In November 2009, Whitefish lost one of its most generous residents, Doris Schumm. She was a great friend to nonprofit organizations and donated countless hours of time and support to many, including the Whitefish Library, North Valley Food Bank and the Whitefish Community Foundation.

At her death, Dorie continued her legacy of giving by making a $197,000 bequest to the Community Foundation. Directed to the Permanent Endowment Fund, her bequest will benefit local nonprofit organizations through the annual Community Grants Program for years to come.

The Endowment Fund awards numerous grants every year, and Dorie's generous contribution will be used to create an annual grant in her memory. The Doris Schumm Community Spirit Grant will be selected from the grant applications received in June and awarded in November during the grant awards evening.

The recipient organization will receive an additional $500 support grant in addition to its grant request. The Grants Committee and Doris Schumm's daughter, Surrey, will select the recipient of this grant each year.

Dorie served on the board of directors for the Community Foundation for six years and on the Community Grants Committee from 2001 through 2008. She had the passion and foresight to leave a legacy that would benefit the Whitefish community even before there was a community foundation to carry out her wish.

She was one of the early board members who helped to shape the Foundation. Dorie's zealous help with the first annual Whitefish Duck Derby on Aug. 22, 2009, greatly contributed to its success, ultimately raising $25,000 for the Community Grants Fund.

She served as the auditor for numbering the ducks and as a duck wrangler in her kayak, which she loved, herding ducks down the river all in the name of charity.

Today, the Whitefish Community Foundation's endowment fund exceeds $1 million. The interest from this fund is used to give grants to local nonprofits, to ensure their success and future operations. In 2009, the Community Grants Fund awarded just over $75,000 to 30 local charities.

This year, the Grants Committee received 53 grant applications requesting funding help. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has passed on more than $3 million in grants from its "Family of Giving Funds' to deserving local charities.

The Whitefish Com-munity Foundation, celebrating 10 years of giving together to create impact, is dedicated to fostering philanthropy, building endowments and helping donors and nonprofits benefit our community. For more information, visit www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.

Linda Engh-Grady is the executive director of the Whitefish Community Foundation.