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Sustainable Path Announces 2009 Grants

This year we received a record number of requests for grants.  With the same amount of money to grant this year as last ($105K), the Grants Committee had some difficult decisions to make.  Since the group decided to distribute funds over a wide range of topics and to a number of grantees,  we were not able to fully fund our final docket of requests.  A letter went out to our donors at the end of May asking for directed donations to supplement the partial grants awarded by the committee.  Obviously, this year’s projects appealed to our donors: the Add-On appeal garnered an additional $27,400, and Sustainable Path was able to provide full funding for several of the projects.  Thank you to our Add-On donors for your generosity!  The 2009 grant recipients and projects, the amounts of their grants, and the Sustainable Path Foundation’s site liaisons (a Sustainable Path volunteer matched with each grantee) are listed below.

2People, in partnership with the Pacific Science Center, for the planning phase of a permanent, computer-generated, wall-size, high-resolution, interactive exhibit that will allow visitors to the Center to see large scale images of the earth and the human footprint on the planet ($8,000). Site Liaisons: Richard Gayle and Kyoko Maruyama

Climate Solutions  for the New Energy Nexus program and pilot projects to model improved energy grid systems in “Pioneer Cities” ($18,000). Site Liaison: Jennifer Slack

Environmental Education Association of Washington to support systemic change through environmental and sustainability education initiatives ($16,150).  Site Liaisons: Kyoko Maruyama and Linda Park

Facing the Future for training and materials for teachers in the Puget Sound region, promoting science literacy in the context of sustainability ($9,400).  Site Liaison: Carol Olson

Reef Environmental Education Foundation  for the Volunteer Survey Project in the Pacific Northwest, a program that engages citizen scientists to collect data on marine life ($15,100). Site Liaison: JoAnn Amundson

Seattle Audubon Society for the Puget Sound Seabird Survey, a project in which volunteer citizen scientists gather demographic and geographic data about seabirds ($15,450).  Site Liaison: Kay Humm

Sightline Institute  to continue work on the Climate Policy Project focusing on research, consultation, and communication ($12,000). Site Liaison: Lowell Ericsson

Sustainable Connections  to support The Bellingham Energy Efficiency Challenge, a program targeted at local businesses ($10,000).  Site Liaisons: Kate Loughney and David Cosman

Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation  to build a public mandate for producer responsibility in disposal and recycling of fluorescent light bulbs and electronics ($16,350).  Site Liaison: Patty Ryan

Washington Toxics Coalition  to disseminate results of The Earliest Exposures Project which is assessing exposure to toxic chemicals before birth ($12,000).  Site Liaison: David Cosman

Grants Committee Completes Work

Kudos and thanks for a job well done go to the following committee members: JoAnn Amundson, Michelle Chow, David Cosman, Lowell Ericsson, Della Friend, Richard Gayle, Kay Humm, Kate Loughney, Karyn McKelvey, Kyoko Maruyama, Carol Olson, Linda Park, and Jennifer Slack.  A very special thank you goes to Patty Ryan who, as committee chairperson, kept everything on track and running smoothly.  Thanks also to Nan McKay for sharing her advice and grant-making expertise and to Nora Burton who so ably expedited the whole process.

Congratulations to Karyn McKelvey!

Our Grants Committee member and intern from last summer has just graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.  For a final project in her Program Planning and Design class, Karyn chose to do a case study of Sustainable Path’s grant-making process.  As a result we now have a wonderful document to help us refine our process.  Congratulations, Karyn, thank you, and best wishes for your continued success.

Seminar Series A Great Success

Our 2009 Seminar Series  Seeking Sustainable Solutions:  Linking Our Health, Our Environment, Our Economy, Our Communities  was a great success.  We had packed houses for each of the seminars. Visit the following Web sites for more recent news.

Exploring Energy & Design: Smart Solutions for the Built  Environment with Alan Thein Durning and Jason F. McLennan  (May 13, 2009) 

Climate Change and Water: Local Perspectives on a Global Problem with Philip Mote and Steve Malloch  (March 25, 2009)

Energy and Water in the West: Priorities for a Healthy Washington with Michael Hightower and Joan Crooks  (February 11, 2009)

Thank you to our 2009 Seminar Series Sponsors:  the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University, the Sequoia Foundation, and ShoreBank Pacific. 

“All of the events have been interesting and useful in shaping my thinking about energy issues.  Excellent topics.”

“I appreciated the way a broad range of subjects were interrelated holistically.  Great thinkers.”

“We are glad that most speakers have been fairly local.  (We have many experts in the Seattle and NW area).  This makes a much better use of funds and cuts down on the carbon footprint (not flying some one across the country).  Thanks.”

Thanks to Our Donors!

Our donors make our work possible.  Thanks to the generous support of our donors, Sustainable Path Foundation has had a significant impact again this year through our grants program and seminar series. In these economic times, your help is more important than ever.  Please consider contributing to Sustainable Path so we can continue the important work needed to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for our region.  Click here to donate on line today.