Safe Start

09/06/2026

We are forever grateful for the support of the Three C's for believing in and investing in our work in Kootenai County!

08/28/2026

We are incredibly grateful to have the continued support of Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, A Charitable Foundation for our Rural Education Outreach Program! Their gift will ensure all families, no matter their zip code, have equatable access to lifesaving child safety education and resources such as new car seats and cribs. We are truly honored to have their trust and partnership to continue this vital work.

2026 SPRING GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Over $600,000 awarded to nonprofit organizations supporting our vulnerable neighbors.

Nothing seems to be “business as usual” in our world today. Unprecedented, targeted harmful legislation and deep government budget cuts have created a devastating reality for far too many people. With that in mind, we took a different approach to our grant opening this past spring and prioritized organizations who have been targeted by cruel legislation and/or have been directly impacted by government budget cuts.

We received over 60 applications, and from those organizations alone, government budget cuts totaled over $5,000,000.00.

We can’t fill the entire gap left in the wake of sweeping cuts nor can we immediately change the unjust targeting of people for simply being who they are. Therefore, we did our best to be strategic in funding organizations where we felt the impact will be the most effective and reach as many people in meaningful ways as possible. We will also continue to refuse to be silent and stand as allies with communities who are being cruelly targeted,
including LGBTQ+ persons and our refugee and immigrant neighbors.

Our sincere gratitude to all applicants. Local nonprofits are doing some of the most important and difficult work in this region to ensure vulnerable people who need assistance get it. Deciding grant awards is challenging and something we do not take lightly. We wish we could do more, and appreciate everyone who continues to do their best to make a difference. We see you and appreciate you!

Organizations who were awarded grants this spring are listed below.

Civil Survival
Post incarceration support in Spokane and northern E. Wa counties (heavy emphasis in NE counties).

Community Action Center – Pullman
Food purchases for low barrier food bank - proteins, produce and dairy.

Creole Resources
Build capacity for legal aid - needs attorney who speak Haitian, Creole or French

EWRC – Eastern Washington Refugee Coalition
Emergency services funding (rental assistance, food, medical needs, etc). Member organizations include FEAST World Kitchen, Manzanita House, Global Neighborhood Thrift, Refugee & Immigrant Connections Spokane, International Rescue Committee

Growing Neighbors (current fiscal sponsee)
Operations to support the start and expansion of community tended gardens that are hyper-localized, co-designed, organic and regenerative while providing increase to food access, mentoring, job training, and waste reduction.

Jewels Helping Hands - Aurora Center
Portable shower for Aurora Center (LGBTQ+ center for those experiencing homelessness)

Just One
Basic Needs and food distribution for program that serves at-risk youth living in the Hillyard neighborhood through events, classes, and opportunities that help them build their power and access resources.

International Rescue Committee – IRC-Spokane
Technical cell phone services for those in need, assistance with setup, app education and account setup, available resources, etc.

Mahima International (current fiscal sponsee)
Organizational development funding. Mahima Int’l validates, empowers and equips refugee women to thrive in the Spokane community.

Manzanita House
Bilingual intake specialist to assist refugee and immigrants with legal aid assistance

MiA - Mujeres in Action
Operation support for legal advocate, survivor advocacy, mental health resources programs. MiA supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a culturally responsive way.

Nuestras Raices
Behavioral Health services funding support. Nuestras Raices work with not only individuals, but with the whole family by providing them with high quality services and expertise to address the barriers that prevent them form living a health life in our community.

North Idaho Pride Alliance
Operations for Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirited (LGBTQIA2S+) people, allies and community groups working together to create a more inclusive North Idaho through networking, educating and advocating.

Odyssey Youth Movement
Basic needs program supporting LGBTQ+ youth (hygiene items, food/snacks, school supplies, gender-affirming apparel, bus passes, etc)

Our Place
Purchase food items (especially protein) and support to keep Saturday program open. Our Place provides low-barrier free emergency relief services for the community.

PEPP – Pre-employment Preparation Program
Operational support to confirm December 2027 cohort and begin 2027 cohorts. PEPP is a pre-apprenticeship preparation and hands-on training program for disenfranchised individuals and those post-incarceration to develop skills and obtain basic certifications to prepare for a career in the trades.

Rural Resources Community Action – Colville
Emergency Client Assistance Program supporting low-income families, disabled individuals, seniors on low and fixed incomes, and residents in danger of losing heat source.

SafeStart - Coeur d'Alene
Safe sleep & car seat safety outreach in rural Idaho (includes supplies - car seats, cribs, etc)

Salish School of Spokane
Operating support - early childhood education in a Salish language setting to support the preservation and revitalization of traditional language and culture for Salish and other Native American people.

SAN - Spokane Aids Network
Food pantry purchases (protein, dairy, produce, etc). SAN serves as a bridge for resources for people living with and impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Shades of Motherhood
Operations & supplies (food boxes, diaper bank, postpartum care supplies, education, etc) for programs that support black maternal health.

Spokane Edible Tree Project
"Glean for Good" and "Farmers Markets Programs" that help to mobilize community members and resources to provide equitable access to healthy food that would otherwise go to waste.

Spokane Helpers Network
Meal delivery program operations for persons experiencing temporary financial setbacks.

Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition
Community Justice Fund = Emergency legal aid services for immigrants and refugees

Spokane Municipal Therapeutic Courts
Supportive services (bus passes, food, haircuts, clothing, etc)for participants in Community Court, DUI Court, Veteran’s Enhanced Therapeutic Court, Domestic Violence Intervention Court and Mental Health Court.

Spokane PRIDE
Operations and growing trans support program for the organization and hosting of inclusive, queer-centered events throughout the Inland Northwest.

