a note from the directorDear 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 |
NCF Board Member, Jenny Cloutier donating at a Great Fish pop-up booth
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.
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
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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.
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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 |
The Construction IndustryKnowing 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 ProgramsNCF 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.
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Program Highlights
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 |
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
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Grateful for the work
2020 FINANCIAL REPORT
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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
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.
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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 BlueNate 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. |
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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
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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.
Thank you to all of our team members and each of their donors who helped raise over $24,000 for NCF.
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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.
Please feel free to contact us at (406) 730-2521 to provide feedback.
