May 2024 News Brief
President’s message
HELLO FELLOW MEMBERS!
While May snow has been a bit distracting, the warm days of summer are almost here along with opportunities for us to gather outdoors!
This past winter and spring, your Board of Directors has been working diligently to recruit new leaders and are thrilled to announce the approval of Jeannie Shroads as President-Elect. Following your July confirmation vote, Jeannie will take over this role in August when my term ends. Jeannie is smart, kind and laser-focused on WRWF’s mission – she will be a fantastic President!
We are also delighted to welcome new Board Members Carolyn Larson, Louisa Moats and Susie Zachman. Serving on the WRWF board is a three-year commitment typically followed by a second three-year term. The role of President is a two-year term. Keep reading to learn more about these and other new leaders in this News Brief!
The Board is also excited to share that it has approved the official creation of a new WRWF committee: the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Establishing the DEI Committee is a major step in meeting our commitment to inclusion that launched in August 2022. More information will be forthcoming.
As we wave goodbye to early 2024, I wanted to applaud you all yet again for your incredible generosity to our 2024 Pooled Fund. Between your record giving of $400k and the unique post-vote boost, WRWF members awarded more than $500k to 27 well-deserving nonprofits! Our collective contributions will enable our community partners to deliver extraordinary results. Thank you for standing together to deliver our mission and congratulations on making an amazing impact!
With WRWF gratitude,
Sandy McCullough
Grantee Spotlight
WOOD RIVER ORCHESTRA
The Orchestra provides Wood River Valley musicians of all ages the opportunity to practice together and perform for local audiences. It is the only local organization that brings together volunteer – and mostly amateur – string, brass, woodwind, and percussion musicians under the direction of a professional conductor. The orchestra plays four free concerts per year, under the direction of Brad Hershey. This month’s WRWF Field Trip was to their performance entitled “A Night At The Movies”, which you can read all about in our recap below.
The Wood River Orchestra is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and includes musicians of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status with absolutely no cost to participate. Members range in age from age 14–83. Invitation to join is by word of mouth, personal contacts, and announcements at every concert. So if you or anyone you know is interested in joining this group, feel free to reach out https://www.wrcorchestra.org/
GRANTEE IN THE NEWS
Article by: Hayden Seder ~ of Visit Sun Valley
South of Bellevue lies a beautiful, sprawling property, home to Swiftsure Ranch, a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to help those with physical, mental, and emotional needs through equine-assisted activities. The ranch helps many individuals, including veterans, children, the elderly, and others, throughout the Wood River Valley through its many programs. Currently, the organization employs eight staff, is assisted by roughly 150 volunteers, and helps about 385 clients a year with its 21 horses. Using these unique therapeutic equine connections, Swiftsure helps empower individuals of all abilities to gain strength and freedom.
THE RANCH
Swiftsure Ranch moved to its current location on 191 acres just south of Bellevue in 2011, allowing for more facilities and more expansive grounds. The ranch is joined on the west by BLM lands and mountain and water views; one mile of the Big Wood River passes through the property. The centerpiece of the equine programs is the 32,000-square-foot, indoor, heated arena, which allows the organization to operate year-round. A 20-stall barn accommodates up to 40 horses, and there’s also outdoor paddocks, pastures, and a smaller 12-stall barn. Inside the main arena is a tack room, complete with adaptive saddles, and a specially designed lift to help those get on a horse who may not have the physical ability to do so. Miles of trails wind through aspen and cottonwood trees on the property, allowing for outdoor riding, and a campground/retreat location is available for visiting groups to stay.
WRWF leadership news
The Grants Cycle Has Begun – with our “ART” Volunteers in full swing
Jeannie Shroads, a board member for the past two years and current currently serving as Chair of our Governance Committee, has been nominated by the board to serve as our next President-Elect. All members will have an opportunity to vote on Jeannie and other leaderships nominations in our yearly foundation business ballot that is emailed each July. Results are shared at the Annual Meeting & Grantee Celebration, this year that will take place on August 8. We are thrilled that Jeannie has agreed to continue her service to our mission and organization in this manner at this level and look forward to joining all members in support of her new role!
In March, Louisa Moats re-joined the Board as Education Committee Chair, a committee she knows well as she has previously served as the Chair before she took on a leadership position around our Focus Grant. Louisa will also begin serving as Board Secretary effective with the August 8 vote. Thank you Louisa for your continuing service to WRWF and our mission! Learn more about Louisa HERE
New Grants Committee Leadership Team:
Monze Stark-Magaña has agreed to serve as the Co-Chair of the Foundation’s new DEI Committee which the Board voted to establish at our its May meeting. This WRWF Committee will be charged with implementing some of the recommendations of the DEI Report produced by the DEI Task Force which has been led for the past 18 months by Martina Bradford and Becky Lopez. Information about the committee’s work will be shared with members as it rolls out. Thank you to Monze for taking on this new and important role!
Event Recap
Meet & Mingle at Zion’s Bank
Just last week, 30+ members gathered together at our sponsor’s, Zions Bank, offices to hear from one of our grantees, Arch Community Housing Trust’s Michelle Griffith as well as learn more about wine from local wine expert, Angela Baron, Wine Associate, Albertsons. We had several new members and guests join us for the fun occasion and appreciate the continued support of Zions and Albertsons.
Field Trip to Wood River Orchestra
WRWF Calendar
Location: SVMoA ~ 191 5th St. E. Ketchum
Date: June 7th
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Silvercreek Outfitters
500 N Main St Ketchum
Date: June 8th
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Whether you fish or not, come out to support WRWF at a sip-and-shop event at Silver Creek Outfitters.
Location: 102 Sagewillow, Elkhorn
Date: July 2nd
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
More details to follow
JulyDate: August 8th
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
More information to come!
