News Briefs for July 16, 2020

Parks Foundation’s Community Grant program surpasses $1 million

Since 2008, the Parks Foundation of Clark County has helped make playgrounds safe and accessible, expand trail systems, create recreational scholarships for sports, send children to day and overnight camps, and provide funding for summer programs through its Community Grants fund.

This year’s awards bring the total amount of the Parks Foundation’s strategic giving to more than $1 million.

The Foundation does not receive state, county, city or federal funding and has accomplished this goal solely upon private support and innovative partnerships.

This summer, the Parks Foundation awarded $78,938 in community grants, thanks to members and corporate sponsors. Those grants include:

• $6,500 for the Battle Ground Summer Playground Program, sponsored by Riverview Community Bank;
• $500 to the Camas-Washougal Skate Park Improvement Project, sponsored by Georgia-Pacific;
• $7,930 to the Raspberry Fields Park Play Equipment Upgrade, sponsored in part by Cowlitz Tribe;
• $4,000 to Camp Hope Scholarships, sponsored by OnPoint Credit Union;
• $1,508 to buy equipment for the Clark County Volunteer Program;
• $3,000 for the Ike Memorial Dog Park fencing project;
• $12,500 for Vancouver Parks & Recreation’s “Teen Late Night” program, sponsored in part by US Bank;
• $26,000 for Vancouver Parks & Recreation’s “Summer Playground” program, sponsored by the McClaskey Family Foundation;
• $6,000 for the Marshall Center’s family swim program, sponsored by Bauman Chiropractic;
• $11,000 for Vancouver Parks & Recreation’s “Everybody Plays” program, sponsored by Bauman Chiropractic and Nautilus.

In addition, the Parks Foundation continued its endowed support for senior programs at Luepke Community Center through the Theodor A. Barney Fund in the amount of $30,721.

The 2021 Community Grant application process is now open with grant applications due Aug. 3. Community Grants that meet the funding criteria will be announced and open for sponsorship and financial support September 2020 through March of 2021. Contact Executive Director Dellan Redjou at dredjou@parksforclark.org for an application.

League of Women voters present ‘League 101,’ host candidate forums

The president of the League of Women Voters of Washington will present “League 101,” a look at the work and mission of the nonpartisan civic organization, at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, via videoconferencing.

“This is a great opportunity for current and new members as well as interested members of the public to learn more about the LWV and all that we do,” said Jane Johnson, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Clark County.

Persons interested in learning more about the League are welcome and should contact the League at lwvclarkcounty@gmail.com to request access.

In addition to serving as the state League president, Lunell Haught is a member of the faculty at Gonzaga University, where she teaches organizational development and management.

The League of Women Voters encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters celebrates its 100th birthday this year along with the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that extended the vote to women in 1920. Membership in the Clark County League now exceeds 100 people, a target set last year in conjunction with both centennials.

Membership in the League is open to all.

The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund and The Spokesman-Review newspaper will present an online forum featuring candidates running for secretary of state at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, via Zoom.

The LWV of Spokane Area will host this forum, which will be televised on KSPS-TV and streamed on its website during the broadcast. The forum recording will then be available for later viewing on the KSPS website, the LWV of Washington Facebook page and website, The Spokesman-Review website, and the KHQ-TV website.

The candidate elected to this office will affect laws and policies that bear on all Washingtonians’ daily lives.

The secretary of state primary forum is the second of 10 forums and debates that The Spokesman-Review and the League of Women Voters are presenting to provide voters with the information they need to cast an informed ballot. General election debates will focus on candidates vying for governor, attorney general, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and treasurer. These debates will take place in the fall.

Voters can also view the League’s most recent forum with the lieutenant governor candidates, which aired on July 9. TVW will air a recording of this forum at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 16.