Community November 29, 2021

Our Community Involvement in 2021

We love Bainbridge Island and our community involvement is an important part of how we operate. So, we thought we would take a moment to share how our Windermere Bainbridge Island office has been involved this year. By doing so, we hope to spread awareness about some of the great events and non-profits that you can connect to and support as well.

Annual Support

We’ve proudly supported Bainbridge Youth Services (BYS) for years. Since 1962, they’ve worked hard to “promote the social and emotional well-being of adolescents and young adults” through a variety of services including free, confidential counseling, and peer tutoring.

Another youth-centered organization that we support on an annual basis is the Boys & Girls Club of Bainbridge Island. They offer a program for K – 4th grade and a separate middle school program for 5th – 8th grade. When the pandemic began, our local Boys & Girls Club chapter began offering discounted rates and extended out-of-school programming.

PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap has been helping pets and their people for 45 years, and we love supporting their efforts. PAWS is a volunteer-based nonprofit animal welfare organization. Their services include pet adoption, spay/neuter assistance, pet retention counseling, humane care for elderly cats, and veterinary financial assistance. They have been helping cats and dogs find loving homes since 1975.

Community Events

Bainbridge Island’s Art Walk is a vibrant event, and we love participating in it. It happens the first Friday of every month and it’s a fun way to enjoy local artists’ creations and live music while having a bite to eat and chatting with neighbors and friends. This tradition is brought to you by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association. This year, we moved our office to downtown Winslow Way, and we’ve loved highlighting local artists and musicians during the Art Walk. We will continue to do so in the new year.

Another fun event we look forward to each year is Shred Fest. It’s a free event where you can safely and securely shred old documents and recycle old electronics. We love to host this event because it helps people get organized and recycle. And, it’s always fun when friends and clients stop by.

Every year, all Windermere offices close for Community Service Day so that we can give back to the communities we serve. This year, some of us helped with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, which works to “conserve and steward the diverse natural environments of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all”. They’ve protected 1, 471 acres to date and provided 1,102 public acres. Additionally, we hosted an online fundraiser in an effort to further support Bainbridge Youth Services.

Every year, we participate in Pacific Northwest Title’s annual food drive. This year marked their 17th year. There are many in need in our community, and a food drive is an easy way to give back. In fact, in Kitsap County, approximately one-third of adults are food insecure and over a third of local children are in need of free and reduced lunch. Our local food banks serve about 48,000 residents per year.

This year we also supported Kitsap Humane Society‘s drive sponsored by Pacific Northwest Title, and we promoted Kitsap Humane Society for Kitsap Great Give. Dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming pets, Kitsap Humane Society has been serving our community since 1908. It’s one of the leading animal welfare organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Last year alone, KHS rehomed 3,676 animals. Check out our video promoting Kitsap Humane Society, which features some of our agents and their pets.

 

Other fun events that we were happy to support this year include Hometown Halloween and the senior class graduation parade.

Additionally, a couple of our agents sponsored some of the studios for the Bainbridge Island Studio Art Tour. This free, self-guided tour celebrates locally made art. It’s a chance to appreciate local artisans, see works in progress, and purchase beautiful art. The Winter Studio Tour 2021 was December 3rd – 5th. If you weren’t able to attend, you can explore the featured artists’ work online.

Windermere Foundation, Bainbridge Island

A portion of every agent’s commission is donated to the Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island. All of our agents participate, and we’re also proud to be part of the broader Windermere Foundation. It impacts communities across 10 states and we’ve collectively raised over $41 million for programs that provide shelter, food, children’s programs, and more.

Every year, our Foundation awards two or three Bainbridge High School graduates a total of $6,000 in scholarships based on their community service, academic achievement, and financial need. We have also supported a variety of local nonprofits. This year we awarded grants to Peacock Family Services, Helpline House, Arms Around Bainbridge, Housing Resources Bainbridge, and Bainbridge Youth Services. All of these organizations strengthen our community, providing vital resources and support to those in need.

