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News and Features
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April 2022
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Dear ICF Supporters:
This month took me to the eastern Idaho communities of Blackfoot, Idaho Falls and Pocatello. One of the things I love about Idaho is the “sense of place” I feel in the individual communities. As you know, the Idaho Community Foundation wants to see communities in this state thrive. A sense of place is an incredibly important ingredient in making this happen.
In an age of big box stores, it is easy to leave one community and enter another without even realizing it. When a community works to create a sense of place, community members recognize what makes their community unique and take proactive steps to protect and celebrate it.
This was evident in Pocatello, where Relight the Night, a committee of Historic Downtown Pocatello, has been restoring the town’s vintage neon signs. Through their work, more than 21 signs have come back to “light.”
We got to visit with some Idaho Community Foundation royalty, including past board members Trent Clark, Doug Nelson, Park and Sharon Price, Alan Van Orden and Paul Yochum. I also had the good fortune of spending time with current ICF board members Mary Vagner, Ron Gallegos and Stephen Weeg.
I learned so much from them, but especially how much they care about ICF, their communities, the state of Idaho, and their desire to see us grow and expand our impact. I thank them for their time and service.
We visited several ICF grantees and fundholders and learned about the crucial services they provide. For example, the Community Food Basket supplies food, diapers, cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies and more to people from Malad to Island Park.
The College of Eastern Idaho, which has an ICF fund that provides scholarships to its students, is building a new Future Tech Center where students can learn vocations such as Agri-Tech, Battery Technology, Cybersecurity and more
The Idaho Falls Arts Council, which is a fundholder with ICF, started during a conversation at a bar more than 30 years ago. The founders all agreed to put in $100 to start the organization and file the paperwork. Now they own and operate a performing arts theater, an art gallery and a converted theater that conducts art programs for kids. When I asked Brandi Newton how the Arts Council stays relevant, it was great to hear her talk about the mental health benefits of the arts.
Our last stop was the Bingham Crisis Center in Blackfoot, which provides counseling and temporary shelter to victims of abuse. They also serve as a food pantry, hand out personal hygiene products and operate a free “store” from which community members can pick out clothes and household goods. Their building is used by other organizations as a meeting space. Talk about serving your community!
I thank our partners, grantees and VIPs for their time and hospitality. I look forward to spending more time in eastern Idaho in the coming months and years!
Best wishes,
Steve Burns
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Peter Faucher of Coeur d’Alene has joined the ICF staff as our Philanthropic Advisor, Asset Development in north Idaho.
Raised in Coeur d’Alene, Peter worked at his family’s tractor business while in high school. He earned a B.A. from Boise State University and studied classical guitar at UI’s Lionel Hampton School of Music. You can sometimes find him hiking on one of the many local trails or on Lake Coeur d’Alene – usually with his Labrador retriever.
With over a decade of fundraising experience, Peter was most recently with the NPR and PBS affiliate in Richmond, VA, where he worked with contributors and facilitated their on-air recognition as an account executive. Prior to joining the nonprofit world, he worked in the Senate of Virginia. He was also a production assistant at Idaho Public Television while finishing his undergraduate degree.
Peter will cover the 10 north Idaho counties – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone.
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Goldmann Scholarship: Memorializing a Family's History |
Growing up in Idaho Falls, Ruth Pierce and her five siblings knew their parents valued family history and the importance of education.
“Whenever we asked questions, my parents would tell us to go look it up in the encyclopedia – the equivalent of Googling something today,” Ruth, now Mayor of Twin Falls, recalls with a laugh.
The family also had books on the Holocaust in their home and Ruth knew a family connection existed, “But I didn’t put it together until I was older.”
Ruth’s father, George Freund, was an orphan living with his grandparents Alois and Marie Goldmann in Austria in the early 1930s. As the Holocaust began, the Goldmanns recognized the danger.
They purchased a one-way boat passage for George to the United States. With cash and jewelry sewn into the lining of his coat, George boarded the ship alone at the age of 11 and sailed to America.
He was taken in by an aunt and uncle in New York City who later adopted him. George wrote frequent letters to Alois and Marie, but eventually stopped receiving responses. The Goldmanns had been captured and taken to Auschwitz where they perished.
George became nuclear engineer, meeting his future wife Mary at the INL site in Arco. But he never forgot his grandparents or the sacrifice they made for him.
“He was so proud of being an American and he passed that along to all of us – how lucky we were to live in America,” recalls Ruth, who moved to Twin Falls in the late 1970s. “We buried him with an American flag because it meant so much to him.”
To honor the memory of his grandparents, George and Mary established the Alois and Marie Goldmann Scholarship at the Idaho Community Foundation in 1997, which has been awarded to more than 20 Idaho students. Applicants write an essay or research paper about a specific aspect of the Holocaust.
