Liz Montgomery lends experience to create collective impact

"I feel that I am truly making a difference," said Liz Montgomery, executive director of Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation and United Way of Kootenai County Impact Council volunteer. Montgomery has served on the Income and Basic Needs Council for three years and has a direct impact on the partner organizations who received funding from United Way.

What makes Montgomery such an expert in this area? A Trinity Group Homes board member and a past member of the North Idaho Homeless Coalition, she was sought out by United Way's executive director to bring a different perspective to the council. Her experience working with the homeless population at the time was invaluable to what would become the framework for collective impact.

"I was looking to be more involved with the community," Montgomery said. "It was a welcome invitation and I felt honored to join the group. Before I joined the council, no other member had worked or served the homeless population before. I brought a very unique and very important insight to the Council as I worked directly with the homeless population in our community."

One of the council's responsibilities is to review grant proposals, complete agency site visits and decide which nonprofit organizations will receive Community Care Grant funding. Each council member volunteers approximately 5-10 hours per month beyond their normal job and family responsibilities.

In Montgomery's case, her current full-time work for Mountain States Head Start pays the bills. She serves as a family consultant in Rathdrum, Spirit Lake and Post Falls. But it is her belief in the strong and healthy nonprofit partnerships that United Way develops in the community, through the Collective Impact model and the Community Care Fund Process, which keeps her coming back for more.

"United Way has very high standards," states Montgomery. Their goal is to align funding, volunteers, partner agencies, government and grants with programs that work. Donors expect their dollars to measurably improve the quality of people's lives and build a stronger community. It is my job to ensure that this investment is used wisely and those nonprofits who receive United Way funding follow through with what they say they are going to do to make our community a better place."

Montgomery used this volunteer spirit as she was driven to create her own nonprofit, the Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation, inspired by the loss of her son, Mason, 10 years ago next month. She is committed to educating the public on safe sleep practices for infants, bringing awareness to SUID/SIDS and providing grief support to those who have experienced a SUID/SIDS loss. She participates every year with the Day of Caring (a United Way call to action) and is an active member of Rotary, Kootenai County Young Professionals, Women in Networking, Safe Kids of Kootenai County and the Safe Infant Sleep Taskforce at Kootenai Health.

"Serving on the United Way Impact Council is an experience I could have never received anywhere else," said Montgomery. "It is an opportunity to learn about all of the nonprofits in our area and how they are working so very diligently to improve people's lives.

"I have created many new friendships and partnerships with other nonprofits, ultimately enhancing my own performance as an executive director of the Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation."

When asked to share a meaningful experience from her volunteer service, "I remember making a site visit to a homeless shelter down on Sherman Avenue and meeting all of the people who use the shelter. I remember feeling so very grateful for all that I have. It was incredible to learn about the services that they were providing for the homeless in our community, the ones that most of us take for granted, from hot showers to laundry service. This nonprofit continues to do great work for the most impoverished in our community. It really is amazing."

Liz Montgomery has a 19-year-old daughter, Holly, and loves spending time with her family. Her hobbies are gardening and scrapbooking.

Volunteer Opportunity:

SAVE THE DATE!

Seventh annual KCYP & United Way Volunteer Fair

Wednesday, April 8 from 4-7 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn

506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene

Attend the seventh annual KCYP Volunteer Fair with sponsor United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer Center to connect with more than 50 area nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers. Organizations will be onsite to discuss how you can get involved with volunteering, events, fundraising, and more.

The event is free and open to the public. The cost for an organization to have a table at this event is $25.

For further details about this event, please visit www.kcyp.org. To view other volunteer opportunities in the community, please visit www.kootenaiunitedway.org, click on the "VOLUNTEER" link to GET CONNECTED to our Volunteer Center, or contact Jeanette Laster at United Way of Kootenai County, (208) 667-8112, Ext. 101.

Get Connected!

The United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer Center

GET CONNECTED!

* "One-Stop Volunteer Resource Center" for the whole community

* Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities

* TAKE ACTION

(208) 667-8112

Visit the United Way's Volunteer Center website: www.kootenaiunitedway.org

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER