May 2026 News Brief
Celebrating our 2026 WRWF Grantees!
In early April, we were thrilled to announce a new year of community investment with the results of our 2026 grants cycle! Thanks to the generosity of all our members, and hard work of our Grants team volunteers, WRWF awarded a total of $315,944 to local nonprofits this year, supporting a range of causes that includes healthcare access, food security, education, and outdoor recreation. This year’s funding also included several first-time Grantees, reflecting WRWF’s growing impact and reach across the entire Wood River Valley.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible members for making this meaningful impact possible. Your generosity and commitment continue to strengthen our community in powerful ways! We are also excited to partner with our inspiring new class of 2026 Grantees and look forward to seeing the extraordinary work they will accomplish in the year ahead.
To celebrate the beginning of these partnerships, we were honored to bring together WRWF members and our 2026 Grantees for a special April Meet & Mingle and Grantee celebration event at the Sun Valley Club on April 30th.
Nearly all our 2026 Grantees gathered alongside WRWF members and their guests for a lively check presentation. The event reflected exactly what many nonprofit partners had asked for: a chance to connect, build relationships, and be acknowledged in a meaningful and personal way. One Grantee described it as a “community group hug.” We couldn’t agree more!
The event also provided an opportunity to recognize some of the dedicated individuals whose contributions help make WRWF so special. Membership Volunteer Leslie Jiranek was presented with a WOWIE Award in recognition of the tremendous joy and energy she has put into so many WRWF social events.
We are also deeply grateful to WRWF Board Member Susie Zachman for her underwriting support and to the entire Sun Valley team for creating a celebration worthy of our remarkable Grantees and the dedicated members. And many thanks to Leslie Silva for contributing her photography skills to perfectly capture the evening.
Inside WRWF
Planning for Our Future
For two decades, the Wood River Women’s Foundation has been defined by the power of women’s collective giving. As we look toward our next chapter, the WRWF Board has been focused on one central goal: ensuring our long-term sustainability while growing our community impact. To achieve this, we need both an engaged, growing membership and a financially strong organization. The Wood River Valley has changed significantly since our founding—our community’s needs have grown, and the costs of delivering our programs have increased. With these challenges and opportunities in mind, the Board has approved new membership donation levels, effective June 1, 2026.
Why Now?
Other than the addition of the Future Forward tier for younger women, our membership descriptions and donation levels have remained unchanged for years. To keep pace with the reality of our community today, these updates will:
Effective June 1, 2026, the standard Sustainer donation level will be $1,300. We are also introducing higher tiers for those who wish to deepen their financial support of the Foundation’s work.
| Level | Donation Total | For Grants | For Programs & Operations |
| Future Forward (21–50) | $600 | $500 | $100 |
| Nonprofit Employees | $600 | $500 | $100 |
| Sustainer | $1,300 | $1,100 | $200 |
| Catalyst | $2,500 | $2,200 | $300 |
| Champion | $5,000+ | $4,400 | $600 |
What is NOT Changing
While the numbers are updated, our WRWF values remain the same!
If you have any questions about the changes, please just reach out.
This year, the Wood River Women’s Foundation is celebrating you! We declared 2026 the “Year of the Member” — an opportunity to strengthen and expand the incredible community of women who make our impact possible. We set an ambitious goal to welcome 50–100 new members this year through informational events, outreach partnerships, community engagement, and member referrals. We are especially focused on reaching Future Forward members and women who may not yet realize there is a place for them within WRWF.
As chair of the new Membership Growth Strategy Task Force, I’m looking for a diverse group of volunteers to help shape and execute creative strategies to grow our membership and broaden our reach across the Valley.
Whether you enjoy event planning, marketing, relationship building, communications, outreach, or simply connecting people, there is a role for you. We also encourage every member to invite friends, neighbors, colleagues, and newcomers to learn more about WRWF during this special year.
If you are interested in joining the task force or helping in any capacity, I would love to hear from you!
Sharon Knight, WRWF Board Member
sharon.knight@gmail.com / 208-481-9003
Upcoming Events
Date: Thursday, May 28th
Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: Topnotch Fine Furnishings & Interior
600 Sun Valley Road E
Ketchum, ID
Join us for a Meet & Mingle + Wine Tasting Event!
Date: Thursday, June 25th
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Location: Fox Creek Trailhead Parking Lot
See Link in Event Listing for Map to Trailhead
Date: Tuesday, July 14th
Time: See Below
Offered in 2 Locations:
Save the Date for a Field Trip with our 2026 Grantee Community Library on July 14th!
Date: Friday, July 31st
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Free
Save the Date for a Field Trip with our 2026 Grantee St. Luke's Wood River Foundation on July 31st!
Date: Wednesday, August 5th
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: 109 Spruce Way
Hailey, ID 83333
Save the Date for a special member appreciation event!
Sending a warm welcome to our new members:
Thanks to your energy, generosity, and enthusiasm, we are welcoming a record number of new members to WRWF! Please join us welcoming these women to our community. Let’s keep the momentum going—invite a friend, share our mission, and help us make this our most powerful year yet. 
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
Deana Singleton
After spending the past decade as a part-time resident, I recently relocated to Sun Valley full-time and felt inspired to join WRWF as a way to connect with new women in the community and contribute to local philanthropic efforts.