Team Child
Support for free legal services and advocacy for youth in the greater Spokane area who are involved in the juvenile justice system, child welfare, education and mental health systems. By helping youth secure housing, stay in school, and access community-based services, TeamChild addresses systemic barriers and empowers young people to achieve their goals.

The Way To Justice
Grant funding will support direct representation, impact litigation, policy reform, and advocacy work to address the barriers facing individuals who have been negatively impacted by our justice system.

Women's & Children's Free Restaurant
Purchase fresh protein, produce & dairy to support free nutritious meals and groceries to women and children in Spokane County.

MAUI GRANTS
Thanks to a generous gift from our Trustees, a small number of grants are provided to organizations supporting
vulnerable persons in Maui, Hawaii, a place that is
meaningful to our Trustees and many from the Inland Northwest.

ACLU of Hawaii
Fellowship position to support the ACLU's work dismantle systemic injustice and protect the civil liberties for all through legal, political, and educational efforts throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Roots Reborn
Operational support for this grassroots, multicultural immigrant-justice and disaster-response organization serving migrant and immigrant communities on Maui and beyond.

Share Your Mana
Conference fee support for the organization's continued education while they work to transform the lives of those experiencing homelessness through innovative solutions inspired by the community.

08/26/2026

📬 Did you get yours?

Our Safe Start Annual Report started arriving in mailboxes last week! 💛

We love having the opportunity each year to share what your support makes possible. From car seat safety and safe infant sleep education to bringing our Mobile Safety Lab into rural communities, this report gives a glimpse into the families reached, resources provided, and communities served through Safe Start.

If one landed in your mailbox, we’d love to know—did you get yours? 📫

And if you didn’t, you can still take a look! We’re sharing the digital version here:

🔗 https://heyzine.com/flip-book/47209a6e35.html

Thank you to every donor, partner, volunteer, and community member who helps us keep babies and children safer. We truly couldn’t do this work without you. 💛

Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

08/26/2026

“We are incredibly grateful to the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber and everyone who makes the Leadership Classic possible,” said Liz Montgomery, executive director of Safe Start. “This $5,000 gift will help us continue providing families in our community with lifesaving education and safety resources. Prevention is at the heart of our work, and support like this allows us to reach more families with the information and tools they need to keep their children safe.” https://cdapress.com/news/2026/aug/23/leadership-classic-golf-tournament-returns-sept18/ Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber

The Founders of the Leadership Classic Golf Tournament, all from the Leadership Coeur d’Alene Class of 2020-2021. From left, Michael Armon, Vanessa Moos, Naomi Boutz, Jessica Long and Ryan Johnson. Photo courtesy CDA Chamber

08/24/2026

08/12/2026

It's an absolute honor to be chosen to partner with the Nez Perce Tribe once again! In partnership with Nimiipuu Health, we will be able to continue to provide safe infant sleep training, cribs and sleep sacks along with child passenger safety education and new car seats for their community. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

08/07/2026

My heart is so full after Night Under the Stars.
When we dreamed about this year’s South Seas Soiree, we wanted it to feel like a little getaway. We wanted people to come up that hill, leave the everyday behind for a few hours, take in that beautiful view, enjoy a passion fruit margarita, laugh with friends, eat an amazing meal, play some silly games, and simply relax.

Looking around last night and seeing people doing exactly that made me so happy. I hope you felt it too.

But underneath all the fun and beauty of the evening was a purpose that is incredibly personal to me.

More than two decades ago, I never could have imagined where Mason’s little life would lead me. What began from heartbreak has grown into something so much bigger—a community determined to help give children a Safe Start and to surround families with love and support through Healing Together when a baby or child dies.

And this community showed up in a BIG way last night. Together, we raised an incredible $174,000 to continue that work.

To our guests, sponsors, donors, board, staff, volunteers, auction donors, vendors, entertainers and every single person who had a hand in making last night happen—thank you. There are so many people behind an event like this, and I wish I could hug every one of you.

A very special thank you to bankcda, our presenting sponsor for 13 years. Thirteen years of showing up, believing in this mission, and standing beside us. That kind of partnership is something I will never take for granted.

And to our volunteers—you worked your tails off. You came early, stayed late, hauled things, greeted guests, sold tickets, solved problems, smiled through all of it, and did about a thousand things most people will never see. I hope you know how much I appreciate you.

Today I’m tired, my feet hurt, and there are probably a million things I should be doing. 😂 But mostly, I’m just sitting with how grateful I am.

Grateful for the laughter. The generosity. The hugs. The friendships. The people who come back year after year. And the new faces who joined us for the first time.

I hope last night felt like a getaway. I hope you felt spoiled. I hope you laughed and relaxed and had an absolute blast. Most of all, I hope you left knowing that simply by being there, you were part of something that matters.

Mason would be so proud.

And so am I. 💙

Thank you for another beautiful Night Under the Stars. 🌺🌴✨
Mahalo
Liz Montgomery
bankcda Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance-NISSA Liz Montgomery

08/06/2026

🌺 Mahalo! 🌺

What an unforgettable evening!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who made Night Under the Stars: A South Seas Soiree such an incredible success. To our sponsors, guests, donors, volunteers, auction donors, committee members, vendors, entertainers, and everyone who supported this special event—we are overwhelmed with gratitude.

Because of your generosity, we're able to continue providing life-saving education and resources through Safe Start, while ensuring no family has to grieve alone through Healing Together.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, bankcda, whose partnership for the past 13 years has helped make this event—and our mission—possible.

To every volunteer who greeted guests, sold raffle tickets, decorated tables, checked people in, served behind the scenes, and stayed until everything was packed away…thank you. Your kindness and dedication made the evening shine.

Our hearts are full. Thank you for believing in our mission, celebrating with us, and helping create a safer, more compassionate community for children and families.

Until next year... mahalo. 🌴✨💙