FOUNDATION E-CONNECTIONS Summer 2020

 CHANGING LIVES THROUGH PHILANTHROPY

FACES OF THE FOUNDATION

Renton Innovation Zone Partnership

The Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (RIZP) is a community collaborative that connects students and families with basic needs, early learning opportunities and community and family engagement resources for the most vulnerable families that reside in Skyway/West Hill and Renton Highlands. While working with community-based organizations, the RIZP cultivates partnerships that help to improve student learning for children that attend Bryn Mawr, Campbell Hill, Lakeridge and Highlands elementary schools. In 2019, the RIZP opened an Innovation Fund at RRCF, which supports grassroots projects in the Skyway-West Hill and Renton Sunset-Highlands neighborhoods that work to improve academic outcomes by supporting students and families. Since COVID-19, the RIZP has been working collaboratively with partners to respond to the needs of their community. Without question, this unprecedented time and the response efforts surrounding it have altered the way we live, learn and work. As a response, many community-based organizations have worked tirelessly to provide support for families and individuals in need. From supplying personal protective equipment, to offering virtual kindergarten registration, to providing diapers, fresh food, gift cards, and canned goods, to playing upbeat music and distributing tangible resources in neighborhoods, organizations have come together to help bring light to families in Skyway neighborhoods and in the Renton Highlands. “In terms of COVID-19, communities such as Skyway and Renton Highlands are impacted at a much higher rate than others. This is due to our communities having underlying health conditions, and outreach about COVID not being focused on us. Providing gloves and masks to people in our short interactions is a way to keep our families and most vulnerable safe,”  says Ryan Quigtar, the Executive Director of the RIZP. Collaboration is the name of the game at RIZP. During the pandemic, they have worked with organizations such as Somali Parents Education Board (SPEB), Urban Family, Sunset Community Church, Communities in Schools Renton-Tukwila, Highlands Elementary,   Somali Youth and Family Club, and Renton School District. Collectively, in both Skyway/West Hill and in the Renton Highlands, these organizations have assisted nearly 12,000 individuals with the help of over 600 community volunteers. If you would like to volunteer with RIZP, go here to sign up. If you have other questions, you may email them at riz@rizpartnership.org .  Ryan will be featured at our Virtual Town Hall on August 19th (see below), where you will learn more about their work.

New Funds We are thrilled to showcase two new funds that have joined RRCF: The Irene Olson Memorial Scholarship Fund This scholarship honors the life and work of Irene Olson, (pictured, right) who served as principal of Tiffany Park Elementary School from 2005 to 2017. Irene arrived as a refugee in the United States in 1950, and she fondly remembered the encouragement and generosity of her own teachers. As a result, she was particularly interested in ELL education and family outreach. Under her leadership, Tiffany Park became one of the top-performing schools in the Renton School District. She was a leader in implementing positive behavioral interventions and support systems, and she was passionate about mentoring the next generation of educators. This scholarship will support a future educator in their college education. You can read more about Irene here. Robert and Mary Cugini Fund Robert and Mary Cugini have been involved in a variety of regional causes for many years. Robert's late mother, Norma Denzler Cugini, was very active in RRCF before her passing in 2017. While Robert and his siblings, Cathy and Crissa, have other funds with RRCF, Robert and Mary opened this specific donor-advised fund to support a variety of community organizations and causes. If you would like to learn more about how to open a fund at RRCF, contact LeAnne Moss at lmoss@rentonfoundation.org

COVID-19 Response Fund

"This grant helps people of color living outside to shelter-in-place by bringing resources to them including meals, clothing, outreach supplies, and medical supplies. We’ve also been able to provide hand sanitizer and masks as needed, keeping people safe from COVID-1 9." Tavia Rhodes Director of Development Evergreen Treatment Services

In early March we created the COVID-19 Response Fund to be able to respond to the immediate needs of our community. Since then, we have distributed $200,000 to 43 organizations working on the front lines with our area's most vulnerable residents. Close to 80% of these grants have gone for food security. You can go here to see a full list of grantee partners. These grants have been possible because of the support of more than 70 donors to the fund. If you would like to partner with us in this endeavor, thanks to All in Washington , every dollar is matched! You can go here to make a gift, and just put "All in WA" in the comments.

Scholarships! We are happy to announce that we are distributing just under $70,000 in scholarships to 20 students in our area. These students represent our future leaders in education, engineering, medicine, and more. Because of COVID-19, we couldn't hold a reception and meet these incredible individuals personally, but we have received notes of gratitude and great hope for their educational process to come. Many thanks to the scholarship committee, chaired by Peter Aiau, and for the generosity of our scholarship fund advisors.

Virtual Town Hall: August 19th, 11 a.m.  How are our community members managing during COVID? Come hear from community-based leaders about what's happening on the ground and how you can help families in our community:  Edmund Witter - Senior Managing Attorney for the Housing Justice Project who will talk about what tenants are experiencing and what can be done. Ryan Quigtar, - Executive Director of Renton Innovation Zone Partnership who will talk about what they are seeing with what families are experiencing around food and other basic needs. Michelle Frets – Executive Director of Vine Maple Place who can talk about what they are seeing with their residents (housing) and the many services they offer.  Go HERE to register

CONSIDER A BEQUEST J oin our Community Legacy Society and leave a permanent legacy for yourself or a loved one by naming RRCF in your will. Please contact LeAnne Moss, Executive Director at lmoss@rentonfoundation.org or go to our website for recommended bequest language. Click Here

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Interested in establishing a fund and making a difference? Contact LeAnne Moss, Executive Director. Lmoss@rentonfoundation.org or call (425) 282-5199.

Renton Regional Community Foundation P.O. Box 820 Renton, WA 98057 www.rentonfoundation.org 425-282-5199