Twenty-two Wood River Valley nonprofit organizations recently received grants totaling $110,000 from the Deer Creek Fund, a donor-advised fund within the Idaho Community Foundation.
Lynn Campion-Waddell of Hailey and Tom Campion of Ketchum are advisers to the fund, which is supported by the Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation of Colorado.
"I feel so blessed to be able to provide much-needed capital to organizations in an area that I deeply love," said Campion-Waddell, chairwoman of the Johnson Foundation.
The grants support a broad spectrum of community needs in the Wood River Valley.
The largest grant of $20,000 was given to Rotarun Ski Club to provide general operating support.
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will receive $5,000 for an education program about compassion, diversity and respect.
Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Hailey received $3,000 to enlarge the children's play yard at its shelter.
The Hunger Coalition was granted $3,000 to provide emergency assistance to the hungry.
The Blaine County Recreation District will use its grant of $10,000 to update its Aquatic Center in Hailey.
To purchase materials and provide family outreach for under-served students, $10,000 was given to the Blaine County School District Education Foundation.
The Blaine County Seniors Council received $5,000 for the Senior Connection's new resource room.
The Environmental Resource Center was granted $2,500 to develop a new summer camp.
The Hailey Ski Team received $5,000 to provide general operating support.
To provide short-term private caregivers for terminally ill patients, Hospice of the Wood River Valley received $4,000.
La Alianza Multicultural Center received $5,000 for a series of bilingual programs.
Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped received $5,000 to expand its Blaine County School Program.
St. Luke's Wood River Foundation will add its grant of $5,000 to the principal of the Deer Creek Endowment Fund to reach the $100,000 level.
The Sun Valley Opera Company received $5,000 to pay the salaries for two singers.
The Sun Valley Performing Arts Center received $3,000, to buy black curtains for its stage.
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony received $5,000 for general operating support.
The Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center will use its $2,500 to support the 12th annual three-day family festival.
Other organizations that received grants worth $500 are: Wood River Advisory Council for the Arts, Friends of Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center, Wood River Land Trust, Caritas Chorale and Company of Fools.
For more information and a complete listing of organizations visit idcomfdn.org.
