Thursday, February 13, 2025

Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation reflects on year of giving

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CHELAN – In 2024, the Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation awarded $96,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in diverse medical fields.

The foundation also gave over $10,000 to local programs such as “Girls on the Run,” “Diabetes Awareness,” SANE (Sexual Assault Nurses Education), Manger Mall, and the Community Nurse program, the foundation announced recently in their Year End Annual Giving Report and Campaign.

Vita Monteleone, the Director of Community Relations for the Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation, said the foundation board thinks it is important to support education in the medical field and to support organizations that are making a difference in the community. 

“It's important to us to show that even a little bit can make a big difference,” Monteleone said.

“We think that this group (Girls on the Run) is important, Thrive is another one, that they're just a small group of people that are doing some great work in a small community that says that these kids are the future and they're important to us, and we want to help them in any way we can,” Monteleone said. “We know how hard it is for families to make it and to get their kids one step up.”

LCHWF was established in 1981 through the generosity of Harold and Edna Bragg. Initially the foundation focused on supporting medical education through scholarships for nurses and nursing aides. However, LCHWF has expanded to include scholarships for dental hygienists, veterinary technicians, EMTs, paramedics, lab techs, physical therapists, psychologists and more.

“This year LCHW Foundation has worked hard to help as many individuals, students and

programs as possible,” she said. “There are many ways to contribute, but we need your help, please consider: A one-time donation or monthly set amount, perhaps a matching employer’s program through employee giving.” 

“Or maybe consider a bequest through your estate as long-time educational supporters Elaine and Ben Smalley of Manson did this past year,” she said. “Edna and Harold Bragg started the ball rolling, people like you, and Ben and Elaine Smalley are keeping it moving forward.” 

“They were lovely, lovely humans,” she said. “Ben and Elaine Smalley were at every basketball, baseball, football, every sports event you could think of in Manson, they were at it.”

“They were huge, huge supporters of the school district in Manson,” she said. “They felt like the best thing that they could do in the whole world was to help with education, and that is why they left an endowment of $25,000 to the Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation.”

In December, LCHW held a Christmas gathering for the scholarship recipients. Board members were delighted to talk to the students about their classes and experiences on campus, Monteleone said.

Board members present at the gathering were President Phyllis Gleasman, Vice-President and organizer of the event Karen McKellar, Secretary and Chair of Scholarship Committee, Linda Parker, Mary Signorelli, Fran Horn, Judy Steele, Cindy Aston and Susan Fisher.

For information about the Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation email lchealthwellness.com or call the office at 509-682-6125.

Quinn Propst: 509-731-3590 or quinn@ward.media.

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