A CHARITABLE GIVING CAMPAIGN benefiting 78  nonprofits


August 10- September 15, 2023

Participating nonprofits

2023 GREAT FISH COMMUNITY CHALLENGE PARTICIPATING NONPROFITS 

ABBIE SHELTER

Use of Funds: Your gift lifts up survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and teen dating violence by supporting our vital programs: 24hr helpline, court advocacy, emergency shelter, mental health care, and community education.

AMAZING PLACE MUSIC

Use of Funds: Amazing Place Music produces and presents both locally and internationally known artists in concerts and educational musical events that enhance the community and inspire residents of the Flathead Valley.

BACKPACK ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Use of Funds: Backpack Assistance Program improves the wellbeing of school age community members in Whitefish and Olney-Bissell School Districts that are subject to food insecurity by providing nutritious supplemental food for weekends and school closure days.

 

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS NW MONTANA

Use of Funds: Funds raised during the Great Fish Community Challenge will provide children facing adversity in Flathead County with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

BIGFORK ART AND CULTURAL CENTER

Use of Funds: Your gift will help cultivate community as we Connect, Inspire, Educate and Preserve. Bigfork Art and Cultural Center provides equal access to learning and creating through the arts, which serve as a catalyst to share cultural perspectives and histories in this area of Montana.

BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS FOUNDATION

Primary Use of Funds: Your donation will open trails and restore habitat in the spectacular 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex by supporting hands-on service projects that foster lifelong connections to this landscape for volunteers of all ages.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Endowment Fund at Whitefish Community Foundation, ensuring protection and care of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex for generations to come.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GLACIER COUNTRY

Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country

Use of Funds: Funds raised will support high-quality after-school programming for Columbia Falls students in grades K-12 in addition to operations and programming in Evergreen for youth in grades K-8.

 

CASA FOR KIDS

CASA for Kids Logo

Use of Funds: Funds raised will provide CASA/GAL Child Advocacy to foster children in Flathead County. This includes monitoring the child’s needs and well-being, as well as making recommendations to the court regarding the child’s best interests.

CENTER FOR RESTORATIVE YOUTH JUSTICE

CRYJ Logo

Use of Funds: CRYJ works with Flathead Valley teens, families, justice agencies, and school discipline teams to reduce youth involvement with the legal system, interrupt cycles of harm, repair trust, promote accountability, and foster community connections.

CHILD BRIDGE

Primary Use of Funds: Hundreds of children in the Flathead Valley experience abuse and neglect, and there are not enough foster families to care for them. Your gift to Child Bridge will help find and equip families to care for children who are hurting and heartbroken.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will be placed in the Child Bridge Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

 

Use of Funds: Children’s House Montessori School provides a nurturing, student-centered, early childhood education devoted to the intellectual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of children.

CODE GIRLS UNITED

Use of Funds: Funds will support Code Girls United’s mission to build confidence and expand future career opportunities for 4th–8th grade Montana girls through free, hands-on education in coding, technology, and business.

CONRAD MANSION

Use of Funds: Your donation will help to preserve and exhibit the 1895 Charles Conrad Family Estate through public tours, educational programs, and community events.

CRESTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

Use of Funds: Creston Firefighters Association is raising funds to build a new fire station to replace the existing station that was built in 1962. The goal is to build a new station without raising taxes or seeking levies.

 

DREAM ADAPTIVE RECREATION

Use of Funds: Funds raised will enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities including military veterans by providing over 1,250 yearround outdoor recreational opportunities, including skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, and motorized water sports.

FLATHEAD AREA MOUNTAIN BIKERS

Use of Funds: Your donation will help to preserve and advance mountain biking in the Flathead through professional trail building and maintenance efforts on public lands, trail advocacy for mountain biking and multi-use trails, and providing community mountain bike
skills clinics.

FLATHEAD AUDUBON SOCIETY

 

Use of Funds: Flathead Audubon seeks funds for its innovative K-12 and adult nature education programs, focusing on the beauty and value of birds to our ecosystem, community and culture, with school materials, videos, adult classes, presentations, field trips, and family events.

 

FLATHEAD COUNTY SHERIFF'S POSSE

Use of Funds: Funds will enable Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse to support local law enforcement organizations by responding to emergency calls, providing a presence at public events, and hosting programs at the Posse building.

FLATHEAD FOOD BANK

Primary Use of Funds: Funds raised will “lettuce” continue feeding our neighbors. From 2021 to 2022, the number of monthly pantry households served increased by 47%, including a 123% increase in unsheltered households and 103% increase in working households.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds will support the Flathead Food Bank Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

FLATHEAD INDUSTRIES

Primary Use of Funds: Flathead Industries strives to provide opportunities for those with disabilities. Funds raised will help make the kitchen and living room area in the Willow Glen Group Home more accessible for residents.