My professional career spans more than 30 years in tech advertising and branding, including a long tenure at Microsoft. After retiring, I spent two years teaching Marketing and co-running a DECA program at a high school in the Seattle suburbs. During my younger son’s high-school years, I also served on the board of a young men’s volunteer organization, where our family was actively involved for four years.
I’m happiest outdoors and love skiing, hiking, and biking. I’m excited to become more involved in the community and to build new friendships here in Sun Valley.
Rosmery Serva
I am honored to join the Wood River Women’s Foundation and contribute to an organization that strengthens our community through collective generosity and leadership. My work has always been rooted in service, connection, and bringing people together.
I hold an Associate’s degree in Business and come from a business-oriented family, which shaped my early interest in entrepreneurship. I previously owned and operated a restaurant, an experience that deepened my appreciation for hard work, teamwork, and community support. Today, I serve as a Community Organizing Coordinator, where I collaborate with diverse groups, support local initiatives, and help connect individuals and families with resources that improve quality of life.
I am especially inspired by WRWF’s commitment to empowering women and uplifting the Wood River Valley as a whole. I hope to contribute my experience in community engagement and my passion for service to help further that mission.
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking in the mountains with my husband and our mini Australian Shepherd, Radhi, and spending time outdoors appreciating the beauty of this valley we call home.
Jessica Haggard Nesbitt
HowDee – My name is Jessica Haggard Nesbitt, and I joined WRWF because women inspire women to bring out the very best of humanity! And-what better place to connect and stand together for a better future than right here in our own community? I work as a securities and corporate lawyer and my passion is serving mothers, babies and children in poverty and crisis across the world. Living a life with Jesus is my #1 passion, and for fun I enjoy getting outdoors whenever I can to hike, sail, trail run and enjoy all kinds of western cultural outdoor activities such as shooting, gardening, fishing and ranching.
Erica Tripard
I joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation to get more involved in the community I now call home. Born and raised in New York City, I met my husband while living in Seattle and he introduced me to Sun Valley. Naturally, I fell in love with the Wood River Valley and we made it our goal to retire here. Joining WRWF felt like a natural way to give back while connecting with other women who care about our community.
Professionally, my background is in business operations, finance, and strategic planning, with most of my career spent at Microsoft. Before retiring, I served as a Chief of Staff, and I now work as a fractional Chief of Staff and consultant. I enjoy helping organizations bring structure and clarity to complex challenges.
Giving back has always been important to me. I organized my first fundraiser for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at age 24, and I have continued volunteering and supporting causes throughout my life. Most recently, I have served as the Blaine County lead for the Reproductive Rights ballot initiative through Idahoans United for Women and Families.
When I am not working or volunteering, I enjoy hiking, skiing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Grantee Spotlight
The work being done by The Alliance of Idaho through Project Solo is transforming the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Project Solo provides legal support and advocacy for immigrant youth facing difficult circumstances, helping them pursue Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and obtain legal permanent residence in the United States. WRWF awarded The Alliance $25,000 in 2025 to support this impactful program.
Recently, four children in the program were approved for SIJS, bringing the total number of youth successfully served through Project Solo to 12. Each approval represents years of legal advocacy, persistence, and care for children navigating extraordinarily difficult circumstances. The Alliance continues working every day to help vulnerable youth find safety and stability, currently representing 22 local children in their pursuit of SIJS.
Executive Director and WRWF Member Becky Lopez shared, “We are profoundly grateful to the Wood River Women’s Foundation for supporting Project Solo; because of you, 12 children who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect now have a pathway to permanent residency—changing the trajectory of their lives and strengthening our community for generations.”
We recognize and appreciate The Alliance of Idaho for advancing this deeply meaningful work in our community and for the lasting difference they continue to make for local youth.
Grantee & Community Events
BCRD Bike to School and Work Day
The BCRD is hosting its annual Bike to School and Work Day on Wednesday, May 20th. This free community event will take place along the Wood River Trail from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m., featuring more than 30 local sponsors offering snacks, bike checks, and other activities for participants. This event highlights bicycles as both a mode of transportation and a form of recreation, encouraging people to ride to school, work, or other destinations in a healthy and active way. Find more information about the event here.
Project Big Wood: State of the Big Wood
On Wednesday, May 20th, Project Big Wood will be hosting the State of the Big Wood at the Argyros from 5 – 7p.m. The event is dedicated to celebrating the Big Wood, a river that shapes our local fishing season, economy, and way of life. It will also mark the launch of Project Big Wood’s annual river report. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Project Big Wood website. All funds raised go directly to programming on the Big Wood River and its tributaries.
Girls on the Run Color Me Fearless 5K
Girls on the Run Southern Idaho will host its annual Color me Fearless 5K fun run on Saturday, May 30th at 10a.m. at Hailey Elementary School. Support Girls on the Run participants in their season closing event, giving program participants of all abilities a tangible sense of accomplishment! The event is open to the community and features fun color stations at every mile. A party featuring a DJ and food trucks will follow the event. Register for the race or sign up to volunteer!
THANK YOU, Sponsors!
We are grateful for our sponsors and extend a hearty WRWF thank you to Graybird Foundation, Zions Bank, and Panache!
THANK YOU TO OUR contributors
Thank you to this month’s News Brief contributors: