Three Kitsap County nonprofits were recently named as beneficiaries of the First Federal Community Foundation’s fall grant awards.

The Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund received a $5,000 Community Support grant to provide transportation for women undergoing cancer treatment for whom the cost of travel is a burden.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building received a $25,000 Economic Development grant to fund scholarships and state of the art equipment for Marine Systems Training Programs. These programs provide vocational training and career services to low-income students in Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam county.

South Kitsap Helpline also received a $5,000 Community Support grant that will go toward purchasing food needed for Helpline’s food programs, which serve over 8,000 low-income residents.

“The Foundation board continues to be impressed by the breadth of organizations improving the quality of life in the communities we serve. While this makes our decisions as to where to allocate our funds challenging, we are excited to watch the impact that will unfold as a result of this fall’s grants,” board chairman Norman J. Tonina Jr. said.

First Federal Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization launched in 2015 with a large gift of stock and cash from the parent company of First Federal Bank when the bank was converted to a publicly-traded company.

First Federal Community Foundation said its mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities that First Federal Bank maintains full-service branches. The foundation has contributed more than $3.6 million since 2015 to qualified organizations that provide community support, address the availability of affordable housing, and deliver economic and community development projects in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.