FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2019
Contact: Sandy McCullough, 206.755.4706
Wood River Women’s Foundation Announces 2019 Grant Recipients (KETCHUM) – Members’ votes have been tallied and 11 local non-profits will be awarded a total of $267,918 in grants from the Wood River Women’s Foundation (WRWF) in 2019. “The announcement of our new grant recipients is always the highlight of our mission each year,” Peggy Grove, Ph. D., WRWF President said. “It follows several months of hard work by our volunteer members who are dedicated and diligent about the work involved in this process.”
Grants awarded this year strongly support local youth and families through academic, food security, mental health and outdoor education programs. Funding requests for safe housing for both men and women who are facing critical transitional housing needs were also awarded. (Full list of 2019 grantees, projects and awarded amounts follows.)
“The requests are so compelling, and every nonprofit is deserving whether they make it through to the end or not,” said Gina Wolcott, Chair of the WRWF Grants Committee. “The nonprofit work that happens in this valley is highly impactful and our community is truly fortunate for all they do. The members of the WRWF greatly appreciate the opportunity to support their work.”
The 2019 grantees will be honored at the WRWF Grants Celebration & Annual Meeting Luncheon to be held August 7th at Trail Creek Cabin. The next round of applications for WRWF funding will begin this fall.
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Wood River Women’s Foundation 2019 Grant Recipients
Blaine County Education Foundation (BCEF) – Programs and Growth: $35,000 BCEF seeks to increase awareness of local college scholarship opportunities by developing a scholarship database available to all Blaine County students and hosting a scholarship fair. The grant will also provide for teacher grants, high-needs support to at-risk students, and funding for a capacity building project to broaden community financial support.
Blaine County Hunger Coalition – Bloom Youth Project: $35,000 Funding for the Bloom Youth Project will provide for paid internships for 10 food-insecure teens. Through their work at the Bloom Community Farm, the interns will learn about growing, cooking and sharing good food, gaining life skills and work experience that can help them break the cycle of poverty.
Blaine County Recreation District – Aquatic Center Revitalization: $35,000 This grant is to support the restoration of the public Aquatic Center in Hailey. The funding will help update and expand the facility which currently has more than 20,000 visitors per year. The facility offers swimming instruction, swim team competition, aqua aerobics, lap swimming and leisure swimming.
Environmental Resource Center – Youth Environmental Education Program Materials: $2,575 This grant will provide updated scientific materials for the ERC’s youth programs, including in-school and after-school programs, and overnight summer camps for pre-k through 12th grade students throughout the Wood River Valley. Through hands-on outdoor learning, the ERC empowers students to become the next generation of environmental stewards.
Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley – Improving Our Workspace – $35,000 This grant will allow the Hospice to complete several repairs and improvements to their building – built in the early 1900’s – to improve the safety and efficacy of the space. The building is used to meet with families and support groups, train volunteers, provide office space, and store equipment.
Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children – Ready! For Kindergarten: $11,895 The “Ready! For Kindergarten” program conducts workshops for parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to enable them to engage their children in purposeful play that prepares them to enter kindergarten with grade school readiness skills. The program will reach 30 families, supporting parents in their role as their child’s first and most influential teacher.
Idaho Base Camp – South Valley After-School Program – $20,000 This grant will help fund a comprehensive after-school program for Bellevue and Alturas 3rd5th grade students by offering scholarships to students and compensation for a Lead Educator. The program, which includes transportation from school, will provide a healthy, positive environment and fill the current critical gap in south valley after-school programming.
Men’s Second Chance Living – House Start-up Fund & Renovations – $20,000 In November 2018, “MSCL” began operating a safe house for men recovering from alcohol and/or drug addictions. This grant provides for renovations to the house, as well as funding for the first year’s operating budget. The project helps support our community by enabling these men to rebuild their lives and transition to independent, productive, substance-free living.
NAMI Wood River Valley – Two Contractual, Part-time Staff Members – $23,448 Our local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will hire two part-time staff members to assist in the oversight of the adult Family Education/Support Group and Bluebird Youth Support Group. NAMI’s goal is to double the number of students and families they assist. The organization provides advocacy, education, help with diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support for youth and families in the Wood River Valley.
St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation – Keith Sivertson MD Compassionate Care Program: $15,000 This program was created to address the financial hardships created by health crises and hospitalizations facing patients and their families, especially those who are uninsured or under-insured. The program resources include assistance with food, lodging, transportation, medications, medical supplies, and other items necessary for improving a patient’s health status.
The Advocates – Safe Housing First – $35,000 The Advocates’ Safe Housing First project provides transitional safe housing for survivors of domestic violence, their children and their pets, incorporating a comprehensive program to help them achieve independence. This grant helps provide furnishings and fixtures for their transitional housing service center and 12 new apartments.
