Nate Chute Foundation
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    • ABOUT NCF >
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NATE CHUTE FOUNDATION

ANNUAL REPORT

January 1st - December 31st
• 2020 •

a note from the director


Dear Friends,

As we reflect back on 2020 we hold tremendous gratitude for what was, at the very least, a challenging year. Our appreciation is not to undermine the trauma and hardship that so many of us endured, but just to recognize the small gifts that came from what we’ve experienced.

Through this last year, many of us, perhaps for the first time, understood what it was like to be someone or to love someone struggling with anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness or lack of purpose. Mental health challenges no longer lived “over there,” they were right here, staring us in the face, begging us to take care of each other.  And we did.  We came together.  We were resilient.  We found new ways to connect. We embraced the power of relationships and recognized just how important it is to reach out to one another.

At NCF, this has always been our work: holding on to hope even when life feels unbearable. This past year we doubled down on positive messaging and building a suicide-aware community. We seized the opportunity to reinforce the importance of these issues and we welcomed new partners who recognized the urgency of showing up to support mental health.

The theme for this report is gratitude. Building a caring community requires our willingness to be grateful, even amid the darkest days. Gratitude is the foundation for how we build community and for how we empower one another.
​
On behalf of Nate Chute Foundation board and staff, I share our sincerest appreciation and gratitude for our donors, supporters, partners and volunteers.

Be Well,

Kacy Howard
Executive Director 
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NCF Board Member, Jenny Cloutier donating at a Great Fish pop-up booth
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The Whitefish Community Foundation granted the Jean Howard Award to Nate Chute Foundation at the conclusion of 2020’s Great Fish Community Challenge. The $5,000 gift commemorates the philanthropic life of Jean Howard, a local woman who loved Whitefish and the charitable work of the Whitefish Community Foundation. NCF was beyond humbled and grateful to receive this honor.
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Thank you to Whitefish Community Foundation and all of our Great Fish Challenge donors!
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Grateful for Community giving

THE GREAT FISH COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
From the earliest days of NCF the Whitefish Community Foundation has supported and encouraged our development as a community non-profit.​Whitefish Community Foundation has been an advisor, a teacher, a resource, a funder, and a true champion of our mission, vision, and values.

​Instrumental to our financial sustainability has been the Great Fish Community Challenge. NCF has been fortunate to participate in every campaign since its inception and we attribute much of our growth and impact to the collaborative efforts of its success.

We are truly grateful for Whitefish Community Foundation’s leadership in supporting a dynamic and cooperative non profit community here in the Flathead Valley. ​
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GRATEFUL FOR PARTNERSHIPS

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you to all of the organizations that partnered with us in 2020 to build a more suicide aware community.
Bigfork Schools
Center for Restorative Youth Justice
Columbia Falls Schools
Columbia Falls United Methodist Church
Flathead City County Health Department
Glacier Queer Alliance
Imagine IF Libraries
Kalispell Regional Medical Center
Kalispell Rotary
Kalispell Schools
Leadership Montana
Love Lives Here Flathead
Montana Academy
Montana Conservation Corps
MSU Nursing
North Valley Hospital
Northwest Montana Educational Coop
NW Montana Care Transitions Coalition

Olney Bissell School
Schellinger Construction
Swan River School
Tamarack Grief Resource Center
Whitefish Community Foundation
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish Rotary
Whitefish Schools
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The Construction Industry

Knowing that the construction industry is high on the list of careers most at risk of dying by suicide, Schellinger Construction invited the NCF to provide a QPR presentation to over 30 managers and foremen to build a culture of care in their organization.
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NCF Training Programs

NCF offers a number of training programs for schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Visit our website at natechutefoundation.org for a list of what we offer.

Program Highlights

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Hosted 21 virtual or in-person community suicide preventative presentations, reaching 347 people
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Presented Signs of Suicide curriculum to over 800 students in 10 area middle and high schools
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Over 12,000 views for our virtual PSA series highlighting stories of resilience
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Funded student access to
​mental health services

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Offered resilience training to local teachers impacted by the pandemic
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Provided funding assistance for 5 individuals at risk of suicide to access therapeutic services

Grateful for the work

2020 FINANCIAL REPORT
Even amidst a global pandemic our donors and funding partners stepped up to support community suicide prevention. With a 12% increase over 2019 in direct contributions our donors clearly recognized the need for mental health support and suicide awareness, especially in 2020. Once again, we are humbled by the generosity of our community and supporters.

