PORT TOWNSEND — First Fed has provided a five-year, $50,000 donation to Centrum in honor of the arts organization’s 50th anniversary and to celebrate 100 years of banking in western Washington.

The funds will go toward Centrum’s programs and for scholarships for participants.

“We take great pride in commemorating the remarkable 50-year journey of Centrum and celebrating their unwavering commitment to delivering world-class creative arts experiences for individuals of all ages, said Cindy Finnie, First Fed board chair. “Their dedication to arts, education and residencies has played a pivotal role in nurturing and enriching the arts in our communities.

“We are genuinely thrilled to be a part of their ongoing success and to support their inspiring mission.”

50-year anniversary

The gift was first announced at Centrum’s 50th anniversary gala this summer, when it was part of a record-breaking event which raised more than $275,000 for Centrum’s programs and scholarships.

“We are grateful to be a part of First Fed’s milestone centennial year and that they chose to be a part of our legacy of art and education in Port Townsend,” Centrum Executive Director Robert Birman said. “Making a multi-year gift means a great deal as we plan for the next 50 years of ever-increasing creativity and inclusivity.

“First Fed’s generosity will fuel our programs and ensure that artists and learners — no matter their financial situation — can be a part of them.”

First Fed’s gift also helped to launch the “Centrum Circle,” a new giving initiative created to mark the organization’s 50th anniversary. First Fed is the first business partner to join the Centrum Circle, which recognizes donors who make a commitment of $1,000 or more for the next three to five years.

Members will be included on a donor wall in Centrum’s new headquarters in Building 305 at Fort Worden State Park and receive invitations to special thank you events.

In the past seven years, First Fed has donated more than $8 million to nonprofit organizations. In 2022, its employees volunteered more than 6,800 hours with nonprofit organizations.

Centrum’s mission is to foster creative arts experiences that change lives. Created as a center for lifelong learning in 1974 in a unique partnership between Washington State Parks, the Superintendent of Schools and the state Arts Commission, Centrum presents and honors traditional and evolving arts, provides creative education programs for a wide array of learners and offers residencies for emerging and established artists.

Its workshops bring together aspiring and renowned artists to pass on creative legacies and build community. Public performances for thousands of visitors celebrate these programs and introduce audiences to diverse artists and artforms.

First Fed has served customers since 1923. It has 16 locations including 12 full-service branches in Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.