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.
Our Windermere Foundation Scholarship Recipients
We have recently awarded our Windermere Foundation Scholarship to two incredible graduates from Bainbridge High School’s Class of 2020. There were many talented applicants and it was difficult to choose only two recipients. However, the two students we selected are remarkable individuals. Congratulations to Shea Dephinedae and Libby Clements Hall! Read on to find out more about our scholarship and these well-deserving recipients.
The Scholarship & Our History
Every year, Windermere Bainbridge offers two to three scholarships to invest in Bainbridge Island’s youth. We award the Windermere Foundation scholarships to students based on a variety of their community service involvement and scholastic achievements.
Community service is our primary focus since we pride ourselves on our own community involvement. You will often find our agents and staff volunteering and supporting local organizations. Giving back is a big part of who we are. For the past 15 years, a portion of every agent’s commission has been donated to the Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island. All agents participate, and with this common purpose, we collectively show how much our community means to us.
We’re also proud to be part of the broader Windermere Foundation. It impacts communities across 10 states and has raised over $41 million for programs that provide shelter, food, children’s programs, and more.
Scholarship Winner Shea Dephinedae
Shea was an active member of cheer throughout high school and participated in basketball, arts, and community service activities. Also, Shea enjoys cartooning, sculpting, and writing poetry.
When describing community service experiences, Shea said one particular moment that stood out was when they helped senior citizens with technology. “[We] visited a nursing home and helped them to use their phones and tablets. It was always so pleasant to see such kind-hearted people be able to use their phones more effectively and communicate with their families easier.”
A highly active student, Shea was also a member of the National Honors Society for all four years. Additionally, Shea worked for Bainbridge Gardens and still managed to maintain a high GPA.
Now that Shea has graduated, he plans to attend the University of Washington and major in Sculpting. After receiving the Windermere Foundation scholarship, Shea said, “I would just like to say thank you. Windermere’s incredibly generous scholarship was such an amazing and exciting surprise during a rough time. I know this money will greatly benefit me and I hope to one day give back to my community just as you all have.”
Scholarship Winner Elizabeth “Libby” Clements Hall
Throughout high school, Libby was an active member of band and theater, participating in Les Miserables, Radium Girls, Glee voice, and dance. A performing arts enthusiast, Libby has been doing theater since she was three.
Regarding community service, Libby was an assistant in ILC, a special education classroom at Bainbridge High School. Libby said that experience was the highlight of senior year.
A very active student, Libby also volunteered as a BPA main stage volunteer, Island Theater volunteer, NAACP member, and a Bainbridge Pride Volunteer. Libby also maintained a high GPA and received awards and recognition: the Silver Presidential Service Award and honors in theater. Additionally, Libby lettered in band, theater, and winter guard and was an officer of the International Thespian Society.
Libby plans to attend Seattle University, majoring in History, English, and Interdisciplinary Arts with a focus on Music and Theater. “I plan to get a master’s degree in education and become a special education teacher.” Libby was excited to receive our scholarship and said, “Thank you for this awesome opportunity!”
Here at Windermere, we strive to make a difference, big and small and it’s an honor to support Shea and Libby through the Windermere Foundation scholarship. Please join us in wishing them the very best! We know they will make our community very proud.
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
Bainbridge Youth Services | Additional Funding
Bainbridge Island Senior Center
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
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 High School | Windermere Scholarship Program
Helpline House | Project Backpack
Bainbridge Island Senior Center
Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship
Cynthia Lait Art | Bainbridge Island Community Mural
Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game
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
Helpline House | Project Backpack
Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship
Housing Resources Bainbridge | Rental Assistance Program
Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship
Bainbridge High School Robotics Team
Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game
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
Crush Kids Cancer | Seattle Children’s Hospital
Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship
Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship
Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship
Bainbridge High School Robotics Team
Bainbridge High School Baseball Boosters | Annual Stars and Strikes Alumni Game
Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2014 Donations
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
Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club | Annual Sponsorship
Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run Sponsorship
Bainbridge Island Public Library | Spelling Bee Sponsorship
Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2013 Donations
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
Boys and Girls Club Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Youth Services | Fun Run
Bainbridge High School Robotics Team | Spartronics Team 4915
Bainbridge Island Historical Museum
Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2012 Donations
The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $23,630 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2012. 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.
Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island | Waypoint Historical Marker
Bainbridge High School | Windermere Scholarship Fund
Helpline House | Project Backpack