For Immediate Release—August 20, 2012
Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announces grants for basic needs in Puget Sound region and arts groups across five states
Support will reach 851,000 people throughout Northwest
SEATTLE—The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation today announced funding for nonprofits that provide basic needs assistance throughout Western Washington, an acknowledgement that even as the economy improves, there is still much work to be done to help the community’s most vulnerable residents. This current round of funding also includes support for theater, literary and other arts groups in five northwestern states.
The complete grant cycle commits $1.61 million to 25 organizations and will benefit 851,000 people in the Pacific Northwest. A full list of grantees and where to find them on Facebook and Twitter follows.
“The ongoing economic difficulties in our state, as well as cuts to government programs that aid vulnerable populations, tell us we must continue our commitment to basic needs,” said Susan M. Coliton, vice president of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “These keystone organizations have the expertise and stability to continue providing meaningful and measurable help to people struggling in the Puget Sound region.”
Funding basic needs has been a priority area for the Foundation since the onset of the country’s recession, and these new grants bring the Foundation’s total giving to organizations providing basic needs services to $2.9 million.
In this cycle:
- Bellingham Food Bank will receive $100,000, allowing the organization to provide 180,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to its clients in the next year.
- Downtown Emergency Service Center will receive $100,000 to help provide 120,000 nutritious meals to the region’s most vulnerable residents.
- Food Lifeline will receive $150,000 to purchase produce, dairy, meat and seafood for nearly 300 food banks and pantries in Western Washington.
- Solid Ground will receive $100,000 to assist 2,000 people with emergency shelter, food or legal assistance in the face of foreclosure and eviction.
- Hopelink will receive $100,000 to purchase 270,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to distribute through the agency’s five food banks.
The Foundation will also continue to match Vulcan Inc. employee giving to Northwest Harvest. Since 2009, the Foundation has provided nearly $100,000 to the organization through the match program.
The Foundation’s latest round of grants also supports a wide variety of arts and cultural organizations across five states, with a strong emphasis on theater grants. Stage projects in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington will receive funding. These theater projects are expected to reach a collective 260,000 audience members with thought-provoking productions of contemporary work.
Literary arts support has also long been a priority for the Allen family. Four grants in this cycle will support the creation of new work in Seattle, bring acclaimed writers to Boise, and support the Montana Festival of the Book.
“The Foundation has a long history of supporting the arts in both rural and urban areas,” Coliton said. “Artistic expression helps communities assess and make sense of the world, and we’re proud to support that work throughout the region.”
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About The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Launched by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and Jo Lynn Allen in 1988, the Allen family’s philanthropy is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities by fostering innovation, creating knowledge and promoting social progress. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded over $446 million to more than 1,400 nonprofit groups to support and advance their critical charitable endeavors in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The Foundation’s funding programs nurture the arts, engage children in learning, address the needs of vulnerable populations, advance scientific and technological discoveries, and provide economic relief amid the downturn. For more information, go to www.pgafamilyfoundation.org.
Contact:
Chris Nelson, Pyramid Communications
cnelson@pyramidcommunications.com
206.940.1605 (mobile)
Spring 2012 Grant Cycle Recipients
Basic Needs Grants:
Bellingham Food Bank
Bellingham, WA
http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org
http://www.facebook.com/BellinghamFoodBank
Downtown Emergency Service Center
Seattle, WA
http://www.desc.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Emergency-Service-Center/220323835957
@DESCSeattle
Food Lifeline
Shoreline, WA
http://www.foodlifeline.org
http://www.facebook.com/FoodLifeline
@FoodLifeline
Hopelink
Redmond, WA
http://www.hope-link.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hopelink/31267775819
@Hopelink
Solid Ground
Seattle, WA
http://www.solid-ground.org
http://www.facebook.com/SolidGroundWA
@SolidGround
Arts & Culture Grants:
Perseverance Theatre
Douglas, AK
http://www.perseverancetheatre.org
http://www.facebook.com/PerseveranceTheatre
@PersevTheatreAK
Boise Contemporary Theater
Boise, ID
http://www.BCTheater.org
http://www.facebook.com/BCTheater
@bctheater
Log Cabin Literary Center
Boise, ID
http://www.thecabinidaho.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cabin/175170028546
@TheCabinLit
Company of Fools
Hailey, ID
http://www.companyoffools.org
http://www.facebook.com/CompanyofFools
@CompanyofFools1
Montana State University Alumni Foundation
Bozeman, MT
http://www.montana.edu/foundation/
Montana Committee for the Humanities
Missoula, MT
http://www.humanitiesmontana.org
http://www.facebook.com/humanitiesmontana.org
@HumanitiesMT
Artists Repertory Theatre
Portland, OR
http://www.artistsrep.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Artists-Repertory-Theatre/93308963930
@artistsrep
Miracle Theatre Group
Portland, OR
http://www.milagro.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miracle-Theatre-Groups-Community-Artes/113313255393502
Book-It Repertory Theatre
Seattle, WA
http://www.book-it.org
http://www.facebook.com/BookItRep
@Book_It
Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle
Seattle, WA
http://www.earshot.org
http://www.facebook.com/EarshotJazz
Pacific Northwest Ballet Association
Seattle, WA
http://www.pnb.org
http://www.facebook.com/PNBFAN
@PNBallet
Richard Hugo House
Seattle, WA
http://hugohouse.org
http://www.facebook.com/hugohouse
@HugoHouse
Seattle Arts and Lectures
Seattle, WA
http://www.lectures.org
http://www.facebook.com/SeattleArtsAndLectures
@SeaArtsLectures
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle, WA
http://www.seattlerep.org
http://www.facebook.com/seattlerep
@seattlerep
Seattle Shakespeare Festival
Seattle, WA
http://www.seattleshakespeare.org
http://www.facebook.com/seattleshakespeare
@seattleshakes
Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Seattle, WA
http://www.seattlesymphony.org
http://www.facebook.com/seattlesymphony
@seattlesymphony
Seattle Theatre Group
Seattle, WA
http://stgpresents.org
http://www.facebook.com/seattletheatregroup
@stgpresents
Spectrum Dance Theater
Seattle, WA
http://www.spectrumdance.org
http://www.facebook.com/SpectrumDance
@SpectrumDT
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
http://www.uwworldseries.org
http://www.facebook.com/uwworldseries
@UWWorldSeries
Whatcom Museum Foundation
Bellingham, WA
http://www.whatcommuseum.org
http://www.facebook.com/WhatcomMuseum
@Whatcom_Museum