The Priest River Community foundation was founded in 2007 with 3 goals/principles to follow. We would raise money to promote educational excellence, provide community enrichment and work to preserve the history of our town. Over the 19 years that we have been in existence, a majority of the funds raised have been spent on promoting academic excellence. We want children in our community to be able to experience enhanced educational opportunities because they are from our community. We never want to say, “you can’t do that because…”. We simply find a way.
Initially, the Foundation and our fundraising event, Helping Our Hometown, was envisioned as a one year event to raise a little money for our community. That first year, the Foundation raised nearly $25,000. The Foundation is now entering its 20th year and has raised more than $900,000 in total and has $250,000 in an endowment fund that will contribute grant funds to the community in perpetuity.
The Foundation is a private, 501 C (3) organization, that is solely independent. There are currently 9 board members that are responsible for fund raising, fund oversight and distribution of grant funds to the community. One of the largest grantee organizations in the West Bonner County School District. Over the last 3 years, the Foundation has granted over $70,000 to our local school district to promote educational excellence.
We are extremely grateful to those of you that give back to your community by supporting the Priest River Community Foundation.