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Grateful for lived experience

From Surviving to Thriving: Stories of Hope and Resilience

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Sean Patrick found outdoor activities to be an essential tool in overcoming his depression and struggle with substance use. Now a licensed social worker and licensed guide, he uses adventure therapy to help veterans and first responders heal from their mental health challenges.
In late March, as the implications of the pandemic began to set in, NCF’s phone began to ring. People were worried. Worried about the unknown; worried about all kinds of loss; worried about each other.  Collectively we needed to find some hope; something to remind us that we would be okay.

We worked quickly to invite community members to share their stories of triumph to help remind all of us that even in the darkest of times we can persevere.

Nate Chute Foundation paired up with Open Eye LLC to produce six short films highlighting individual lived experiences with suicidality, depression, and overcoming adversity.

The tone of the videos was one of hope and grit; we didn’t dwell in the trauma or pain, but instead celebrated strength and resilience.  We worked to normalize mental health challenges and to highlight stories of perseverance.

We are grateful for the vulnerability these six humans shared with us and all of you: Dylan Parr, Alan Secher + Judith Graceman, Tanya Gersh, Walter Pearson, Sean Patrick and Morgan Berry Shaffer

These messages of hope and resilience are just what we needed in 2020. We look forward to bringing you more inspiring stories in 2021.

Big Snaps to Believe Blue

Nate Chute Foundation is giving big “snaps’’ to the Believe Blue team at Columbia Falls High School.  Believe Blue is a group of student leaders who are committed to building awareness and decreasing stigma around mental health and suicide in their school community. Nate Chute Foundation is honored to provide training and consultation to the Believe Blue team.

​Way to go Wildcats!
This was a great way to become more aware of an epidemic occurring, as well as knowing that there is a REAL team of people dedicated to helping and educating people on this topic.

- Columbia Falls High School • Believe Blue Participant

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How you can help!

You can help us to reduce youth suicide in Montana by making a monetary donation, volunteering or serving on our board of directors. Contact us for more information.

Thank you to our donors:

* Indicates donors who gave to NCF in the 2020 Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge

A Boring Photo*
Adam Hall
Adrian Dillenseger
AGL Foundation*
Al & Sandy Schellinger
Alan & Elspeth Satterlee*
Alan Koss & Beth Hodder Koss*
Alena Haworth
Alexander Gray & Cameron Blake*
Alice Gates
Allison Villalobos
Alternative Wellness of NWMT
Alyssa Blamey*
Amalgamated Sope Company
Amanda Keeland*
Amy Meyer
Andy & Anna Porter*
Angela Meehan
Anna Bengston*
Annika Harris*
Anonymous Donors*
Ashley Horn
Ashley Lohr
Aubrey Erickson*
Aylee Thierfelder*
Baldridge Family Donor Advised Fund*
Barbara Boorman*
Barbara Glanz
Barbara Jorck*
Beau & Holly Wielkoszewski
Ben & Christin Hileman
Ben Johnson*
Beth Sobba*
Big Mountain Botanicals
Bighorn Development
Bill & Betsy Bayne*
Bill & Debbie Dickerson
Bill McGlynn
Bob & Jean Driggers*
Bonita Jarrell
Bonnie & Rick Billuni
Bonsai Brewing Project
Brad & Cindy Donaldson
Brad Good*
Brett Holmquist*
Brian & Lyndsay Schott*
Brian & Michelle McDowell*
Brian Shawnte
Brittany Odegard
Brooke Farrell
Butch & Sara Parr
Byron & Christine Velie
Cambre Greene
Camille Deitz
Candida & Kevin Quinn
Carol Clifford & Edward Thomas
Carole L. Brown
Carrie Welch
Casey Ryan*
Cassidy Stickney
Cassie Heitz
Cecelia Pickering
Chad Swanson
Char Rygg
Charles Webster & Debra Bond Webster*
Chris & Jessica Corkins
Chris Cox
Chris Holdhusen*
Chris Jones
Chris Ocell
Christine Phillips*
Christine Rossi
Christopher Fox*
Christopher Laws
Chuck & Annie Overcast
Chuck Cameron & Vita Wright
Chuck Wallace
Churchill & Alex Bunn*
Cindy Kruse
Cindy Yarberry & Don Jacques*
Clare Goble
Clarence Horst
Claudine Johnson*
Clifton & Heidi Youmans*
Clint Franklin
Coby & Dana Grove*
Conor Christofferson
Corey Swanson
Corrie Holloway
Courtland Chelmo
Courtney & Kelly Laabs*
Courtney Bozsik
Courtney Sherwood
Courtney Stoneman
Creative Canvas, LLC
Crystal & Jarid Morris*
Cyndie Friedman
D. L. Lincoln
Dan & Amy Chisholm*
Dan Richards
Dana Sorenson*
Danelle Reisch*
Dave & Sarah Ericson*
Dave Filler
David & Chelsea Lefcourt
David & Judy Williams*
David Grady & Linda Engh-Grady*
Davidson Construction*
Deb Williams
​DeBartolo Family Foundation
Deidre Corson*
Donna McGough
Donna Stratford
Dorothy Chao
Doug & Carolyn Pitman*
Doug & Chris Zignego*
Doug Griesel & Rebecca Briber
Douglas Rhodes



