Great Fish Community Challenge Countdown 2019

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Until the 2019 Challenge Begins

Thank you for donating in the 2018 Great Fish Community Challenge! Together we raised $2,406,810 with a 51% Match from Whitefish Community Foundation!

TOTAL AWARDED IN 2018 CHALLENGE: $2,406,810

In just four years in action, the Challenge has raised over $7 million benefiting over 55 different charities and supporting community causes such as expanding conservation, improving human services, advancing education, and enhancing local arts and culture.

Learn More about the IMPACT of the Great Fish Community Challenge

The 2019 Challenge will launch July 25 and run through September 13. Join us for the Great Fish Community Challenge Color Run and Community Celebration September 7th.

Nonprofits in the Challenge work to raise money during the campaign. All gifts are processed through the Community Foundation. At the end of the campaign, Whitefish Community Foundation will provide a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each participating nonprofit. Learn more about the Match here.

Donations are accepted online here starting July 25. You can download a copy of the official donation form here if you do not receive one in the mail. Sign up for our E-news below. Read more on how to donate.

What is the Great Fish Community Challenge?

The Great Fish Community Challenge is an innovative fundraiser that inspires our community to give, raises awareness, and helps charities raise important program money. In the end, charities earn a percentage matching grant from Whitefish Community Foundation.

