Comments Off on Polson Philanthropist John Cowan creates a Legacy
John Cowan – Losing a Friend and Champion of Philanthropy On March 11, we and many others lost a great friend and generous philanthropist in John Cowan. John was born in Bellefonte, PA on March 7, 1937 to John D. Cowan and Elizabeth Fowler Cowan. The family soon moved to Charleston, SC and subsequently in 1949 to Stamford, CT. He attended the Hotchkiss School where he met lifelong friend and Polson resident Chuck Jarecki. A graduate of Middlebury College, John received an MS in Accounting from the University of Wyoming. John owned and served as CEO and Chief Fiscal Officer of two post-secondary and proprietary schools: Wyoming Technical Institute (1970 – 1977) and Bryman School (1977-1996). For twenty years, John consulted as a CPA Auditor for Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs at Post-secondary Educational Institutions. Of particular note, he consulted to the US Department of Justice and was admitted as an expert witness for the prosecution of educational institutions for misuse of student assistance funds. John and Elaine fell in love with Montana while visiting friends in Polson. “I wanted Elaine to see this part of the country,” John said. “We fell in love.” When rainy weather hit the Flathead valley during a fishing trip in 1990 and denied them access to the outdoors, the Cowans started looking at real estate. They eventually purchased a home on Flathead Lake and moved to Montana permanently in 1997. “What brought us here was the beauty and quality of life,” John said. “Both of us were raised in small towns.” The Cowans felt at home in Polson. John and Elaine helped found the Greater Polson Community Foundation, which was established in December 2007 because of the efforts of lifelong friends of the Cowans, Chuck and Penny Jarecki. John and Chuck attended Hotchkiss School together, and later their friendship brought the Cowans to Polson. “We became interested in the Greater Polson Community Foundation through the Jareckis,” John said. “Penny had done a little research and called us one day to broach the question of starting a community foundation. Elaine was always a better spokesman than I, so we decided that she would join the board and I would be office staff.” “The Greater Polson Community Foundation would not be what it is today without John Cowan’s vision of achievable goals and professional advice. He benefited Polson in many ways through his commitment, expertise, and generosity. He definitely made a difference in our community,” said Penny Jarecki. Due to the efforts of the Cowans, Jareckis, and other citizens of Polson, the Greater Polson Community Foundation grew quickly. Today, it has an endowment balance of more than $600,000, and they have awarded more than $470,000 in grants. When Elaine passed away in 2009, John established a bequest to benefit the Greater Polson Community Foundation. “We supported the Greater Polson Community Foundation with a bequest because it’s a conduit for the changing needs of the community,” John said. “Our thought was that if you give money to the community foundation, they could channel it to where the need is greatest as society changes.” We are so incredibly grateful for the amazing legacy John helped create for his community. He will be sorely missed.
GPCF Awards $50,000 and Pledges Another $50,000 to New
Polson B&G Club Facility
The Greater Polson Community
Foundation (GPCF) hand-delivered $50,000 to the new Boys and Girls Club
(B&G Club) soon to be constructed in Polson, and pledged another $50,000. This
donation is the largest the GPCF has made since it was first organized in 2008.
Toni
Young, GPCF president, on behalf of our generous donors, presented a $50,000 check
to Aric Cooksley, executive director of the local B&G Club, at the annual
“Great Futures Breakfast” held Tuesday, April 3 at the newly remodeled and
expanded B&G Club facility in Ronan attended by 166 B&G Club
supporters.
Another $50,000 will be awarded by
the GPCF in the near future when the B&G Club fund-raising campaign
committee needs a special “boost” to get them over the goal line of raising the
required $4.5 million. Then construction
of the new Polson facility can begin. GPCF
directors and donors see this second installment as a “challenge match” that
will inspire other organizations and individuals to get behind a project that
will offer so many positive opportunities to our children and teenagers, both
now and for future generations. “We are
all about permanent investments in our community,” said Penny Jarecki, Chair of
the GPCF Philanthropy Committee.