Secondary Use of Funds:
Additional funds raised will support Flathead Industries’ mission to create opportunities for people with disabilities—residentially, vocationally, and recreationally.

FLATHEAD LAND TRUST

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will help to purchase a conservation easement and permanently protect the Owen Sowerwine property along the Flathead River near Kalispell, safeguarding its critical bird and wildlife habitat, water quality, and access for the public.


Secondary Use of Funds:
Additional funds raised will help implement effective land conservation strategies in the Flathead Valley and save our most important open space lands, outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, high quality farmland, and unsurpassed recreational opportunities.

FLATHEAD RAPIDS YOUTH SOCCER

Use of Funds: Flathead Rapids Youth Soccer is dedicated to providing our local communities with affordable, high-quality soccer programs that focus on player development as well as personal growth. Funds raised will support youth soccer programs in Columbia Falls.

FLATHEAD RIVERS ALLIANCE

 

Use of Funds: Flathead Rivers Alliance is dedicated to education, stewardship and community initiatives that support and enhance a resilient and healthy Three Forks of the Flathead River ecosystem, while ensuring people interact respectfully and responsibly.

FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Funds raised will support the mission of the FVCC Foundation, which is to support scholarships, academic programs, and learning facilities at Flathead Valley Community College.

 

FLATHEAD VALLEY SKI FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: FVSEF is dedicated to the promotion of athletic, academic, and personal excellence through educational and competitive programs in skiing and ski racing. FVSEF participants become better athletes, better students, and better citizens… For Life!

FLATHEAD WARMING CENTER

Use of Funds: Funds raised will help fulfill our mission to save lives, link people to resources, and encourage dignity through low-barrier access to a warm safe place for those in need.

FLATHEAD YOUTH HOME

Use of Funds: In a time when youth face big challenges, we are here to support them through their addiction, mental health struggles, and isolation. Your investment makes it possible to meet them in their place of pain and help them navigate the way to healing.

FOY'S TO BLACKTAIL TRAILS

Primary Use of Funds: The mission of Foy’s to Blacktail Trails is to enhance and steward a multi-use, community-focused trail system and advocate for access and trail connectivity between Blacktail Mountain, Herron Park, and the greater Flathead Valley.


Secondary Use of Funds:
Additional funds raised will support the Foy’s to Blacktail Trails Maintenance Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

FRIENDS OF THE FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER

Use of Funds: Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center provides financial and operational support for Flathead Avalanche, a daily forecasting center, and avalanche education hub. Our mission is to produce life-saving information for winter recreationists.

 

GATEWAY TO GLACIER TRAIL

Gateway to Glacier Trails logo

Use of Funds: Funds will be used to construct 10 miles of multi-use trail in Phase III of the Cedar Flats Trails project. The finished project will be 25+ miles of trails north of Columbia Falls, with four miles already completed and six miles slated for completion in 2023.

GLACIER HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Use of Funds: Glacier Hockey Association provides quality hockey programs for youth in a fun, safe, and rewarding environment. We strive to enhance player development through local, state, and international opportunities while fostering a lifelong love for the game.

GLACIER INSTITUTE

Use of Funds: Your gift supports Glacier Institute’s mission to strengthen connections to the natural world through outdoor education. With offerings for people of all ages, participants gain a new respect for the outdoors and why wild places matter.

 

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY

Use of Funds: Funding will support Ranger-Led Education Programs through staffing, equipment, and supplies to conduct ranger-led field trips, classroom visits, and learning programs for K-12 students at schools throughout Flathead County.

 

GLACIER NORDIC CLUB

Glacier Nordic logo

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will support winter recreation and community health through youth programs, adult fitness, cross country ski education for all ages, affordable rentals, winter grooming, and trail maintenance.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the Glacier Nordic Club Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

GLACIER SKATE ACADEMY

Use of Funds: Glacier Skate Academy fosters a lifelong love of ice skating and impacts the Flathead Valley community with fun, healthy, active, competitive, and affordable programs while motivating each skater, no matter what level or age, to achieve their goals.

GLACIER SYMPHONY & CHORALE

Use of Funds: As one of the most active performing arts organizations in the Northwest, Glacier Symphony, Orchestra & Chorale provides a diverse range of excellent musical experiences in the Flathead Valley that inspire, challenge, and educate our musicians, audience, and students.

GOOD GRIEF CAMP

Use of Funds: At Good Grief Camp, a community of volunteers partner with children, teens, and families to navigate the journey of grief and the continuation of life by combining the healing elements of nature with activities to provide a safe outlet for the expression of their grief.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF FLATHEAD VALLEY

Use of Funds: Everyone needs a safe, decent place to call home. Every dollar donated will be used to construct safe, energy-efficient and affordable homes for deserving Flathead families. When YOU care and support Habitat, families and communities thrive.

