I was blessed to be born and raised in the Flathead Valley. My family homesteaded the Lake Five area near Glacier National Park five generations ago, and Karyn grew up in a ranching community in central Montana. We met in Bozeman where we both attended Montana State University. When I graduated from college, I began a career with First Interstate Bank and was able to move back home to the Flathead Valley. Karyn and I are thankful to raise our children in such an incredible place.
We joined the Circle of Giving because we were inspired by the passion this diverse group of people has for improving the quality of life for everyone in the Flathead Valley. It is motivating to be around people who are focused on investing in our communities and helping those in need.
We live in Columbia Falls, and I now work in Kalispell after having worked in Whitefish for many years. We love all of these communities, and we appreciate that the Circle of Giving makes it possible for the Foundation to support nonprofits throughout the Flathead Valley with grants. We are amazed by the momentum of the Great Fish Community Challenge and are proud to be part of the group that funds the Great Fish Match.
As an upper middle-class family, we would like to dispel the myth that only wealthy individuals can make an impact. Karyn and I are intentional about our giving and must budget accordingly to ensure we honor our priorities. We are not able to make five-, six-, or sevenf igure donations, but we know that every dollar counts. We trust Whitefish Community Foundation to maximize every dollar received so our nonprofits remain healthy and vibrant.
-Brenden Craig
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