Bainbridge Island Community Foundation honors island philanthropists

Published 2:27 pm Saturday, October 11, 2014

Several island residents, including five Bainbridge High students and one local family business, were recognized by the Bainbridge Community Foundation for their inspiring acts of generosity and volunteerism during the foundation’s recent sixth annual Philanthropy Celebration at IslandWood.

David and Joyce Veterane were named “2014 Outstanding Bainbridge Philanthropists.”

According to BCF, “In the nearly 40 years that David and Joyce have called Bainbridge Island home, they have given many lasting gifts to improve countless lives in our community. They created a permanent treasure when they donated nearly eight acres of land — including ponds, streams and over 500 feet of shoreline — to the park district for public use. They recently made a gift of the Veterane Trail to create a safer passage and further enhance the enjoyment of the Gazzam Lake Preserve.”

BHS students Tally Black-Brown, Maxsena Butler and Ben LaRoche were recognized as “2014 Outstanding Young Philanthropists” for their recent fundraising efforts as junior board members of the Northwest chapter of Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer.

Earlier this year, these three longtime friends organized and hosted an auction of student art at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art to raise money to benefit research for childhood cancer.

Fellow BHS students Matias Francis and Lucas Weyand, along with Washington State University students Meghan Camp and Lydia Weyand, were also named “2014 Outstanding Young Philanthropists.”

Earlier this year, the group became the youngest team to compete in one of the world’s toughest bike races — The Race Across America (RAAM). Their RAAM Team: Ben Towne Foundation raced 3,000 grueling miles non-stop in the cross-country race to raise to raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancer.

Island Fitness was named the BCF “2014 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization.”

“Since opening Island Fitness in 2002, Michael and Alexa Rosenthal have generously given their time and resources to support countless organizations,” according to the award announcement. “The list of causes they’ve supported and continue to support is seemingly endless. It includes schools, hospital foundations, organizations that support children, elders, and animals, those that work to fight illness and those that work to support those experiencing illness.”

BCF was founded in 2001. Their mission to support the community is achieved by providing financial support and leadership to the nonprofits that serve the island.

In its first 12 years, BCF has grown to more than $10.4 million in assets and has contributed nearly $6 million to important causes that matter to island residents.