WRI seeks community support for youth education programs

LEAVENWORTH – The Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) is rallying community support to ensure environmental education remains accessible for local youth.

WRI is working toward a fundraising goal of $65,000 by the end of the year to support its environmental education programming, with the Icicle Fund pledging to match up to $30,000 in donations. The campaign’s focus is to ensure local youth can continue to benefit from nature-based learning experiences.

“These kids need nature moments now more than ever. WRI’s programming is real – we walk the trails, splash in the river, and breathe the fresh air in every program and with every kid we can,” said WRI Executive Director Canuche Terranella in a fundraising campaign letter.

WRI partners with schools for a majority of its youth programming, such as Field Day Programs, Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom, After School Program, and Traveling Planetarium. However, due to budget cuts and rising costs, many schools in the region have had to scale back or eliminate supplemental programs to focus on meeting basic needs.

“Just this year, 3 schools in North Central Washington have halted or reduced

their programming with WRI due to budget cuts. This is a loss of at least one

thousand hours of outdoor learning, impacting over 300 students,” added Terranella.

WRI raised $3,250 during Giving Tuesday, a global movement that encourages people to give back through donations, volunteering, or acts of generosity on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, more than doubling the $1,500 they raised last year.

“It has been so refreshing to see the great turnout of our community and pay witness to their support. Our community stands by our environmental education programming in schools. Our schools are having major funding challenges right now, but the community sees the importance of maintaining that relationship,” said Development Associate Randee Zerger in an email to Ward Media.

WRI is continuing to fundraise through the end of the year. Donations can be made directly on their website, or through the Community Foundation of NCW’s Give NCW, an online fundraising campaign from Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 31, that supports nonprofits in North Central Washington. 

WRI is one of 85 NCW nonprofit organizations participating in the Give NCW campaign. The Give NCW campaign provides incentives, matching opportunities, and the ability to donate to multiple NCW organizations through different methods of donation. 

Each time a donor makes an online gift on a “Funday Monday,” or every Monday of the campaign, their name will be entered to win $1,000 to use on Give NCW any way they choose. Donors can also choose to “Give to All,” which will be matched up to $50,000 and support all participating nonprofits. The final amount is equally distributed to all participating organizations who raise $1,000 or more.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media