HOCKADAY MUSEUM OF ART

Use of Funds: Funds raised will support the Hockaday Museum of Art’s mission to enrich the cultural life of our community and region and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park through innovative art exhibitions, programs, and events.

HOUSING WHITEFISH

Use of Funds: Housing Whitefish advocates, creates, and plans for a sustainable supply of housing that everyone in our community can afford. Your gift supports the development of new affordable housing projects and programs in our community.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST MONTANA

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will support the life-saving animal adoption program to give homeless cats and dogs a second chance at a healthy life by ensuring that all orphaned pets, including newborn litters, are healthy, vaccinated, microchipped, and unable to reproduce when adopted.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the Humane Society of Northwest Montana Endowment Fund held at
Whitefish Community Foundation.

IMAGINEIF LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Funds raised will support the Bigfork capital campaign to bring a new ImagineIF library to the Bigfork community

 

IMMANUEL FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Funds will help Immanuel Lutheran Communities provide safe homes in vibrant communities to Flathead Valley seniors in need in the long-term Skilled Care Center regardless of the residents’ financial status.

INTERMOUNTAIN DEACONESS CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Use of Funds: Funds raised will increase vital mental health services for the Flathead County community, including School-Based Outpatient Therapists within local schools.

KALISPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: The Kalispell Education Foundation seeks to enrich and support Kalispell Public Schools, including investment in teacherdriven classroom projects, after-school tutoring at the high school level, and support for new teachers.

 

LAND TO HAND

Use of Funds: Funds raised will address our mission to build a strong community food system that fosters socially just ways of accessing food.

 

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN HOME & SERVICES

Use of Funds: As a state-licensed residential group home for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Lighthouse Christian Home develops life skills, farm skills, socialization, and integration to prevent isolation of this under-served population.

LOGAN HEALTH FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Logan Children’s Child Life program helps children cope with the stress and uncertainty of injury, illness, trauma, and loss. Child Life Specialists support patients through preparation using kid-friendly language to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain.

LOGAN HEALTH FOUNDATION WHITEFISH

Use of Funds: Funds will be used to upgrade the MRI system at Logan Health-Whitefish with the MR 30 for SIGNA™. The upgrade delivers foundational operating software and visualization toolkits that improve image quality and patient experience for all patients.

MONTANA CONSERVATION CORPS

Use of Funds: Help launch the next generation of leaders and climate stewards to conserve Flathead Valley public lands through expeditions and experiences for local teens, young adult AmeriCorps crews, and internships with local conservation partners.

MONTANA KAYAK ACADEMY

 

Use of Funds: Your gift will support water safety education for all ages of the Flathead Valley. Montana Kayak Academy aims to foster and promote fundamental water skills, leadership, teamwork, river etiquette, and stewardship toward our natural surroundings.

MONTANA YOUTH DIABETES ASSOCIATION

Use of Funds: MYDA’s mission is to enrich the lives of Type 1 diabetic children in the Greater Flathead by offering financial assistance to attend Camp MYDA 2024 and provide up to $500 out-of-pocket expenses to families for self-management supplies.

 

NATE CHUTE FOUNDATION

Nate Chute Foundation Logo

Use of Funds: The Nate Chute Foundation supports, educates, and empowers our community to promote mental wellness and
reduce suicide.

NORTH VALLEY FOOD BANK

Primary Use of Funds: North Valley Food Bank builds food security and strengthens communities by providing food assistance to more than 1,000 people weekly through the free grocery store, drive-thru service, mobile pantries and deliveries in the northern Flathead and neighboring communities.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the North Valley Food Bank Permanent Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL

NV Music School Logo

Use of Funds: North Valley Music School will raise funds to support the Be Instrumental capital campaign to build the new music school facility and campus.

NORTH WEST MONTANA VETERANS FOOD PANTRY

Use of Funds: Funds will provide social services and case management for veterans and their families, connecting them to community resources for long-term solutions to poverty. The pantry provides basic needs for immediate survival along with peer support.

NORTHWEST MONTANA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

Use of Funds: The mission of Northwest Montana Community Land Trust is to provide permanently affordable home ownership opportunities for low and moderate income families throughout the Flathead Valley. Funds raised will create affordable housing and housing solutions.

NORTHWEST MONTANA HISTORY MUSEUM

Northwest Montana History Museum

Use of Funds: The museum leads the region in sharing the history of Northwest Montana with local residents and visitors. Funds support museum exhibits and programs, educational outreach, online resources, volunteerism, and the continued preservation of the past.

PROJECT WHITEFISH KIDS

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will provide high-quality youth facilities for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and softball for over 1,300 local athletes, as well as numerous recreational activities at Smith Fields including a playground, picnic pavilion, and pickleball courts.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will be invested in the Project Whitefish Kid’s Smith Fields Endowment Fund for the future management and preservation of the Smith Fields Youth Sports Complex.

