99 basic needs organizations across Montana will receive a combined $356,000 as part of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation’s Holiday Giving Program, the most in program history.
This disbursement to food banks, food pantries, rescue missions, homeless shelters, and Salvation Army organizations will help Montana’s most vulnerable citizens during the holiday season. The Holiday Giving Program is in addition to other grants that are awarded annually to these organizations and is intended to provide the resources they need to ensure that individuals and families have nutritious food during the holiday season.
“We continue to see a growing demand for basic needs services across the state, and these additional funds will hopefully help address shortages of food, shelter, clothing and other necessities,” Foundation Executive Director Mike Halligan said. “Our goal with this donation is to get badly needed resources into the hands of the staff and volunteers of these critically important organizations, especially now with the winter months approaching.”
In Montana, an estimated 1 in 12 people and 28,400 Montana children live in homes that face food insecurity, putting them at risk of hunger. Good nutrition, particularly in the early years of life, is important for establishing a solid foundation that affects a child’s future physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic productivity.
2023 Holiday Giving Recipients (PDF)
About the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family. The Foundation strives to better the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and to benefit society as a whole. Funding for the Foundation comes from personal contributions from the Washington family and annual contributions from The Washington Companies. Since its inception in 1988, the Foundation has distributed over $507 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.
