Foundation aims to improve Panhandle
Habitat for Humanity can build more homes in Kootenai and Shoshone counties and Sandpoint’s Panida Theater can take productions on the road now, thanks to the Idaho Community Foundation.
The charitable foundation approved $176,686 this spring for projects that will improve the quality of life in Idaho’s 10 northern counties. Projects include the preservation of historic photos in Post Falls, medical assistance for financially struggling people in Shoshone County and audiovisual equipment for Bonners Ferry High.
“We view ourselves as a vehicle for enhancing life in Idaho,” said Cathy Silak, community foundation president. Silak traveled from the foundation’s Boise home to North Idaho this week to announce grants in Wallace, Post Falls and Lewiston. She’ll present grants for the five northern counties at 4:30 p.m. today at the Old Church on Fourth and William streets in Post Falls.
Silak also is spreading the word about the benefits of channeling money through the foundation. Her nonprofit group manages more than 300 individual funds that total about $54 million. Individual funds start at $5,000, and the people behind the funds designate which projects will be the recipients.
But Silak said the foundation also has options for people who don’t have $5,000 to invest in the state’s growth. Smaller amounts go into the Greatest Need Fund, which the foundation distributes through a competitive grant process.
This year’s foundation grants helped replace a food preparation area and serving surfaces at the East Benewah Council for Aging Inc. They bought scales to weigh animals at the Greater Benewah County Humane Society and liability insurance for St. Maries’ Volunteer Community Clinic. They also paid for training for emergency personnel with St. Maries Ambulance and for volunteers with the Women’s Center in St. Maries.
In Bonner County, foundation grants helped buy books for the Lake Pend Oreille School District and outreach programs for the Pend Oreille Arts Council and the Festival at Sandpoint.
They’re paying for GPS devices for first responders with Inland Northwest Health Services and emergency training materials for the Sagle Fire Dept.
Foundation grants are helping Boundary County buy fairgrounds lighting and operate a round-the-clock crisis line at the Youth Crisis and Domestic Violence Hotline.
Kootenai County received 19 grants that will replace a school message board at Athol Elementary, start an after-school study club in Coeur d’Alene, provide a free classical music concert for students and buy non-fiction books for the Lakes Middle School library.
They’ll also bring the Idaho Shakespeare Festival to North Idaho and support vision and hearing check-ups through the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing.
Foundation grants will help continue after-school tutoring for homeless kids at St. Vincent de Paul and pay for dental care for children from low-income families.
In Shoshone County, grants will help remodel the Wallace District Arts Council’s Arts Center and pay to build an exhibit of the murder of Gov. Frank Steunenberg as well as expand an outdoor education program through the Inland Northwest Lutheran Outdoor Ministries.