Background

The Capitol City Marathon Association (CCMA) is a local nonprofit organization that has been providing a quality, local, all-volunteer running event since 1980. Aside from their much anticipated and well-attended annual race, CCMA is committed to giving back to the community they know and love.

In 2014 the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and CCMA joined forces to run a small but mighty annual grant program to support local projects across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties that increase the understanding and practice of healthy living. This annual grant program has been going strong for nine years now, and each year the Capital City Marathon Endowment Fund grows with proceeds from each race.

Every spring, Community Foundation staff coordinate with CCMA to open a grant cycle and make this grant opportunity public through the Foundation's communication channels and individual email outreach to local nonprofit organizations. This year, twelve applications (our highest application pool to date) were received and passed along to the CCMA review committee for funding decisions, and a meaningful $12,000 was awarded to six local projects.

2023 grantees

Please join us in congratulating this year's grant award recipients!

• Bounty for Families received funding to support their Day of Champions, an event for students with disabilities in Rainier, Rochester, Tenino, and Yelm School Districts.
• Olympia High School Swim and Dive Team were awarded funds to provide swim lessons and coaching for 6-12th grade students in Olympia.
• GRuB received a grant award to assist them in purchasing reusable gear, such as raincoats, rain boots, gloves, and more, for their Opportunity Youth Program.
• Lydia Hawk Elementary (North Thurston Public Schools) was awarded funding to purchase developmentally sized Strider balance bikes for students.
• Washington Explorer Search and Rescue - Thurston County Unit received funds to purchase professional, protective, weatherproof, hard-shell jackets for search and rescuers.
• South Sound YMCA received a grant award benefiting the Shelton Walk/Run Club, which promotes social interaction and improves mental and physical well-being through group activities.