COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Community Foundation holds annual gala
Event raises nearly $20,000 for
charitable contributions
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
A room full of donors and
dreamers gathered on October
26 to celebrate the annual Com-
munity Foundation Gala.
It was a night of success sto-
ries, bolstered by contributions
to the foundation and opportu-
nity afforded to organizations
and individuals throughout the
community.
“All kids are our kids,” South
Lane School District’s Garrett
Bridgens told the crowd. It’s a
mantra he fell on after speaking
with his older brother the week-
end prior to the gala. Both Brid-
gens and his brother are grad-
uates of Cottage Grove High
School and after completing his
education, Bridgens returned to
Cottage Grove to teach; a com-
mon theme among recipients of
foundation funds.
Magnolia Gardens’ Carmen
Young detailed the stories of
three students who received fi -
nancial support to attend nurs-
ing school and now work in
RiverBend locally in the labor
and delivery and emergency de-
partments.
While the foundation gives to
individuals—including a high
school senior taken in by Brid-
gens and his wife Heather—it
also lends a hand to community
projects and organizations. Pete
Burrell spoke of the founda-
tions support in obtaining new
computer stations for the com-
munity library this year noting
that 10 to 20 children use the
stations daily. The equipment
was purchased with funds from
the city, a support group for the
library dubbed Friends of the
Library and $1,000 from the
Community Foundation.
According to its website,
“The Cottage Grove Communi-
ty Foundation is governed by an
entirely volunteer board. It was
formed in 1991 with the purpose
of supporting the community
and citizens of Cottage Grove
by receiving, holding, investing
and administering contributions
and gifts for the benefi t of the
community. The Foundation es-
tablished a scholarship program
by which donors can donate to
the Foundation with the purpose
of providing scholarships an-
nually in the name designated
by the donor. A total of $6100
was awarded to eight recipients
in the fi rst year and in 2017
over $98,000 was awarded to
eighty recipients. A communi-
ty grant program was also es-
tablished by which foundation
funds may be used in support
of other non-profi t corporations.
The grants in 2017 was almost
$16,000 and awarded to fi fteen
organizations helping children,
families, the environment, busi-
ness and culture important to
the health and well-being of
area residents.”
A paddle raise held Thurs-
day night raised approximately
$18,000 including a $10,000
donation from Frank Simpson.
The Sentinel donated $200.
GALA-The Community Foundation helds its annual gala on Thursday,
October 26. The event raised nearly $20,000 for the foundation which
helps both organizations and individuals in the community. Top: South Lane
Mental Health Director Tom Wheeler, Gail Hoelzle and Jim Harrison. Bottom
right: Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Travis Palmer. Top left:
South Lane School District's Garrett Bridgens and Superintendent Krista
Parent. Bottom left: Lane County Commissioner Gary Williams, Cottage
Grove Councilman Jake Boone, Frank and Pamela Simpson.
Photos by Greg Lee.
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