Idaho Philanthropy Awards.

Idaho has been shaped by the generosity of people who give their time, talent, and resources to strengthen communities across all 44 counties. The Idaho Philanthropy Awards honor individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions have made a lasting difference.

Laura Bettis and Janelle Wise, 2025 Gem Ball

Tricia Swartling, 2025 Gem Ball

Alice Hennessey and family, 2025 Gem Ball

Scheid Family at the 2025 Gem Ball

Award Criteria Meet the Honorees Meet the Founding Philanthropists Friend of the Foundation

Honoring Idaho's Greatest Givers

Each year, the Idaho Community Foundation celebrates individuals and organizations whose philanthropy has transformed communities across the state. Watch the video below to learn more about our awards program and what it means to be recognized.

Celebrating Excellence

Coming Soon

2026 Volunteer of the Year

To Be Announced Soon

Coming Soon

2026 Nonprofit Leader of the Year

To Be Announced Soon

Jerry Scheid, 2025 Gem Ball

2025 Volunteer of the Year: Carrie Getty Scheid

Carrie Getty Scheid dedicated years of service to strengthening Idaho communities through volunteerism and leadership. Her commitment to giving back inspired countless others to get involved and make a difference. She is deeply missed.

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Tricia Swartling, 2025 Gem Ball

2025 Nonprofit Leader: Tricia Swartling

Tricia Swartling has spent her career advancing the mission of Idaho's nonprofit community. Her leadership and dedication to serving others have made a lasting impact on the organizations and people she works with every day.

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Kaylee Wilson, 2024 Volunteer of the Year

2024 Volunteer of the Year: Kaylee Wilson

Out of the more than 300 volunteers at Champ's Heart, Kaylee Wilson stands out. She's put in countless hours at the organization dedicated to connecting people with the healing power of horses.

2025 Hall of Fame Honorees

The Idaho Philanthropy Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose generosity and vision have left an indelible mark on the state. The 2025 class of honorees represents decades of service, leadership, and commitment to Idaho communities.

Greg Carr

Greg Carr's philanthropy spans continents, but his roots remain firmly planted in Idaho. His contributions to conservation, education, and community development reflect a deep commitment to making the world a better place, starting at home.

Alice Hennessey

Alice Hennessey's lifelong dedication to philanthropy has touched countless lives across Idaho. Her generosity and leadership have helped build stronger communities and inspired a new generation of givers.

Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation

The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation has been a cornerstone of Idaho philanthropy for decades, supporting education, healthcare, and community development across the state. Their sustained investment continues to create opportunity for Idahoans everywhere.

Meet Idaho's Founding Philanthropists

Idaho's tradition of giving runs deep. These founding philanthropists helped shape the state through their vision, determination, and unwavering belief in community. Their stories remind us that lasting change starts with people who care.

Joe and Kathryn Albertson

Joe and Kathryn Albertson built more than one of America's most successful grocery chains. They built a culture of giving rooted in humility and care for others. From funding education and healthcare to supporting communities large and small, the Albertsons believed that business success carried a responsibility to give back. Their legacy lives on through the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, which has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Idaho's future.

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Tom and Julia Davis

Tom and Julia Davis came to Idaho with determination, vision, and a belief in what a community could become. Their philanthropy reflected a deep understanding that strong communities are built by people who invest in them. Their generosity helped establish foundations, support education, and create opportunities that continue to benefit Idahoans today.

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John and Dee Fery

John and Dee Fery were partners in every sense — in life, in leadership, and in their shared belief that Idaho thrives when its people give back. John rose from humble beginnings to become CEO and Chairman of Boise Cascade. Dee championed creativity as chair of the Idaho Commission on the Arts. Together they nurtured Idaho's economic and cultural growth, and John helped will the Idaho Community Foundation into existence in 1988.

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Duane and Lola Hagadone

Few names are as synonymous with Coeur d'Alene as Duane and Lola Hagadone. Together, they transformed their hometown into a place of possibility and pride. From the Coeur d'Alene Press to The Coeur d'Alene Resort, Duane's projects reflected his love for his city and state. Through the Hagadone Foundation, they have supported education, healthcare, and countless community initiatives across North Idaho.

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Nick and Sara Ifft

Nick and Sara Ifft were deeply rooted in Pocatello, where they owned and published the Idaho State Journal. In 1983, they created the Ifft Foundation to beautify communities and improve public spaces. From landscaped intersections to the beloved Portneuf Greenway, their philanthropy touched thousands.

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Anna Margaret Jones

For more than six decades, Anna Margaret Jones quietly shaped Boise's civic and cultural life through compassion, conviction, and faith. After the passing of her husband Stanley, Anna Margaret and their daughters established the Four J Foundation, supporting St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute and scholarships for Idaho families.

