Jan Simon succeeds Karen McCormick, who is retiring

Port Angeles, WA, April 3, 2019– First Federal Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Jan Simon is joining the nonprofit organization as its new executive director. Simon succeeds Karen McCormick, who is retiring from the leadership role and will remain on the Foundation’s board of directors.

Jan Simon brings more than 20 years of experience leading nonprofit organizations. In her more recent roles, Simon served over 15 years as President and CEO of the Washington Lodging Association, and most recently served as the executive director of Seattle’s Center for Spiritual Living. She has been involved in civic and community organizations including Seattle Rotary and the Ballard Ecumenical Homeless Ministry.

“We are delighted to welcome Jan Simon to First Federal Community Foundation,” said Foundation board chairman Norman Tonina. “She brings a wealth of experience, energy, and awareness of the challenges facing our communities and how we can create meaningful and lasting impacts through our foundation.  We believe the Foundation will benefit from her experience in managing financial sustainability, marketing and communications, community leadership, and her experience in fundraising from a grantee perspective.  The board would also like to thank Karen McCormick for her leadership as founding executive director of the Foundation; Karen’s tenacious leadership not only launched the organization but led to $2.9 million in grants over the last 4 years, making a serious impact in the communities we serve.”

“I am honored and delighted to join the First Federal Community Foundation as its executive director,” said Simon.  “In its first four years alone, the Foundation has already made a significant difference in improving the quality of life in Whatcom, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties.  I look forward to working with the Board and other community leaders to continue build on and grow the Foundation’s impact in delivering benefits to the community, facilitating economic development, and enhancing the availability of affordable housing.”

Simon will join the Foundation in late April.

About the First Federal Community Foundation:  First Federal Community Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles. The Foundation provides funding for community support, affordable housing, economic development and community development in communities where First Federal operates a full-service branch.

About First Federal:  First Federal is a subsidiary of First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank headquartered in Port Angeles, WA. First Federal is currently serving Western Washington through 13 banking centers; located within Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. www.ourfirstfed.com / (360)417.3204 / (800)800.1577

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Karen McCormick at 360-417-3112 or email at karen.mccormick@firstfedcf.org.

Click here to view the 2017 Annual Report.

Sixteen Local Nonprofits Receive $500,000 in Gifts

Port Angeles, WA, [Nov 30, 2018]– First Federal Community Foundation announces the following grant awards to local nonprofits that are making a difference in their communities:

• Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula: Awarded $100,000 Community Development grant for construction of new Clubhouse in Port Angeles.
• Shipley Center: Awarded $100,000 Community Development grant for construction of new Health and Wellness Annex in Sequim.
• Housing Resources Bainbridge: Awarded $60,000 Affordable Housing grant to rehabilitate ten units of affordable housing for low income individuals and families on Bainbridge Island.
• Roxy Bremerton: Awarded $50,000 Community Development grant to replace seating in the historic Roxy Theatre in Bremerton.
• Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center: Awarded $50,000 Community Development grant to redevelop a recently acquired building for its new permanent location.
• Jefferson Community Foundation: Awarded $40,000 Affordable Housing grant to design and launch the new Jefferson County Housing Solutions Network.
• Jefferson Healthcare Foundation: Awarded $25,000 Community Development grant to acquire a new infant warmer for Jefferson Healthcare’s Family Birth Center in Port Townsend.
• KPTZ Radio Port Townsend: Awarded $25,000 Community Development grant for improvements to new studio location in Port Townsend.
• Centrum Foundation: Awarded $10,000 Community Support grant for scholarships to the Young Artist Program in Port Townsend.
• Whatcom Family YMCA: Awarded $10,000 Community Support grant for scholarships to low-income families for afterschool programs in Whatcom County.
• Financial Beginnings Washington: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to provide financial literacy education for students in Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.
• Clear Creek Task Force: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to develop a guidebook for Dyes Inlet Water Quality Program in Kitsap County.
• Kids Discovery Museum: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant for free and subsidized admission for low-income children in Kitsap County.
• Kidzz Helping Kidzz: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to purchase toys for children who are hospitalized during the holidays in Kitsap County.
• Sequim Wheelers: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to purchase a new adapted bicycle and transportation equipment for providing accessible bike rides for disabled clients in Sequim.
• Washington’s National Park Fund: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to provide outdoor recreation programming for youth in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club in Clallam County.

