Greater Gig Harbor Foundation

Programs: In 2014, the foundation's all-volunteer board, core area boards, committees, and project leaders put in 3,129 hours of professional service with an economic value of $164,025. Similarly, volunteers at gghf curious by nature school put in over 750 service hours representing a contribution of more than $27,200 on learning gardens, outdoor classroom, in-room and field studies, and community events to support the unique nature-based intent learning program. The foundation helped to fund or support $25,452 of community projects and programs in 2014. A detailed listing of funded programs can be found on schedule i, but here are a few highlights in our program spending for the year: - $20,000 in support to area organizations to help support community-based events and activities as the gig harbor street scramble, maritime gig festival, gig harbor and key peninsula food banks, gig harbor paddlers cup, $2,000 lu winsor memorial environmental grants to support various environmental education and active conservation initiatives across the kgi watershed. $ 8,250 students of distinction grants awarded to distinguished graduating high school seniors from the peninsula school district. - over $5,000 raised for recreation grants providing support enabling the participation of hundreds of low-income youth from our greater peninsula region in diverse area sports and recreation programs.

the greater gig harbor foundation operates the curious by nature school, our community's nature-based early learning center. Since 2012, the foundation has provided over $60,000 supporting early childhood education for more than 100 area children a by underwriting a portion of tuition costs for every student. Enrollment is approximately 35 to 40 students per year, ages 2 to 5. In addition, the school offers a summer program and offers early learning stewards scholarships to help open the door to high quality early childhood education to all area children by providing tuition assistance to families in need.

the students of distinction is a program that funds scholarships to high school seniors from the peninsula school district. The greater gig harbor foundation organizes the award committee and works with local sponsors. In 2014, granted $8,250 in scholarships to 35 students.