Community foundation honored for going 'extra mile'

Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld is honoring the Whitefish Community Foundation recognizing the work it has done to go the “extra mile.”

Muhlfeld proclaimed Nov. 1 as Extra Mile day in honor of the community foundation. Muhlfeld and City Council members last week presented the award to foundation President Linda Engh-Grady and the community foundation board members.

“The city of Whitefish honors the incredibly hard work and commitment of the Whitefish Community Foundation staff, advisory council and board of directors,” Muhlfeld said. “Your visions and efforts are testaments to the values we embrace as a community, and tonight, we honor and thank you.”

Founded in 2000, the community foundation has supported local nonprofit organizations serving Whitefish with more than $20 million in grant funding.

Muhlfeld noted that those nonprofits have worked in supporting the hungry, assisting and lifting the undeserved, building affordable housing, caring for the sick and impoverished, supporting programs to protect and enhance the natural environment, and enriching the community through the arts.

He recognized the efforts of Engh-Grady, who has overseen the foundation since 2008 and has lead efforts to grow the community grant programs to award over $500,000 annually with assets now exceeding $12 million.

Muhlfeld also gave a thank you to the individuals, organizations and businesses that donated to the 2016 Great Fish Community Challenge, which resulted in contributions totaling close to $1.2 million. As a result, the foundation distributed nearly $1.5 million to 40 participating nonprofits in the second annual challenge.

“You lift our community and make it a place we are all proud to call home,” he said.