“With these gifts, First Federal Community Foundation demonstrates its commitment to enriching our communities, creating new opportunities, and expanding the capacity of our local nonprofit agencies,” said foundation board chairman Norman Tonina, Jr. “We are committed to our leadership role in giving back to our communities, and we are proud to be making a difference through these investments in the people and places we call home.”

Since it was funded in January 2015, First Federal Community Foundation has given $2,866,500 in grant awards to qualified organizations in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom Counties.

“Last year First Federal and its foundation were ranked #2 of the top 25 mid-sized corporate philanthropists in the Pacific Northwest region by the Puget Sound Business Journal,” said First Federal president and CEO Larry Hueth. “We are proud to continue to provide meaningful gifts that will improve the quality of life for all of us.”

About the First Federal Community Foundation:  First Federal Community Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles. The Foundation provides funding for community support, affordable housing, economic development and community development in communities where First Federal operates a full-service branch.

About First Federal:  First Federal is a subsidiary of First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank headquartered in Port Angeles, WA. First Federal is currently serving Western Washington through 12 banking centers located within Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. www.ourfirstfed.com / (360)417.3204 / (800)800.1577

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Karen McCormick at 360-417-3112 or email at karen.mccormick@firstfedcf.org.

Fifteen Local Nonprofits Receive $385,000 in Gifts

Port Angeles, WA, May 4, 2018– First Federal Community Foundation announces the following grant awards to local nonprofits that are making a difference in their communities:

• Bainbridge Island Museum of Art: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant to expand in-school arts education outreach programs.
• Boys and Girls Club of Whatcom County: Awarded $10,000 Community Support grant to increase the capacity of the Healthy Meals Program.
• Concerned Citizens: Awarded $10,000 Community Support grant to re-roof the Sunshine & Rainbows Child Care Center in Forks.
• Port Townsend Marine Science Center: Awarded $6,750 Community Support grant to subsidize hands-on science classes for children from low and moderate income families.
• Port Townsend School of the Arts: Awarded $6,750 Community Support grant to fund summer arts camps supplies and scholarships for children from low and moderate income families.
• Washington’s National Park Fund: Awarded $5,000 Community Support grant for the Elwha River restoration middle school science program in Port Angeles.
• Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County: Awarded $30,000 Affordable Housing grant for the South County Home Repair Program.
• Kulshan Community Land Trust: Awarded $30,000 Affordable Housing grant to provide counseling and education programs for low and moderate income homeowners.
• Fort Worden Public Development Authority: Awarded $100,000 Economic Development grant to rehabilitate three buildings as part of its Makers Square initiative.
• Bainbridge Island Child Care Centers: Awarded $25,000 Community Development grant to develop a new care facility for school-age children.
• Holly Ridge Center: Awarded $50,000 Community Development grant to purchase and renovate a new facility to accommodate growth.
• NatureBridge: Awarded $25,000 Community Development grant to upgrade the fire suppression system at Olympic National Park’s Rosemary Inn.
• Olympic Medical Center Foundation: Awarded $25,000 Community Development grant for expansion of the Cancer Care Center in Sequim.
• Peninsula Behavioral Health: Awarded $50,000 Community Development grant to renovate its building to accommodate the Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic.

“We are pleased to announce these gifts to organizations that are improving the quality of life in our communities,” said outgoing foundation board chairman David Flodstrom. “First Federal Community Foundation is committed to investing in our shared future through these gifts.”

