STANWOOD — An active group of philanthropists is to be honored Feb. 24 at the Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation’s annual breakfast.
Philanthropy is celebrated in the Stanwood and Camano Island community because life would there be much more difficult without it, said foundation Executive Director Tracy Ulrich. The nonprofit foundation is the top source of charitable giving in the community, Ulrich said,
Former King County executive Ron Sims, who has been honored for his public service, plans to speak at the awards breakfast set for 8 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, 27130 102nd Ave. NW in Stanwood. The public is invited.
The philanthropists to be honored give of their time, money and talents as well as inspire others to do the same, Ulrich said.
They are Dr. Jimmy Grierson, Vivian Henderson and Dan Hernan, as well as the Camano Island Builders Association.
Grierson is the founder of the Safe Harbor Free Clinic, a free medical walk-in clinic in Stanwood. The clinic has provided comprehensive health care services to uninsured people since opening its doors in June 2009. Grierson serves as chairman of the Safe Harbor board of directors, he volunteers his time there and also teaches medical students who volunteer at Safe Harbor. Henderson has championed causes associated with farming. She is a founder of Harvest Jubilee, helped form Slow Food Port Susan and dedicates her time to the Farmers Market Steering Committee and Port Susan Food and Farming Center.
Hernan started a firewood ministry to make a difference in the lives of families who couldn’t afford to keep their homes heated. He then spearheaded a community campaign to provide firewood. He regularly recruits a group of men to cut, stack and distribute wood to families who need help. Last year, he and his friends delivered more than 400 cords of free wood. The Firewood Ministry has distribution centers in Snohomish, Skagit and Island counties.
The Camano Island Builders Association and its members regularly donate to the community. In 2010, association members took a week off from their own construction projects to help build the Rotary Adventure Playground at Freedom Park on Camano Island. In November, they helped renovate a dilapidated building used by the Stanwood-Camano Christmas House.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
To attend
RSVP to 360-629-6878 or email Ulrich at tracy@s-caf.org. For more information about the foundation, go to www.s-caf.org.
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