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October 2024 News Brief
President’s message
Dear WRWF friends,
I am so happy to share with you my first President’s Message! Thank you for such a warm welcome at our Annual Members Meeting and Grantee Celebration on August 8. The business of electing leaders at our annual meeting is important, but celebrating WRWF accomplishments, our members, and our amazing grantees provide the true joy of the meeting.
Speaking of the Annual Meeting, we have many people to thank for such a lovely event. Many thanks to Jori Potiker for graciously hosting us, to Jenni Riley, Kathleen Eder and Toni Damalas and everyone on the Membership Committee for all the planning, all our grantee attendees for their inspiration, and to Board member Karissa Price-Rico for reminding us to cultivate a sense of purpose in all our work. As always, our volunteer work would not be possible without the dedication and positive attitude of WRWF staff members Noe Garing and Lindsey Larrivee!
You will be hearing more from us in the coming months about our plans for 2025. We are already laying the groundwork for another successful Grants Season and thinking about how to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the Foundation. It’s a great year to get involved!
As I write my message the Wapiti fire continues to threaten Stanley. Please consider extending your philanthropy and generosity to our neighbors up north. A GoFundMe has been established for the all-volunteer Sawtooth Valley Rural Fire Department to support Stanley firefighters and their families, many of whom have been displaced because of the fire. You can support them by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-stanley-fire-and-stanley-ambulance-volunteers or mailing donations to PO Box 29, Stanley, Idaho 83278. WRWF supports your bravery and commitment; please stay safe out there.
With gratitude and joy,
Jeannie
Grantee Spotlight
Liberty Theater
On October 16th, WRWF members enjoyed a backstage tour of the Liberty Theater led by artistic director Naomi McDougall Jones. They also met the Audrey II puppeteer, star of what has become the biggest show in company history, before attending the evening’s 7pm performance of Little Shop of Horrors. Liberty Theater Company was the recipient of a $10,000 WRWF grant that funded its “Pay What You Feel” season ticket program. This program allows Hailey residents that might not otherwise be able to afford a ticket to see live theater performances. In only their 4th season, the Liberty Theater Company is a relatively new Blaine County nonprofit that is having a positive impact on our community. Its next performance will be Alice in Wonderland, a live radio play, on December 6-8. Visit the Liberty Theater site for more information.
Member in the news
The Heritage Craft Prize is a vital initiative that celebrates the artistry and cultural heritage of makers in the American West, with a special focus on indigenous communities. By providing a platform for artisans to showcase traditional skills such as weaving, beadwork, and leather crafting, the project helps preserve the rich heritage of indigenous groups and the American West. It also empowers makers by offering them resources, workshops, and opportunities to advance their craft-based businesses, ensuring that these age-old traditions not only survive but thrive in today’s world.
One of the standout success stories from the Heritage Craft Prize is WRWF Member Morgan Buckert, who was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 Heritage Craft Prize. This year’s prize celebrated Women of the West, and Morgan’s work exemplifies the values of technical mastery and cultural connection that the award seeks to honor. Specializing in leatherwork, Morgan creates one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the landscapes and stories of the West. Her winning piece beautifully showcased her craftsmanship, drawing from both tradition and innovation.
Morgan’s recognition by the Heritage Craft Prize highlights her dedication to her craft and the importance of preserving the traditions that inspire her. The financial resources and visibility that come with the prize will help Morgan continue to grow her craft-based business, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while remaining deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the West.
Celebrate Volunteering
Candice Stark
Q: When did you join WRWF and how have you participated so far?
I joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation in 2019. I had several motivations but, most importantly, being relatively new to the Valley, I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the many nonprofits in our Valley and the work they do. Joining the Grants committee for those first three years was the perfect opportunity to take a deeper dive into the work of many organizations, and also to learn more about the grants process of the Wood River Women’s Foundation. Of course, meeting a bunch of awesome philanthropic women was an added incentive!
Working on the Grants Committee gave me the opportunity to meet a broad and diverse group of folks working in our local nonprofits that are incredibly committed to a broad and diverse range of truly worthy causes.
What would you share with new members who are wondering how to get involved?
My suggestion to new members is to “jump in”! There are lots of opportunities to match with your own personal interests. I would also suggest having coffee with a board member. They may have ideas for opportunities that you might not know about. I also appreciate that there’s no pressure. You are welcome to simply join us and participate in social gatherings and vote in our final yearly grant proposals.
Q: In addition to your volunteering at WRWF, I know you also support our community through The Shoshone Project, can you tell us more about that?
The Shoshone Project, based in the Wood River Valley and Shoshone, is a grassroots nonprofit working to support families in rural communities that live in Lincoln and Jerome counties.
Shoshone project started as a response to the pandemic in 2020 when Julia Draper, who lived in Shoshone, and I recognized the desperate need of families in Lincoln county. That first winter, we raised some funds and gathered warm clothing from friends and supported twelve families. Each year since, the warm clothing and food drive has expanded to serve more families. Last year Shoshone Project served 140 families and, this winter, the goal is to serve 150 families with an ample holiday food box, warm clothing and presents for all the kids.
Over forty percent of our workforce in Blaine county commute from these communities and help power many of our local businesses in a wide range of jobs from construction to servers in our local restaurants to electricians to mammography technicians at our hospital. Our goal is to connect our communities and bring together people, ideas and resources. Investing in the people and organizations rooted in these communities builds a better way forward for everyone to thrive together.
