The Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation presented its fourth year of grants, totaling $102,000, to seven Wood River Valley nonprofits on Tuesday at the Valley Club.
The Blaine County Hunger Coalition received $25,000 for its backpack program. The Wood River Community YMCA will use its $25,000 grant for its Y on Wheels program, a free after-school program for disadvantaged youth at Woodside and Carey elementary schools. The Council Circle Foundation received $15,000 to help with the cost of youth circles and La Alianza received $15,000 for its leadership program.
The Advocates received $12,000 for its Women's Economic Program and the Blaine County Education Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the Wood River Valley will receive $5,000 each. The education foundation will use the funds for instructional materials and small stipends for teachers in preschool classrooms, which are not supported by tax dollars in Idaho. NAMI will train additional peer mentors.
Over 40 organizations applied for a total of approximately $450,000 in funds this year, said Marcia Liebich, grants chair for the Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation. The foundation's 120 members each donate $1,000 a year plus $50 for administrative expenses. At least half of each donation is pooled for grants that are expected to make a significant impact on community needs. The other $500 can go to the pooled grant fund or to one or two other nonprofits of the member's choice. The foundation was formed to help area projects that might not receive funding.
Women interesting in joining the group can contact the foundation at info@wrwomen.org or call 578-8004. Additional information is available at wrwomen.org.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com