November 2026 News Brief
Member in the News
WRWF Member Louisa Moats Featured in TIME Magazine
Congratulations to WRWF member Dr. Louisa Moats, whose work in literacy and reading instruction was recently featured in TIME magazine! The article, “The Woman Winning the Reading Wars,” highlights her contributions to the science of reading and development of Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), a professional learning program that helps educators strengthen reading instruction. About 700,000 teachers have enrolled in this intensive reading program!
Louisa played an important role in spearheading the effort to fund WRWF’s 2022 – 2023 Focus Grant, Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education. As co-chair of the Focus Grant Task Force, Louisa helped guide WRWF’s investment of $200,000 over 2 years in the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children to establish the Wood River Early Learning Collaborative.
Congratulations, Louisa, on this well-deserved recognition and on the lasting difference you continue to make for young learners!
Event Recap
Girls on the Run Field Trip
On our September 29th field trip with Girls on the Run Southern Idaho, WRWF members joined 3rd and 4th graders at Hailey Elementary to participate in a session that used movement to spark joy, improve health, and build confidence in young girls. The day focused on positive self-talk, helping girls recognize negative inner voices and practice being kinder to themselves.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to support organizations that build healthy foundations and empower the next generation of women in our valley. A special thank you to Teressa Johnson, Executive Director of Girls on the Run and WRWF member, for coordinating this fun field trip.
Girls on the Run will be holding their 2026 Fall 5K Celebration at 10 a.m. on November 7th at Swiftsure Ranch in Bellevue. Community members are invited to participate! Come cross the finish line with or cheer on this season’s program participants! And save the date for the 2027 Color Me Fearless 5k on Saturday, May 22nd!
September Meet & Mingle
Our September 15 Meet & Mingle brought members and guests together for an afternoon at Fauxliage in Ketchum.
We were joined by Ervina Covcic, of The Idaho Foodbank, who gave an update on the 2026 WRWF grant that helped fund the Carey Mobile Pantry. To date, the pantry has served an average of 328 people per month and distributed 27,205 pounds of food, the equivalent of 22,670 meals! The Idaho Foodbank also partners with other local organizations, including The Hunger Coalition and Ketchum Community Dinners, to distribute food to residents throughout the valley. Thank you, Ervina, for sharing about how The Idaho Foodbank is working to end food insecurity across the state and locally.
A special thank you to Suzanne Long of Fauxliage for inviting our members and guests to her beautiful store, and to our Meet and Mingle volunteers Kristen Bryson, LeeAnne Linderman and Jeffra Syms for organizing the event.
October Meet & Mingle
On October 1st, WRWF members and guests gathered at the Poolside Grill at Zenergy for our last Meet & Mingle of the year.
Board President Karissa Price Rico introduced Morgan Buckert, Director of Development and Communications at the BCRD and WRWF member, who gave an inspiring presentation in celebration of the BCRD’s 50th anniversary. The BCRD welcomes more than 900,000 visits annually across its many recreational offerings, including the Wood River Trail, sports programs, Community Campus gym and pool, and miles of hiking, biking, and Nordic trails. Morgan also shared an update on the Picabo Playground Project, supported by a 2026 WRWF grant. The new play structure will expand recreational opportunities for Picabo families, with installation planned for next week!
Thank you as always to Zenergy for continuing to generously host us at your beautiful outdoor gathering space, and to all of the WRWF volunteers who help seamlessly bring these events to life. We look forward to seeing our members at our 2027 Meet & Mingles!
Prospective Member Events
This fall, WRWF hosted Lunch & Learn events in Ketchum and Hailey, along with virtual information sessions, to introduce more women throughout the Wood River Valley to the power of collective giving. We were thrilled to meet so many women, whether new to the Valley or long-term residents, and welcome many of them to WRWF membership after the events. Thank you to Sharon Knight, WRWF’s VP of Strategy, and the many members who helped plan for and participated in these events!
