2021-2022 Community Impact Report - Report - Page 7
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
GGHF CURIOUS BY NATURE SCHOOL EXPANSION
December 2022 brought much good news with an early closing on the purchase of the 3.5 acre site and school
building, formerly Arcadia Montessori School. The Crescent Valley Campus, situated on Gig Harbor's salmon-bearing
Crescent Creek, will enable numerous additional programs to serve dozens of waitlisted students and meet growing
community demand for its popular nature-based outdoor early learning programs. The acquisition represents GGHF’s
enduring commitment to education and our community's next generation of environmental stewards. Enrollment for
the 2023-2024 school year opened in February 2023.
MINERVA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
We are honored to announce the Minerva Scholarship Fund, now in its 31st year, officially became a managed
scholarship fund under the Foundation in December 2023. Founded in 1991 by Colonel Sybil Mercer, the Minerva
Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to women, who live and work within the boundaries of the Peninsula School
District, whose formal education has been interrupted for at least one year. Since its inception, the Minerva
Scholarship Fund has awarded over $500,000 to 200 scholarship recipients. In alignment with the Foundation's
mission and Minerva's goals, the Minerva Scholarship Fund will be perpetual fund that will carry on Sybil's vision.
GREATER GIG HARBOR COMMUNITY CAMPUS
Now in its 16th year, the work of GGHF has grown far past what its founders ever imagined – and we are beyond
grateful to our community, supporters, staff and hundreds of volunteers that made it possible. Today, we look to the
future and that includes a new home. Given a once in a lifetime opportunity, over the past five years the Foundation
has worked to carry out essential studies, site and building renovation plans needed before work can begin on its
forever home!
With environmental stewardship, restoration and conservation at its core, the Community Campus will provide…
a working space to foster and fuel partnerships and empower collaboration between local organizations.
a dynamic environment to inspire innovative ideas, strategies, and solutions that address our community’s
changing needs and most pressing challenges.
6-acres of outdoor space for learning labs, gardens, classrooms, an educational amphitheater – and expansive
opportunities to enrich the lives of our community's children through nature-based education.
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