Grays Harbor Community Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary
The Grays Harbor Community Foundation celebrated their 20th Anniversary Friday night, March 28th, at the Aberdeen Museum of History. The event included a dinner and a presentation detailing the work in Grays Harbor that the Community Foundation has accomplished over the years.
Tom Quigg, Chair of the Foundation, welcomed everyone and read the letter delivered by Nicholas Carr, “Recognizing the Service and Commitment of the Grays Harbor Community Foundation…” that was read into the 113th Congressional Record by Congressman Derek Kilmer.
Quigg said the giving nature of the community was a huge part of their success, but equally important is an earned reputation of good stewardship and consistent fiduciary responsibility.
The presentation showed history, though the main focus was on the accomplishments in 2013. Examples of grants, endowments, initiatives, and scholarships were shown in videos that are on the Foundation website: www.gh-cf.org. Donors, grant recipients, and scholarship winners also delivered testimonials to the benefit of the Grays Harbor Community Foundation.
The GHCF recently released their annual report for 2013. The report showed the Foundation started the year with $37.36 million in assets and ended the year $46.96 million all-the-while helping local nonprofits and schools, and providing scholarships to the tune of $1.6 million. There were slightly over $400,000 in expenses which also helped to fuel the local economy.
The 2013 earnings of 19.60% on investments, with total expenses of 0.88%, contributions of $4.5 million, and 260 scholarships were also shown. Several stories of donors and grant recipients are also included in the annual report.
Tom Quigg also said that a year and a half ago, Jim Daly, Executive Director, proposed a goal of $50 million in assets by their 20th year anniversary, which the Board thought was quite intimidating. But, he said, we are confident now we will reach that goal in the next few months.
The foundation is even more committed than ever to its mission: To improve the quality of life in the communities throughout Grays Harbor.
If you would like to know more, please see the foundation website: www.gh-cf.org or you may contact: Jim Daly at 532-1600 or by e-mail at: jim@gh-cf.org