Our most recent Invitational Grantees
Spring 2008 Invitational Grant Receipients
Jefferson County Community Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $5,000
The Jefferson County Community Foundation is interested in developing a program that will strengthen the nonprofit sector and better prepare people working in our local nonprofit agencies and organizations to fulfill their missions and serve the community.
Jefferson County Education Foundation: Clemente Course
Jefferson County Education Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
Clemente Course Opperating Support: The Clemente Course is a national program offering a free accredited college-level humanities course to addults living in poverty.
Jefferson Teen Center
Jefferson Teen Center (formerly Tri Area Teen Resource Center)
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
Funding for Operating support to support staff salaries, necessary supplies, and space rental.
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Nominated by Mary Pigott $20,000
Funding of the "Extraordinary strides, transforming lives" campaign to purchase and renovate Simpatico Stables in order to significantly expand operations by doubling the capacity to serve riders with disabilities.
Nominated by Frank Helsell $30,000
Funding for the after school program which provides students a safe, fun environment where students can improve academically, explore personal interests and strengths, and connect to positve role models and peers.
Northwest Maritime Center and Wooden Boat Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $25,000
Funding for "Messing about in Boats" and Puget Sound Explores: Engaging programs using on-the-water and classroom lessons to help youth develop maritime skills, confidence and environmental awareness.
Nominated by Mary Pigott $15,000
This funding was to suppport Connecting Stories: An international collarboration with artists for theaters for young people in the United States, the Netherlands, and the Middle East. The purpose of this collaboration is to use the arts to help us all know, appreciate and respect others' culture and perspective.
Southwest Youth and Family Services
Nominated by Judy Pigott $10,000
Funding the Iraqi Community Center, to help Iraqi families become comfortable and confident accessing the resources and services they need to become engaged, self sufficient community members.
Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum
Nominated by David Lazarus $10,000
This grant will be used to purchase equipment to digitally capture images of 3 dimensional artifacts and large documents such as land grant maps, paintings and posters and be able to display them to the public electronically.
Nominated by David Lazarus $30,000
This grant is to research and purchase a tractor and implements.
Jumping Mouse Children's Center
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
Jumping Mouse Children's Center provides a creative therapy environment for children. The primary purpose is to provide mental health services to children and their families, particularly to those who cannot otherwise access these services in our rural area. The goal is to emphazize the critical developmental phases of the younger child, in order to reclaim aspects of self and rebuild the courage each child requires to journey into his/her world with its fears, challenges, and mysteries. This award is for adopting new and upgraded tools and methods of evaluation that will help maximize oganizational potential.
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
The Organic Seed Alliance supports the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed. The mission of the World Seed Fund, a program of Organic Seed Alliance is the charitable distribution of seed to community groups and organizations that meed them most and also to those who cannot afford to purchase them. In addition to seeds, educational information is also provided. This award is to establish strategies to increase our positive impact on World Seed Fund recipients.
Winter 2008 Invitational Grant Recipients
Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego, The Tomorrow Project:
Nominated by Frank Helsell $30,000
The Tomorrow Project's vision is to become the recognized leader in providing individualized work readiness training programs that build personal competencies and marketable skills for homeless women and women living in poverty, so they may become self-reliant, self-sustaining members of society. This funding will support the friends of the Tomorrow Project.
One Voice/Summer Camp Program:
Nominated by Ben Lazarus $14,000
The mission of One Voice is to provide goods, services and opportunities to the underprivileged, including everything from crisis intervention to long-term programming designed to lift them out of poverty, while providing avenues for those more fortunate to become involved in helping those families in need. The Summer Camp Program helps low-income children attend summer camp, paying all registration fees and purchasing necessary supplies and clothing.
