Our Impact

The Legacy of Mount Baker Kidney Center lives on through the creation of Mount Baker Foundation. We honor the hopes and contributions of MBKC founders, physicians, staff, patients, families, and the community that made the mission of Mount Baker Foundation Possible. We do this by working to improve the lives of individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease, by funding kidney research and dialysis innovation, and by easing individuals’ journey to dialysis or transplantation.

The best source of change comes from communities who engage with their neighbors and identify the most important challenges, identify the most important challenges and potential solutions and are involved in their implementation. Mount Baker Foundation wants to listen and explore new types of philanthropy that supports and inspires increasing levels of community engagement.

Things are out of balance in the world of childcare. Parents’ income is often not enough to cover the costs of childcare – which can approximate college tuition. Childcare providers struggle to break even; challenged further by new requirements for staff / child ratios and fewer children per room. And childcare teachers are often not compensated according to their responsibilities. Mount Baker Foundation is seeking collaborative community solutions to affordable childcare. Childcare to us means integrated early learning to support school readiness, integrated classrooms, and family support.

It has been said that parenting is far more complex than rocket science. Parenting without a home, or in a home with multiple families, is really, really challenging. Stress on the family is stress on the child, which can impact a child’s development and future. Our community needs a viable and sustainable solution for family housing.

People who experience food insecurity are disproportionately affected by diet-sensitive chronic disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure (both which cause Chronic Kidney Disease). Food insecurity is also linked to many other adverse effects to health, including chronic stress which results in a variety of chronic conditions. Food security may be created by lack of money, lack of transportation, or other lack of access to quality food sources.

Mount Baker Foundation is working with the Port of Bellingham and a community collaborative council to ensure equitable access to the internet across Whatcom County. To us, this means addressing internet connection, access to devices, affordable monthly service plans, and digital literacy.

While Mount Baker Foundation does not perceive its role for crisis or operational funding, our Board of Directors recognized the impact COVID-19 would have on our community and prioritized 2020 grants to support community organizations on the front line. In addition to funding for childcare, additional funds have been and will be distributed to the community.