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Business Beacon: Thurston Chamber Education Foundation
Thurston Chamber Education Foundation helps people of all ages find their purpose and reach their potential.
In Thurston County, the future is being shaped through everyday connections between students, educators, employers, and community leaders. Whether it’s a student discovering a new career path, a teacher building meaningful partnerships with local industries, or a business leader mentoring the next generation of talent, these moments create opportunities that can last a lifetime.
Helping make many of those connections possible is the Thurston Chamber Education Foundation. As a nonprofit organization, the Foundation is dedicated to strengthening education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and leadership across the region, bringing people together to build a stronger future for the entire community.
More Than a Foundation
The Thurston Chamber Education Foundation isn’t defined by a single program or initiative; it serves as a bridge between education and industry, helping people develop the skills, relationships, and opportunities needed to thrive. Through leadership development, youth engagement, career exploration, entrepreneurship, and business partnerships, the Foundation convenes people from different backgrounds around a common goal: creating stronger pathways to success for all members of the community.
“We believe every student and every emerging leader deserves the opportunity to explore their potential,” said Mia Claire Ong, Education and Partnership Development Manager. “Our work is about creating connections that help people discover possibilities they may not have known existed.”
Creating Future Leaders
One of the Foundation’s flagship programs is Leadership Thurston County, which has helped develop community leaders for decades. With more than 950 alumni serving across business, government, education, and nonprofits, the program brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds to explore the issues and opportunities shaping Thurston County.
The Foundation also invests in future leaders through Youth Leadership Thurston County, where high school students build leadership skills, gain real-world experience, and earn Career and Technical Education (CTE) credit. By connecting students with local leaders and community challenges, the program helps prepare the next generation to lead with confidence and purpose.
Connecting Education and Industry
A big part of the Foundation’s work is helping students see how what they learn in the classroom can open doors to future careers.
Through programs like Find Your Future, students can connect directly with professionals, explore different industries, and learn about different paths available after graduation. This year, more than 350 students, families, educators, and industry professionals came together to discover new opportunities and make valuable connections.
The Foundation also brings learning to life through Math for Life, showing students how math and problem-solving are used in everyday careers. With the help of local employers, the program engaged more than 500 students this year through hands-on experiences that made classroom concepts more relevant and meaningful.
Together, these programs help students connect their education to future careers while providing employers with meaningful opportunities to engage in workforce development and inspire the next generation of talent.
Supporting Small Business Success
The Foundation’s commitment to strengthening the local economy extends beyond students and educators. Through its Small Business Incubator, aspiring entrepreneurs gain access to mentorship, resources, and connections that help transform ideas into sustainable businesses. By supporting emerging business owners, the Foundation helps cultivate innovation, create economic opportunities, and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout Thurston County.
A Partnership Built on Community
For the Thurston Chamber Education Foundation, community partnerships are essential to making this work possible. That’s one reason its relationship with Sound Credit Union is so meaningful.
As a member-owned cooperative, Sound shares the belief that strong communities are built through investment in people. Through its partnership with the Thurston Chamber Education Foundation, including support for initiatives that help sustain and expand its work, Sound helps create opportunities for students, emerging leaders, and entrepreneurs throughout Thurston County. Like many of the Foundation’s strongest partnerships, the relationship is built on a shared commitment to long-term impact rather than short-term outcomes.
Looking Ahead
As workforce needs continue to evolve, the Thurston Chamber Education Foundation remains focused on strengthening leadership, expanding career-connected learning opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating meaningful connections between education, business, and community. Through these efforts, the Foundation is helping build a stronger, more connected Thurston County. And with partners like Sound Credit Union, that work will continue to create opportunities for future generations.
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