Stemilt donates $240K to Wenatchee Valley organizations

WENATCHEE — Fruit producer Stemilt has contributed $240,000 to more than 50 organizations throughout the Wenatchee Valley region in 2024, focusing on education, nutrition, and wellness initiatives.

The company reached a $1.3 million cumulative donation to the Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF), supported by proceeds from their annual golf tournament. The year concluded with the company providing holiday gifts to foster children in Chelan and Douglas counties.

"To serve the community is a true honor and we're privileged to give to numerous organizations in need of support in the Wenatchee area," said Stemilt President West Mathison. "Our founder and my grandfather, Thomas K. Mathison, always valued being a steward to the community and the next generation."

Recipients of the company's 2024 charitable giving included the CAFÉ Yes program, Columbia Valley Community Health, Project Search, and the Wenatchee Valley YMCA, among others. The donations support local initiatives, from youth sports to healthcare services.

In a separate initiative, Stemilt employees participated in an internal drive collecting 827 winter clothing items for distribution to children of company workers. The effort was organized as a friendly competition among office staff.

The company also marked its twelfth consecutive year providing holiday gifts to local foster children. Working with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Family Services and K Connections, Stemilt employees and its Community Investment Committee purchased presents for 112 children ranging from newborns to age 17.

K Connections, a behavioral rehabilitation service provider, manages case services for children, while the state department focuses on building health resilience and improving educational outcomes for youth in the foster care system.

Stemilt, a family-owned operation run by the Mathison family, leads the region's fruit industry in sweet cherries and organic tree fruits. The company has operated its environmental sustainability program, Responsible Choice®, since 1989.