December 2024 News Brief
President’s message
Dear WRWF friends,
I am so happy to share with you my first President’s Message! Thank you for such a warm welcome at our Annual Members Meeting and Grantee Celebration on August 8. The business of electing leaders at our annual meeting is important, but celebrating WRWF accomplishments, our members, and our amazing grantees provide the true joy of the meeting.
Speaking of the Annual Meeting, we have many people to thank for such a lovely event. Many thanks to Jori Potiker for graciously hosting us, to Jenni Riley, Kathleen Eder and Toni Damalas and everyone on the Membership Committee for all the planning, all our grantee attendees for their inspiration, and to Board member Karissa Price-Rico for reminding us to cultivate a sense of purpose in all our work. As always, our volunteer work would not be possible without the dedication and positive attitude of WRWF staff members Noe Garing and Lindsey Larrivee!
You will be hearing more from us in the coming months about our plans for 2025. We are already laying the groundwork for another successful Grants Season and thinking about how to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the Foundation. It’s a great year to get involved!
As I write my message the Wapiti fire continues to threaten Stanley. Please consider extending your philanthropy and generosity to our neighbors up north. A GoFundMe has been established for the all-volunteer Sawtooth Valley Rural Fire Department to support Stanley firefighters and their families, many of whom have been displaced because of the fire. You can support them by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-stanley-fire-and-stanley-ambulance-volunteers or mailing donations to PO Box 29, Stanley, Idaho 83278. WRWF supports your bravery and commitment; please stay safe out there.
With gratitude and joy,
Jeannie
Grantee Spotlight
Rotarun Ski Area is bringing its rich history to life with the launch of the Rotarun History Preservation Project, a WRWF-funded initiative. The first phase of this exciting project, debuting December 21, includes a permanent exhibit near the base of the ski lift. Featuring five large-format panels, the exhibit chronicles nearly eight decades of Rotarun’s story with narratives, images, and historical artifacts.
Future phases will include a “Letters to Rotarun” campaign, inviting community members to share their memories, and additional displays within the base lodge to further showcase the hill’s legacy.
This inspiring project has been made possible through the vision of Heather Foster, the support of Rotarun Board member Joan Davies, and the generosity of countless community members, including WRWF. By preserving the past and celebrating Rotarun’s enduring legacy, this project fosters community connection and inspires future generations to embrace the hill’s storied tradition.
Mark your calendars for December 21 and join in the festivities, including pancakes, skiing, and the unveiling of this tribute to Rotarun’s vibrant history!
Member in the news
The Heritage Craft Prize is a vital initiative that celebrates the artistry and cultural heritage of makers in the American West, with a special focus on indigenous communities. By providing a platform for artisans to showcase traditional skills such as weaving, beadwork, and leather crafting, the project helps preserve the rich heritage of indigenous groups and the American West. It also empowers makers by offering them resources, workshops, and opportunities to advance their craft-based businesses, ensuring that these age-old traditions not only survive but thrive in today’s world.
One of the standout success stories from the Heritage Craft Prize is WRWF Member Morgan Buckert, who was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 Heritage Craft Prize. This year’s prize celebrated Women of the West, and Morgan’s work exemplifies the values of technical mastery and cultural connection that the award seeks to honor. Specializing in leatherwork, Morgan creates one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the landscapes and stories of the West. Her winning piece beautifully showcased her craftsmanship, drawing from both tradition and innovation.
Morgan’s recognition by the Heritage Craft Prize highlights her dedication to her craft and the importance of preserving the traditions that inspire her. The financial resources and visibility that come with the prize will help Morgan continue to grow her craft-based business, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while remaining deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the West.
Celebrate Volunteering
Louisa Moats
Louisa Moats has been a dedicated member of the Wood River Women’s Foundation for nearly two decades, joining early in the organization’s history when Marcia Liebich was President. Encouraged by members Barbara Thrasher and Esther Ochsman, Louisa was drawn to the concept of collective giving led by women, a natural fit given her involvement in the women’s liberation movement of 1969 and her lifelong belief in the power of women working together.
From the outset, Louisa immersed herself in WRWF’s mission, joining the Grants Committee and contributing to grant application reviews. This work gave her insight into the community’s needs and sparked her advocacy for more accountability in WRWF’s grant-making process. She was instrumental in championing the establishment of the Impact Committee, stepping away briefly before rejoining when WRWF’s grant-making process became more structured and impactful.