RAVENWOOD OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER

Use of Funds: Ravenwood’s mission is to cultivate health, passion for learning, and stewardship of ecological and human communities through nature-based mentoring. Funds will be used to support nature education and mentoring in public schools.

SAMARITAN HOUSE

Use of Funds: Samaritan House provides shelter and basic needs for homeless people, while fostering self-respect and human dignity. Together we can empower change by providing shelter! We work directly with our community to find solutions to solve homelessness.

SHEPHERD'S HAND

Primary Use of Funds: Your gift will support the health and wellbeing of those in need through a free medical and dental clinic, as well as caregiving services supporting seniors in our community with friendly visits, light housekeeping and home repairs, and respite for primary caregivers.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the Shepherd’s Hand Permanent Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

SPARROW'S NEST OF NW MT

Use of Funds: The Sparrow’s Nest is dedicated to ensuring safe, supportive housing and resources for unaccompanied homeless high school students in the Flathead Valley, enabling them to graduate from high school and become productive members of our community.

STUMPTOWN ART STUDIO

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will provide a place where children and adults may come to express their inherent creative natures and learn about the world of art and its capacity to make whole the individual, enriching the community and beyond.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will grow the Stumptown Art Studio Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

TAMARACK GRIEF RESOURCE CENTER

Tamarack Grief Logo

Use of Funds: Tamarack Grief Resource Center will use funds raised for general operations with a priority on TGRC’s three programmatic pillars—Grief Support, Grief Education, and 1:1 Support—in the Flathead Valley.

THE NURTURING CENTER

Use of Funds: Funds will be used for childcare scholarships for working families and for essential material items. Scholarships will prevent parents from having to take a loan or quit their job to provide care for their children during the summer months.

TWO BEAR THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER

Use of Funds: Two Bear Therapeutic Riding Center helps individuals with special needs reach their full potential through equine-assisted activities. Specialized sessions with horses provide the opportunity for individuals to bond, love, and connect, which creates confidence in social interactions.

WHITEFISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Use of Funds: The Whitefish Community Center is YOUR gathering place that connects people of all ages through programs like Meals on Wheels delivery, fitness classes, social dining, and game days, while also being a cost-effective facility to rent.

WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Your gift will support Whitefish Community Foundation, allowing us to deliver crucial funding, build endowments, and provide educational programs that support and strengthen our local nonprofit community.

WHITEFISH DOG PARK

Primary Use of Funds: West side Dog Park improvements will include creating a Dog Memorial Garden where owners can honor dogs in a serene setting, as well as relocating and upgrading the agility course.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support park maintenance and improvements, so Flathead valley residents, visitors and their dogs may safely enjoy Whitefish Dog Park.

WHITEFISH FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

Use of Funds: The Whitefish Firefighters Association supports local first responders by providing the tools, training, and technology to be prepared for any type of emergency and by investing in protective equipment to defend firefighters’ safety at the scene.

WHITEFISH LAKE INSTITUTE

Use of Funds: Whitefish Lake Institute conducts water quality investigations and accomplishes programs that protect the economic value, recreation, ecology, and drinking water that Whitefish Lake and local streams provide to Whitefish residents and visitors. Whitefish Lake Institute gives the lake a voice.

WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS

Use of Funds: Funds will support our mission to secure conservation, recreation, and education opportunities on lands around Whitefish Lake for future generations including the next phase of the Whitefish Trail to permanently connect Smith Lake.

 

WHITEFISH REVIEW

Use of Funds: Whitefish Review publishes art and literature that explores the landscapes of the human condition, our connection to the natural world, and illuminates the confluence of art, storytelling, society, and science.

WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Use of Funds: Funds raised will help preserve and cultivate innovative programs and projects to enrich academic, social, and emotional learning for all K-12 students in the Whitefish School District.

 

WHITEFISH THEATRE COMPANY

Primary Use of Funds: Funds will be used topresent quality theatre, music, and special events to engage our community in the arts, as well as support free theatre and music outreach performances and reduced ticket prices for students, seniors, and other underserved populations.

Secondary Use of Funds: Additional funds raised will support the Whitefish Theatre Co. Permanent Endowment Fund held at Whitefish Community Foundation.

WHITEFISH VETERANS SUPPORT TEAM

WF Veterans Support Team

Use of Funds: To empower injured veterans, active duty personnel, caregivers and their families through opportunities to build meaningful relationships and engage them in physically and emotionally challenging activities to advance healing, growth and resiliency.

WINGS REGIONAL CANCER SUPPORT

Use of Funds: Funds raised will support the Wings Regional Cancer Support mission to defray costs associated with travel for cancer treatment for Flathead Valley residents.

Thank you to business sponsors for supporting the organization of the Great Fish Community Challenge.

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