About the Celtic Arts Foundation

The Celtic Arts Foundation was founded in 1997, and received its 501 (c)(3) status from the IRS in March of 1998. Our mission is to "sponsor, encourage and promote Celtic culture through events and educational activities." 
 
Our Board of Directors has adopted a nondiscrimination policy, and we extend an enthusiastic invitation to anyone who is interested to participate in the work of our Foundation. Our contact information is:
 
Celtic Arts Foundation
P.O. Box 1342
Mount Vernon, WA  98273
360-416-4934
or toll free: 1-888-416-4934
 
Here are some links about us that you may find of interest:
  
 
 
Since our creation in 1997, we have made almost $80,000 in grants and scholarships available. In addition, in 2003 we conducted a capital campaign and donated the "Celtic Stage" at Edgewater Park to the City of Mount Vernon. This addition was valued at $200,000.
 
 
If you would like to become a member of the Celtic Arts Foundation, please call 1-360-416-4934 or send an email to Skye Richendrfer at skye@sos.net.

 

Directors

David Ryberg, President. When Dave joined the Board in 2004, it was something of a homecoming event for the Celtic Arts Foundation and Skagit Valley College. While Dean of Students at Skagit Valley College in the early 1990s, he was instrumental in the creation of the Robert Burns Scottish Evening event as well as the first Skagit Valley Highland Games. Dave has been directly involved with a number of arts organizations in Skagit County. He has recently embarked on a successful new career as a stock broker with Ragen-MacKenzie/Wells Fargo.
 

Marilyn McLean, Attorney at Law, Vice President. An original board member, Marilyn has strong Celtic ancestry. The Scottish side of her family immigrated to Prince Edward Island from Scotland. The Irish portion of her family were pioneers in the Northwest. She has loved the sound of the pipes since childhood, and is passionate about the importance of the arts and Celtic traditions in particular. Marilyn practices law in Bellingham, WA, with a specific emphasis on mediation.
   
Jim Monroe, Ph.D., Secretary. Jim attended the first Skagit Valley Highland Games at Skagit Valley College in 1995, and immediately became hooked. Recently retired from the faculty of Skagit Valley College, he is an active member of the Skagit Valley Chorale. In 2004, Jim was selected as President of the Skagit Performing Arts Council. He is a proud and active member of the Clan Munro society, and a tireless volunteer for the Skagit Valley Highland Games.
 
Scott Peterson, Treasurer. Scott has a lengthy history of community involvement as a successful businessman, and volunteer. Although he claims no Scottish or Celtic ancestry to speak of, Scott has been a generous supporter of the Foundation before being invited to join the Board a couple of years ago. He has recently completed an M.B.A. and is employed as the controller for the Port of Skagit County.
 
 
Melissa Chittenden, Board Member. Melissa is the Assistant Head of School at the University Child Development School in Seattle, WA, and has worked in the field of education for almost thirty years. She not only oversees the day to day operations of the school, but works at the board level and is highly involved in all financial and strategic planning policies and procedures as well. Melissa has a master’s degree in non-profit leadership, and is Adjunct Faculty at SeattlePacificUniversity. Most of her focus in this field is either with children in elementary schools or adults. A passionate supporter of the arts and education, Melissa was invited to join the Mastery of Scottish Arts Board in 2007, and like Tyrone joined the Celtic Arts Foundation Board in 2008 when the two organizations merged.
 

Tyrone Heade, Board Member. Tyrone Heade is passionately supportive of the Scottish arts, primarily piping and its educational side. His company, Bagpipe Entertainment, Inc., has kept him busy as a full time pipe teacher, composer and performer since 1994. Tyrone was one of three founding Board members of Mastery of Scottish Arts in 1996, serving as president until 1998. Tyrone is also a founding member of Seattle’s Elliott Bay Pipe Band (1992), where he serves as Pipe Major, and the acoustic ensemble Iona Abbey (1996). He actively records for students and ensemble musicians, and is a voting member of NARAS. He has a bachelor’s in speech communication from Oregon State University (emphasis in applied persuasion), where he minored in the sciences.  
Jill Hilde, Board Member.  Jill resides in Skagit County with her husband, Dr. Jason Hilde, DDS, and her two school-aged boys. Originally from Edmonds, WA, Jill graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, with a bachelor's degree in Economics, and currently works part-time in her husband’s dental practice. An active community member, her most recent endeavor was serving on the Children’s Museum of Skagit County’s Board of Directors, as Treasurer. Jill has Scottish ancestry and has been a long time Celtic Arts Foundation member. She has participated and volunteered in many of our events over the years, with special interest in outreach activities for and with children. We welcome Jill to our Board.
 
Skye Richendrfer, Executive Director. Skye has been involved in Scottish cultural activities virtually his entire life. He holds a master’s degree from Seattle University in Non-profit Leadership, and served as the Mayor of Mount Vernon, Washington from 1996-2003. He started playing bagpipes at age seven, and later attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN where he led the student run bagpipe band there for three years. He has competed at the professional level as a solo piper and the world class level on several occasions while a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. He is the founder of the Celtic Arts Foundation, and in January of 2004, became its first full-time Executive Director. In 2008, Skye received the Washington State Governor’s Heritage Award, recognizing his “significant contribution to the creativity and the cultural heritage of Washington State.”