Ann Henry, Barry Stromberger, Becki Studden, Beth Stipe, and Denny O’Callahan stand under a trailhead shelter provided by the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association.

The Community Foundation of NCW has awarded $41,440 in grants to 16 nonprofit organizations from the Methow Valley. In 2006, the Methow Valley Fund was established at the Community Foundation to create sustainable funding for a healthy, vibrant Methow Valley. Funded by donors throughout the valley, the Methow Valley Fund provides grants up to $5,000 to 501c3 organizations that address local community needs and enhancements.

Here is the list of this year’s award recipients by area of interest:

Art, Culture, and Humanities

• Confluence Gallery and Art Center – $2,000 for roof remodel
• Merc Playhouse – $1,770 for administrative support for expanded programming
• Methow Field Institute (Methow Valley Interpretive Center) – $1,370 for storage area for archives

Education

• Classroom in Bloom – $2,500 for general operations; staff time for garden education and garden maintenance; curriculum training by Facing the Future
• Liberty Bell High School – $2,000 for science expeditions with Salish Seas for 10th grade biology classes
• Methow Arts – $3,000 to support arts education programs in the Methow Valley School District
• Methow Valley Elementary School – $2,500 for science based expeditions for 4th and 5th graders
• Methow Valley Elementary School – $1,000 for Annual Young Writer’s conference
• Methow Valley School District – $5,000 for mental health counselor to provide direct services to students who suffer from social and emotional trauma

Health and Human Services

• Family Planning Association of Chelan-Douglas Counties – $3,600 for staff training at Twisp Family Planning Clinic; providing a part time Spanish-speaking staff person
• Methow Valley Sports Trails Association – $2,000 for improvements to the kiosk/shelter at the Suspension Bridge trailhead
• Room One – $2,500 for general operations; staff training, implementation, and management of new client tracking database; wages for Client Services staff
• Valley Teen Center – $2,500 for a VISTA volunteer for the next two years

Public / Social Benefit

• Methow Valley Community Center – $2,700 for drapes for the windows in the gymnasium/auditorium
• Town of Twisp – $4,000 for design/engineering plan for a non-motorized community trail along the river and within town limits
• Twisp PDA (TwispWorks) – $3,000 for general operations; staff time on fundraising, board training, and case statement development