Woods Family Fund awards $63,500 to arts programs across NCW

WENATCHEE — The Community Foundation of North Central Washington announced the distribution of $63,500 in grants to 36 organizations through its Woods Family Music & Arts Fund, supporting arts and music education programs across three counties.

The grants, which provide up to $5,000 each for operating expenses or specific projects, aim to increase equitable access to arts and culture in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties, with a particular focus on youth and underrepresented audiences.

"We were thrilled with the quality of the grant requests for the Woods Family Music & Arts Fund this year," said fundholder Rufus Woods. "We were only able to meet a portion of the need for music and arts funding, so it made for a very challenging job of selecting which grants to fund. We appreciated the many efforts to create access to arts and music education for kids and adults who otherwise wouldn't have access to these programs."

The fund originated with Wilfred and Kathy Woods, arts patrons who established the Woods House Conservatory of Music in 1997. The conservatory's board later decided to sell the property and establish the current grant program through the Community Foundation, a decision that has led to broader impact.

"That decision has resulted in being able to dramatically increase the impact on music and arts programs in the region," Rufus Woods said. Since its establishment, the grant has distributed over $670,000.

Award Recipients:

Beauty of Bronze

Bridgeport Music

CAFÉ

Cascade PTSA

Cascade School District

Community Cultural Center of Tonasket

Garden Terrace Senior Living

Historic Downtown Chelan Association

Icicle Creek Center for the Arts

Lake Chelan Arts Council

Lake Chelan Bach Fest

Leavenworth Summer Theater

Mariachi NW Festival

NCW Arts Alliance

North Central Education Foundation

Numerica Performing Arts Center

Omak Performing Arts Center Foundation

Oroville Grange #985

Pateros Apple Pie Jamboree

Pinnacles Prep Charter School

Pybus Market Charitable Foundation

Stage Kids WA

TEAMS Learning Center

Tierra Learning Center

Two Rivers Gallery

Until Now

Upper Valley Christian School

Upper Valley Connection

Wenatchee After School Programs

Wenatchee High School Band Booster

Wenatchee Jazz Workshop

Wenatchee River Institute

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee Valley Concert

Wenatchee Valley Symphony Association

WestSide High School

The grant operates through a Field of Interest Fund, allowing donors to support specific causes while relying on the Community Foundation to manage distribution. The Community Foundation of North Central Washington, established in 1986, currently manages $163 million in assets through more than 690 individual funds.

For more information about the Woods Family Music & Arts Grant, interested parties can visit www.cfncw.org/woodsfamilymusicandartsgrant.