Spokane, WA, October 28, 2024 – The Columbia County Children’s Fund at Innovia is awarding grants totaling $6,000 to organizations serving youth in Columbia County. The grantees selected were Touchet Valley Arts Council, Tri-State Steelheaders and LaunchNW.

“Ensuring that children have access to exceptional education and extracurricular activities is essential to creating vibrant and sustainable communities,” says Nolan Glueckert, Regional Engagement Manager of the Southern Region at Innovia Foundation. “Innovia is partnering with the Columbia County Children’s Fund grant program to provide educational experiences and opportunities to children in Columbia County.”

The Touchet Valley Arts Council was awarded a $1,000 grant to support its Summer Cultural Enrichment Program (SCEP). The SCEP includes a summer film series for families, free theater education and the opportunity to participate in a full theater production, in partnership with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Community members are able to attend the performance at a reduced cost.

The Tri-State Steelheaders received $4,000 in funding for their Salmon in School 24-25 initiative. The program educates students and the community on the importance of salmon to our regional economy and culture. Salmon in School provides classrooms with salmon eggs, allowing students to observe the early stages of the life cycle before releasing them into local streams in the spring.

LaunchNW received a $1,000 grant to support high school students in Columbia County through the Columbia County LaunchNW Scholarship Fund. The Fund will benefit students attending Dayton High School, helping them to reach their post-high school educational goals meet their full potential.

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.