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Your Hometown News Source
POMEROY–Donations to the Garfield County Forever-Raise the Blues drive were overwhelmingly positive, generating funds for promise scholarships to be awarded this spring for Pomeroy High School’s Class of 2024.
Raise the Blues is an endowment campaign through the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, in partnership with Launch NW, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation and Innovia.
The generosity shown in December for the Launch NW’s promise scholarship endowment was amazing, a recent news release indicated. A $100,000 match was exceeded with over $120,000 in donations flowing in from Garfield County contributors. Because of this support, promise scholarships will be available this spring for Pomeroy High School’s class of 2024.
“Raise the Blues” is a two-in-one fundraising effort. Launch NW will provide promise scholarships to the graduates of Pomeroy High School, which was the fundraising focus in December due to matching funds only available until December 31.
The Garfield County Forever Fund is an endowment fund (similar to the Shepherd Foundation, but collectively as a community rather than one family) to benefit Garfield County forever. There are two ways to donate, “Today Dollars” or “Tomorrow Dollars.”
“Today Dollars” are cash or other assets donated to the fund. These donations can be made over time and there is a 50% match through 2024 or until the $2 million dollars in matching funds for “Today Dollars” for Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Counties are depleted.
“Tomorrow Dollars” are bequest intentions in your will or estate planning equaling five per cent of your estate value or $100,000. “Tomorrow Dollars” require no “up-front money” but for each bequest intention, $20,000 is matched from a different $2 million dollars in matching funds earmarked for “Tomorrow Dollars”.
Currently there are two signed bequest intentions for Garfield County Forever Fund. Our local goal by year end is to add 18 more bequest intentions. Garfield County Forever is seeking bequestors to enable the fund to reach or exceed the goal and kickstart this endowment to benefit the Garfield County community.