palouse with leadership training courses

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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“Pullman has been a very good, supportive community. I want to help it stay that way.”

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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

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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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Family Promise of the Palouse supports homeless families’ long-term success

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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

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Philanthropic couple establishes seed fund at Innovia Foundation

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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

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Colfax farmer’s fund fulfills late wife’s philanthropic dreams

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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

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College Spark Foundation honors education advocate with fund for low-income families

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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

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Pullman family supports outdoor camp programs for children

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Commercial developer Duane Brelsford has many fond memories of his grade school years at Sunnyside Elementary in Pullman. The outdoor camp experience he shared with fifth-grade classmates at Camp Wooten near Pomeroy in 1968 was especially memorable, inspiring the fund he and his wife Terri established at Innovia Foundation. “The fifth-grade outdoor camp experience has

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Dowling Bros. Scholarship Fund will benefit rural students for years to come

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Raised on a farm in the Palouse countryside, Dennis Dowling knew his life calling early on. “Growing up on a farm is a way of life. I’ve never wanted to do anything else,” he said. “Our parents taught us to work hard and be honest. These values helped all seven children succeed.” Graduating from Rosalia

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