While we recognize that there are many different ways to give back, we’re proud of what we’ve done so far. If you’re looking to get more involved in our community, we hope this has sparked some ideas. We should note that our agents also support a variety of charities on their own. So this only reflects our office-wide community involvement.

Community August 3, 2021

Community Spotlight: Bainbridge’s Boys & Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Bainbridge Island has persevered through the pandemic and has enriched the minds of countless youth. Since 2001, our Windermere Bainbridge Island office has proudly supported the Club by donating $250 per month, or $60,000 to date. Read on to learn more about the important work that this wonderful nonprofit does right here in our community.

Boys & Girls Club During the Pandemic 

Our local Boys & Girls Club provides academic, engaging, and supportive out-of-school care for Bainbridge Island youth from kindergarten through 8th grade. This organization has also been an integral part of our community’s response to COVID-19. They, along with other local organizations, provided discounted rates and extended out-of-school programming.

Not even the pandemic could stop children from safely having fun and learning at the Boys & Girls Club of Bainbridge Island. The Club implemented remote learning programs to support children during stressful times. And, peer connection, adult mentorship, and engaging activities are still part of the curriculum. As part of their new virtual initiatives, they started offering Free Youth Force Job Readiness workshops. 

This past year and a half, our Boys & Girls Club transformed from an after-school care center to a full-time, safe, and reliable place for kids to learn. Additionally, they’ve provided free childcare for frontline workers’ children. They continue to innovate by working with the Bainbridge Island School District and adapting their programs to meet the changing environment.

School Year Programs

Bainbridge’s Boys & Girls Club provides fun programs throughout the school year. There’s a program for K – 4th grade and a separate middle school program for 5th – 8th grade. Club members enjoy healthy snacks and choose from three to four program options. Kids can choose anything from cooking to sports, Minecraft to drone club. There is also a PowerHour to complete homework. 5th – 8th graders participate in PowerHour every day as well as a variety of program offerings from filmmaking to learning how to play the ukulele. 

Get Involved

If you have a child or children who would like to get involved with our local Boys & Girls Club, the cost varies based on the program. You can find out more on their school year programs page. They also offer full-day camps during school breaks (winter, mid-winter, and summer). To see what the Club has been up to lately, check out their Facebook page.

Whether you have young children or not, it’s easy to see the long-lasting benefits of a nonprofit organization like this. The Club’s programs give students opportunities to try new things, gain confidence, make new friends, and learn in a safe, supportive environment. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. The Boys and Girls Club’s mission is to continue to uplift youth and help them reach their goals. If you would like to contribute to our local Club, you can easily donate online.

Community September 16, 2020

Join Windermere in Supporting Bainbridge Island Businesses

Now, more than ever, Windermere Bainbridge fiercely supports our beloved Bainbridge Island businesses – and we’re asking you to join us. We’re all experiencing some of the most challenging, unprecedented changes to what we know as normal life. We are grateful for a resilient real estate market on our beautiful island. But our hearts and actions support our vital, local-business culture. It’s a large part of what makes our island so unique, and it needs support from all of us – right now.

SOS Bainbridge IslandBainbridge Island Businesses

The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association to create SOS Bainbridge Island. This informative community effort aims to save our stores and businesses. Its website includes updates on how you can safely shop, dine, and support local merchants. Windermere Bainbridge Broker, Jackie Syvertsen notes, “I love how Bainbridge businesses have evolved to stay open through the Covid crisis. They’re happily creating distancing and extra safety features to accommodate.”

According to the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, many businesses, especially on Winslow Way, rely on summer visitors and tourism to help them survive through the rest of the year. Since this year’s visitor season was significantly quiet, we can all help now by shopping, dining, and supporting Bainbridge Island businesses.

Local Windermere Broker, Susan Grosten brings to light that “most of our businesses are owned by our own Bainbridge neighbors and friends, all who regularly add back to the community as locals. I’ve enjoyed so many of them, for 31 years and counting!”

 

How the Windermere Bainbridge Team
Supports our CommunityBainbridge Island Businesses

Since 2005, a portion of every Windermere Bainbridge agent’s commission is donated to the Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island. Each year, the foundation donates funds and provides scholarships and support to essential community service organizations on Bainbridge Island.