Louisa’s commitment extended to leadership roles. She served as Newsbrief editor for 3-4 years during Peggy Grove’s presidency and later joined the Board as Chair of the Education Committee under Joanne Wetherall’s leadership. In 2020, she became co-Chair of the Focus Grant Committee, where she has played a key role in one of WRWF’s most transformative initiatives.
Reflecting on her time with WRWF, Louisa is most proud of the Focus Grant’s success in addressing Blaine County’s lack of quality, affordable child care—a lasting impact she sees as a major step forward for the community. Beyond the grants, Louisa cherishes the friendships she has formed with fellow members through shared dedication to WRWF’s mission.
Her advice to new members is simple: “Get involved on a committee if you can—grant reviews are a great way to start. Let the Membership Committee know if you’d like help connecting with others or learning how the organization works. Attend events, ask questions, and know that everyone is welcome in this wonderful organization.”
Thank you, Louisa, for your vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication to WRWF and the community we serve!
Upcoming Event
Don’t miss our Holiday Gathering
WRWF Holiday Gathering Tuesday, December 17th, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Over 70 members and guests have already RSVPd yes to our annual Holiday gathering. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The celebration will be at Trinka Dyer’s home in the Valley Club. Be sure to RSVP and bring a friend who might be interested in joining our circle.
upcoming grantee community events
HAILEY, Idaho – December 10, 2024 – As Rotarun starts up its platter lift for opening day of the 2024/25 season on Saturday, Dec. 21, the hill’s namesake Hailey Rotary Club will be flipping pancakes for the community while a special new exhibit at the base of the ski hill is unveiled. The Rotarun History Preservation Project shares the chronological story over nearly eight decades of how the ski hill came to be—featuring written narrative, images, memories, and historical mementos. Pancakes start at 10:00 a.m., unveiling at 11:00 a.m. and public skiing will be open from 12 – 4:00 p.m.
This first phase of the project features a permanent exhibit near the base of the lift. Five large-format panels share a decade-by-decade history-in-brief with snapshots of days gone by through current times. A second phase of the project will soon invite the community and visitors to share memories and stories through an ongoing “Letters to Rotarun” campaign, and will look to bring further historical details to light throughout the interior of the base lodge at Rotarun.
Heather Foster, who works full-time for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and volunteers for Rotarun, took the lead on the project with consultation from Joan Davies. Davies’ historical expertise and support of Rotarun as a long-time member of the Rotarun Board of Directors and as a leader and member of the Hailey Rotary Club, have been instrumental in helping to share the story.
“The opportunity to share the story of Rotarun in such a meaningful way is a long time in the making, and I am so grateful for the vision, initiative, and community support that have come together to make this a reality,” said Joan Davies. “Remembering our past and those who came before us is so important, and equally so is keeping our collective community always looking to our future—and a project like this is such a fun way to bring it all together.”
In the spring of 2024, Rotarun earned the opportunity to present the project before the Wood River Women’s Foundation. Ultimately, the foundation awarded the grant and shared their belief in the vision to bring this to life for our community. The WRWF grant will enable Rotarun to not only preserve history but also build a stronger, more connected community—inspiring future generations to continue the legacy of Rotarun.
“A couple of years ago, I brought the idea for the Rotarun History Preservation Project to Rotarun’s Executive Director, Scott McGrew, in hopes to identify funding to help with the hard costs of the project,” said Foster, Director of Strategic Communications & Development for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. “Rotarun holds such a special place in the hearts of so many, and the more I continued to learn about its history, the greater my passion grew for seeing this project through to fruition.”
True to how Rotarun came to be and has evolved over the years, the hands-on time, talent, and treasure of so many are helping bring the project to reality. In addition to the thoughtful and generous grant from the Wood River Women’s Foundation, the Savaria Family, Carl Rixon, Jr. of Rixon Excavation, and Skip Merrick of Merrick Construction were hands on for a combined 100+ hours to design, engineer, and build the exterior exhibit’s structure. Foster collaborated with Julia Seyferth Curran, who brought the panel visuals to life through her extraordinary talent as an artist and graphic designer.
The next phases of the project are expected to roll out by the end of calendar year 2025.
For more information about Rotarun, visit rotarun.org
About Rotarun
Located just three miles west of downtown Hailey, Idaho, Rotarun Ski Area has been a community hub for local snow sports enthusiasts since 1948. Rotarun offers affordable youth snowsport programming and public skiing throughout the winter season. Since 2017, Rotarun and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF), separate 501c3 organizations, have worked together to collectively further learn-to-ski and ride programs and advanced training opportunities for the youth of the Wood River Valley. For more information, please visit www.rotarun.org.
WRWF Calendar
12/17/2024 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM MT
Trinka & Lloyd Dyer's Home
641 Valley Club Drive
Hailey, ID 83333
Save the Date! More details to come.
We celebrate the season of giving, and honor all our members for their generous support of the WRWF and the community nonprofit partner Grantees.
Register HereDecembernew members
None yet – so bring your friends and neighbors to join us ladies!
We are delighted to extend a warm WRWF welcome this month to:
New WRWF members are invited to provide photos and a bit of information about themselves to share in the News Brief. We have so many interesting members and it is fun to read about everyone’s background. Thanks so much and we look forward to meeting you soon. Welcome!
New Member Spotlight
We’re thrilled to welcome Lisa Kirchenbauer to the Wood River Women’s Foundation! Lisa, a recent transplant to the Wood River Valley, is splitting her time between Arlington, Virginia, and Hailey as she and her husband, Jim, prepare to build their family’s dream mountain home next year.
Lisa is the founder and leader of Omega Wealth Management, a human-centered financial planning firm. She brings a wealth of experience from her service on the Board of the Arlington Free Clinic and the national Financial Planning Association. She also leads Planned Giving and Investment Committee efforts for her church, St. John’s Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.
Lisa and Jim have three sons, ages 28 and 22 (twin boys), all avid skiers, and they share a passion for downhill skiing and hiking. The family has long dreamed of a home in the mountains, and now they’re eager to become more connected to our community through St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the WRWF.
Welcome to the WRWF, Lisa! We’re so excited to have you join us.
A commitment to inclusion
For over two decades, the Wood River Women’s Foundation (WRWF) has been a powerful force for good in the Wood River Valley, bringing women together to make a meaningful impact through collaborative grantmaking and community engagement. Founded in 2005 by a group of visionary women, the Foundation has grown into a dynamic organization dedicated to empowering women and addressing the Valley’s most pressing needs.
In recent years, WRWF has embraced a new chapter in its journey—one rooted in fostering a more inclusive and equitable organization that mirrors the diversity of its community. The Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is leading this effort, a passionate group committed to ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard, respected, and valued, regardless of their diverse background—whether it be gender, age, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or ability. By embracing and celebrating these differences, WRWF is building a stronger, more connected organization that reflects the vibrant and multifaceted community it serves.
The Birth of the DEI Committee
The DEI Committee was born from thoughtful feedback and a shared commitment among members to address inequities within the Foundation and its broader outreach. This effort represents WRWF’s understanding that diversity isn’t just a value to aspire to it’s a fundamental element of fulfilling its mission. Since its inception, the DEI Committee has become a cornerstone of the Foundation, fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and understanding while ensuring WRWF’s work is both impactful and inclusive.
This important milestone would not have been possible without the dedication of members like Martina Bradford, Becky Lopez, Marcia Liebich, Karissa Price-Rico, Lilian Wu, and Jackie Cole, who have been instrumental in shaping the committee’s efforts. A special acknowledgment goes to past president Sandy McCullough, whose leadership laid the groundwork by embodying these values and implementing them in WRWF’s practices. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you to current president Jeannie Shroads for her invaluable mentorship in guiding the new DEI Committee chair and championing this vital work.
DEI in Action: Five Areas of Focus
The committee’s work is rooted in five key areas, each designed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within WRWF and the wider community:
A Vision for the Future
As the WRWF looks ahead, the DEI Committee’s work remains at the heart of its mission. By fostering a culture of inclusion, the Foundation strengthens its impact and sets a standard for organizations across the Valley. Together, WRWF and its members are building a legacy of compassion, collaboration, and community empowerment that will uplift future generations and continue to reflect the values of the remarkable women who make it all possible.
The DEI Committee seeks passionate and dedicated members to join our efforts in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Wood River Women’s Foundation and our community. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in making a meaningful impact! Please contact Monze Stark-Magaña at 208-961-1497 or via email at monzestark@gmail.com for more information.
THANK YOU, Sponsors!
We are grateful for our sponsors and extend a hearty WRWF thank you to Graybird Foundation, Zions Bank, and UBS!
THANK YOU TO OUR contributors
Thank you to this month’s News Brief contributors:
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