Blog
Encourage mask-wearing at your Orcas establishment
The Orcas Island Community Foundation has created a series of posters for businesses and organizations to use as they see fit to encourage mask-wearing in their establishments. There are seven posters both in English and Spanish with different messages. They are...
2020 FARM Fund Orcas/Waldron Round 1: Press Release
From: Orcas Island Community Foundation and San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild The Orcas Island Community Foundation, in collaboration with the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild (Ag Guild) FARM Fund, is excited to announce the distribution of $117,000 in grants to...
Public Health and our economy
This week the Economic Development Council announced that the San Juan Island’s unemployment rate is 27%, significantly higher than the State (17%) and National (15%) rate. Our local dependence on tourism and lack of diverse industries is a painful reality. Given our...
Community Emergency Response Fund update, May 2, 2020
For Immediate Release May 2, 2020 Hilary Canty, OICF Hilary@oicf.us, 360-376-5376 As we near the end of our second month in the Covid-19 crisis, it is an opportunity to reflect on how Orcas Island has responded and what the next steps will be for this community. Very...
May Day
Our latest batch of incubating eggs started hatching just in time to greet this new month. What a hopeful sign. Here’s to new life and transformation. I am attaching a pie chart to show where the Community Emergency Response funds have been distributed so far. Thanks...
GiveOrcas thanks you!
GiveOrcas thanks you! 650+ donors gave $273,840 to 13 island organizations + the Community Emergency Response Fund: Orcas Island Food Bank: $25,000 OPAL Community Land Trust: $25,000 Orcas Community Resource Center: $25,000 Orcas Island School District: $25,000 Orcas...
Orcas continues to amaze
Hank designed a portable shower unit for the Host sites! WAY TO GO, ORCAS! The GiveOrcas Campaign is rocking it! So far, 651 donors have contributed $198,000 and we are 87% funded as of this morning. The campaign runs until Monday, April 20th (unless we reach 100%...
Community Emergency Relief Fund 14 April 2020
This is the fourth week of the Community Emergency Response Fund (CERF) effort. So far, 221 donors have contributed $336,000; $281,000 is already hard at work in the community serving neighbors in need during this time of crisis. These funds have ensured that...
The Orcas Way
Caption: Just in time for Easter, our chicks hatched! Our nonprofits are really stepping up: OPAL Community Land Trust has so far served 83 families, providing support in applying for relief and $77,000 in immediate support so that these folks can stay in their homes...
GiveOrcas opens Monday, April 6th
The GiveOrcas Campaign begins Monday, April 6th at www.giveorcas.org and will run two weeks featuring a baker's dozen opportunities to help individual nonprofits and programs. These nonprofits, including the schools, the Orcas Center, and APS, have all experienced a...