Columbia Basin Foundation

05/30/2026

Friday at the Foundation... Microsoft celebrated a major milestone last night, marking the 20th anniversary of its Quincy data center. They hosted a fun B Street Bash! Their partnership with the Columbia Basin Foundation has been outstanding, demonstrating a strong commitment to community development and philanthropy. We are grateful that 20 local nonprofits were recognized with $10,000 grants each, and we appreciate Microsoft's dedication to giving back.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a time to pause, reflect, and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Originally known as Decoration Day, the tradition began after the Civil War as communities gathered to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags. Over time, it became a national day of remembrance, officially recognized as Memorial Day in 1971, and observed on the last Monday in May.

Today, the Columbia Basin Foundation joins communities across the nation in remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage and commitment have shaped the freedoms we enjoy today. As we spend time with family and friends this weekend, we do so with gratitude and respect for those who gave everything in service to others.

05/22/2026

Friday at the Foundation... Congratulations to the graduating seniors at Connell High School who received CBF scholarships this week. $26,955 was awarded! Thank you to all the donors who have made this possible.

05/15/2026

Friday at the Foundation... Congratulations to 33 nonprofit organizations that were awarded a CBF community spring grant this week. In total, we awarded $50,800! We are excited to announce these recipients and during the next couple of weeks, we will take time to showcase the donors whose generosity fueled our grant process. CBF is rooted in generosity.

05/10/2026

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who shape our lives with strength, compassion, and unwavering support. From the earliest roots of honoring mothers in ancient Greek and Roman festivals, to the more modern tradition established in the United States by Anna Jarvis in the early 1900s, this day has long been about recognizing the love and sacrifices of mothers everywhere. Officially proclaimed a national holiday in 1914, Mother’s Day continues to be a meaningful reminder to pause, reflect, and say thank you.

Today, the Columbia Basin Foundation wishes a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers in our communities. Your influence reaches far beyond your families—you help shape stronger, more compassionate communities for us all.

05/08/2026

Friday at the Foundation:

The Columbia Basin Foundation's Scholarship Director, Kristen Elder, and CBF Board Member, Lynda Bowers, had the pleasure of presenting $11,800 in scholarships at the first of many award ceremonies this week at Othello High School.

The following scholarships and recipients were recognized:

Othello Kiwanis Scholarship:
Fernanda Rodríguez-Garcilazo and Myles Glasgow

Jacksen O. Ashton Memorial Scholarship:
Yunuen Mejia

Agricultural Education Endowment:
America Gonzalez and Alizay Pruneda

Wayne L. Bartelheimer Athletic Memorial:
Alizay Pruneda

Naomi Hampton Memorial:
Nayeli Aranzazu

Fight for Mike:
Fernanda Rodriguez-Garcilazo and Kenya Luna Garcia

Congratulations Class of 2026!

05/01/2026

Friday at the Foundation: Last Friday, the Columbia Basin Foundation staff had the pleasure of attending the Bourbon & Bowties black-tie event. We were proud to partner and support the Samaritan Healthcare Foundation to raise funding for the future Washington State University Residency Center and Program in Moses Lake that will serve our rural communities.

Thanks to a CBF donor-advised fund, we were able to donate $10,000 to their Raise the Paddle. Together, we are making a meaningful difference for the Columbia Basin.

Congratulations on a successful event, Samaritan! Go Cougs! Butch is raising bucks! Go CBF! Happy May Day!

04/30/2026

Did you know? The Columbia Basin Foundation and Grant PUD have teamed up to help brighten the future for local families by keeping their lights on!

Share the Light—formerly called Share the Warmth—provides assistance to qualifying households who need help covering their electric bills.

If you’d like to support a neighbor in need, you can make a donation at https://venmo.com/u/cbfcommunity.

Questions? Please feel free to call the Columbia Basin Foundation at (509) 754-4596.

Together, we can make a difference and share the light.

04/28/2026

It's not too late to register!

CBF is proud to sponsor an upcoming nonprofit series coming to Moses Lake. Take a moment to check it out and plan to attend!

Get your board moving in the right direction with Boards in Gear—a free, interactive virtual workshop designed to strengthen leadership, boost effectiveness, and drive real impact. Join nonprofit leaders and board members for practical tools, fresh insights, and actionable steps that will help your organization thrive.

Visit https://nonprofitwa.org/event/online-boards-in-gear-04-2026/ to learn more.

First, select the number of tickets you would like purchase by clicking the “+” sign.  Then click the “Get Tickets” button that appears.

04/24/2026

Friday at the Foundation… and this one is worth celebrating. On Thursday evening, CBF kicked off the first of several 30th Anniversary events in Quincy with a delicious dinner catered by Mehdi & Aleeta Merred, Friends Riviera Catering and wonderful wine at Errant Cellars, followed by an outstanding performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by QCAA at Quincy High School.

A big thank you to Sabey Data Centers for sponsoring the evening, and to everyone who attended or helped make it such a memorable night. Happy 30th Anniversary, CBF—and remember to leave a little sparkle wherever you go. Happy Friday!