WGA presents $85K to four nonprofits

BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 4 months AGO

Members of the Women's Gift Alliance present $25,000 to members of PB and J Haydeners on Thursday.
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The Women's Gift Alliance presents $25,000 to the Literacy Project of North Idaho. From left, Laura Umthun, Joan Rock and Joan Woodard, all with WGA, Cat Gilmore, Literacy Project of North Idaho founder, Holly Edwards, Literacy Project, Maria Angel and Sam Gilmore.

The Women's Gift Alliance presents $25,000 to Idaho Drug Free Youth. From left, Joan Woodard, WGA; Kelly Powell, WGA; Amy Bartoo, IDYF board president; Tammy Rubio and Mary Vehr, WGA.

The Women's Gift Alliance presents $5,000 to Ds Connections Northwest on Thursday. From left, Joan Genter and Maria Angel, WGA; Susan Villelli, board president and founder of Ds Connections Northwest; Kim Moline, executive director, Ds Connections Northwest; and Janet Robnett, WGA.

COEUR d'ALENE — The Women's Gift Alliance gave $85,000 to five nonprofits during its annual grant presentation Thursday at the Hospice House Community Building.

Idaho Drug Free Youth, PB and J Haydeners and The Literacy Project of North Idaho each received $25,000, while the Museum of North Idaho and Ds Connections Northwest each got $5,000.

Jody Harris, WGA president, said a committee reviewed about 20 applications before selecting the five recipients.

"It’s really amazing to see the effect these grants have," Harris said.

In its 19 years, WGA has presented more than $1.5 million to local nonprofits.

She said a few years ago they presented a grant to a nonprofit that had a handful of volunteers. With the grant, it grew its volunteer base to about 100.

"It makes a big difference," Harris said.

WGA is a nonprofit, affiliated with the Idaho Community Foundation. Of yearly membership donations, half are pooled and distributed via grants while the remaining half is divided between individually designated gifts and the WGA endowment fund.

Amy Bartoo of IDFY said the $25,000 grant will "truly move the dial."

She said IDFY has survived 32 years, where other programs in the prevention world have not.

"I have to credit that directly to the teenagers who want to see it happen," she said.

BILL BULEY/Press

The Women's Gift Alliance presents $25,000 to Idaho Drug Free Youth. From left, Joan Woodard, WGA; Kelly Powell, WGA; Amy Bartoo, IDYF board president; Tammy Rubio and Mary Vehr, WGA.