Younger people make an 'impact'
Last week I was in the company of about 100 people, most of whom are the age of my daughters. There were a few people of my age demographic but we were outnumbered in a good way. Cole Turnbull’s Impact Club definitely lived up to the name, making a $9,000 impact to Newby-Ginnings in a single night.
The concept is simple: much like the philanthropic Women’s Gift Alliance, members leverage their charitable contribution dollars to make large donations to local nonprofits. What Cole has tapped into with the Impact Club makes it unique. Quarterly gatherings with the sole purpose of selecting which local nonprofit will receive the donation that night of the combined $100 bills/checks that each member brings to the table. Members make an annual commitment of $400. No meetings, dues or administrative fees.
The majority of the founding Impact Club members are Millennials or GenX, the demographics who are not as inclined to be involved with traditional service clubs like the Lions, Kiwanis or Rotary — or joiners in general. They likely don’t have deep pockets or the kind of disposable income that comes later in life after the family is raised.
From the conversations I had with new friends last week, Impact Club’s impact went both ways — impacting a charity and impacting the givers who learned that evening about Newby-Ginnings’ support of veterans from Gold Star Mother Theresa Hart; about Matt’s Place Foundation and the realities of ALS from Theresa Wild who was accompanied by her husband and foundation namesake Matt Wild, and a presentation by Children’s Village describing the indescribable circumstances that bring children to their door. Moving presentations all and an opportunity for each to tell their story to a new audience and perhaps to encourage future involvement.
The big winner is our community, we all benefit from enhanced engagement from all generations.
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On Sunday a beautiful fountain and angel statue were gifted to the city of Post Falls Evergreen Cemetery by Gary Schneidmiller in memory of his mother. At the dedication ceremony for the Celebration of Life fountain, Gary shared stories of how the project came to be and how his late mother Gladys was involved in some of the decisions on materials and the selection of the angel.
Gary’s parents, Manny and Gladys, farmed much of the Rathdrum Prairie more than a half-century ago. When Gary talked about buying 79 tons of Montana granite his mother had chosen for the fountain, he got a laugh from the gathered crowd when he said his dad would be shaking his head thinking about paying for rock. As anyone who’s tried to dig a post hole or turn dirt on the prairie knows, rocks are plentiful and the Schneidmillers picked their share of them.
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Things to Do Highlights: Today, Women’s Wellness Fair, Best Western Plus Cd’A Inn, 4:30-7:30 p.m., free admission, open to public. First Lego League Competition Prep, 3:30-5:45 p.m. for ages 9-14. (208) 651-6200
Friday — Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council lunch and learn, 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dangers of Distracted and Impaired Driving with Sgt. Allen Ashby, Idaho State Police. kcsac2016@gmail.com
Post Falls Trojans Homecoming parade, tailgate party and carnival at the high school. Starts at 4 p.m., kickoff against Lakeland at 7 p.m., fireworks show to follow.
Family Promise of North Idaho 10th annual Cardboard Box City at Community United Methodist Church, 1470 W. Hanley in Coeur d’Alene. Check in begins at 3 p.m. on Friday and check out is 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Families, church groups, youth groups, businesses or individuals are all invited to participate. Register online at www.familypromiseni.org.
Friday and Saturday — Downtown Coeur d’Alene Oktoberfest, Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday noon-9 p.m.
Saturday — North Idaho Cider’s third annual Oktoberfest with Tail Waggin’ Chili and Soup Cook-Off to benefit Kootenai Humane Society. Noon - 8 p.m. info@northidahocider.com. Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County’s annual A Night in Black and White at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 5:30-11 p.m. www.northidahobgc.org/auction.
Sunday — St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho Veterans 5K run/walk. McEuen Park, registration at 9:30 a.m., race starts at 11 a.m.
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Happy Birthday today to Julie Chadderdon, John Stevens, Craig Brosenne, Haley Walker, Joe Roope (50!) and George Balling. Tomorrow Stacy Hudson, Dina Hourland, Cliff Slaney, Katherine Ekhoff and Haley Walker take another trip around the sun.
Jerry Lyon, Vic Slater, Amy Reagan, Scott Livingston, Rosalyn Martin, George Beebe and my baby sister, Ronna Park, are doing the birthday dance on Friday.
Celebrating on Saturday, the first day of autumn, are Autumn Hanson, Craig Owens, Wendy Young, Patty Kilcup, Stacie McGrath, David Thompson, Sue Enright, Brian Harris, Denise Bechel and Madeline Singleton.
On Sunday Tracey Vaughn, Debbie Michalak, Justin Capaul, Steve Evert, Dorothy Benoit, Carlena Shove and Cathy Schaede unwrap their birthday presents.
James Hagman, Susan Cliff, Beck Jacobsen, Brenda Watkins, Gladys Sullivan, Michael McGee, Ronald Schlepp, Rebecca Greer, Marcia Hughes, Cheryl Snyder, Cate Kuhlmann, Teri Oliver and Charlie Taranto will blow out the birthday candles on Sept. 25.
Tuesday is the big day for Joseph Doutre, Darci Allert, Hannah Riorden, John Oaks, Luke Kilcup, Lisa McElwain and Dan Tesutov.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.