The Peninsula Home Fund, now in its 35th year, will again conduct a fundraising campaign through the holiday season to provide an avenue for neighbors to help neighbors on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Home Fund always has offered Peninsula residents the opportunity to help those in need with a “hand up, not a handout.”
Although it runs throughout the year, a special fundraising campaign is conducted annually from Thanksgiving through the holiday season.
Donations, along with the names of the donors, should they elect to have them published, are presented in the Peninsula Daily News throughout the campaign.
The past few months, a committee upgraded the process for distributing the funds while keeping firmly in place the core value of neighbor helping neighbor.
Those serving on the committee are state Rep. Steve Tharinger; OMC Foundation Executive Director Bruce Skinner; Edna Peterson, philanthropist, fundraiser and business owner; Peninsula Daily News Publisher Eran Kennedy; retired PDN Executive Editor Leah Leach; and PDN Editor Brian McLean.
After putting out a call for Request for Proposals (RFP) and considering several applicants, the group voted Nov. 14 to partner with Olympic View Community Foundation.
“For 35 years, the Home Fund has been a vital resource, offering a ‘hand up, not a handout’ to residents in need across Clallam and Jefferson counties,” Kennedy said. “The fund has assisted countless individuals and families with essential needs. The continued generosity of the community and strategic partnerships, like the one with the Olympic View Community Foundation, ensure that the Home Fund can keep making a positive impact for years to come.”
Under the new system, the committee will announce after the start of the new year that grants are available for nonprofits that serve Clallam and Jefferson counties. Olympic View Community Foundation, a longstanding 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will oversee the awarding of the grants.
“We’re thinking creatively about how the Peninsula Home Fund is administered,” said Jessica Elliott, the director of the Olympic View Community Foundation. “A more flexible methodology will allow Peninsula Home Fund to continue with the tradition of supporting individuals in our community, but now it will also provide grant opportunities to local nonprofit organizations.
“By doing so, Peninsula Home Fund will expand and increase the number of people served, since many of our nonprofits have established expertise, existing programming and systems already in place. Our collective goal is to ensure contributed dollars are achieving maximum benefit.”
Mark Ozias, a Clallam County commissioner and Olympic View Community Foundation board member, said the foundation is thrilled to support the evolution of the Peninsula Home Fund.
“The Home Fund has positively impacted the lives of thousands of our neighbors over the years and we look forward to effectively stewarding the generosity of this community by ensuring that contributions benefit the individuals and families in need of support, as well as the community organizations that work tirelessly to help meet these needs,” Ozias said.
Over the years, the Peninsula Home Fund has raised more than $4.93 million for those in need in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Through good times and bad, the generosity and compassion of Peninsula residents has remained constant. Some donate throughout the year while others provide one donation during the campaign months.
From children’s pennies to checks for thousands of dollars, each donation makes a difference, helping people from Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim, Port Angeles, Joyce and La Push.
All contributions are fully federally tax-deductible for the year in which the check is written.
Those who wish to donate can mail checks to Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA, 98362, or to Olympic View Community Foundation, P.O. Box 3651, Sequim, WA, 98382. An online option is available at https://ov-cf.org/peninsula-home-fund-donation.
All are invited to participate in this tradition of giving, one unique to the Peninsula. Many donors have given for years, and we thank them for their generosity. It makes a difference for our community.
