In the Beginning
Giving back has always been a big part of who we are. In the early days of Windermere it was pretty simple; we would see a need and help any way we could. But as we grew, we realized we could accomplish much more if we had a common purpose. That’s how the Windermere Foundation was born.
A Big Idea
We started with an idea that would give every Windermere agent the ability to make a difference. Housing is our business, so helping homeless families seemed like a natural fit. We later expanded that to include low-income families, with an emphasis on helping children.
Organizations in the Great Spokane Area whose mission aligns with the Windermere Foundation mission are encouraged to fill out the application linked above and submit to emma.reeves@windermere.com.
Allocations are made during Q1 of each year by a committee of representative from each Spokane Office.
For the past 30 years a portion of every Windermere agent’s commission has been donated to the Windermere Foundation. Having 100% participation gives us a common purpose and sends a powerful message about our commitment to the community.
2023 GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Blessings and Beyond is the evolution of Blessings Under the Bridge.
They are taking on more new projects in our community and are excited to see what new opportunities will bring.
The Windermere Foundation is excited to help provide pantries that offer food, clothing and other needs to help the low income and less fortunate students within Bowdish Middle School.
Windermere has had a great relationship with Family Promise of Spokane for many years. They have proven the good they do in our community and we are excited to see that continue to grow.
Family promise of Spokane's mission is to equip families and communities to end the cycle of homelessness. Their holistic service model of prevention, diversion, emergency housing, and stabilization comprehensively addresses housing instability and homelessness by intervening early, teaching life skills, and setting up future generations for success.
The mission of the INW Dyslexia Alliance is to support, empower, and advocate for individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field in the Inland Northwest. Diagnosis and Intervention for those with Dyslexia can be costly and sometimes out of reach. Windermere Foundation has granted funds to help those in need of financial assistance to get the help and tools that they need to succeed.
INW Dyslexia Alliance believes a key way to help the dyslexia community is by removing the financial barriers preventing students from gaining access to resources directly related to their dyslexia. The ability to pay should never be a barrier to learning.
Many students face chronic food shortages at home, and school meals are often their only reliable source of nutrition. Bite2Go /At the Core helps to fill in the meal gap for students facing food insecurity by providing healthy, easy-to-open, single-serving, nonperishable food items for meals and snacks over the weekend during the school year.
Windermere Foundation is proud to work with our offices to support these programs at Northwood Middle School, Deer Park High School, Whitman Elementary, and Community School.
Diaper Need: 1 in 3 families report experiencing diaper need. Disposable diapers are expensive costing $70-$80 per month per baby; infants need up to 12 diaper changes daily. Parents living in poverty realize that diapers cannot be purchased with food stamps, that no current state or federal safety-net program provides dollars specifically for diaper purchases.
Spokane Valley Partners works through Inland NW Diaper Bank to help close this gap. With the program growing from 100,000 diapers distributed in 2021 to 500,000 in 2023, The Windermere Foundation is happy to grant funds to help sustain this increase and their ability to provide free diapers to trusted agencies that are improving the health and lives of babies each day.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Americas mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. They recruit, screen and train adult mentors and match them with at-risk youth who live in the Spokane area. Their professional staff make deliberate matches and provide ongoing support to mentors, children, and parents or guardians to develop and sustain healthy, positive relationships.
Windermere Spokane is excited to be involved with their upcoming summer event where the matches and families get to enjoy a day in the park.
Did you know?
According to USA Swimming:
-79% of children in low income households have little-to-no swimming ability
-Our region is home to over 70 bodies of water including pools, lakes, rivers, and streams.
-Formal swim lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%
Spokane Windermere Foundation is happy to help Spokane Parks Foundation improve these statistics by helping fun the Make a Splash program.
Spokane Parks Foundation - Make a Splash program increases access to life-saving swim lessons and water safety swim clinics for at-risk and low income youth.
The Foundation also funds free open swim opportunities and community pool parties each year.
Windermere Foundations grant to If You Could Save Just One is directed to help with their afterschool program. Their mission is to help youth and their parents in Hillyard and surrounding neighborhoods find their path to success by providing activities and resources that create a supportive environment. The youth and families they serve are predominantly low income; many of the youth lack family support, are court involved, and struggle in school. Just One provides programs and a safe environment where kids can connect, learn to express themselves in healthy ways, and form supportive relationships with caring adult role models.
Camp Fire Inland Northwest drives to provide the opportunity for youth to find their spark. Through partnerships, Camp Fire is able to enroll kids with financial limitations at no-cost to their families.
Windermere Foundation funds will help allow kids without means to attend camp (Dart-lo/Sweyolaken) ensuring they can "find their spark".
Windermere Foundation is happy to support Volunteers of America and their Crosswalk GED program. This program provides one on one instructor who teaches for more than just a test. Last month (2/22) they had 9 graduates. In 2021, 46% of students who graduated went on to higher education. Students also receive wrap around services including food, transportation, housing assistance and school supplies.
Supporting new causes is always highlight for the Windermere Foundation. This year, for the first, time we are able to work with Bemiss Elementary Engagement Action Team.
Bemiss, Spokane, Washington has more than 400 students, 90% of which are from low-income households. Turkey Bingo is an annual event held for these families. After a night of fun the families get to take home the fixings for a complete Thanksgiving meal. This event helps relieve holiday stress and encourages a family meal together.
Greater Good Northwest - GGNW focuses on a 6 step approach to make positive impact in our community:
First, assess the need in our communities. Second, amplify awareness of these needs. Third, assemble the team of community partners. Fourth, activate the solution or solutions. Fifth, assess the impact. Sixth, adjust for the greater good.
Windermere Foundation will specifically be supporting their Gifts of Hope Holiday program, focused on providing families in need with Christmas supplies, and their Hope for Families program, focused on supporting low income children in areas of reading and literacy and homework assistance on a weekly basis.
Project Beauty Share is a non-profit agency that provides personal hygiene, cosmetics, and beauty products to nonprofit organizations who serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives.
Windermere Foundation was able to grant funds to help purchase the equipment needed to process clean and sort the items they distribute.
Through its programs and services, Morning Star Boys' Ranch provides love, professional care, guidance and hope to children, youth and families, going through trauma and nurtures their social, moral, educational and emotional growth. Their youth range in age from 6 to 13.5 years, and services are specialized for boys in the foster system. Residential programming includes individualized safety plans, weekly group therapy sessions, medication management, access to 4-H club, and education enrichment.
Windermere Foundation has granted funds to help renovate and improve facilities in the Murphy House where the boys sleep, eat, and socialize.