Dow Powell & Becky Smith-Powell
Dylan Parr
Ed & Jo Wettach
Ed & Sherri Nissen*
Eden Dias*
Edward Hughes
Eileen Valazza
Eleanor Coggins*
Emily Mejia*
Emily Rice*
Eric Hrubecky
Eric Johnson*
Eric Schmidt & Deven Robinson*
Erin & Greg Vogel*
Erin Finn
First Interstate Bank*
Fun Beverage, Inc*
Gaelyn Moore
Gary & Jill Hyer*
Gearhart Family
George & Carol Pilling
Gerry Ann Thompson*
Glynis Alkula
Gordon Johnson*
Goudge Family Charitable Trust
Greg & Alanna Strong
Greg & Catherine Gunderson*
Greg McGowen & Dana Babb McGowan*
Gretchen Boyer*
Gretchen Hibbard
Gunnar Hamilton & Maritsa Georgiou
Hank & Sue Ricklefs
Hannah Plumb
Heather Pierson
Helen Pilling
Helena Oruste
Hilary Hutcheson
Hunter Lamoureux
Hurraw!
Ian & Antonia Dennis*
Ian & Kim Hudson*
IBEX Property Management*
Ila B. Dousman Fund Inc.*
Jack & Anna Damon
Jack Blair
Jake Cook & Julie Cook
James & Janna Shennan*
James Grisez
Jamie Wisner
Jan & Terry Howard*
Janice Grout
Jason Callihan
JD & Nicci Daniher*
Jeanie Schultz*
Jeanine Odegard
Jeanne Tallman & Don DeBeau
Jeff & Lisa Rivers
Jeff Raper*
Jenna Newgard
Jennie & Andrew Eckstrom
Jennie Brett
Jennifer Krack
Jennifer Parsons*
Jenny Cloutier*
Jenny Moon
Jess Cerra & Sam Boardman
Jessica Corkins
Jessica Owen*
Jessica Parker
Jessica Smith
Jill Brass
Jill Norby
Jim & Cathy Corkins
Jim & Kathy Cummings
Jim & Susan McDonald
Jim Watson & Carol Bibler*
Joan Monroe
Joan Schmidt*
Joe & Cindy Straka
Joe & Kristin Tabor
Joe & Pam Atha
Joel & Chantel Pemberton*
Joel & Shannon Rosenberg*
John & Kristine Manuel*
John & Linda Murphy
John & Lisa Kalbfleisch*
John & Marianne Evenhuis
John Franklin Monroe
John Rygg
John Stoneman
John Wagner*
Jolie Fish
Joseph & Deanne Sramek*
Joseph & Katy Krezowski*
Joseph Kagol
Josh & Meghan Griffiths
Judy Mattox
Judy Rigler-Dunn*
Julie Gawronski-Tickle
Julie Kyle
Kalia Clarke*
Karen & Carlos Florey
Karen & Chris Williams*
Karen Christie
Karen Moulder
Kate Berry & Eric Kanter
Kate Nittinger
Katherine Bachrach
Kathleen Yale
Kathryn & Nate Driggers*
Kathryn Kroger
Kathy Kusler*
Katie Callahan & Mark Mance*
Katie Sako
Katie Williams*
Kayla Bachman*
​Kendra Hope & Paul Shehan*
Kenny & Pamela Ellis*
Kenny Levine
Kent & Kim Taylor*
Kevin & Lindsay Winkel
Kim Givler
Kim Randall
Kim Smith
Kitty Williamson
Kjell Petersen
Koel & Lazette Abell
Kortny Kellogg & LIndsay Fansler*
Kramer Family Fund*
Kristin Ahonen
Kristin Doble
Kristin Laird & Zane Levengood*
Kyle & Darcy Schellinger
Kyle & Jacquelyn Ryan
Kyle & Mary Johnson
Kyle Bata
Kyle Waterman*
Laine Lambarth*
Larry & Maureen Cole*
Larry & Val Parsons*
Laura Owen*
Laura Visconti
Laurel Sullivan*
Lauren & Brittan  Ellingson*
Lauren & Travis Walton*
Lauren Casey
Lauren Homann*
Lauren Jarrold*
Lauren Oscilowski
Lauren Walker
Leif & Aubrey Erickson*
Leif & Carole Erickson*
Leigh Eckert
Leo Keane
Leslie & Will Hunt*
Lillian Isabel Nelson Memorial Fund*
Linda Cornutt*
Linda Hope
Lindsay & Thomas Lerou*
Lindsey Crum-Scott
Lindsey Gardner
Lini Reading*
Lisa Alley
Lisa Olson*
Lita Taylor
Lorne & Leslie Kermath*
Love Yoga
Lynn-Wood Fields
Malissa Campbell*
Mandy Alvino*
Marc & Francine Roston*
Marc & Kelly O’Brien*
Margaret Williams
Marianne Madler
Marilyn Bacon
Marilyn Henderson
Mark Delorme
Marty Young*
Mary Anne Miles*
Mary Lee & Steve Sleichter*
Mary McFadden-Zignego*
MaryKay Sinclair
Matt Zignego*
Meg Dickerson
Meg Killen
Megan McFadden & Martin Laskey*
