Established in 2016 and operated by the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce, the Northshore Community Foundation was created to foster awareness and innovation in Art, Agriculture, Education, Health and Sustainable Economy among our Columbia Gorge Northshore Community residents by providing grants, scholarships, educational programs and events which feature and focus on these aspects.
The annual Art & Wine Fusion is one example of how we work towards a sustainable economy by showcasing our local talents and bringing visitors from across the region to partake in all the Columbia River Gorge has to offer. A diverse array of artists call this place home and we are proud to provide this opportunity for their work to be viewed and purchased.
Our Art For Schools program is in place to help develop local talent so they may one day find their career path aligned with their passion and skills. The Northshore Community Foundation Board was excited to present checks to four under served local schools to supplement their student Art Program, in 2021. These were Klickitat, Lyle, Wishram and Centerville.
In 2023, our Foundation became the north shore arm of Art of Community’s Big Art Program. Thanks to community sponsors and both the cities of Bingen and White Salmon, we installed five sculptures in 2024 for a two year display. We hope to increase the number of art installs for our 2026 refresh. A walking map of the downtown area that highlights these art installations is being created.
We are pleased to participate as a stakeholder in the annual Community Cleanup of Bingen – White Salmon. If you would like to sign up as a volunteer, please contact us. Community Cleanup brings residents together to host a two day event where loads are sorted and deposited at stations accordingly. This allows us to Recycle, Repurpose and Reuse many things that would have likely ended up in the landfill instead. Stations include Yard Debris, which is collected by Dirt Huggers and utilized in making rich new dirt. Appliances, where many are taken by a local repairman who is able to fix and resell. Electronics and Styrofoam are recycled. We have a Scrap Metal collection. One Rotarian, collects the lead that is turned in and recycles this. Two local nonprofits: Second Hand Rose and Gorge Rebuild It Center set up stations near the front. Their staff gleans off the items they think will sell in their store. One of the most popular locations for volunteers to work is our FREECYCLE Zone. This is like a yard sale, but everything is Free! Donations to our local Rotary Club are accepted. Some of our volunteers drive out to residents who are unable to bring their loads to us and do a pick up for them. A team will work on cleaning out the sidewalk gardens of the downtown area. It is a robust weekend of community service in the spirit of spring cleanup.