Positive Futures Network:
Nominated by Judy Pigott $10,000
The Positive Futures Network supports people's active engagement inbuilding a just, sustainable, and compassionate world. Through the quarterly publication, YES! Magazine, the website (www.yesmagazine.org), an education outreach programs, participation n conferences, and outreach to media and grassroots groups around the country, Positive Futures Network helps deepen people's commitment to positive social change in their personal lives, their communiies, their nation, and the world. This grant will fund the posting of 44 YES! articles in Spanish, the role of Positive Futures Network in reaching thousands at the Seattle Green Festival, and support for a young person's editorial career.
Schooner Martha Foundation:
Nominated by Pete Helsell $10,000
The Schooner Martha Foundation has a mission to restore, and maintain the 1907 hhistoric schooner yacht, Martha, so she will continue to be used for youth sail training. The soul of the program resides in the understanding of the need for inspiration and engagement n any educational system, in this case to immerse the student into a hands-on-discipline, using sailing and seamanship as a teaching model. This grant will help fund the removal and replacement of the 100 year old planking, replacing any deficient framing.
Solid Ground/Farmers to Food Banks Project:
Nominated by Mary Pigott $25,000
Solid Ground is dedicated to achieving a just and caring community, free from poverty, abuse and neglect. The mission is to develop and provide creative, comprehensive and effective responses to community needs; to offer quality human services in a manner that promotes dignity; to advocate for policies and initiatives that give all people equal opportunities and resources; and to support the efforts of others who share this vision of community. This funding will support the project's goal of generating over one million pounds of fresh produce for children, seniors and other vulnerable people throughout Washington State.
Sustainable Community Gardens/Charles Street Garden:
Nominated by Dave Lazarus $10,000
The purppose of Sustainable Community Gardens is to bring together a group of people to design, create, implement, and manage sustainable, organic comnmunity gardens wherever they are wanted. At the Charles Street Garden drip irrigation will be installed around the garden's perimeter and the remaining section of board fence will be replaced with a fence that will be ornamental and invite passers-by to see the garden.
White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA):
Nominated by Judy Pigott $10,000
WCCDA's mission is to build community, improving the quality of life for White Center residents through commnity-based economic redevelopment, affordable housing and advocacy. This grant supports the Resident Engagement and Leadership program which will offer leadership training and development, civic engagement activities and the creation of a membership/social network based organization.
Fall 2007 Invitational Grant Recipients
Nominated by Kate Lazarus $20,000
This grant provides for new fencing, including the area for a new arena that will be eventually covered.
Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition
Nominated by Ben Lazarus $18,500
This grant provides funds for the renovation of two-ton truck, to include tune-up, exterior paint job and signage, new tires, and replacement of windshield, driver's seat and interior shelving. And also the acquistion of a used van.
Nominated by Amy Shamah $25,000
This grant is for operating support to ensure the current and long-term sustainability of MAVIN Foundation in providing a vital community resource and serving it's needs.
Phinney Neighborhood Association
Nominated by Amy Shamah and Mary Pigott $17,500
This grant is an investment in a capital campaign to purchase the Phinney Neighborhood Center sited from the Seattle School District and make major site accessibility improvements.
Nominated by Pete Helsell and Judy Pigott $8,000
This grant is an unrestricted gift which will serve as the lifeblood of the SJTP. It helps further the general conservation work of the organization.
Summer 2007 Invitational Grant Recipients
Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation:
Nominated by Frank Helsell $15,000
The mission of Aquatic Adventures is to educate urban youth about science, the ocean and nature through tuition-free programs, creating the next generation of scientific and community leaders. This grant provides operating support.
City of Sunnyvale, Sunnyvale Public Library
Nominated by Kate Lazarus $10,000
The purpose of the Sunnyvale Public Library is to meet the informational, recreational and educational needs of community members, young children through senior citizens, by providing access to Library materials, information and educational programs. This grant supports the Tales for Tots program which includes librarian visits to day care centers / homes in Sunnyvale to promote reading, read stories and model literature experience for teachers and day care providers.
