OICF is exploring the possibility of creating a Children’s Saving Account (CSA) program for Orcas. CSA’s focus on teaching financial literacy, encourage savings, and can be used for career training or post secondary education. Research has shown that CSA’s have a positive impact on family asset development, as well as helping to create a career bound identity for children. OICF was selected to join a cohort of six community foundations from across the country to work with CFLeads to develop asset building programs for their communities.
The Orcas team is comprised of High School/Middle School principal Kyle Freeman, School Board and Education Foundation member Janet Brownell, OICF Board member John Carl, Kate Long and me. This week we had our first three day meeting with the full cohort and will meet with them two more times over the next nine months with a goal to set up a framework that will work for our community, including an investment strategy and guidelines for incentives. If you are interested in hearing more, give me a call and I would be happy to share what we are learning.
Our Eastsound walk was a good success. We will be hosting another one on Thursday August 9th at 10 AM. We will meet at our current office, then head over to see the new office at Urner St, then head to Madrona Point to hear about the history and vision for the future from Peter Fisher. Then up Haven to see the new development there and finish with an update on the April’s Grove affordable rental project from Lisa Byers. Please RSVP (hilary@oicf.us) if you are interested in joining us.
Have a great weekend-
Hilary