April 10, 2008

Grant launches fund-raising effort

Journal photo by Stephen McFadden

PAINT MONEY. Ann Olson (second from left) is presented with a $1,000 check by Marva Ulleland, an employee of Northwest Farm Credit Services. The company’s Rural Community Grant program provided the funding to launch a campaign by the Museum Volunteers to raise the necessary funds to have the exterior of the Frank R. Burroughs’ home painted. Also on hand for the presentation were Rhonda L. Baglien, a senior credit officer for Northwest Farm Credit Services and local agent Emily Gordon (far right).

The Frank R. Burroughs’ Home, a Ritzville landmark and one of the city’s precious museums, is in serious need of a new coat of exterior paint.

Museum volunteers have been searching for a way to generate the necessary funds for the project. A commercial painting estimate put the project cost at $20,000. That number exceeds the museum volunteers’ available funding, thus delaying the project during the past couple of years.

Northwest Farm Credit Services kicked off a fund-raising campaign for the project on Tuesday when company representatives presented the museum group with a $1,000 Rural Community Grant. The company, which maintains a Ritzville office staffed by Emily Gordon, has issued a challenge to other local businesses, calling on them to dig deep and contribute to the project.

Tuesday Rhonda L. Baglien, a senior credit officer, joined Gordon and Marva Ulleland at the museum for a tour and the check presentation. Ann Olson represented the museums group and proudly led the brief tour.

Northwest Farm Credit Services utilizes the grant program to support community projects in five states including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The grants range from $500 to $10,000 and can be used for a variety of efforts including building or improving facilities; purchasing program equipment; and funding capital improvements to improve a community’s infrastructure, viability and/or prosperity.