Flathead Valley residents historically have supported education in a big way. That has been evident most recently with two major school projects. Bigfork School District taxpayers approved a $14 million bond request to add 24,000 square feet of new space for the high school and renovate existing facilities.

On the same day the Inter Lake announced that the bond had passed overwhelmingly, the newspaper featured Stillwater Christian School’s dedication of its new addition, a $1.8 million project that added 10,800 square feet to the private school in south Kalispell.

These two investments in our children follow on the heels of Whitefish High School’s $23 million reconstruction and expansion, and the recent unveiling of West Valley School’s $6.8 million, 36,000-square-foot addition.

Our valley is growing and that translates tangibly into the need for bigger and better schools. Local folks know that supporting education today will pay off for generations to come.

Great Fish lands whopper

Congratulations to the Whitefish Community Foundation on the success of its inaugural Great Fish Community Challenge fundraising campaign that enabled the foundation to distribute a whopping $1.1 million to 32 participating nonprofit groups.

Whitefish has always been on the leading edge of fundraising in the Flathead Valley, with numerous successful private-public projects that have enhanced the community. Our local nonprofits truly are the backbone of the Flathead, providing myriad services to those in need.

Supporting them with such gusto is a credit not only to the Whitefish Community Foundation but also to every citizen who opened their pocketbook to financially support these great charitable organizations.