Concord Elementary School, Concord Attic Student Theatre Program (CAST)
Nominated by Judy Pigott $5,000
CAST believes the arts are integral to education in improving language skills, cultural understanding, communication skills, self-esteem and cooperation. Through use of the Attic’s many performance spaces and technologies, they can create personal growth experiences for their students and the surrounding community. This grant provides for technology use manuals, maps and site specific step-by-step visual and verbal tech use information to increase teacher, student and community access.
Jefferson County Community Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
The mission of the Jefferson County Community Foundation is to inspire donors to invest in Jefferson County and to achieve their charitable goals from generation to generation through grant making, enlightened civic leadership and strategic investments. This grant provides operating support.
Jefferson County Clemente Course
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,000
The mission of the Jefferson County Clemente Course is to support increased involvement and civic participation of low-income adults in the communities by offering a free, fully accredited college humanities course and to remove access barriers by providing free books, childcare, transportation and resource referral services. This grant provides operating support.
Jefferson County Family YMCA
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
The Jefferson County Family YMCA seeks to enhance the lives of all people within the county through programs designed to develop spirit mind and body. They are dedicated to the values of caring respect responsibility and honesty. This grant provides funds for back to school supplies for the graduates of the Kids are First Workshop. The workshops intend to prepare 28 children identified as at-risk academically and socially for the transition from elementary to middle school.
Jumping Mouse Children’s Center
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,500
Jumping Mouse Children’s Center frees children to flourish. Through long-term, intensive play therapy and social advocacy, Jumping Mouse resolves barriers to children’s healthy development. Jumping Mouse provides therapy for children ages 1 to 12 who have experienced severe trauma from neglect, abuse, loss or as a witness to domestic violence. This grant provides operating support.
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Nominated by Mary Pigott $20,000
MOHAI’s primary purpose is to collect, preserve and interpret the history of Seattle, King County, Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest for the benefit of present and future generations. This grant provides funds for the collections initiative. First, MOHAI will inventory its artifact collections, helping staff better share it with the public. Second, MOHAI will create a collecting plan, which will guide continuing collection efforts.
One Voice
Nominated by Ben Lazarus $10,000
The mission of One Voice is to provide goods, services and opportunities to the under privileged, including everything from crisis intervention to long-term programming designed to lift them out of poverty, while providing avenues for those more fortunate to become involved in helping those families in need. This grant provides support for their Emergency Relief Program. This program provides low-income families in Los Angeles with emergency assistance to prevent crises including hunger, homelessness and more.
Pride Foundation
Nominated by Judy Pigott $5,000
The Pride Foundation connects, inspires and strengthens the Pacific Northwest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in pursuits of equality. They accomplish this in rural and urban areas by awarding grants and scholarships and cultivating leaders. This grant will fund a LGBT Youth Leadership Convening, bringing together leaders of LGBT youth groups fro trainings and networking, in order to stabilize and grow them as a whole.
Sharehouse
Nominated by Judy Pigott $10,000
The mission of Sharehouse is to serve people who have been homeless by providing them with their choice of donated furniture and household goods, turning houses into homes. This grant provides operating support.
Sustainable Community Gardens
Nominated by Dave Lazarus $12,000
The purpose of Sustainable Community Gardens is to bring together a group of people to design, create, implement and manage sustainable, organic, community gardens and farms wherever they are wanted. This grant will provide funds to connect Full Circle Farms to the Sunnyvale city sewer system.
Tri-Area Teen Resource Center / Jefferson Teen Center
Nominated by Pete Helsell $2,000
The mission of the Jefferson Teen Center is to provide a safe place where youth can learn healthy life lessons and gain respect for themselves and others. This grant provides operating support.
Spring 2007 Invitational Grant Recipients
Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $15,000.00
The Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation is a center for maritime education dedicated to the preservation and celebration of traditional maritime skills, culture and heritage. This grant provides funds for the Puget Sound Explorers program. The Puget Sound Explorers program is a set of educational programs using on-the-water activities and classroom lessons to help students gain personal confidence, develop teamwork and leadership skills, connect with their environment and cultivate new skills.
