While sifting through grant request applications, an employee board at Quadrant Homes came across the application for the 446th Airlift Wing's Care and Share Society.

It immediately struck a cord with the board.

"We were so impressed by it," said Quadrant Homes spokesperson Kate Tate. "They were able to tailor their needs to fit all of their clients. We felt it was really an excellent fit with our focus areas."

Employees of Quadrant Homes, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, recommended that the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation award multiple grants totaling $25,000 to five different nonprofit organizations serving Quadrant Homes' communities in Skagit, King, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

In partnership with the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, the Quadrant Charitable Contributions Advisory Team issued a call for proposals earlier this year seeking grant applicants in two key areas: food banks serving Central Puget Sound and programs that promote the well-being of active duty armed forces members, firefighters, or law enforcement staff, and veterans, who serve to protect Quadrant Homes communities.

The Reserve Wing's Care and Share Society fit right in with the "heroes" category.

"It provides everything from phone cards for their servicemembers, emergency help with paying bills, and even helping their people create a budget so they don't run into those problems again," Tate said. "We were really impressed. It's a real variety of services."

Quadrant Homes employees were even more impressed when they were invited out to the base to present the check. 446th Airlift Wing officials gave them a tour of the facilities, which included a walk through of the wing's food bank, other unit buildings and even a tour of a C-17 Globemaster.

"We were very astonished and honored," said Tate, who got to sit in the cockpit during the tour. "It was so over the top for us."

Grants were also awarded to The Emergency Food Network of Tacoma and Pierce County, Skagit Valley County Community Action Agency, Maple Valley Food Bank and the American Red Cross's Mt. Baker Chapter.

"At Quadrant Homes, giving back to our community is a core aspect of company culture," said Quadrant Homes President Ken Krivanec said in a release. "These grants provide an opportunity to recognize five very deserving organizations that are working hard to improve the quality of life in our communities."