Gift Will Benefit Foster Family Program

Sun., Aug. 17, 1997

Lynn Gibson Correspondent

Amid champagne and delectables at the Spokane Valley Mall Gala Preview Party on Tuesday, a check for $35,000 was presented to the Junior League of Spokane to help support its Foster Family Program.

More than 1,500 people attended the evening’s festivities which included presentation of the donation to Jane Baldwin, Junior League representative, by John Price of JP Realty Inc., mall owner.

“One of the main things we wanted to achieve (with this gift) was to reach out to the children of Spokane,” said Phil Vise, marketing director of JP Realty Inc., who added the Foster Family Program “is an agency that does very good work and doesn’t get a lot of attention.”

According to Vise, the gift also demonstrates the commitment of the Spokane Valley Mall to the community, especially to children.

To raise the $35,000, Price agreed to match contributions received from businesses and agencies involved with the creation of the mall.

Since 1996, the Junior League’s Foster Family Program has established several activities to support foster families in our region, including:

The Santa Breakfast with gifts for foster families during the holiday season.

A speaker’s bureau to educate the community on foster family issues.

The Resource Center Database which tracks donated items and matches them with needy foster children.

Fund-raiser

Aisles of Smiles is the summer fund-raising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Through Aug. 31, participating grocers and manufacturers will donate a portion of their proceeds to help fight neuromuscular diseases.

Grocery shoppers can contribute to MDA by purchasing the following products: Irish Spring soap, Ore-Ida potatoes, Krusteaz waffles, Frito Lay products, Campbell soups, 7-Up beverages, Baby Magic products, Sparkle towels, Tropicana drinks, Stouffers products, Xtra detergent, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Gatorade, MD Bath Tissue, Orowheat breads, American Beauty pasta, Hidden Valley dressings and Old El Paso Refried Beans.

For more information, contact the MDA office at 325-3747.

Community events

A weekend of relaxation at Lake Coeur d’Alene awaits women, 18 and older, when the Inland Empire Council of Camp Fire hosts a retreat at Camp Sweyolaken, Sept. 5-7.

Women may structure the weekend as they choose, taking advantage of swimming, canoeing, hiking, volleyball … Retreat fees are $60 for Camp Fire members, $85 for non-members. For information and registration, call 747-6191 or (800) 386-2343.

Experience the thrills and chills of yesteryear with the Cheney Cowles Museum’s summer exhibition, “Remembering Nat Park,” through Aug. 31.

As part of the exhibition’s free closing events at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 27, Paul Quam will conduct a “visit” to the internal workings of the carousel’s band organ.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays until 9 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 456-3931.

Non-profit notes

Local breast cancer research will benefit from a $5,000 donation by the international sorority Beta Sigma Phi.

Dr. Joan Craig of Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Cancer and Research Center received the award from Marge Lambo, Sigma Phi’s chairwoman, during the state convention held in Spokane.

Craig’s research focuses on cancer in younger women, attempting to identify a common factor which may put them at risk for cancer.

Beta Sigma Phi supports charitable, cultural and health organizations throughout the world. More than $200,000 has been donated to breast cancer research in the last two years.

Regional non-profit groups, take note: grant guidelines are now available from Foundation Northwest.

The community foundation holds more than 120 funds for disbursement to charitable, cultural and educational groups to help improve the quality of life in the Inland Northwest.

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must a be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and provide services in the Inland Northwest.

For a copy of the grant guidelines, call Foundation Northwest at 624-2606; or write to: Foundation Northwest, 421 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 400, Spokane, WA 99201.

Application deadlines and instructions for all funds are included in the guidelines. Preliminary applications for the fall grant cycle must be submitted by Aug. 31.

, DataTimes MEMO: Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.

Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.