A dedicated community leader who has served on the board of many civic organizations, Ruth was elected to the Twin Falls City Council in 2016 and was elected Mayor by the City Council in January.
“I love this city and it has done so much for me,” Ruth said. “I have to give back in support of others.”
In addition to her love of community, Ruth said her upbringing has made her compassionate about the plight of today’s refugees, many of whom have resettled in Twin Falls. “Their stories really resonate with me,” she said.
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| Meet Steve Burns - in person! |
Alice Hennessey honored as Children's Champion |
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We’re hosting an open house so our partners, grantees, local organizations and others can meet our new CEO Steve Burns and to hear what the Idaho Community Foundation has in store for 2022! This is our first in-person event since 2019.
Wednesday, April 13
3-6 p.m. (open house – arrive and depart as your schedule allows)
JUMP Inspire Studio, 1000 W Myrtle Street (Boise), Level 4
RSVP
The event is free, but please let us know you’re coming and feel free to bring a guest! Dress is casual and light refreshments will be served.
Additional meet-and-greet opportunities will be hosted throughout the state this spring and summer. |
Idaho Voices for Children has named ICF co-founder and past President and CEO Alice Hennessey as the 2022 Children’s Champion.
In the announcement, IVC notes that Alice has been instrumental in establishing statewide infrastructures for funding and supporting countless programs that improve the lives of Idaho kids.
After a long and successful career with Boise Cascade, Alice has tirelessly given her time and talent to many nonprofits, including St. Luke’s, the University of Idaho, The College of Idaho, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, Junior Achievement and as a lunch buddy at Boise’s Longfellow Elementary School.
The award will be presented to Alice at the Children’s Champion Luncheon on October 6. |
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| Project Neighborly Deadline is Friday |
Idaho Gives is Here! |
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The deadline to apply for a Project Neighborly grant is Friday, April 8. Project Neighborly is available in select counties in north, east and southwest Idaho.
The program funds hyperlocal projects such as community gardens, neighborhood clean-ups and acts of kindness that encourage creation of welcoming communities that include new people who have different viewpoints or life experiences. Grants will be $250 to $5,000.
Project Neighborly is led by the Idaho Community Foundation with support from community partners Battelle Energy Alliance, manager and operator of Idaho National Laboratory; Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Idaho Central Credit Union and Innovia Foundation.
You can learn more about Project Neighborly here. If you’d like to support Project Neighborly in your region you can donate here. |
Idaho Gives, the statewide day of giving hosted by the Idaho Nonprofit Center, is back for its 10th year! Last year, more than 16,000 donors gave nearly $3.9 million to community organizations throughout the state.
This year, Idaho Gives runs May 2-5. Early gifts will be accepted beginning April 20.
We are excited to partner with the Idaho Nonprofit Center to make it easy for ICF Donor Advised Funds to support this effort. Using your DAF to give is as simple as 1-2-3!
- Visit the Idaho Gives website and decide which community organization(s) you wish to support.
- Email Sarah Wissenbach with the name of the organization(s) and the dollar amount by 12 noon Mountain/11 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, May 5. Let Sarah know the grant is for Idaho Gives.
- Keep an eye on the Idaho Gives website to see how your favorite organizations are doing. Grants from ICF Donor Advised Funds will be considered toward prizes for your nonprofit!
And for nonprofits, it’s not too late to register to participate in Idaho Gives. Registration closes April 15.
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We are adding a Philanthropic Advisor, Community Impact to our staff to help us meet the philanthropic needs of Idahoans.
Candidates must live in north Idaho - Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties. This position works closely with ICF donors, assisting them in meeting their charitable goals. Duties include building and maintaining relationships with donors and community organizations, managing donor engagement and stewardship, grantmaking in regional and donor advised fund cycles. See full position description. Apply for this position.
We receive some of our best referrals from people who know us, so please share this information! |
Project Neighborly – Idaho
This program funds hyperlocal projects such as community gardens, neighborhood clean-ups and acts of kindness that encourage creation of welcoming communities that include new people who have different viewpoints or life experiences.
Project Neighborly is currently open in:
East Idaho: Bannock, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte counties and the Fort Hall Reservation
North Idaho: Benewah, Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties
Treasure Valley: Ada and Canyon Counties
Click here to learn more. Deadline for submission is April 8.
Bonner County Endowment for Human Rights
The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force Fund in ICF is seeking grant requests from organizations whose activities reflect commitment to the ideal that everyone is equal, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
Grant requests up to $8,000 will be considered. Grant requests will only be considered from Bonner County. For more information or to apply, click here. Deadline to apply is April 30.
Bonner County Fund for Arts Enhancement
The Bonner County Fund for Arts Enhancement in ICF is seeking grant requests for projects that demonstrate how the arts encourage creative and critical thinking, stimulate economic vitality and enhance the quality of life in a community.
