3Cs to award $115K in grants this summer
DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months AGO
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | July 15, 2025 1:06 AM
Members of the Cancer and Community Charities nonprofit announced Monday they will award $115,000 in grants to community organizations during the annual 3Cs Appreciation Lunch in August.
The 3Cs Appropriations Committee spent half the day going through 32 applications and deciding how to allocate the funds.
"Our favorite time of the year is when we can give money away," committee member Giannine O'Connor said.
"We work hard all year," President Judy Gardner said. "We learn a lot from all of the other nonprofits that we interview."
She said the grant requests bring attention to community concerns.
"Some of it's really scary, when you think what's happening to our kids and how many people can't read or write," Gardner said.
Including the funds that will be awarded Aug. 15 at the Appreciation Lunch, the 3Cs will have given nearly $3 million to support different nonprofits throughout Kootenai County.
Past recipients include Hospice of North Idaho, the Alzheimer's Association, Canopy Village, the Kootenai Health Foundation, Family Promise of North Idaho and Trinity Group Homes.
"This has just been a fantastic group of women that get out," Gardner said.
While they "pay to play," Gardner said, 3Cs members deeply care about others.
"They're very giving," she said. "We've been around for a long time, and we just continue to support the community.
The Cancer Crusaders Bowling League, that formed in 1962, blossomed into the 3Cs nonprofit, which includes activity groups such as the book club, bridge league, Twisted Stichers crafting group and more. Members pay $25 in annual dues and also give through their activity groups.
The Appreciation Lunch will be at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. Tickets are $30. Contact Gardner at 208-664-4604 for details.
ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS
Hayden Canyon students work with nonprofit to build beds for youths in need
Hayden Canyon students work with nonprofit to build beds for youths in need
Wearing safety gloves and magenta headphones with a galaxy design, Autumn Parks rested a long piece of lumber on a picnic table as she smoothed out the edges. “I’m sanding it down so nobody gets splinters when they go to bed," she said. As an American Heritage Girl, Autumn already had some experience working with lumber. “I made a staff this August, a walking stick, and it taught me how to sand,” she said. “I thought, 'I can sand, let’s do that!” The Hayden Canyon Charter seventh grader shared how she thought it was really cool that her school was building beds for kids in need.
Steve Casey left his mark as dedicated educator, friend, family man
Steve Casey left his mark as dedicated educator, friend, family man
Solid leadership. A dedicated educator. A friend to everyone. Steve Casey lived a big, beautiful life and embraced every single person who came across his path. "Children, men, women, students, it didn't matter their walk of life," Casey's daughter, Tara Nelson, said Friday. "His arms were wide open and his heart was open to everyone."
Controversial AI exhibit at Art Spirit Gallery runs through Dec. 24, community event Saturday
Controversial AI exhibit at Art Spirit Gallery runs through Dec. 24, community event Saturday
Mike Baker installed his exhibit at the Art Spirit Gallery hoping it would generate conversations in the community. And wow, did it ever. "No Permission Needed," featuring pieces created using artificial intelligence, debuted Nov. 14 at the downtown gallery. It quickly became a subject of social media discussion and scrutiny in the arts community and the community at large for the use of AI and female experiences being brought into focus by a male, with some accusing Baker of misogyny, art theft or posing as an artist while others defended the intention behind the project and the exploration of a new technology-based medium. "At the end of the day it’s focused on women’s health, all rooted in the work we’ve done around endometriosis and tied to the experiences people have shared with me and that I’ve seen walking through the health care system,” Baker said Thursday. “I was just trying to capture all of that within it."