Saddlehorn Foundation gives $50k to local causes

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Nothing draws a crowd like a big check.

The Saddlehorn Discovery Tower building was packed Saturday night for a book signing and the presentation of about $50,000 to community organizations around Bigfork.

The book, "To Build a Dream," chronicles the history of Les Averill's creation of the Flathead Lake Lodge and authors Rick and Susie Graetz were on hand to sign copies. The book was published by the University of Montana's newly revived press.

The Saddlehorn Foundation was billed by developer Doug Averill as a way to give back to the community while the development takes shape across the Swan River from downtown Bigfork. The foundation collects one half of one percent of each sale made in Saddlehorn in perpetuity, so even when a lot is re-sold in ten or twenty years time, that small percentage goes back to the community.

"It could add up to millions of dollars," Averill said.

The fund act as a sort of voluntary impact fee, Averill said, since a development the size and scope of Saddlehorn is bound to have an impact on the community. Since the county has no impact fee, it was decided to create one — with the added bonus that local board members probably have a better idea of what the community needs than the county government would.

In that vein, the first of what Averill said will be an annual tradition of giving started on Saturday with eight oversized checks displayed to show the community where that money is going.

The largest donation was $37,500 to the Public Lands Trust toward purchase of the Swan River corridor owned by PacifiCorp. Other large amounts went to the Bigfork Steering Committee, the A.L.E.R.T. helicopter, the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork and the Bigfork High School choir.

All the donations made on Saturday were made in honor of a community member.

"We wanted to be able to honor some people while we did this," Averill said.

Saddlehorn is currently selling lots in its first phase, with a second, larger phase still to go, so Averill said there's a lot of money that will be coming to the table to help out in town.

Marketing Assistant Sarah Peterson agreed.

"For one summer it's not bad."

Saturday's largest donations went to:

$1,000 to the Bigfork Steering Committee for community projects in honor of Sue Hanson and Shelley Gonzales.

$1,000 to the Northwest Healthcare Foundation A.L.E.R.T.

$1,000 to the BHS Choir for a trip to Seattle.

$2,000 to the Bigfork Chamber for street cleaning.

$1,000 to the CFBB in honor of the Whitney Family for donating the historic 1910 wood water tank for Bigfork.

$37,500 to the Trust for Public Lands for trails and Swan River corridor access.

$1,000 to the Bigfork Sidewalk Fund in honor of George and Elna Darrow for making Bigfork better.

$1,000 to the BHS Auto Tech class for trip to Illinois to tour the Caterpillar factory.