Meghan & John Durham*
Mendoza Family
Michael & Holley McCracken*
Michael & Sue Basta
Michael Bennett & MerryLynn Southers Bennett
Michelle Henderson*
Michelle Smith
Mick & Lea Daniher*
Mike Brodie
Mike Brown
Mike Franklin
Mike McClellan & Lisa Jones McClellan
Mike Sawaya
Modern Plumbing & Heating
Morie & Erin Adams-Griffin
Mr. & Mrs. Steele
​Nancy & Chuck Swanson
Nancy Gordley*
Nancy Roth*
Nancy Thompson
Natasha Jones*
Nate & Jessica Dolan*
Nathanial Pickering
National Parks Realty of Montana, LLC*
Neil Clements
Nick & Karen Chickering*
Nick Highet
Nicole Opdycke
Noah & Erin Bodman*
North Valley Hospital*
Northwest Imaging*
Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc.
OCD Organic Cleaning & Detailing
Olivia Stark
Pam & Hap Peters
Pam & Kenny Ellis
Pam Gerwe*
Patricia Beck
Patricia Ryan
Patricia Tafelski*
Patrick Malone*
​Paul & Janice McCann
Paul Azvedo & Carolyn Sime
Perrey Soba
Pete & Vivienne Akey
Peter Jostrom
Quinn Lewis
Rachel Grant
RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Real Estate​
Rebecca Briber*
Rebecca Nelson*
Rebecca Powell
Rebecca Sandall
Richard & Pam Hughes
Richard & Suzanne Daniell Hildner*
Richard Gordan & Cheryl Watkins
RIDGE Mountain Academy
Rob & Nichole Koelzer*
Robb & Heather Bergeson*
Robin Zeal*
Rocky Kramer
Rocky Mountain Outfitter
Rod Foster
Rodney & DeeDee Antis*
Ron & Merna Terry*
Ross & Sandy Anderson*
Ross Kulzer*
Russ & Linda Hobbs*
Rusty & Linda Wells
Ruth Ackroyd
Ruth Harrison
Ruth Starkey
Ryan & Brooke Saxby*
Ryan Mitchell
Sam & Julie Baldridge
Samantha Hermann*
Samantha Peters*
Samuel Dauenhauer
Samuel Roloff
Sandra Berry*
Sandry Construction Company*
Sara Boilen
Sara Straka*
Sarah Nuckolls
Schellinger Construction*
Schwab Charitable Fund*
Scott & Barbara Brant*
Scott & Rachel Kollmeyer*
Scott & RoxAnne Orth
Scott Mackney*
Scotty & Gayle MacLaren*
Shane Moulder*
Shannon & Chris Hittesdorf*
Shannon & Mike Bachman*
Sharee Norton
Sharlot Battin
Shawn & Denise Schellinger*
Shelley Dolan*
Shelley Graham
Silvercreek Construction
Somer Treat
Soroptomist International of Whitefish
Stacey & Jim Bengtson
Stacey Mcgough
Stephanie & Josh Joseph*
Stephen & Linda Wendfeldt*
Steve & Ardy Whisler*
Steve & Linda Parr
Steve & Mary Ann Krueger
Steven & Jennifer Burrough*
Stumptown Snowboards*
Sue & Dave Goudge
Sugar & Kiki, LLC
Susan & Don Lewis
Susan & Michael Sherman*
Susan Lacosta
Susan Schmidt*
Sydney & Mike Ereno*
Tanner & Stephanie Kuhl*
Tanya & Judah Gersh*
Tara & Jeff Brown
Tawnya & Kelcey Bingham*
Taylor, Michele, Merrick, & Malloy Zachary
Team ABQ
Teresa Hadley
Teresa Olcott Cohea*
Terry Chute & Jane Kollmeyer
Terry Divoky
Terry Knupp*
The Benevity Impact Fund
The Cuisine Machine / Last Chair Kitchen & Bar*
The Holloways
The Landlord*
Thomas & Julie Sebby*
Thomas Ducsak*
Thrivent Financial
Tim & Hilary Shaw*
Todd & Karen Hileman
Tom & Terrie Nitopi*
Tommie Dobbs
Top Copy
Tori Marcial
Trevor & Kacy Howard*
Troy Brackey
Troy Lentner
Turner & Nan Askew*
Tyrel Bacon
UAC, Inc.
Ultreia Integrative Wellness
Vanguard Charitable*
Vic & Kirby W.
Vicki Hughes
Victoria Boyne*
Virginia & Keith Edwards*
Walter Rowntree and Laura Reynolds*
Wasabi Sushi Bar & Ginger Grill
Wendy Merkey
Whitefish Community Foundation*
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitney & Dustin Lawler*
Will & Bonnie Smith*
William & Catherine Love*
William & Laurie O’Leary*
William Perdew
William Urbanski*

