After operating out of an office in Olympic Elementary for many years, the Chehalis Foundation finally has a dedicated space to continue its efforts in bettering the Chehalis community.
The new office is at 256 NW Park St.
“We wanted the community to see us,” said Jenny Collins, the executive director of the foundation, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
Although the foundation has been in existence for 21 years, they’ve been without a place to call their own.
The new office is equipped for board meetings with a conference room, main office and waiting room. The office is decorated with pictures of past projects, including the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatic Center and Penny Playground.
While preparing for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Collins said, “For us this is a big deal and none of this could happen without an incredible board of directors, without our community and our donors and a lot of people who love Chehalis.”
Almost all the board members were present, including founding member Joanne Schwartz, who Collins dedicated the facility to during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Before cutting the ribbon, Schwartz said, “There’s a lot of people who were involved in this in the beginning. It does take a village, and we are a very special village. All of us. This whole community.”
The foundation is currently working on a project at W.F. West High School’s baseball field, where new turf is being installed and renovations are being made. The project is expected to wrap up by the end of October.
After the completion of the baseball field projects, the foundation will launch into the creation of a new indoor tennis and wrestling facility.
As a part of their goal to nurture educational excellence in the community, they have given scholarships to students since 2013. More than $1 million has been awarded to students since 2013.
All projects are in partnership with the City of Chehalis or the Chehalis School District and always align with the foundation’s mission: supporting projects that benefit the city, the community and academic excellence in Chehalis schools.
The foundation’s next big fundraising event is its Holiday Gala on Saturday, Nov. 23.
For more information or to contribute to the Chehalis Foundation, visit chehalisfoundation.org.