Grants typically range from $3,000-$12,000. Grant requests will only be considered from Bonner County. For more information, including eligibility and application, click here. Deadline to apply is April 30.
F.M., Anne G., and Beverly B. Bistline Foundation Fund
The F.M., Anne G., and Beverly B. Bistline Foundation Fund in ICF is accepting applications for projects related to the arts in the southeast Idaho counties of Bannock, Bingham, Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power. Grants may fall under two categories:
- Supporting arts activities that will provide entertainment or art-related education to the general public.
- Supporting the education, skills training, performance, or display opportunities for local artists.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, click here. Deadline for submission is May 1.
Junior Garnier & Bud Ashford Military Veterans Fund
The Junior Garnier & Bud Ashford Military Veterans Fund in ICF is accepting applications for veteran’s organizations located in Bonner and Boundary counties that are serving veterans in that region. This includes American Legion posts, Disabled American Veterans chapters, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States posts, Vietnam Veterans of America chapters, and Marine Corps League detachments.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, click here. Deadline for submission is May 1. |
Robert D. and Bessie E. Skinner Family Fund – A Forever Idaho Fund established in the memory of Robert and Bessie Skinner to honor their desire to support charities and the needs of the communities of southwest Idaho.
The Pankratz Lion Foundation Endowment Fund – Created by the De and Pam Pankratz Memorial Foundation to provide financial support to Borah High School Athletic teams and honor the commitment to excellence, and support Borah Athletics, that De and Pam Pankratz provided for over 25 years. |
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Lewiston community leader passes away
Marion Shinn, a former Lewiston mayor, World War II veteran, retired educator and recipient of ICF’s Friend of the Foundation Award died March 18 at the age of 101.
Shinn was known for his military service and the countless hours he devoted to efforts that expanded access to education and promoted economic development. He received the Friend of the Foundation Award, which is given to recognize exceptional contributions to the success of ICF, in 2018.
He taught chemistry at Lewiston High School and established the vocational program at Lewis-Clark Normal School, now Lewis-Clark State College. He received his doctorate from the University of Idaho in 1971.
He was elected to the Lewiston City Council in 1980 and served as mayor until 1989. Shinn worked as a ranger in Glacier National Park in Montana for 10 years and later returned to Lewiston.
Read Marion Shinn’s full obituary. |
The Legacy Society is comprised of generous donors who will shape Idaho’s communities through an estate gift to the Idaho Community Foundation. These gifts guarantee support for the organizations and causes that are meaningful to members of our Legacy Society.
In March, Jay Edmund and Lynda Colpin Smithman of Boise, Allan and Fran Frost of Twin Falls, and Pam Lyford of Ketchum joined the Legacy Society. We also have two new anonymous members. We sincerely thank each of them for their support of Idaho’s future. |
The Idaho Community Foundation welcomes gifts sent as memorials or in honor of individuals on their birthdays, anniversaries, retirement or other special occasions.
The following gifts were received in March 2022:
In Memory of Bob Abbott
Mary and Phil Jahn
In Memory of Bob Alexander
Robert and Jeannine Bilow
In Memory of Margarita Teresa Bilbao Ysursa Asla
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Alecia Baker
Ray and Linda Stark
In Memory of Jayson Balch
Susan Brown
In Memory of Katy Benoit
Paul and Margie Baehr
In Memory of Nancy Bosse
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Bill Bramble
Diane and David Myklegard
In Honor of Mike Cohn
William McNary
In Memory of Robert Engbers
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Lee Foltz
Patsy Lodge
In Memory of John Freemuth
Ray and Linda Stark
In Memory of George Freund
John Freund
In Memory of Paula Fuller
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Val Galloway
Harold and Ingrid Frank
In Memory of Joline Heidt
Bill “Action” and Jackie Jackson
In Memory of Mary Heidt
Bill “Action” and Jackie Jackson
In Memory of Don Hendrickson
Ray and Linda Stark
In Memory of Ronald Krumber
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Jack Lemley
Diane and David Myklegard
In Honor of Janet McBride
Diane Neste
In Memory of Lily Kim McCaslin
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Charlotte McLaughlin
Patsy Lodge
In Memory of Roy Leon Miller, Jr.
Bill “Action” and Jackie Jackson
In Memory of June Moore
Diane and David Myklegard
In Memory of Gretchen Copp Neel
Edith Easterbrook
In Memory of Topper O’Connell
Patsy Lodge
In Honor of Heidi Rogers
Philip and Linda Davidson
In Memory of Manuel Ron
Bill “Action” and Jackie Jackson
In Memory of Marion Shinn
Glen and Delores Morgan
William and Kathleen Neumayer
In Memory of Dr. Jack Soltman
Sally and Scott Russell
In Memory of Craig Storti
Robert and Jeannine Bilow
Ray and Linda Stark
In Memory of Tanya Storti
Robert and Jeannine Bilow
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