Introducing the New Greater Grays Harbor Foundation and          Educational Fund Update

501(c)(3) Greater Grays Harbor Foundation

One of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc’s (GGHI) goals for 2019 was to establish our new 501(c)(3) Greater Grays Harbor Foundation. This Foundation’s purpose is to serve as a vehicle to raise funds and support our Educational Fund and other relevant programming to support the needs of our community. Gracious contributions to this fund may now qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes (please consult your tax advisor to determine whether your contribution may be deductible).

We welcome your support in helping fund educational opportunities for high school students in Grays Harbor County and are available to answer any questions or concerns that you may have regarding this new endeavor.

2018/2019 Educational Fund

Each year, GGHI supports entrepreneurship and career and technical opportunities for high school students in Grays Harbor County through our Educational Fund. A large portion of these funds are donated by generous community members during our annual Leaders Banquet and Business Recognition Awards held each October.

This fund, managed under the authority of the GGHI Board of Directors, helps students acquire and develop entrepreneurial qualities. The fund also provides considerable career and technical educational training to help our youth acquire the skills necessary to succeed and thrive within Grays Harbor County. Through the Educational Fund, GGHI was able to donate over $12,000 in funding last year to support these wonderful organizations in their endeavors.

Over the past year, our Educational Fund supported five beneficial programs in our county:

  • Aberdeen Rotary Business Week: Over 200 Aberdeen High School Juniors (11th grade) participated in 2019 and learned the basics of entrepreneurship – including basic marketing and business strategy.
  • Aberdeen SkillsUSA:  The Aberdeen High School delegation competed in a national competition in Louisville, KY and was comprised of students from Aberdeen and Harbor High Schools. Students gained valuable experience through their participation in a national competition in areas such as nurse assisting, audio production, HVAC and refrigeration, and entrepreneurship. This year, an Aberdeen student placed third in the nation in Medical Assisting.
  • Aberdeen Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): The Aberdeen High School team traveled to San Antonio, TX to compete at the national level in the website design competitive event. This was also the first team from Aberdeen to compete in this event in over 20 years.
  • Elma SkillsUSA: The Elma High School Chapter Business Procedures team finished in first place in a national competition in Louisville, KY that tests the problem solving and teamwork skills that are necessary to succeed in a workplace setting. The Mobile Robotic Technology team also participated and gained valuable experience in this national competition.
  • Grays Harbor Youth Works:  Career Pathway Day was coordinated with several partners and involved 160 students from Hoquiam and Ocosta High School. The purpose of the program was to introduce the students to youth apprenticeships, tour various companies, and explore potential career paths and opportunities.

For questions or concerns regarding contributions to the Greater Grays Harbor Foundation (Educational Fund), please feel free to reach out to us at (360) 532-1924 or email info@graysharbor.org.