Additionally, we are passionate locals who regularly shop, dine, and support merchants within our community. Our Broker, Shannon Dierickx says, “I have so many great experiences with local shopping and dining. I’m an original island girl who loves to keep our local businesses thriving!” Broker Cheryl Mauer adds, “I love stopping in at Covet Boutique to pick up a special gift, or to find myself the perfect outfit or jewelry.”

For our Bainbridge treats and dining favorites, the list is endless. Our marketing team notes a gamut including Bene Pizza, Streamliner Diner, Hitchcock, Treehouse Cafe, Sawatdy Thai Cuisine, Doc’s Marina Grill, and so many more. We all have many dear, personal favorites on the island, and now is the time to support them all.

In addition to listing current updates on how restaurants and cafes have adjusted to serve the community, SOS Bainbridge Island’s website also includes information on how many other businesses and services have shifted.

Bainbridge Island Businesses“One of my very favorite businesses on Bainbridge is Barrecor! Owner Emiliana and her wonderful instructors are offering their amazing classes online,” raves our Broker, Susan Grosten. Another business that stands out to our team is the local non-profit, Bainbridge Island Saddle Club. The organization aims to promote good horsemanship and foster equestrian sports locally. Windermere Broker, Maureen Buckley appreciates its programs and favors that “it’s an old-fashioned horse club for local kids to adults.”

We are truly all in this together. The more we all support the Bainbridge Island businesses we love, the more we’ll endure these trying times as a community.

Bainbridge Island Businesses

Community February 7, 2020

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2019 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $52,475 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2019. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Bainbridge Island School Foundation | 2019 Dinner and Auction Gala

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Arms Around Bainbridge

Bainbridge Youth Services | Additional Funding

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Island Time Activities

Boys and Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu | Annual Sponsorship

Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Foundation | Shred Fest Sponsorship

Bainbridge Island Land Trust | Preservation Partners Party

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

PAWS | Gala and Auction

Community January 18, 2019

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2018 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $56,550 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2018. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge Schools Foundation

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Bainbridge Youth Services

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Island Time Activities

Salish Sea Expeditions

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

Bainbridge Land Trust

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Cynthia Lait Art | Bainbridge Island Community Mural

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Community January 12, 2018

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2017 Donations

 

WIndermere Bainbridge Foundation

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $57,050 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2017. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

Bainbridge Schools Foundation

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Peacock Family Services

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Arms Around Bainbridge

Salish Sea Expeditions

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

BARN | Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network

Bainbridge Island Senior Center

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Land Trust

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island | ShredFest Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Community January 5, 2017

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2016 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $35,200 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2016. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Bainbridge Youth Services | Annual Sponsorship

Salish Sea Expeditions

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Peacock Family Services

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

KiDiMu

Sustainable Bainbridge

Housing Resources Bainbridge | Rental Assistance Program

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Bainbridge Land Trust

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Community January 10, 2016

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2015 Donations

 

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $31,300 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2015. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Arms Around Bainbridge

Hannah’s Hopeful Hearts

Crush Kids Cancer | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Bainbridge Arts & Crafts

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team

Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Island Schools Foundation

Community February 1, 2015

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2014 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2014

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $28,6500 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2014. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Helpline House | Project Backpack

Ben Towne Foundation | Seattle Children’s Hospital

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Program

Salish Sea Expeditions

Arms Around Bainbridge

Peacock Family Center

Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship

Westsound Wildlife Shelter

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship

PAWS 

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Land Trust

Community January 12, 2014

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2013 Donations

 

Windermere Bainbridge Foundation Donations 2013

The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $25,105 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2013. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island.

 

Helpline House | School Clothes Project

Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund

Arms Around Bainbridge

Peacock Family Services

Boys and Girls Club Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run

Westsound Wildlife Shelter

Helpline House

PAWS

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts

Housing Resources Bainbridge

Bainbridge High School Robotics Team | Spartronics Team 4915

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Bainbridge Public Library | Spelling Bee

One Call for All

CAST for Kids

Bainbridge Land Trust