Community Stories - Innovia Foundation

College Success Foundation: Breaking Down Barriers to Education

For underserved and low-income Spokane high school students, attending college can feel unattainable. College Success Foundation (CSF) is breaking down those barriers and providing long-term support for students as they journey toward college degrees. CSF offers educational pathways for students from middle school through college completion. The COVID-19 pandemic created additional and seemingly insurmountable obstacles […]

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Lincoln County Economic Development Council: Buoying Small Businesses During the Pandemic

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Early on during the pandemic, the Lincoln County Economic Development Council noticed a gap in many small business grant programs under Washington’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. Businesses that had been in operation for less than 12 months were ineligible to apply for many of the federal and statewide small business grant opportunities. Innovia moved

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“If you love your community, you need to invest in your community.”

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Tri County Community Fund: Putting Local Dollars to Work “If you love your community, you need to invest in your community.” Inspired by this vision, an anonymous local donor established the Northeast Washington Community Fund to meet the greatest needs of Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties for generations to come. By expanding services that

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Sparking Kids’ Creativity

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During a summer when the pandemic significantly reduced vitally needed enrichment activities for children, a $1,000 grant from Innovia enabled the Blue Mountain Artisan Guild (BMAG) to offer a curbside pick-up art program for youth who live in the rural wheat farming communities of southeastern Washington. The program provided children ages 2 to 17 with

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Idaho Foodbank: Feeding North Idaho

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During a pandemic, much of the focus shifts to cities with denser populations, but smaller communities also suffer in ways that are unique from their larger counterparts. During a national food shortage, food access can be especially tenuous in remote locations. With a population of just 94, White Bird, Idaho is one of dozens of

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NAMI Far North: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

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The stress and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many in need of mental health support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Far North seeks to raise awareness about mental health needs and to support those in Bonner and Boundary counties who find their lives disrupted by mental health challenges. A $5,000 grant

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Community Action Center: Shelter in the Storm

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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

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Carl Maxey Center: Bridging Divides

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The Carl Maxey Center in Spokane bridges a vital gap in connecting Spokane’s African American community to critically needed resources. A $20,000 grant to The Carl Maxey Center in Spokane supported their efforts to create a safety net to keep our businesses from losing ground and to develop a bridge to get us through the

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Big Table Responds to Pandemic Needs

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Quality service is service with a smile. This foundational principle of the restaurant and hospitality industry has become increasingly difficult to uphold for the thousands of workers facing COVID-fueled job cuts and health worries. As a former chef in the restaurant industry and the current Spokane director for Big Table, Chris Dietz knows the pressure workers face all too well: “If that smile goes away, so does the money. It’s

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Programs at the Ray & Joan Kroc Center ensure families have a safe place to belong and grow during crisis

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The Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene adheres to the mission of founder Joan Kroc. She entrusted The Salvation Army with $90 million to build the first Kroc Center in San Diego in 2002, and there are now 26 centers across the country built on her eventual $1.5 billion investment. Joan envisioned that

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