February 2024 News Brief
CRISIS HOTLINE
This month in our Grantee Spotlight Series, we are showcasing The Crisis Hotline. This organization is a 2023 grantee and has received 7 WRWF grants throughout the years totaling $104,500.
In the heart of the Wood River Valley, a beacon of hope shines bright for those navigating through their darkest hours. Established in 1987, the Crisis Hotline has evolved from a modest initiative, where volunteers would place quarters in phone booths for emergency calls, into a comprehensive 24/7 support system.
The hotline serves as a critical bridge during the “gap times” – moments outside the limited hours of professional therapy or counseling sessions – offering a lifeline to individuals facing emotional distress, regardless of the hour. This unique service extends beyond crisis intervention, focusing on preventing the spiral into deeper mental health challenges by enveloping callers in a network of resources, support, and understanding.
Under the leadership of Tammy E Davis, since 2019, the organization has broadened its reach with innovative programs like “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” and “My Life Matters,” adapting to meet community needs even amidst challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These initiatives underscore a commitment to inclusivity, particularly within the Latino community, by bringing resources directly to those in need, ensuring that no one is left isolated, and offering a culturally sensitive approach.
The ongoing support from the Wood River Women’s Foundation has been instrumental in sustaining and expanding these vital services. Looking ahead, the organization is excited about partnerships with innovative platforms like Empathic, aiming to enhance the skills of hotline responders and develop new tools for parents to support emotional health within families.
The hotline’s collaboration with local organizations, participation in the 5B Suicide Prevention Alliance, and its role as a vital component of the state’s mental health infrastructure exemplify a community-centric approach to mental health support.
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the hotline, with opportunities ranging from crisis intervention training to outreach and social media engagement. The organization welcomes individuals from all walks of life to join their mission in creating a network of care and support within the community.
As the Crisis Hotline looks to the future, it remains dedicated to bridging the gaps in mental health support, fostering community connections, and innovating within the sphere of emotional well-being.
For those inspired to contribute, whether through volunteering on the hotline, assisting with digital outreach, or supporting community programs, the Ketchum Crisis Hotline offers a range of opportunities to make a meaningful impact. Check out their website for details!
Members in the News
Triple Match Campaign
Opportunity to Triple Your Impact And Support Our Local Nonprofits!
WRWF’s 2024 grant cycle has launched with nearly $700k in requests! Our collective contributions to the Pooled Fund will make a difference across a diverse array of community services and projects – our reach will be extensive and impactful throughout Blaine County
With the community requesting assistance that is more than double the size of our existing Pooled Fund, a handful of members became inspired to offer up a goal to grow our fund so that we can help more of the non-profits that are seeking WRWF grants.
All members are invited to participate in a “triple-your-impact” opportunity to boost the fund: from now until February 29, every new dollar donated to the Pooled Fund will be matched by two dollars, up to $60,000! In simple terms, your $100 contribution transforms into $300; $1,000 blossoms into $3,000, and $5,000 amplifies to an astonishing $15,000! If we meet our match, the amount we have to grant will soar by $90k!
We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of WRWF members whose contributions fuel our mission. Your involvement is more than a donation, it’s an investment in the well-being of our community, a commitment to positive change, and a testament to the collective strength of women partnering in philanthropy. Thank you to Jill Grossman, Linda Segre, and Sandy McCullough for generously pledging the $60k match. All members are invited to join them in this extraordinary opportunity to make dreams a reality and build a brighter future for all.
Participation in this match is totally optional. If you wish to jump in, contributions can easily be made online HERE or by check to WRWF – Pooled Fund, P.O. Box 3686, Ketchum, ID 83340. Thank you!
2024 grant cycle
The Grants Cycle Has Begun – with our “ART” Volunteers in full swing
Our 19th Annual Grants Cycle Has Launched!
Despite the first snowstorm of the season, about half of the Grants Committee Application Review Teams (ARTs) volunteers braved the wintry conditions to meet their teammates and get briefed on this year’s review process by committee Chair Linda Segre. Many thanks to Megan Pepin for serving as Volunteer Coordinator for the Grants Committee AND for generously hosting the kickoff for the ARTs on January 9th!
The window for this year’s applications opens on Friday, January 12 and closes on Friday, January 26. Once the window closes, WRWF’s volunteer teams swing into action spending February and early March reviewing their assigned applications, conducting site visits and determining which applications will advance to the final ballot that the full membership will vote on. The work of the ARTs is central to our mission and every one of the 40 members who have volunteered to take on this gratifying task is very much appreciated! Here are the teams by color – thank you ladies for sharing your philanthropic time and talent on behalf of WRWF! The full membership looks forward to voting on this year’s applicants in March.
