The email invitation caught my eye because it was sent by a prominent local leader. She was inviting me to an event. An important event, I thought. So, I had better attend.
The room was filled with people who loved Renton and represented every political view, socio-economic status, race, age and gender. They had gathered together with a common goal – to enrich their community through philanthropy. Specifically, they had chosen to direct their contributions close to home, to targeted local charities and service organizations.
I have donated to many causes and have often wondered how my money was spent. Annual reports don’t tell you. Even the acknowledgement letter sometimes doesn’t tell you. Yet, the folks in that room seemed to know! Donors were shaking hands with service providers, sharing dessert with the clients, and hugging each another.
That was my introduction to what I have come to know as the heart of my community – the Renton Community Foundation’s annual “Circle of Giving Awards Ceremony.” Over the past 10 years, the Circle of Giving has granted more than $300,000 to local organizations doing great work in the community, including the Renton Clothes Bank, Renton Area Youth and Family Services, Vision House, the Renton Rotary Salvation Army Food Bank, Renton School District, Allied Arts, Valley Medical Center and RCF’s General Fund.
Each year, the foundation pools donations solicited from individuals, and then awards that money back to the community. Every grantee is vetted as a legitimate tax-exempt organization, with site-visits qualifying the vital services they provide. That night in 2008, more than $39,000 was granted and I have never seen so many smiles.
What struck me most about that night was how little attention was paid to the Renton Community Foundation itself. These were the folks who raised the money, qualified the grantees, organized the event, and administered all the necessary paperwork. Without the foundation, none of this would have happened, and yet, they were well behind the spotlight. They focused instead on what the money would do for the community and the result was a shared sense of joy and fulfillment.
The Renton Community Foundation manages a group of charitable funds to benefit everything from the arts, to healthcare, to education, and even pet care. Since its incorporation in 1999, the Renton Community Foundation has grown from managing just two funds and $257,000, to over forty funds and close to $6 million. In addition, RCF has become an important philanthropic resource for fundraising, board development, public relations and non-profit management. Their goal is to connect donors to the causes they care about most, while partnering with local charitable organization to increase and strengthen their ability to deliver critical services.
Although the Renton Community Foundation’s main purpose is to administer this group of charitable funds, events such as the annual Circle of Giving reflect the very soul of the organization. I am now proud to count myself as a foundation donor and volunteer and encourage others to do so as well. You won’t be sorry.
You can start by attending the “2010 Circle of Giving Awards Ceremony” on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Renton Senior Activity Center. The event is open and free to the public. Or, you can also visit the foundation on its website at www. rentonfoundation.org, or call them at 425-282-5199.
Valerie O’Halloran is a member of the board of the Renton Community Foundation.