This $100,000 has been accumulating
in a special “set aside” fund the GPCF directors and donors created several
years ago to jumpstart or complete projects that would make a significant and
permanent impact on the greater Polson community. The new Polson B&G Club
is exactly the kind of permanent project the directors and donors had in mind
because it fills such a vital need in Polson.
Toni Young stated, “Our Foundation
has a strong commitment to kids in Polson, giving them the best opportunities
possible as well as the potential to change their lives. The entire community of Polson, but young and
old, will benefit from the addition of this wonderful facility.”
The traffic island at the intersection of Highways 93 and 35 received a bright and beautiful upgrade this summer. Twenty big pots of hot pink petunias were placed behind the traditional little rowboat also filled with flowers. Many thanks to Delaney’s Landscaping and Envision Polson Beautification Committee for making this entrance to our community so attractive. The Beautification Committee is funded through directed gifts to the Greater Polson Community Foundation. This is another beautiful example of how a directed gift of your choice makes a difference in your community.
Comments Off on A Decade in Making a Difference – GPCF celebrates 10th Anniversary
A Decade in Making a Difference
After learning how community foundations were benefiting other Montana towns, a group of Polson volunteers launched the Greater Polson Community Foundation (GPCF) in December, 2007, with the advice and guidance of the Montana Community Foundation. GPCF was carefully organized before receiving the first donations to the permanent endowment fund in October, 2008, and has been thriving ever since.
The GPCF permanent endowment has grown from nothing to $678,600…
Earnings from the permanent endowment plus grants GPCF has received, directed gifts, and donor advised funds have provided $509,624.00 in support of special projects undertaken by local non-profit organizations’ projects in five areas: education, health and fitness, sports, culture, and the arts.
GPCF has provided legacy planning workshops to inform and encourage the community at large about the benefits of careful estate planning and encourages everyone to give back to our beloved community.
The Montana Community Foundation regards GPCF as one of the top five community foundations in the state because of its solid organization, its growth, and service to the community all accomplished by a volunteer board of directors and a part-time staff.
Comments Off on 100% of Polson 2nd Graders Learn to Swim
100% of Polson 2nd Graders Learn to Swim
104 second graders have been taught the basics of water safety and swimming in a series of eight lessons at the Mission Valley Aquatics Center this spring. Polson 2nd grade Classroom schedules were adjusted for a two-week period, children were transported to the pool on school buses, and teachers helped with supervision. The director at MVA, says the majority of the kids would now be able to save themselves if they accidently fell in the water. Next spring the same kids will receive another series of eight lessons as 3rd graders and the incoming 2nd graders will start the next two-year project. The Greater Polson Community Foundation made a challenge match of $45,500 to fund the project from 2018 through 2021. Mission Valley Aquatics will raise a growing share of the program funds as it builds community support for the lessons. For more information about the project, to make a donation or find out what Mission Valley Aquatics has to offer, please visit website at: www.mvaquatics.org or call (406) 883-4567
Comments Off on Local WinterFest showcase future Olympic Broomball
The Mission Valley Ice Arena Association’s second annual WinterFest is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, from 10 am to 2 pm at Polson’s Riverside Park. It’s free and you’re invited to play ten-minute Broom-ball games on the park grounds. “Don’t feel like a full-blown game of Broom-ball? No problem!” Says MVIAA Chair Hilary Lozar. She invites you to participate in easy hockey skill games overseen by local hockey enthusiasts, with equipment for all activities provided by the MVIAA through Greater Polson Community Foundation grants.
Local merchants have donated raffle prizes and ticket sales boost the non-profit MVIAA fund. Prizes include gift certificates for the Red Lion Hotel, MacKenzie River Pizza, and a scenic flight over the Mission Valley, thanks to Blue Goose Aviation. Hot chocolate will be available free of charge, and donations are appreciated.
MVIAA board members and volunteers will be wearing white hockey jerseys and will be available to answer any questions you have about the ice rink project.
“This event is primarily to increase awareness of our ice rink project, as well as spark an interest and love for winter sports, so please, invite anyone you can think of and share this event with your friends and family,” Lozar added.
Parking is available along the street above the park, with easy access down the stairs. Overflow parking may be found along Third Avenue.