Augustnew 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!
upcoming grantee community events
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.
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
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@2024 Wood River Women’s Foundation
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Jeannie Shroads
President
After raising her two daughters in Virginia, Jeannie and her husband made their part-time Ketchum home their full-time home in August of 2021. She quickly recognized the value of membership and camaraderie in the Wood River Women’s Foundation. After mailing in her membership application, she walked over to River Run for the December Meet & Mingle and raised her hand as a volunteer first joining the Governance Committee, then becoming its Chair.
Jeannie spent 20 years as an in-house lawyer, gaining significant experience advising boards and committees, participating in strategic planning, and guiding human resources and operations activities. In the spirit of life-long learning. she recently completed earned her Master of Science degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and provides training and consulting services to humanitarian, development and peacebuilding organizations. You will find her on the slopes of Baldy, the hiking trails of Sun Valley and many other fun spots in Idaho with her husband John and three dogs.
“My goals are to make deep connections with the amazing women of the Valley and to give back in a meaningful way to our communities in need. As a member of the community, it is very important to me that I give back instead of only taking advantage of this wonderful place.”
Louisa Moats
Board Member-Education Committee Chair
Louisa Moats, Ed.D., has been a teacher, psychologist, researcher, graduate school faculty member, and author of many influential scientific journal articles, books, and policy papers on the topics of reading, spelling, language, and teacher preparation. Dr. Moats is a nationally recognized authority on how children learn to read and why some fail to learn. Widely acclaimed as a researcher, speaker, consultant, and trainer, Moats also developed the landmark professional development program LETRS for teachers and reading specialists and the scientifically based LANGUAGE! Live Reading Intervention for grades 5 – 12.
Louisa, a resident of Sun Valley & Vermont, has been an active WRWF member since 2015. Louisa previously served two terms as a WRWF board member serving as the Education Chair. Louisa also co-chaired our Focus Grant, continues to serve as Co-Chair of the Focus Grant Committee, and currently serves on the Nominating Committee. Louisa has been an integral contributor to the success of the WRWF, past, present, and future. We are fortunate that her schedule now leaves room for her to join us on the board once more.
Carolyn Larsen
Board Member
Grants Co-Chair
Carolyn Larsen joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation in 2023 at the recommendation of her sister-in-law Bonnie Larsen after buying a home in the valley in 2016. She joined the Grants Committee and found it to be a great “match” for her.
Carolyn has had a long & successful career in healthcare management and is currently COO of a Fresno, California medical group responsible for driving operational efficiencies and profitability. An active community volunteer in California, Carolyn previously served as President of La Feliz Guild, which fundraises for a local Children’s Hospital. With four children she also served as PTA President multiple times.
“I am very impressed with the WRWF and would like to learn even more. I have the time to dedicate myself to this process and I know the future will lead to friendships and connections which really excites me.”
Jori Potiker
Grants Co-Chair
Jori joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation in 2016. After becoming a Ketchum, Idaho resident in 2020, Jori immediately became active on the Grants Committee, and has served two cycles on an ART team. She also currently serves as a member of Citizens Review Panel for the Idaho Child Welfare and Foster Care system.
Her passion beyond her family has always been giving back to the community having learned first-hand in a very philanthropic family. Once she moved to San Diego, Jori immersed herself in non-profit board service including the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Seacrest Village, Jewish Family Service, the Pacific Ridge School Board and many others.
A successful career as an executive in editorial and sales management roles and ultimately managing a staff of over 100 plus Jori’s extensive work in philanthropy working with volunteers position her to be a great addition to the WRWF Grants Committee leadership team!
Susie Zachman
At-Large Board Member
Grantee Engagement Team Lead
Susie Zachman came to Ketchum in 2023 via Laguna Beach and joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation immediately. She researched volunteer opportunities on our website and joined the Grants Committee as a member of an ART team. In addition Susie is a volunteer for The Hunger Coalition and Community Loaves.
Although Susie has extensive successful experience in the legal, financial, and HR corporate worlds, her greatest accomplishment has been operating her own non-profit and serving on the boards of others. She founded Better Beginnings in 2015 dedicated to preventing chronic disease and childhood obesity and promoting healthy habits in young children. Their mission is to inspire, educate and enable parents of young children to parent and feed in ways that encourage healthy habits.
In addition to being a new At-Large Board Member, Susie is leading the Grantee Engagement Team. “I have run a small non-profit so I understand how limited their resources can be, how important their work is, and how much impact the support of volunteers can have. I love the idea of helping interested Grantees connect with the talented women of the WRWF to help them deliver on their missions.”
Monze Stark-Magnaña
DEI Committee Co-Chair
Monze Stark-Magnaña joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation in 2023 introduced by her mother-in-law Joanne Wetherell. Monze lives in Twin Falls and spends much of her time in the Wood River Valley having grown up here.
Monze graduated from the University of Idaho with an M.S. in Adult Learning and Leadership, following with a B.S in Sociology. She is the Dean of Enrollment Services at the College of Southern Idaho; previously Monze worked as the Associate Director of Multicultural Recruitment at the University of Idaho in Moscow. She has extensive experience in leadership, management, training and coaching, and grant writing. Additionally, Monze has served as a board member of the Idaho Latino Foundation plus has served on the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Native American University Council, the President’s Council on diversity and Inclusion among many other community organziations.
We are honored to have Monze take on the newly-formed DEI Committee as Co-Chair and guide us to create and execute on a strategy that will aid the WRWF in becoming the welcoming, inclusive organization our member survey feedback supports. “Through active participation and collaboration with fellow members and stakeholders, I aim to contribute innovative ideas, strategic insights, and effective solutions that further advance WRWF’s initiatives and amplify our collective efforts towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.”