Foundation provides local grants

The Idaho Community Foundation granted more than $350,000 to educational programs throughout Idaho this summer to support preschool programs, school districts, libraries and more.

The grants — more than 30 in all — are part of its commitment to provide educational opportunities and bridge educational gaps across all Idaho communities.

In 2020, more than $4.5 million in ICF grants went to support education, which is one of ICF’s philanthropic focuses.

At North Idaho College, the Student Academic Award pilot program allowed student parents to take more credits and complete their educational goals more quickly, said Jolie Wenglikowski, NIC Children’s Center director. When the grant completed in 2018, many had to take a break from school until their children were older because they could not afford child care and their own tuition.

“The cost of child care can be a roadblock for parents with young children working on their post-secondary education,” Wenglikowski said. “This grant provides much-needed assistance to students.”

North Idaho College received $15,000 from ICF to support the Student Academic Award program.

List of 2021 grants (North Idaho):

Children’s Village Foundation, Inc. (Kootenai County) — $18,717 to fund a summer program for the youth residents of Children’s Village providing the children with physical, mental and academic activities while on summer break from school.

Memorial Community Center, Inc. (Bonner County) — $25,000 to continue the preschool and be able to offer financial help for families who cannot afford tuition.

Priest Lake Community Education Foundation, Inc. (Bonner County) — $8,000 to provide Ready! for Kindergarten to Priest Lake-area parents with children ages 0-5, and to Priest Lake Preschool.

University of Idaho Foundation, Inc. (Benewah County) — $10,000 to provide experiential STEM learning and exploration each school year for five years to approximately 150 underserved pre-K students on the Nez Perce Reservation and Coeur d’Alene Reservation.

CDA Public Library Foundation (Kootenai County) — $5,000

Consolidated Free Library District (Kootenai County) — $5,000

Human Rights Education Institute (Kootenai County) — $2,000

Kootenai Joint School District #274 (Kootenai County) — $5,000