Kathryn Ivers becomes the project director of the WRELC

WRELC Mt Express Feature

The Wood River Women’s Foundation and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children recently announced Kathryn Ivers as the project director of the Wood River Early Learning Collaborative.

“Kathryn’s broad and unique background, which combines community psychology, human rights advocacy, nonprofit leadership and a passion for improving the lives of children and their families, makes her ideally suited to lead this effort,” said Martin Balben, Early Learning Collaborative project director at the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.

Creating surveys tailored to three different types of community members is the Wood River Early Learning Collaborative’s next task. Surveys will be given to businesses, early-childcare and education providers, and families and community members to enable local data collection. The gathered data will be used to compile the Wood River Early Learning Collaborative Needs Assessment, which is anticipated to be finalized by the end of January 2023.

By Tony Evans Derived from Mt. Express
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WRWF closes the “Opportunity Gap” in early childhood education

WRELC EOSV – In this photo, Hailey Public Library Children’s Librarian Elise DeKlotz engages with kids during the giveaway of kindergarten readiness kits.

The WRWF selected early childhood education—specifically, what they called “Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education”– to be the focus of its first ever Focus Grant. It is collaborating with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho-AEYC) on the project.

Kathryn Ivers was appointed the project director of the resulting Wood River Early Learning Collaborative. One of Ivers’ first tasks was to form an Advisory Council to steer the creation of an early education community for all young children in Blaine County, especially those from underserved families.

In photo: Hailey Public Library Children’s Librarian Elise DeKlotz engages with kids during the giveaway of kindergarten readiness kits.

Repost Article by Eye on Sun Valley
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WRWF provides warmth to our community

It was T-shirt weather when the Knitzvah Mitzvah group began knitting hats, scarves and other items to keep people warm this winter.

Please read this feel-good article about how multiple WRWF members knit for several months of the year to provide warmth to our community via our Grantee The Advocates. Thank you Karen Bossick for always sharing these heartwarming stories.

Read more here

Photo Credit: Leslie Silva

December 15, 2022
4:00-6:00 pm
641 Valley Club Drive, Hailey
(At the home of Trinka Dyer, WRWF Board Member)

After a two-year pandemic absence, we are delighted to be able to celebrate the holidays together this year! And in the spirit of the giving season, WRWF members are invited to contribute to the Blaine County Education Foundation’s Secret Santa Fund. BCEF allocates Secret Santa funds throughout the academic year at the request of school social workers to provide “above and beyond” student needs. Past requests have included clothing, blankets, gas cards, baby formula and diapers for teen moms, etc. The Secret Santa Fund was launched by a group of WRWF members many years ago, some of whom still contribute each year. Other non-WRWF members of the community also contribute to this much needed fund.

Please visit the Blaine County Education Foundation’s website to make a contribution – in the memo line of their donation form, you must specify: Secret Santa Fund/WRWF. The same detail is needed on your paper checks if that’s how you wish to contribute. (We can also take checks at the 12/15 event.) Please be generous – the “above and beyond” needs of local students, especially those new to Blaine County and the United States, are great.

Holiday cheer, philanthropic camaraderie and delicious heavy appetizers from The Haven await your arrival. There is very limited parking in Trinka’s driveway and more along Valley Club Drive so carpooling is encouraged. Be prepared to walk to Trinka’s from Valley Club Drive. Don’t miss out!
Registration fee: $35 per person (your registration is not a donation to BCEF. You may donate to BCEF’s Secret Santa Fund separately here.

Register and pay for the event online by clicking here.

Or, send check or cash for the event to:
WRWF
P.O. Box 3686
Ketchum, ID 83340

Wood River Women’s Foundation Funding Decal

Grantee – KFD vehicle decal – Asst. Fire Chief Seth Martin placing the WRWF decal on the rescue vehicle

In August 2022 the Wood River Women’s Foundation Field Trip! took members to the Ketchum fire station to see the new off-road ATV rescue vehicle that was partially funded by a 2022 WRWF grant.

The Communication Committee created a decal promoting WRWF’s support and funding for the KFD vehicle. Communications Committee member Joy Flores-Perez designed the logo and the team worked with Assistant Fire Chief Seth Martin to determine sizing and placement.

We are thrilled with the result and hope to take a similar approach with other applicable grantees!

IHAD Call for Mentors

I Have a Dream Foundation executive director Laura Rose-Lewis has asked us to issue a call for mentors to support its “Inspire the Dream” Mentoring Program!

The “I Have a Dream” Foundation is seeking adult mentors who are interested in committing to supporting, guiding and being a friend to our elementary Dream Scholars where they learn and play at our Dream program spaces. Mentors will spend time each week with Dream Scholars supporting them in literacy and math and engaging in meaningful enrichment activities. We will expand this program to middle and high school students over the next year but are launching the program, initially, in our elementary program.

If you would like to learn more about the “Inspire the Dream” Mentoring Program, and how you can become a mentor, contact Kris Stoffer, Mentor Coordinator at kris@ihdfidaho.org