View Complete List of the 2018 Participating Nonprofits

Nate Chute Foundation: "Thank you for all that you do for our community!"
Sarah Boilen
"Keep up the good work Center for Restorative Youth Justice!
Jesse Mahugh
"North Valley Music School - you guys are the best!"
Michael Gross
CASA For Kids: "CASA advocates for foster children, giving the children a voice and support while they are in foster care."
Jamie Campbell
"DREAM Adaptive is amazing. They provide opportunities to youth and adults that allow them to take part in activites they otherwise couldn't."
Linda Hicks
Casa For Kids: "You rock! Thanks for all you do!"
Carri Stoker-Postier
North Valley Music School: "Camp Amadeus is a magical, musical summer experience for kids!"
Ruth L Ackroyd
Casa For Kids: "So thankful for this organization and all their hard work!"
Carrie Thiel
Tamarack Grief: "We love TGRC!"
Lindsey Nichols
"Alpine Theatre Project, Keep up the amazing work!"
Kelly Redfield
Whitefish Firefighter's Association: "Thanks for saving our house!"
Diane Tague
Child Bridge: "$ Plus prayer."
Kirk and Lynn Taylor
"Whitefish Review, thanks for all you bring to our community. We are so fortunate!"
Lisa Jones
Abbie Shelter: "My God bless your good work. Thank you for what you do. "
Christopher Gill
Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center: "I love FOFAC! Their classes are offered way below cost. Our gifts mean they can keep their classes accessible."
Sarah Cobler
"Go NVMS!"
Kelsey Schmid-Sommer
Nate Chute Foundation - "NCF is supporting our community in a way that is desperately needed by breaking the silence about suicide and helping build resilience in our young people. Hopefully we can look forward to a future where those struggling will reach out and lives can be saved."
Sara Straka
The Great Fish Match Fund will start at $200,000. Your gift to the Match Fund will inspire our community to give. Click Donate Now to help the Match Grow!
DREAM Adaptive Recreation: "Keep up the good work!"
Tricia Hines
"Flathead Youth Home, Fantastic Organization!"
Lynn Whyte
Sparrow's Nest Northwest Montana: "Thank you for helping our local youth!"
Jennifer Ruffing
"Go Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County!"
Jesse Mahugh
"Thanks Abbie Shelter for the good work you do!"
Jesse Mahugh
Samaritan House: "My God bless this House. Thank you for all that you do. "
Christopher Gill
Stumptown Art Studio: "Best field trips for our adopted classroom at Helena Flats! The kids just love it and so do we."
Diane Yarus
Whitefish Review: "Thanks Ryan, Brian and Crew. Great job for so many years!!"
Patricia and Craig Apregan
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley: "Awesome group doing awesome work!!"
Ginger Rembold
DREAM Adaptive Recreation: "Great people, great organization - thank you!"
Terrence Smith
Farm Hands - Nourish the Flathead: "The application of farming and gardening in the education of our youth is instrumental in opening their eyes to not only nutrition, but problem solving and leadership skills. Farm Hands rocks!!"
O'Brien Byrd
Whitefish Veterans Support Team: "Great thanks to the veterans for their service and to the Whitefish Veterans Support Team for everything that you all do!"
Dean Jordan
"The Whitefish Community Center is a wonderful, welcoming place for our senior population."
Sarah Stewart
Flathead Shelter Friends: "Love our animal friends!!!"
Alison Ferber
Friends of Flathead Avalanche Center: "Thanks for all the great work!"
Gabriel Dillon
Over $15,000 in Incentive Grants will be awarded throughout the Challenge! Watch the Whitefish Pilot each week for the next incentive announcement.
Nate Chute Foundation: "Let's stand on the side of reaching out rather than silence."
Patrick Malone
Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center: "Looking forward to anouther great season."
Morgan Sadler
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County: "Thank you to the mentors who volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters!"
Jesse Mahugh
"Love Stumptown Art Studio!"
Jennifer Kelley
DREAM Adaptive Recreation: "This is a wonderful program we've worked with since the beginning! It has been a great program for the school aged kids with disabilities in our area to learn new skills in winter sports! It has been a fun, courage and esteem building program for them!"
Marcus and Jeanne Carlson
DREAM Adaptive Recreation: "What a wonderful program!"
Traci Heydorff
Whitefish Legacy Partners: "Love the new recreational opportunities!"
Jeff and Amy Mow
Samaritan House: "Keep up the great work for our homeless individuals and families."
Sherry Schauble
Whitefish Review: "Happy to continue our support."
Rick and Bish Robbbins
Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center: "Glad to contribute more money towards the great education you all provide. Thanks from the Patrol Fund."
Judith Christiansen
Whitefish Review: "Woot woot!"
Ian Griffiths
Whitefish Sports Facility Foundation: "Glacier Youth Hockey is a fabulous venue for the youth of the Flathead Valley."
Josh Joseph
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County: "BBBS is awesome!"
Cameron Egbert
Thank you local businesses for your support kicking off the 4th annual Great Fish Community Challenge: Mackenzie River Pizza, Craggy Range, Whitefish Lake Restaurant, Buffalo Cafe, Subway of Whitefish, Jersey Boys Pizza, Great Northern Brewing Company, and Markus Foods.
WAG: "Thank you for sharing your amazing park with our Lulabelle!!!"
Michael McDonnell
Come out and celebrate the Challenge that is helping our community run on September 8
Great Fish Community Challenge Color Run and Community Celebration
WAG - "I love this park. I'm new to the area and my sweet pooch is used to running miles on the beach most days. She is slowly learning that THIS is the new beach! LOL"
Elisabeth Donati
Whitefish Review: "Retired and broke but, I have my nonprofits that deserve my donation. It's small in numbers but filled with heart."
Kim Baraby Hurtle
Sparrow's Nest of NW Montana: "Congratulations on your new facility."
Jane Wheeler
"Thanks for being there Flathead Youth Home!"
Jesse Mahugh
Alpine Theatre Project: "Love you all and LOVE what you create. You bless our community. Thank you."
Brenda Ahearn
Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center: "WE LOVE Ravenwood!!! The summer camp gave our son such confidence!"
Katie Callahan
North Valley Music School "Keep up the great work!"
Sterling Ray
Glacier Institute: "Thanks for all you do."
Mary Owens
FOFAC: "Thanks for all that you do to help us stay safe in the backcountry! We can't wait until winter!"
Pete and Jelisa Byl
Stumptown Art Studio: "We love your studio and all it provides."
Heidi Shors
Whitefish Review: "Keep up the great work."
Michael Mullen
Child Bridge: "Thank you for all you do for foster families. We couldn't do it without you!"
Bonnie Klein
Flathead Food Bank: "Keep up the good work!"
Jane Wheeler
Tamarack Grief Resource Center: "Keep Up the good work."
David Hackathorn
Glacier Nordic Club: "What a great asset to our community."
John Browning
Sign up to volunteer for the Great Fish Community Challenge Color Run and Community Celebration. Click Volunteer under the Nonprofits tab.
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation: "Keep up the great work!"
Jandy Cox and RMO
A big thank you to The Wave Aquatic and Fittness Center for hosting the 4th annual Great Fish Launch event!
"Love the Whitefish Review!"
Mary and Ben Dorman
Whitefish Review: "Best thing ever!"
Scott Dreher
Friends of Flathead Avalanche Center: "FOFAC! Thanks for being our friend on a powder day."
Sarah Boilen
Abbie Shelter: "Thanks for all you do!!!"
Brian Muldoon
Nate Chute Foundation: "I so appreciated hearing about the camp that was run to help young people talk together about concerns. Yes, suicide prevention starts wtih understanding and caring about one another."
Virginia Edwards
Whitefish Review: "You inspire everyone you touch with the talent and good writing featured in every issue."
Greta Friel
CASA For Kids: "I am happy to donate to this valuable non-profit."
Kathleen Hayden
Glacier Institute: "A wonderful partner to Glacier National Park."
Jeff and Amy Mow
Flathead Cancer Aid: "Thank you for all you do."
Candis Hatzis
Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center: "Thank you for your important work!"
Laurie Lapan
Nate Chute: " Keep up the great work!"
Lynn-Wood Fields