Since it was funded in January 2015, First Federal Community Foundation has given $2,366,500 in grant awards to qualified organizations in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom Counties.

“Our Foundation is proud to be one of the premier corporate philanthropists for companies of our size in the Pacific Northwest region,” said First Federal president and CEO Larry Hueth. “We are proud of our commitment to making our communities better places to live for all of us.”

About the First Federal Community Foundation:  First Federal Community Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles. The Foundation provides funding for community support, affordable housing, economic development and community development in communities where First Federal operates a full-service branch.

About First Federal:  First Federal is a subsidiary of First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank headquartered in Port Angeles, WA. First Federal is currently serving Western Washington through 13 banking centers; located within Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. www.ourfirstfed.com / (360)417.3204 / (800)800.1577

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Karen McCormick at 360-417-3112 or email at karen.mccormick@firstfedcf.org.

Norman Tonina assumes leadership role and Jeffrey Davis joins the foundation’s board of directors.

Port Angeles, WA, May 4, 2018– At its annual meeting held on April 23, 2018, First Federal Community Foundation appointed Norman Tonina chairman of its board of directors, succeeding David Flodstrom who remains on the organization’s board. The foundation recognized and thanked Flodstrom, who served as chairman since the organization was initially funded in 2015. The foundation also elected Jeffrey Davis to a two-year term on its board of directors. Davis joins directors Cindy Finnie, Craig Curtis and Karen McCormick whose terms continue, in addition to Tonina and Flodstrom.

“We are delighted to welcome Norm as our new board chairman,” said foundation executive director Karen McCormick. “He brings a wealth of talent, vision and experience that will benefit our foundation immeasurably.”

Norman J. Tonina, Jr. has served as the Chairman of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority in Port Townsend, Washington since 2015. Tonina is also an adjunct faculty member in Seattle Pacific University’s graduate program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Tonina most recently worked at Grameen Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on enabling the poor to create a world without poverty, where he served as an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors (2012-16) and as its Chief Human Resources Officer (2010-12), focused on driving strategic alignment, organizational effectiveness, and human resource re-engineering initiatives. He began his career at Digital Equipment Corporation in 1987 and joined Microsoft in 1993 as a finance manager for its Systems products, rising to become Senior Director of Finance for Microsoft’s Platforms and Applications business. In 1999, he transitioned to Human Resources, where he directed major strategic global HR initiatives, spending the majority of his time focused on culture, leadership, and talent strategies. Tonina earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University, a certificate in human resources from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Antioch University. Tonina continues to be actively involved in community organizations in both Seattle and Port Townsend, Washington.

Jeff Davis is Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of First Federal.  Davis has over 25 years in leadership positions in banking, focusing on Strategy, Product, Operations, and Service Delivery.  Prior to joining First Federal in September, 2014, he was most recently with First Merchants Corporation.  He is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and Anderson University with a Master’s in Business Administration.  He is also a graduate from Stonier National Graduate School of Banking.  Davis is currently a director of the Northwest Maritime Center, actively volunteers in several local organizations in Clallam County, and served as a director for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County.  Prior to moving to Washington State in 2014, Davis served as a director of Indiana APSE and director and Treasurer of Fountains of Hope.

“We are pleased to welcome Jeff Davis to First Federal Community Foundation’s board of directors,” said foundation executive director Karen McCormick. “He sets the standard for giving back to those who need it most, and we are grateful for the exceptional leadership and commitment he brings to the foundation.”

About the First Federal Community Foundation:  First Federal Community Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles. The Foundation provides funding for community support, affordable housing, economic development and community development in communities where First Federal operates a full-service branch.

About First Federal:  First Federal is a subsidiary of First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank headquartered in Port Angeles, WA. First Federal is currently serving Western Washington through 12 banking centers; located within Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. www.ourfirstfed.com / (360)417.3204 / (800)800.1577

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Karen McCormick at 360-417-3112 or email at karen.mccormick@firstfedcf.org.