This July Fourth, the fireworks weren’t the only thing lighting up La Conner. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our readers, neighbors, and friends, La Conner Community News met — and exceeded — our $6,000 fundraising match challenge. That’s $12,000 raised in just a few weeks, a powerful testament to the community’s belief in the power of independent, local journalism.
When we launched this paper just four months ago, many doubted whether it was possible. After all, newspapers across the country are shutting their doors, and small towns like ours are often left in the dark — turned into news deserts with no reliable source of local reporting. But La Conner proved the doubters wrong. Our community rallied, and in doing so, you bucked a national trend and stood up for something vital: trusted, place-based storytelling that belongs to all of us.
But our work is only just beginning.
Launching La Conner Community News was a major milestone, but building a sustainable, resilient newsroom requires more. Our annual goal is to raise $200,000 — and we’re now $102,000 closer, with $98,000 to go (the website will be updated this week with the new figures!). This funding will help us:
- Grow our reporting team to deepen coverage of local issues.
- Preserve the tradition of print while embracing new tools for storytelling.
- Support student journalism and community voices across generations.
Every contribution counts. Whether you give $25, $250, or just help spread the word, your involvement fuels this movement. Together, we can protect our local news — not just for today, but for the next generation.
Thank you to the following donors for helping us meet the match!
Cherie Ware-Braley
Kathryn Aiken
Allen and Chris Elliott
Breta Malcolm
Irene Derosier
Kristine Tamman
Lavender
Barbara Endrody
Rick Thompson
Stan Sprinkel
Ryan Booth
Kim Robinson
William Henry Taylor
Theano Petersen
Tom and Kat Ulrich
William Hayton
M.J. Craig
Miriam Fein
Jay Baird
Jaci Chamness
Keith Clements
Dana Matthews
Coizie and Dicken Bettinger
Patricia Jorgensen
Patricia Paul
Holly Redell-Witte
Gayle ODonnell
Gale Fiege
Kathy and Jerry Willins
Kay Trelstad
Thomas Schumacher
Kari Mar is editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.
