Ann Irish Tabor

Dear Friends:

"Stepping Up" seemed to be a most appropriate theme for this year's Annual Report to the Community. While "stepping up" is a simple concept, it's not always easy, and may take a little courage. But that is exactly what we witnessed in 2009 - our community stepping up - people doing a little more, rising above themselves, taking action, making a difference.

During a year of intense challenges for our country, our state, and our community, we experienced incredible generosity - people reaching out when it might have been easier to hunker down, nonprofit organizations stepping up to do more to care for our neighbors despite fewer resources, new programs to give others hope in the face of despair, a community working together to make a brighter today and tomorrow for all of us.

This year, over 3,300 gifts were received by the Community Foundation totaling over $4.6 million - 1,100 more gifts and $1.3 million more than last year. And grants of over $3 million were awarded from Funds of the Community Foundation, including over $265,000 in scholarships to 183 students pursuing their dream of a college education. On December 31, 2009, our assets totaled $47.1 million when last year at the same time, they were just over $37 million - a remarkable achievement! Thank you all for making this possible.

In this year's report, we are excited to feature Ed Post's gorgeous photographs of steps from around the Tri-Cities community. We thought it would be fun to have a little contest. As you read through this report, see if you can identify the location of the steps pictured throughout. If you can, you just might win a $1,000 grant to the Tri-Cities area charity of your choice. For official rules, see the page in the center of the report. We hope you will enjoy this fun experience that symbolizes our community at its finest.

As always, the Board of Trustees and staff of the Community Foundation remain committed, through the power of endowment, responsible stewardship, and high impact grants, to making the Tri-Cities community a special place to live…today and for future generations. Thank you for stepping up to do the work that needs to be done.