Mount St. Helens Institute raises $103,000, celebrates 20 years

Amboy — The Mount St. Helens Institute raised $103,000 at its Boots & Bow Ties dinner and auction fundraiser, held Oct. 15 to celebrate the educational programming center’s 20th anniversary. The money will support science, education and outdoor exploration at Mount St. Helens. Jeanne Bennett, CEO of Workforce Southwest Washington, was honored with the Institute’s Founder’s Award for establishing and leading the organization’s efforts to create a better connection between people and nature. Bennett was the Institute’s executive director from 2007-2012. John Bishop, the board secretary for the organization and a previous Founder’s Award recipient, said Bennett “is more responsible than anyone else for bringing the Institute to where it is today,” according to a release from the Institute.