Coach Mark Few, Braden Huff and Davis Fogle Step Up to Support Latest Wildfire Relief Efforts

When howling winds and an arsonist's match sparked the fires that swept through Spokane August 1, Gonzaga sophomore Davis Fogle was across the state at home, seeing the shocking devastation from a distance along with the rest of the country. And the images of destroyed neighborhoods and burning wilderness hit home for the Washington native.

"It was tough to see what was happening in Spokane, especially knowing that it’s home for us at Gonzaga and for so many people in the community," said Fogle, one of the familiar faces of the Gonzaga men's basketball team. "Seeing the damage and how quickly things were happening was pretty shocking. You never want to see people lose their homes or have to leave everything behind, and my thoughts were with everyone who was affected.”

Spokane and the Gonzaga community responded to the tragedy in a big way.

While the fires took thousands of homes, burned tens of thousands of acres and forced nearly 60,000 residents to evacuate for days and weeks afterward, the greater Spokane community immediately went to work on the long-term recovery. And here at Gonzaga the campus opened its doors to displaced employees, National Guard members and neighbors, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in addition to donations of food and clothes for those who lost everything in an instant.

Even from across the Cascades, Fogle could appreciate what he saw in the days after August 1.

"When something like this happens, you really see how strong a community can be," Fogle said. "People stepped up to support those who were affected, and it was great to see Gonzaga be part of that response. It makes you appreciate being part of a place where people care about each other and are willing to help however they can. I think that says a lot about Spokane and what makes Gonzaga special.”

Gonzaga sophomore Davis Fogle playing Saint Mary's.

Teammate Braden Huff, a fifth-year grad student for the Zags, shared that impression as he witnessed Spokane and Gonzaga react to the summer tragedy.

“I think it says a lot about Spokane that people didn’t just feel bad about what happened — they looked for ways to actually help," Huff said. "Seeing the community come together and support families who were going through something so difficult was really meaningful.

The recovery from the fires will be a long one for the entire community, and both Fogle and Huff recently joined Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few to support a new grant fund Few launched to help Spokane residents trying to rebuild their homes and their lives.

Building on the generosity of Walt Worthy, who established the Karen Worthy Memorial Wildfire Grant in memory of his wife Karen, Few has partnered with the Innovia Foundation and Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group to launch the Karen Worthy Grant Phase 2: Back on Solid Ground Fund. While the original grant provided direct financial assistance to families displaced by the fires, this second phase focuses on helping those rebuilding their homes offset permitting and related construction expenses. The fund addresses a critical need not covered by other local relief efforts, with assistance prioritized for families with the fewest financial resources through a disaster case management process.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Worthy family and their willingness to step up for this community," Few said. "Their generosity is going to provide meaningful help to families who are trying to rebuild, and I’m grateful for their commitment to making that happen. When you see that kind of leadership, you want to do your part to support it. I’m proud of our guys for getting involved and helping bring attention to these grants. Spokane has been very good to our program over the years, and we have a responsibility to give back and help however we can.”

Huff and Fogle didn't hesitate in joining Few in helping spread the word about the new fund. Huff said he was eager to get involved because so many families are still dealing with the effects of the fires. Seeing what his coach and the Worthy family were doing to aid Spokane made taking part in the PSA a no-brainer.

Gonzaga fifth-year graduate student Braden Huff in action against Creighton.

"As Gonzaga players, we’re lucky to be part of this community, and I think it’s important to give back however we can," Huff said. "If we can help get the word out, connect families with resources and do our part to support the effort, then that’s something I’m proud to be involved in. It’s about more than basketball, and I think that’s important to remember.”

The application process for the Karen Worthy Grant Phase 2: Back on Solid Ground is coordinated by the Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group. Those interested in applying for assistance through the fund should contact WorthyGrant@SRLTRG.org.