Our Membership Growth Initiative is still underway, and we’re working toward an exciting goal of 400 members before the 2027 grant cycle. You can help us get there! A personal invitation to or conversation with friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other women in your life about your own WRWF experience can make all the difference. Thank you for helping us spread the word and show more women that there’s a place for them at WRWF.
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
Nov 9, 2026 04:30 PM - 05:45 PM MT
Free
Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82487109105?pwd=5JuEZUwjuvFGOmdcNTHmNJwUfCQmzx.1&jst=2
For those who have joined WRWF in the last 12 months.
Please register so we know to expect you!
Dec 16, 2026 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM MT
$40.00
The Galleria Building (Jensen Stern)
351 N Leadville Ave
Ketchum, ID 83340
Save the Date for our 2026 Holiday Gathering!
Registration will open closer to date of 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
Linda Stirling
I am inspired to join WRWF because the opportunity to make a lasting impact in the community is more impactful when resources are combined, both financially and women power. I fully support the mission and organization of WRWF.
I am a lifelong volunteer and have and currently serve on boards of many non-profit organizations. My passions involving volunteer work tend to lean towards environmental organizations, specifically those focusing on conservation. I also am a big supporter of educational institutions and non-profits whose mission furthers educational opportunities for both children and adults.
I am a retired educator. My hobbies and pastimes include tennis, knitting, gardening, hiking and botanical watercolor painting. I love to travel and have spent time in many countries. I’m always planning the next adventure. I live part time in Ketchum and part time in Santa Barbara, California.
I look forward to involvement with the Wood River Women’s Foundation.
Highlighted Program
Kids Mountain Fund
Kids Mountain Fund’s Rota-Rippers program helps underserved youth, ages 5-11, experience the joy of skiing and snowboarding, often for the first time. With a 2025 grant from Wood River Women’s Foundation, Kids Mountain Fund covered equipment lease costs through Sturtevants in Hailey, providing skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets for 92 participants across two four-week sessions. By eliminating equipment costs, the program was offered completely free, removing a significant barrier for families and making it easier for first-generation skiers and snowboarders to access the mountains.
The impact extends far beyond learning a new sport. Rota-Rippers helps young people build confidence, develop friendships, and experience the physical and mental health benefits of being active outdoors. For children facing financial and other daily challenges, the mountain offers a consistent, supportive environment where they can grow their skills, discover their strengths, and feel a sense of belonging. Through this grant, WRWF helped open the door to experiences that might otherwise have been out of reach, creating greater access and connection to the outdoor culture that makes the Wood River Valley special.
Rota-Rippers is now enrolling children for the 2027 season and recruiting volunteers to help teach kids how to ski or snowboard. Visit their website to learn more about how to participate or get involved!
Grants Volunteers
Join the 2027 Grants Team!There is still time to sign up for the 2027 Grants Team! Help guide how WRWF’s collective giving supports local nonprofits while connecting with fellow members and learning more about the organizations serving our community. No prior grant experience is needed.
The commitment is less than 20 hours over three months (January–March), with flexible remote or in-person participation. Nonprofits can start applying on January 5, and volunteer training begins January 12. Click here to join us!
Grantee Events
Girls on the Run 5K
Join Girls on the Run Southern Idaho on Saturday, November 7th, at Swiftsure Ranch in Bellevue for a fun morning 5k fun run celebrating participants and their season of strength, friendship, and growth! There are many ways to participate–as a 5K participant, a volunteer, or a course cheerleader. The 5k starts at 10 a.m. Learn more or register here!
The Advocates is hosting a ribbon cutting for its new THRIVE Center for Safety and Healing on Monday, November 16, from 12-1 p.m. at 201 S. River Street in Hailey. Celebrate the opening of 20 additional transitional housing apartments, a community meeting space, and a designated youth area. Guests can tour the new space and learn more about this important resource for survivors and families in our community. Learn more and RSVP here.
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