The Grants Leadership Team includes Linda Segre, Chair; Megan Pepin, Volunteer Coordinator; Sally Halstead, Grantee Engagement Lead; and Jori Potiker, Volunteer. Further assistance to the team is provided by Lindsey Larrivee, WRWF Administrator; Emily Boettger, Admin Assistant; Dianne Tibbs Johnson, VP-Operations; Karissa Price Rico, Communications Chair; and Carol McTigue, Volunteer.
Committee corner
Become a Volunteer
New year and a new chance to lend your services to our great, all volunteer organization. All of our committees could use additional help so reach out and explore the options. From Communications to Membership, Education and Finance, we’ve got just the opportunity for you to contribute whether you are here full-time or part-time. This month, we are spotlighting the Membership Committee.
Are you passionate about connecting with new faces, fostering their engagement with the Wood River Women’s Foundation, and sharing your enthusiasm for our mission? If so, we invite you to join our dynamic Membership Committee whose primary responsibilities are growing and retaining our membership. After all, members contributions to the pooled fund are what enable the WRWF to meet our mission of serving our nonprofit partners—-growth in membership means growth in the funds we have to invest to support the growing needs of our partners!
Whether you’re full or part-time in the Valley, an outgoing extrovert or a more introspective personality, your involvement is up to you – from a few hours a year to a couple of hours each month. Your time matters, no matter the quantity. From helping with nametags to shaping event experiences, from extending warm welcomes to new members to brainstorming innovative ways to enhance member appreciation, every moment you contribute makes a tangible impact. Opportunities abound for every level of availability!
Our monthly one-hour committee meetings are accessible via Zoom and in person. Your attendance, as your schedule allows, is warmly encouraged. Together, let’s create meaningful connections and shape a brighter future for our community!
If you have questions please don’t hesitate to call or email us!
Membership Co-Chairs:
UPCOMING EVENT
5 th Annual State of the Valley Community Forum
This year’s theme is “Educate Us – Discussing challenges for education in the Wood River Valley.” We are looking to highlight issues the educational system needs to address through programming, tutoring, early education, and alternative programs. We will be looking at what is being provided currently and what additional support is needed.
Wendy Jaquet will be moderating a stellar panel line up that you will not want to miss.
We hope you can join us.
Contact Jenni Riley, Education Chair with any questions. Jenniriley12@gmail.com
Aprés ski member appreciation event
WRWF’s Après Ski Member Appreciation is an exclusive member appreciation event that brings together our members and your invited guests for an afternoon of treats, and conversation. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals and learn more about the impact our organization is making in the community. This year, we are excited to announce that Aaron Bronson, ED of The Space Idaho will share information on their mission and how our nearly $40,000 in two, recent grants have impacted their organization.
Attendance for the Après Ski Member Appreciation event is limited due to popular demand. To ensure everyone has a comfortable experience, RSVPs are required for this event. We encourage our members & their guests to sign up as soon as possible to secure their spot.
We can’t wait to see you at the Après Ski Member Appreciation event at the Culinary Institute on February 16th from 4-6 pm to celebrate another successful year of women-powered philanthropy.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission organization. Let’s continue to make a difference together!
Calendar
Location: Sun Valley Culinary Institute
Date: February 16th
Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
The opportunity to contribute to the Pooled Fund Match closes on February 29, 2024
The voting period for the 2024 Grants runs from March 21st through April 1st
Event Recap
State of the Valley
Despite challenging weather, more than 60 people turned out for our 5th annual State of the Valley Community Forum at Wood River High School with many more attending virtually.
Our stellar lineup included former Idaho State Representative, Wendy Jaquet, BCS Superintendent, Jim Foudy, Executive Director The Space, Aaron Bronson, WRELC Project Director, Kathryn Ivers and Executive Director Far + Wise and WRWF member Laura Rose-Lewis. Each panelist shared their current priorities and discussed how their work intersects. Their commitment to ensuring that every student has resources and opportunities was central to the conversation.
We appreciate all the efforts made by our board member, Jenni Riley, Education Chair who organized this event, and the Education Committee and we thank our underwriters- Graybird Foundation, Storey Construction, Inc., Dusty’s Electric, Inc., Sound WAVE, Sandy McCullough, Jeanne Cassell, Lilian Wu, and Zion’s Bank.
And last, but not least, we thank and appreciate everyone who braved the weather to come out in support of education, our youth, our community and working together to make it the best it can be. If you didn’t make it but want to watch the video, HERE
Year in Review Slideshow
Grant Cycle
new members
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
KARYNA VEISBERG
We are happy to welcome new member Karyna Veisberg. Here she shares a bit about herself:
Joining WRWF aligned with my values to engage actively with community projects and offer my skills and time in volunteer capacities. I’ve already started working with the WRWF Communications Committee!
Professionally, I specialize in growth and marketing within the SaaS industry. My previous volunteer experience was at the Central Road Racing Association where I helped with marketing.
In my free time, I enjoy pole dancing, surfing, meditation, and reading non-fiction books.
SARAH SEPPA
We are happy to welcome new member Sarah Seppa. Here she shares a bit about herself:
In my role as Director of Community Health and Engagement for St. Luke’s Wood River I have been assessing, learning about, and begun implementing plans to improve the highest priority community health needs that the residents of the Wood River Valley face. Looking at the work that the Wood River Women’s Foundation does to address these needs in our community inspired me to join so that I could make a bigger impact helping community members live and thrive here.
I moved to the Wood River Valley in 2002 and immediately fell in love with the beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and the friendly sense of community. In 2008 I married my husband and we moved to Seattle to further our education. I completed my master’s in clinical nutrition and became a dietitian in 2013 and got a job with St. Luke’s so I could return to the valley to live and work here.
I have held various roles at St. Luke’s such as clinical dietitian, diabetes educator, and manager of clinical nutrition. I now run the Center for Community Health which connects people to resources to improve their health. I sit on the Blaine County Housing Authority board to advocate for affordable workforce housing and the Syringa Mountain School board of directors where my two children attend school.
In my free time I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, downhill and Nordic skiing with my family and wonderful group of friends. I love spending time in the kitchen, cooking healthy meals and trying out new recipes on my husband and kids.
INTRODUCING “WOWIES”
a new volunteer recognition program
At the Wood River Women’s Foundation, it is truly our volunteers who make it all happen! Our fun social gatherings, our thought provoking Field Trips, our Educational Events like State of the Valley, this Newsbrief that you are reading, our Financial Management, our Operations, our Grants cycle and so much more!
2024 will be the year of the “Wowies” – recognizing those volunteers who go the extra mile for our organization or community, those volunteers who selflessly give their time and their bounty to help the WRWF serve our mission.
Here is where you come in – please nominate a member who you believe deserves recognition along one of these dimensions by sending their name and a brief reason why you are nominating them. Awards will be announced at our gatherings 2x a year.
Submit your 250 word (max) nominations to: wrwfcomms@gmail.com
Membership Renewal Reminder
Renew your membership if you haven’t already
Thank you for being committed to supporting WRWF’s nonprofit partners across Blaine County! We are honored to contribute to the work they do to ensure a healthy and vibrant community. Our next grant cycle will be WRWF’s 19th year of generous women pooling our funds to meet our mission – we hope you will be part of it
This year we have onboarded a new membership management platform and you will see something a bit different when you click this link to renew.
To begin the renewal process, click the “member renewal” button. You will be asked to “login” to the website. If you haven’t done this since the switch to the new website in August, please click “forgot your password” and put in your email address currently associated with your WRWF account. You will receive an email that details further instructions. Now you are ready to fill out the form on the membership renewal webpage!
These transitions are always a bit tricky and we appreciate your patience as we smooth out any hiccups. If you prefer to renew by check or DAF, there is a button to “Pay Later” that will capture your information in the new software system and allow you to mail the check in separately. If you just want to mail a check in that’s fine too, just send it to P.O. Box 3686, Ketchum, Idaho 83340.
If you have any questions while working your way through the form, please don’t hesitate to email the office for help at info@woodriverwomensfoundation.org – we welcome your questions.
If you have already received a renewal email and completed your renewal – thank you! If not, please renew at your earliest convenience and no later than November 15 so we can ensure we are ready to meet the next batch of grant requests from our non-profit community.
With Gratitude, your fellow members on the WRWF Board.
Grantee Call to Action
Looking for Coaches!
Attention! WRWF Grantee, Girls on the Run, is actively recruiting coaches in the Wood River Valley for their spring program. The season will begin the week of April 8th and runs through May 30th, plus the celebratory end-of-season 5K on June 1st. It is time to apply if you, or someone you know, would be great for this role! Check out the details on their website – applications are due March 20th.
Calling all WRWF members! We’re here to remind you about our membership initiative program “BFF! – Bring Forth Friends!”
If two new members join WRWF under your encouragement, you will be thanked for your recruitment efforts with either a $25 coffee card or a bottle of wine. This is an opportunity to continue growing and strengthening our collective membership through your personal and unique networks. Remember, there is no limit to how many rewards you can receive in a year. Be sure your BFFs give you credit when they join so we can track your success towards a reward!
Keep spreading the word about WRWF and our mission!
This reward is being underwritten by a generous WRWF member.
job opening
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
The Wood River Women’s Foundation office is busy! If you know anyone who is proficient with technology wants to make a positive impact on our community, and is interested in a part-time year-round job, please refer them to us.
THANK YOU, Sponsors!
We are grateful for our sponsors and extend a hearty WRWF thank you to Graybird Foundation, and Zions Bank!
THANK YOU TO OUR contributors
Thank you to this month’s News Brief contributors:
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