San Diego State Research Foundation / Exceptional Family Resource Center
Nominated by Frank Helsell $15,000.00
The mission of the Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) is to provide support, information and education to families of children with disabilities and the professionals who assist these families. By offering emotional support and factual information, the Center enables families to help their children reach their fullest potential. This grant provides funds for EFRC’s Fund Development Program.
Schooner Martha Foundation
Nominated by Pete Helsell $7,500.00
The mission of the Schooner Martha Foundation is to restore and maintain the 1907 historic schooner yacht Martha so she will continue to be used for youth sail training. This grant provides funds for the Ballast Keel Replacement project. They will remove and replace the 100 year old ballast keel, keel bolts, garboard and broad strake planking and to replace any deficient framing. They will integrate local students as an introduction to the maritime trades.
Seattle Aquarium Society
Nominated by Dave Lazarus, Judy Pigott, Kate Lazarus, Mary Pigott, Pete Helsell, Frank Helsell, Michael Pigott, Amy Shamah, Ben Lazarus $40,000.00
The mission of the Seattle Aquarium Society is to inspire conservation of the local marine environment. This grant provides funds for the New Currents Campaign, providing structural safety and expanded operation of Seattle’s leading marine conservation platform- The Seattle Aquarium.
Single 2 Mother
Nominated by Judy Pigott $9,500.00
Single 2 Mother is dedicated to enabling single mothers to empower one another to succeed in positive parenting, personal success and life balance. Single 2 Mother facilitates parent connections for networking and resource sharing, while also acting as an agency to access other needed resources / organizations such as West Side Baby. This grant provides funds for Operating Support.
Sunnyvale Community Services
Nominated by Kate Lazarus $10,000.00
Sunnyvale Community Services is an emergency assistance agency whose mission is to prevent homelessness and hunger for low-income families and seniors facing temporary crisis. This grant funds Emergency Assistance, providing financial aid and food to prevent eviction, utility disconnections, untreated medical problems, malnutrition and hunger.
Sunnyvale Public Safety Department
Nominated by Dave Lazarus $15,000.00
This grant provides funds for the Purchase of Surveillance Equipment to assist Sunnyvale’s Crime Prevention Unit and Neighborhood Watch Association in ending crime and vandalism in local neighborhoods.
Sustainable Community Gardens
Nominated by Dave Lazarus $15,000
The purpose of Sustainable Community Gardens is to bring together a group of people to design, create, implement and manage sustainable, organic, educational community gardens and farms wherever they are wanted. This grant provides funds to Establish Water System and Community Pathways at Full Circle Farm, an 11-acre sustainable and educational farm.
WestSide Baby
Nominated by Judy Pigott $10,000.00
The mission of WestSide Baby is to collect and redistribute baby gear, clothes and diapers to low income families in South King County. This grant provides funds for Program Support, specifically for partial Executive Director salary, newsletters, fundraising and other specified activities.
Winter 2007 Invitational Grant Recipients
Canine Companions for Independence
Nominated by Frank Helsell $10,000.00.
(CCI) Canine Companions for Independence enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. This grant provides funds to help offset the costs of breeding, raising, and training one skilled companion assistance dog through time of placement.
Passages Northwest
Nominated by Mary Pigott $20,000.00
Passages Northwest inspires courage and leadership in girls through the integrated exploration of the arts and the natural environment. This grant provides funds for strengthening of their internal capacity, including strengthening of their infrastructure, preparing programs for expansion and reaching new constituents.
Sound Experience
Nominated by Pete Helsell $4,000.00
Sound Experience sails the historic schooner Adventuress to help people discover Puget Sound and learn from its majesty and vulnerability. As they voyage through the Puget Sound basin, Sound Experience participants are encouraged to realize their interdependence with the ship, the natural environment and each other. This grant provides funds for hiring a volunteer resource developer. This position will aim to significantly integrate Sound Experience’s onboard environmental message with other programs that are shore-based, provide links to further opportunities for stewardship in communities throughout Puget Sound, and attract new “people resources” to help strengthen and expand the organizations.