Classroom in Bloom received $3,000 to support the development and implementation of a new after school program and summer day camps to continue their mission of deepening relationships between people and the land through school and community gardening.

The Methow Valley Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, has recently awarded $60,800 in grants to 25 Methow Valley nonprofits.

Established in 2006, the Methow Valley Fund (MVF) provides funding through an annual competitive grant to support charitable organizations that are meeting needs and developing strong, sustainable programs that enhance the Methow Valley.

“We typically have twice as much in grant requests for awesome work than we have the funds to distribute” said Betsy Cushman, who serves as an advisor for the MVF and is a Community Foundation board trustee. “Our goal is encourage planned giving to the Methow Valley Fund so this kind of thing can go on bigger, better, and forever.”

The MVF is advised by a diverse group of volunteers that live and work in the Valley that are passionate about charitable work and have first-hand knowledge of the local needs and opportunities that make successful impacts in the community. Awards are recommended by the advisors and approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The following is a list of award recipients, amounts, and programs funded:

• Cascadia, The Methow Music Association – $ 2,000 Support for the purchase of risers for choral and other musical performances
• Classroom in Bloom – $3,000 Support for the development and implementation of a new after school program and summer day camps.
• Confluence Gallery and Art Center – $500 General operating support for art gallery that showcases local and regional artists and hosts cultural activities such as film screenings, lectures, concerts, and classes
• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Methow Chapter – $2,200 Design, purchase, install and maintain multi-use trail signage on USFS trails in the Methow Valley Ranger District
• Friends of the Pool – $2,500 Support for the repair and resurfacing of Wagner Memorial Pool for summer of 2016
• Little Star Montessori School – $3,500 General operating support for Montessori school that provides early childhood education for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners including daycare, after-school, and summer programs
• Methow Arts Alliance – $4,000 Support for Arts Education Residencies for the Arts Education Program that provides free art curriculum to students in the Methow Valley School District which has experienced severe cuts in art programming
• Methow at Home – $2,000 Support for financial assistance program to provide services to seniors who have limited means and would like to become a Methow At Home members
• Methow Conservancy – $1,500 Support for the Gen Next Project, which aims to inspire the next generation of leaders, landowners, and conservationists in the Methow Valley
• Methow Field Institute – $2,000 Support for the construction of a covered entry and front porch to improve wintertime accessibility and support outdoor programs in native garden area
• Methow Recycles – $3,500 Support for the hire of an Outreach Coordinator who will increase marketing efforts and improve the look and function of the Twisp recycling center
• Methow Trails – $3,500 Support for the introduction of an Adaptive Ski Program with the purchase of specialized ski equipment that allows people with physical mobility limitations to ski on Nordic and alpine trails
• Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival – $2,000 Support for programming that engages local audiences and improves access to festival for residents of the Methow Valley
• Methow Valley Citizens Council – $2,000 Upgrade and replacement of selected office furniture and equipment to support staff efficiency and enhance effectiveness at meetings, events and presentations
• Methow Valley Community Center – $2,000 Replacement of worn and broken tables used for a multitude of events hosted at the Community Center
• Methow Valley Community School – $1,000 Support for teachers’ salaries
• Methow Valley Family Home Center Association – $500 General operating support for best and highest need
• Methow Valley Riding Unlimited – $3,000 General operating support to increase access to therapeutic horsemanship program
• Room One – $3,500 Support for the employment of a part-time administrator for the Lookout Coalition, a program that services the aging and chronically ill
• The Cove – $2,600 Purchase of new donor management software
• The Merc Playhouse – $3,000 Support for the admission-by-donation (or “pay what you can”) nights which further the Merc’s mission to keep live theater experiences accessible to everyone in The Methow Valley, regardless of income or financial situation
• The Methow Valley Clean Air Project – $2,000 General operating support for Methow Valley Clean Air Project to continue to support communication and education strategies to improve air quality during the wood-burning winter months
• TwispWorks Foundation – $2,500 Support for exterior improvements to campus buildings and partnership with the Careers in Construction Program that gives hands-on experience to students at Liberty Bell High School
• Valley Teen Center – $4,000 General operating support for Valley Teen Center, which provides a safe, supportive environment for teens to engage in positive adult and peer interactions while also providing opportunities to participate in enriching activities and opportunities
• Winthrop Ice and Sport Rink – $2,500 Support for the purchase of a scoreboard for hockey tournaments, youth hockey program and special events

For more information on the Methow Valley Fund and how to become involved, call Betsy Cushman at (509) 996-2696 or visit www.cfncw.org/methowvalleyfund.