Chelan couple’s $1 million gift helps advance Lake Chelan Community Center

CHELAN — Brooke and Scott Isaak did not expect their personal histories, rooted in small-town life and community involvement, to one day position them as key supporters of one of the most significant community projects in the Chelan Valley.

Both grew up in rural Central Washington communities, shaped by close-knit relationships, public schools and a strong sense of responsibility to others — values they say later informed their decision to give $1 million toward construction of the Lake Chelan Community Center.

Brooke Isaak, formerly Brooke Steveson, was raised in Manson, where her father worked as a teacher and coach and her mother as a school secretary. She spent much of her childhood in school gyms and on athletic fields, surrounded by teachers, parents and neighbors who showed up consistently.

“People poured into me,” she said.

Brooke went on to excel in sports, serve as Manson’s Apple Blossom Queen during her senior year and later help lead Thrive Chelan Valley’s mentoring program.

Scott Isaak grew up about 60 miles away in Coulee City on a multigenerational farm. His childhood revolved around early mornings, long workdays and the independence that comes with working thousands of acres of farmland.

“It was the all-American dream,” he said.

He later helped run the family farm and built a niche business selling straw to mushroom farmers in Canada.

The two first met as teenagers at a basketball game, then went separate ways for years. Both married, raised children and built careers before reconnecting later in life, again through youth sports. They eventually formed a blended family of seven children.

For years, the Isaaks split time between two towns and two school districts, managing school schedules and long commutes. They ultimately chose to settle in Chelan, a decision they say reflected the role community played in their own upbringing.

“Community mattered in how we raised our kids,” Brooke said. “Probably because of how we were raised ourselves.”

Their connection to the Lake Chelan Community Center began early, when RealLife Church purchased the original seven-acre property that made the project possible. As planning progressed, the Isaaks became more involved, offering both guidance and financial support during the land acquisition phase.

They said their decision to give was rooted in faith and a sense of responsibility rather than public recognition.

“We felt called to do it,” Scott said. “You’re blessed to be a blessing.”

“At some point, you get old enough, secure enough, mature enough,” he said. “Maybe all three. And you realize it’s time to do something that matters.”

The Isaaks initially hoped to remain anonymous.

“We just didn’t want anything to change,” Brooke said. “We’re low-key people in a low-key community. We like being low-key.”

They later agreed to go public, saying visible generosity could encourage others to contribute.

“Our job isn’t to sit on what we’ve been given,” Scott Isaak said. “It’s to pay it forward.”

The Lake Chelan Community Center already hosts fitness programs, meetings and events, and its lobby and common spaces have become gathering points for residents of all ages. The next phase of construction includes a gymnasium and performance space, which organizers say will significantly expand programming and access.

For both Brooke and Scott, the community center is far more than a building. They see it as a bridge — connecting Chelan and Manson, linking generations, and bringing together people who might never otherwise share the same space.

“I love being part of something with real purpose,” Brooke said. “And the purpose of this place stretches across generations.”

She envisions seniors finding community during the quieter winter months, nonprofits launching ideas without the barrier of room rental costs, families having space to gather, children having a safe, warm place to play, and new residents finding immediate belonging.

For the Isaaks, the project represents a long-term investment in the valley.

Scott emphasized the importance of completing the project.

“Until it’s finished, all you have is potential,” he said. “When you finish it, that’s when it becomes everything it’s meant to be.”

Fundraising continues for the remaining construction phase of the Lake Chelan Community Center. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made through the organization’s fundraising page or by contacting Executive Director Maribel Cruz at maribel@chelancommunity.org.