The Community Foundation of North Central Washington and the United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties are inviting Service Club members in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties to learn about “Be the Change”, a new funding opportunity to help alleviate generational poverty in the region.

Made possible by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, “Be the Change” looks to financially support service club projects that help low-income families escape the cycle of generational poverty and expand on them.

The grant would provide 10 service clubs with $20,000 each to be spent over two years for projects that help alleviate poverty.

Emphasis will be placed on programs that provide youth in poverty an “aspirational window” to help them escape the generational cycle of poverty through role-modeling, scholastic support, and other activities that bolster self-confidence and socio-emotional development.  To this end, eligible projects will have a relationship-based component, such as conditional/incentive-based scholarship awards, reading tutors, and mentorship programs. 

The grant funding will also help to build the capacity and organizational strength of service clubs so that they can continue this work for years to come.

“Stronger clubs increases the community’s capacity for good” said Katie Kavanaugh Pauly, the Community Foundation’s Board Vice President, “and that’s what we’re after.”

Attend a Learning Lunch

This grant is in its early stages of development and we are inviting service club members to participate in discussion on strategies to best meet its goals.

Choose one of the following days to learn about the program and participate in discussion – lunch is on us!

Monday March 10 at 12:00 noon 

OR

Tuesday March 11 at 12:00 noon 

Both luncheons will be held at the Community Foundation office located at 9 S Wenatchee Avenue.

RSVP to Denise Sorom at 509-663-7716 or email denise@cfncw.org.

Reservations are required, seating is limited!

www.cfncw.org/bethechange