The generous donations we collect during the holiday months has a direct impact on these families and is helping to create connections between our communities.
Please consider donating some warm clothing or sponsor a food box for a family of four. You can drop off your warm clothing at our colorful orange bins at locations around the Valley. To find more information or sponsor a holiday food box, go to our website at www.shoshoneproject.com.
Event recap
Zenergy Health Club & Spa
Zenergy Health Club and Spa served as the venue for the last Meet and Mingle (M&M) of the year. The Peak Poolside grill was a wonderful location for the 42 members and guest who came to enjoy camaraderie and the spectacular autumn color surrounding the venue, especially Baldy as a back-drop. As always, our M&Ms provide our members and their guests the chance to come together for the purpose of member engagement, a chance to reconnect and meet new members, and to learn more about the organizations that we help to support.
During the event two of our 2024 grantees were invited to deliver a message of thanks and to educate us about their mission and the work that is being accomplished through our collective giving of the WRWF. Each of us as members have a part in these efforts!
We heard from Julie Folio from Wood River Legacy Softball who shared how our funding has positively impacted the 55 girls who participated this year, while also emphasizing the ongoing need for coaches as the program continues to grow. Teressa Johnson from Girls on the Run spoke about the transformative effect of the program on young girls, helping them to build confidence, develop a stronger sense of self, and embrace an empowering “I can do it” attitude. Our funding plays a crucial role in supporting these vital initiatives.
The final event was a beautiful gathering for our members and guests. It was all made possible by the generous support of Zenergy Health Club and Spa. The setting, the delicious bites and and beverages were well enjoyed and very generous. Thank you!
A special thanks to the M&M Team, Grantee Engagement Member, Susie Zachmann, Membership CoChairs, Joy Prudek and LeeAnne Linderman. Our volunteers are indispensable; available and providing hands-on work at each event. If you wish to be a part of the Membership Committee or to work on a M&M, contact us via the WRWF website.
upcoming grantee community events
WRWF Calendar
11/07/2024 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM MT
Zions Bank
Pioneer Conference Room - 2nd Floor
311 N Main St
Ketchum, ID 83340
Be sure to register so we know to expect you!
12/17/2024 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM MT
Trinka & Lloyd Dyer's Home
641 Valley Club Drive
Hailey, ID 83333
Save the Date! More details to come.
We celebrate the season of giving, and honor all our members for their generous support of the WRWF and the community nonprofit partner Grantees.
Register HereDecembernew members
None yet – so bring your friends and neighbors to join us ladies!
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
My name is Jody Stanislaw and I am excited to be part of the WRWF. Firstly, this valley has so many amazing non-profits that I look forward to learning more about and supporting. Secondly, there are also so many amazing women in this valley! Meeting new people is truly a highlight of my life, and I can’t think of a better organization to be a part of to meet extraordinary women!
A bit about me: I love being active…skiing, hiking, biking, yoga. I even competed in water skiing in college. I am a Naturopathic Physician with an entirely virtual practice, exclusively helping patients with type 1 diabetes. I myself have managed my own type 1 since I was seven. Travel has been a huge part of my life, thus why I created a virtual practice over ten years ago (before anyone even knew what that meant)! I have lived in Italy twice, worked a year at a five star health spa in Thailand, wrote a book while living in Bali, safaried in Africa, rode a camel in the Sahara Desert, backpacked through Australia and New Zealand, and was in the middle of traveling around the world, living in a new country every month, when Covid made that trip come to a screeching halt. I rerouted away from Asia and landed myself in Hawaii for three years, before now just returning back to this gorgeous valley.
At the age of 51, most items on my life bucket list have actually already been checked off, including giving a TEDx talk called ‘Sugar is Not a Treat,’ here at the SV Opera House. It warms my heart knowing what a positive impact it has made, now having over five million views. When I was younger, I was so focused on travel, adventure, and building my career as a doctor, that I didn’t do what most do. Which leads me to the one major event left on my bucket list…to get married and become a bonus mom and bonus grandma.
President’s Message
Happy Fall everyone! I hope you were able to enjoy the amazing late summer weather. At our last Meet & Mingle of the season we enjoyed the fall leaves at Zenergy’s beautiful poolside setting. We celebrated two of our grantee recipients, Wood River Legacy Softball and Girls on the Run of Southern Idaho, and learned about their mission supporting young women in our valley. Many thanks to Zenergy for their continued support and to our amazing Membership Committee members for all their hard work. As I told the attendees, now that our tennis, pickleball, and golf seasons may be coming to an end and you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands… consider volunteering! We have so many opportunities to get engaged, both big and small. Volunteers are the heart of our Foundation and we could not serve our community or fulfill our mission without them. You will meet amazing women, you will do interesting and rewarding work, and you will be making an immediate impact in your community. If you aren’t sure where to start, just reach out to us.
If volunteers are the heart of the Foundation, Lindsey Larrivee is our backbone. Please join me in congratulating Lindsey in a new full-time role at WRWF! Lindsey is usually the first contact a new member makes when they join WRWF and often the first person we see at our events. While those may be her most visible roles, you may not know all the things she does behind the scenes. She also oversees our ever-growing membership database, provides necessary support during the grant process, manages our donations, coordinates our communications with members, and countless other tasks. Her work supports our organizational excellence and commitment to sustaining the Foundation for the next 20 years. We’re all in very good hands with Lindsey as Operations Manager and Noe Garing as Assistant Administrator. If you have the chance, please thank them for their dedication and service to our mission.
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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