GO FUND ME CHARITY TEAM MEMBERS:


Go Fund Me Charity is a crowd-sourcing fundraiser.
​Thank you to all of our team members and each of their donors who helped raise over $24,000 for NCF.
Alex Madsen
Hunter Lamoreaux    
Shane Moulder
Anna Bengston
John Rygg
Tyrel Bacon    
April Engelbert



Kate Atha
Tyrel Johnson
Cameron Burlin
Kanterberry Family
Chauncey Sorenson
Kevin Winkel
Dylan Parr
Mike McCracken
Emily Lewis
Nicci Daniher
Rocky Kramer
Hillary Howell
Sara Straka
Our apologies if your name was omitted or you were not recognized as desired.
​Please feel free to contact us at (406) 730-2521 to provide feedback.
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GET HELP NOW

​ABOUT NCF
WHAT WE OFFER​
​OTHER RESOURCES

EVENTS
​
CONTACT
View the 2021 impact report
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NATE CHUTE FOUNDATION
PO BOX 245 • ​WHITEFISH, MT 59937
NCF FINANCIALS         EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
©2016-2023 Nate Chute Foundation | All rights reserved.
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT NCF >
      • BOARD MEMBER LOGIN
    • MEET THE TEAM
    • SUICIDE IN MONTANA
    • IMPACT REPORT
  • WHAT WE OFFER
  • EVENTS
  • HELP & RESOURCES
    • Bluebird Box
    • Firearms Reduction
    • Coping With Suicide Loss
    • National Resources
    • Local Resources
  • Resource Guide
  • CONTACT