Tricia Swartling of The Advocates asked for money to help hire a youth coordinator to work with children who have experienced violence in the home.

Fire Capt. Ryan DeMoe of Wood River Fire & Rescue asked for resuscitation equipment that simulates what first responders encounter in the field and provides immediate feedback to firefighters using it for practice.

And Sun Valley Fire Captain Taan Robrahn asked for money for first responder housing at the Greenhorn Fire Station.

“First responders are living further and further away, and recruiting and maintaining employees is difficult because of housing,” he said. “Every minute it takes us to get to the fire station, the fire grows exponentially.”

Wood River Women’s Foundation members have voted to fund these requests and more, awarding a record $353,450 in grants to 22 Idaho nonprofits serving the Wood River Valley. The requests address a number of needs, including housing, education, emergency, social, therapeutic and outdoor initiatives.

This year’s grants effort was co-chaired by Grants Committee Co-Chairs Linda Segre and Sarah Lurie.

“For 18 years WRWF members have demonstrated extraordinary generosity and this year set yet another record of nearly $354,000 for our pooled grant fund,” said Sandy McCullough, WRWF President. “We are both honored and delighted to join together in support of our nonprofit partners who are doing the difficult and much needed work to deliver services throughout Blaine County.”

The WRWF has awarded more than $3.4 million via 215 grants to Blaine County nonprofits since its founding in 2005. The organization’s 325 members listened to this year’s pitches in mid-March.