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Larry and Fran Kissler

Larry and Fran Kissler built their lives on hard work, family, and giving back. As the founders of Norco, they grew a business that supported thousands of Idaho families. Together they championed education, health care, and the arts, supporting scholarships for students, resources for hospitals, and cultural programs.

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Harry and Colleen Magnuson

Harry and Colleen Magnuson were among North Idaho's most influential community leaders. Born and raised in Wallace, Harry saved the city's historic downtown from demolition, preserved the Northern Pacific Depot, and helped establish the Wallace District Mining Museum. Together they championed education, healthcare, the arts, and historic preservation throughout North Idaho.

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Harry and Velma Morrison

Harry and Velma Morrison left an indelible mark on Idaho through both vision and generosity. Harry was a pioneering builder whose company helped shape skylines around the world. Velma was a passionate patron of the performing arts. The Morrison Center in Boise stands as a testament to their determination to enrich lives through culture.

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J.R. and Esther Simplot

J.R. and Esther Simplot's story is an Idaho story — rooted in grit, vision, and generosity. J.R. built one of the world's most successful agribusiness empires from humble beginnings in Declo. Esther devoted her life to nurturing Idaho's creative spirit, founding the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy.

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Friend of the Foundation

Since 1995, The Idaho Community Foundation has selected a Friend of the Foundation, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the success of ICF. The award is presented at our annual Celebration of Philanthropy events, which are held throughout the state.

Past Honorees

Board of Directors Forever Idaho Award

The Board of Directors Forever Idaho Award is one of the highest honors given by The Idaho Community Foundation. Selected only by our Board of Directors, this award is reserved for individuals whose extraordinary commitment, leadership, and service have shaped the foundation and Idaho's philanthropic landscape.

Park Price with Doug Oppenheimer, 2025

Park Price (2025)

Community Builder | Business Leader | Generational Giver. Park Price's life is a testament to the Idaho way: show up, help others, and give your best. Raised in a family rooted in community service, Park led Park Price Motors in Pocatello before transitioning to lead the Bank of Idaho, where his people-first leadership modernized and expanded the institution.

Beyond business, Park and his wife Sharon have been champions for education, arts, and philanthropy. Park has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees at the College of Eastern Idaho, a leader in Idaho Business for Education, and supporter of local symphonies; he and Sharon have strengthened access to opportunity and culture across the state.

Park was a founding board member and the second Chair of The Idaho Community Foundation. He continues to serve on the Investment Subcommittee, stewarding charitable assets with foresight and heart.

"If you have the ability to make things better, for your family or your community, you do it. No questions asked."

Gov. Brad Little and Alice Hennessey, 2023

Alice Hennessey (2023)

Founding Visionary | Transformational CEO | Champion for Philanthropy. Alice Hennessey has been a cornerstone of The Idaho Community Foundation since the very beginning. A founding donor, Steering Committee member, and two-time President and CEO, Alice helped define the vision, purpose, and structure of ICF. She even carried the transformative $15 million Langroise estate check down the street in her purse, an emblematic moment of trust and leadership.

Alice came to ICF following a 34-year career at Boise Cascade, where she rose from executive secretary to senior vice president. It was there she met John Fery and helped bring to life the idea of a statewide community foundation.

Alice's steady leadership guided ICF through its early growth and beyond. Today, she continues to serve as a grant advisor to the Langroise Fund and board member for the Kissler Family Foundation. Her legacy includes decades of service to institutions such as the United Way, St. Luke's Health System, the University of Idaho, and The College of Idaho.

"I just wish John Fery, who essentially willed ICF into existence, could be here to see how far we've come."

Park Price and Irv Littman, 2022

Irv Littman (2022)

Founding Financial Architect | Steward of Investment | Philanthropic Leader. Since its inception in 1988, Irv Littman has had a guiding hand in The Idaho Community Foundation's formation, structure, and long-term sustainability. A finance executive at Boise Cascade, Irv worked alongside ICF founder John Fery and future CEO Alice Hennessey to develop the foundation's investment policies and early governance structure.

He served as Chair of the Investment Subcommittee for decades and played a pivotal role in managing and growing the foundation's assets with care and integrity. Though he formally retired from chairing the committee in 2020, Irv remains an active member, driven by his belief in the power of collective giving and the quality of people it brings together.

Beyond ICF, Irv has served in leadership roles for organizations including the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Humanities Council, Bogus Basin, The Nature Conservancy, and more. A member of the Idaho State Endowment Fund Investment Board, he has shaped both charitable and public investments in Idaho.

"We started as a gleam in the eye of dedicated community leaders. Together, we built something substantial, and it's standing the test of time."