MCF in the News
Big Sky nonprofits launch vaccine incentive program
With tourism season approaching, three Big Sky nonprofits have partnered with local health officials to offer a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program that includes free beverages and the chance to win big-ticket items like season passes at Big Sky Resort.
The incentive program is made possible through a partnership between the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation as well as the Gallatin City-County Health Department and Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.
Moonlight Community Foundation’s fall grants support 14 local nonprofits
The Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF) semi annual grant cycles and commitments to the Big Sky Relief Collaboration has generated over $365,000 that has been awarded to local nonprofits this year.
That includes the recent $129,000 that has been allocated to 14 local organizations in grants and scholarships “to support programs and initiatives for youth, education, conservation, and the underserved needs benefiting Big Sky,” a press release said.
MCF aims to bridge the Moonlight Basin Community to “Causes that Matter,” executive director Anna Shipley explained.
The organization informally started in 2011 and became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2014.
“Since 2015, MC has awarded over $1 million to local nonprofits who are working tirelessly to make Big Sky better for all of us. MCF holds two annual fundraisers – the Spring Social and Summer Bridge event,” Shipley said.
Big Sky to implement new surveillance testing program
The surveillance testing program is made possible through the efforts of Big Sky Relief partners including Moonlight Community Foundation.
A new COVID-19 surveillance testing program will officially launch in Big Sky on Dec. 7.
In the midst of a spike in cases in Big Sky and greater Gallatin County, and on the heels of Big Sky Resort opening for the season, stakeholders pointed to the importance of making efforts to keep the community healthy.
Tests will be free and self-administered, and made available to the Big Sky School District, individual community members, small businesses, healthcare and public safety employees, and large employers, according to a Nov. 25 press release from Big Sky Relief.
The surveillance testing program is made possible through the efforts of Big Sky Relief partners including the Big Sky philanthropic community, and Big Sky Resort Area District, as well as community employers, and Visit Big Sky.
Big Sky Relief is a partnership between BSRAD, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation, and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, formed in March of 2020 to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Big Sky.
Moonlight Community Foundation spring 2020 grants support community
10 Local Nonprofits Awarded Grants
Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF) extended its commitment to the region’s nonprofit sector through the organization’s annual spring grant cycle. Just over $30,000 was recently awarded to 10 Big Sky nonprofits.
Reinforcing a focus on Arts and youth education, community development, land, conservation, and trails, the Foundation’s latest grants support the following organization…
Read the full EBS Article here »
BSRAD launches Big Sky Relief Fund
On March 20, the Big Sky Resort Area District tax board met in a call-in format for an impromptu open board meeting to discuss several financial initiatives designed to take aim at growing community pressures as a result of the pandemic.
Most notably, the BSRAD committed $1 million to help “assist the Big Sky Medical Center manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Big Sky and mitigate social and economic impacts,” according to a press release.
The commitment was swiftly met with a combined $1 million pledge from the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, the Moonlight Community Foundation and the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, bringing total relief funds to $2 million.
Read the full EBS Article here »
Moonlight Community Foundation doles out $300k in grants
2019 was a banner year for the Moonlight Community Foundation, which delivered nearly $300,000 in grants, scholarships and support to 22 area non profits, organizations and initiatives. Utilizing a biannual grant cycle, this fall saw over $140,000 in grants, scholarships and support, factoring into over $800,000 in grants since the program’s inception in 2016. Read the full EBS Article here »
BSSD’s new food program and the driving force behind it, thanks to a grant from the Moonlight Community Foundation
BIG SKY – For 10 years, Lindsie Hurlbut told her friend Whitney Littman, “I want to be the school lunch lady.” For most of that time Littman thought she was joking, but Hurlbut’s serious intent eventually became clear.
Since its genesis three years ago, the primary goal of the Big Sky School District Wellness Committee—which Littman oversees and on which Hurlbut used to serve—has been integrating nutrition into academics. Through her early involvement, Hurlbut realized her dream of being BSSD’s lunch lady, or Food Program Coordinator, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.
The program she’s orchestrated is a multifaceted hit.
Since Hurlbut started, the number of BSSD students eating hot lunch daily has doubled, and she’d served 19,000 hot lunches to date by the end of February, according to Littman. Students and teachers alike are exposed to a variety of local foods, unlike the conventional image that “hot lunch” evokes for most people, thanks to a grant from the Moonlight Community Foundation that allows Hurlbut to order from regional growers.
MCF Grant assists the Big Sky Food Bank
The doors of the Big Sky Community Food Bank opened in the spring of 2012. They ask for grant funds from all of our community organizations, and Moonlight Community Foundation has provided funds regularly. Here’s a fantastic article on the Food Bank organization »
A Successful Seventh Annual Summer Ski Bridge Event
Thank you to all of our guests, donors and volunteers at the Seventh Annual Summer Ski Bridge Event on July 23, 2017.
Moonlight Community Foundation honors winners of community service award
Harbor deWaard was a shining light in Big Sky – a little boy who valued community service and helping others. An adventurous soul, Harbor loved exploring the bottom of rivers, the top of Lone Peak and everything in between.
It is in that spirit that the Moonlight Community Foundation is honored to announce the Harbor Kingston deWaard Camp Moonlight Community Service Award to Logan Barker (left) and Charlee Sue Dreisbach.
Both Charlee Sue and Logan (pictured here with Board Chair Heather Morris and Camp Director Jeremy Harder) recently finished fourth grade at Ophir Elementary School, and each will attend a week of camp this summer in honor of Harbor. They will also be presented with a Camp Moonlight Harbor Community award superhero cape during their camp session. Congratulations!
This article originally ran in Explore Big Sky on June 10, 2016. Photo By Max Seelye,