Hood River Adopt A Dog gets $1 million gift

GCF marked a year of growth, it was reported, with endowments reaching $12.5 million.

The anonymous gift to Hood River Adopt A Dog (HRAAD) will allow the no-kill shelter to continue its work. HRAAD took over the county’s shelter operations almost 13 years ago, and its endowment — just $12,000 — produced $600 a year. With the county and city declining to provide ongoing funding, the shelter was described as “barely hanging on.”

“The money will help cover veterinary emergencies, support programs that pair dogs with local children, and ease worries among staff about their jobs,” said Lorraine Lyons, interim executive director for HRAAD, who accepted the endowment. “More than 100 dogs a year will benefit.”

United Way of the Columbia Gorge also has an endowment through GCF, first opened in July 2006 with $17,585. It has grown to $732,000 and generated $32,000 for the organization this year.

“You don’t have to start big; you just have to start,” United Way Executive Director Caroline Grew told the audience. “United Way is celebrating its 40th anniversary and recently raised a record $270,000 at its gala. This year it funded 34 grant applications from nonprofits across five counties.”

Founded in 1999, GCF serves Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington, and Hood River, Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties in Oregon. It now holds 108 funds, including donor-advised, scholarship, gift and designated funds. Since its start, it has distributed $5.8M total in funds and scholarships. GCF Executive Director Tucker Szymkowicz said the foundation has supported 82 different organizations in the last 10 months alone.

This year’s donor brunch included Szymkowicz asking for a moment of silence for founding member Lynn Everroad, who died this summer. She dedicated years to making the foundation happen, and Board President Gil Sharp referred to the foundation as her baby. Donors wishing to honor her may do so by giving to Lynn’s Fund.

Community foundations have tax benefits, allowing funds to be bundled and donated together over time.

“They provide stability, and the assets are endowed funds, and they are restricted into perpetuity,” he said. “And I strongly believe that philanthropy is a learned trait, and that this is something that we all have to share with others in order to pass it down to next generations. I believe everyone in this room understands that, but the importance is sharing that message with others.

“An endowment is not a rainy-day fund; it’s a forever fund,” Szymkowicz said.

He also announced a new outside financial advisor policy meant to help the foundation work with more advisors on legacy gifts. This year, one donor named GCF as an IRA beneficiary for more than half a million dollars, and another family created the foundation’s largest endowment when it dissolved its family foundation.

For more information about GCF, email tucker@gorgecf.org.