This Valentine’s Day we are feeling the love from the Lundeen Family. Bob Lundeen was a remarkable community leader and a founding member of the Orcas Island Community Foundation Board. Betty was equally engaged in a variety of efforts such as the Senior Center and organization of medical services. Evidence of their philanthropy can be found throughout the community–at the Betty Lundeen Room at the Senior Center, a wing of the Medical Clinic, and through the Academic Excellence Fund at the Orcas Island School District. When Bob’s will matured (as he was fond of saying) he left a legacy gift to the Orcas Island Community Foundation to establish the Robert and Betty Lundeen Endowment Fund. The endowment was fully funded when escrow for Bob’s estate completed in 2019.
Bob designated the annual distribution from the endowment be divided between the Orcas Community Foundation (to be used at the Boards discretion) and half to further efforts in support of public education, the library, the senior population, and medical services for Orcas Island.
In 2020 the total distribution will be approximately $50,000. While OICF is the steward of the fund, the benefit of the fund is for the entire community. As such, we have invited representatives from the sectors that Bob identified for support to join us to develop the criteria for selecting the recipient(s) annually. I will keep you posted on our progress.
If you have wondered about cultural competence, what it is, why it is essential, and how it can foster a diverse and inclusive community on Orcas Island, there is a community meeting focused on ‘Building a More Inclusive Paradise,’ Tuesday, Feb 18 at 6 pm at the Library. Hosted by a group of neighbors, the goal of the discussion and upcoming workshop is to elevate our community’s values—and its joy—by initiating a conversation about empathy, relationship, and kinship and to identify tangible ideas to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion on Orcas Island. A worthy effort, indeed.
Have a great weekend-
Hilary