Students Initiate Whatcom Middle School Fund Following Fire

November 9, 2009:
Bellingham, WA: Whatcom Middle School sixth graders Rachel and Kim Dorr were, like many of their fellow students, affected by the closure of their school following a devastating fire on November 5th. They decided to find a way to help. “The teachers give us so much and we want to give back to them and the school,” said Rachel. Her twin sister Kim added, “A community grows stronger when everyone comes together to make a difference.” The girls discussed fundraising ideas for the Whatcom Middle School Fund with their mother, Jennifer Dorr, a board member of the Whatcom Community Foundation (Foundation) where the fund is managed.

Thanks to Rachel, Kim and their mother, the Foundation is collaborating with the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, the Whatcom Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association and others to support fundraising efforts to benefit the students and teachers affected by the tragic fire that damaged Whatcom Middle School in the early morning hours of November 5th. Jennifer Dorr remarked, “Our kids have so much to offer during this time of rebuilding. It’s important that we provide opportunities and support for them to take action through philanthropic and volunteer activities.”

Foundation CEO, Mauri Ingram, noted, “The opportunity for the Foundation to support passionate, capable students like Kim and Rachel accomplish something important, something that will likely shape them as adults, is powerful. They are setting an outstanding example for their peers.” Rachel and Kim also recruited their aunt, Emily Hine to the effort. Hine is co-founder of start-up company GlobalMojo. GlobalMojo, a charitably-focused web browser, has created a special Whatcom Middle School-themed browser available at http://globalmojo.com/whatcommiddleschool that supporters can download and use to generate revenue that will help the school recover. When school supporters use the Whatcom Middle School browser to search, shop for the holidays and plan winter travel, GlobalMojo will donate 100% of the revenue generated throughout the remainder of 2009. GlobalMojo will also make a cash donation & challenge grant and will promote Whatcom Middle School Fund on their home page and social networking sites.

Check contributions to the Whatcom Middle School Fund may be sent to: Whatcom Community Foundation, 119 Grand Avenue, Suite A, Bellingham, WA 98225 (please write ‘Whatcom Middle School’ in the memo section). Credit card contributions may be made online at www.whatcomcf.org. Contributions are tax deductible. For further information, please call Whatcom Community Foundation at 360-671-6463.

Whatcom Community Foundation, founded in 1996, is a dynamic vehicle for philanthropy and community building in Whatcom County. The Foundation currently holds more than 100 funds totaling more than $9.3 million to benefit Whatcom County nonprofit organizations in all areas of service to the community. The organization has granted more than $3 million to numerous local nonprofits since July 1, 2008.


Contact: Mauri Ingram
(360) 671-6463 or (360)739-8039

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