For The Children
About Us
Our Mission
For the Children, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Whitefish, Montana. The mission of For the Children Inc. is to provide financial assistance to Montana families with pediatric medical-related costs. Each year, approximately $40,000 is given to families with children in need of medical treatment outside of their community. Monies assist families with travel expenses such as transportation, lodging, and meals.
Helping Montana Children Reach Pediatric Treatment
Doug Betters' For The Children
Our Story
In 1979, while playing for the Miami Dolphins, Doug made Whitefish his off-season home. As an NFL celebrity in a small community, he received many requests to assist with fundraisers. He noticed most of the fundraisers were to support seriously ill children. These children needed specialty pediatric care not found in the Flathead Valley and often required families to travel outside the state to reach treatment. Doug did what he could to help but saw a need for one established organization. His vision for this organization was simple: provide immediate financial assistance to families when a child needed to travel for pediatric care. The mission would reduce the burden on families and allow them to focus on their child’s treatment.
In 1983, Doug presented his idea to Big Mountain Resort (now Whitefish Mountain Resort). It was an idea not only the Mountain, but the rest of the Whitefish community rallied behind — For the Children was born. For over 30 years, the organization hosted a fundraiser: the Whitefish Winter Classic. The fundraiser was famous in Northwest Montana as it brought in both NFL and TV celebrities for a winter sports weekend. Due to the event’s fundraising success, the Whitefish Winter Classic was retired in 2015.
Today, Doug Betters For the Children continues to thrive. Our services now extend well beyond the Flathead Valley to include all of Montana. In addition, For the Children has expanded its scope to fund several children’s health projects such as the Whitefish Smith Field Sports Complex, Coats for Kids, and Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance camp. Though our expanse covers all of the Big Sky country, the heart of our operations remains in the Whitefish community.
for the children
Board of Directors
Sean Averill – Owner, Pure West Real Estate
Mark Dowaliby – Mortgage Loan Originator, Whitefish Credit Union
Tonia Paulson – Mortgage Loan Processor, Mann Mortgage LLC
Nick Polumbus – President, Whitefish Mountain Resort
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Committee Members
Pat Zanto – Treasurer
Katy Krewoski
Cori Pasinetti
Amy Swander