Introducing: Canopy Village

COEUR d'ALENE — A chorus of popping champagne corks sang beneath a large white canopy as two big announcements were made Thursday during the Children's Village Annual Event.

The youth crisis respite, emergency shelter and family support nonprofit that has operated as Children's Village since 1986 will shed its old moniker for a new one.

"Way before our time, our boards heard rumbling — this was way before me — that there was another agency with the same name, and they've had it for a lot longer than we have, and they have a trademark," Executive Director Vanessa Moos said.

She said the nonprofit is choosing its mission over potential conflicts, which means a bold change. She asked guests to open sealed boxes on their tables, containing glasses adorned with the new name and logo.

"Let me introduce to you what will become Canopy Village," Moos said over the sound of unfolding cardboard and surprised reactions that turned into applause.

"By the end of this year we are evolving from Children's Village to Canopy Village," Moos said. "It's our evolution to become more preventative than reactive. We realize that every home has different needs. The word 'canopy' really encompasses those many layers of safety."

Although the name change announcement was bittersweet, the other reveal of the evening was a palate cleanser: A $1 million donation from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association to go toward the $4 million boys home that is planned to be constructed on the nonprofit's campus.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a Boise-based financial institution and administrator of affordable housing resources with a mission to provide funding for affordable housing opportunities in Idaho communities where they are most needed.

Brady Ellis, vice president of community housing for the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, presented Moos with the oversized $1 million check as guests stood to deliver a standing ovation.

"I recently came across Children's Village, Vanessa and her team, and came up here, toured, took a visit, learned all about the organization and it's an organization that is exactly what we're about at Idaho Housing in terms of making a community impact and being able to help those that really don't have a choice," Ellis said. "I'm very grateful that Canopy Village is here in Coeur d'Alene and that I personally have the privilege and honor to present to you hopefully something that will get the ball rolling with this boys home."

He said the main point of the presentation was not the dollar amount on the check, but how it was a first step that serves as a catalyst to spark community support as Children's Village raises funds for the much-needed boys home.

“For every hour a parent spends caring for their child, consider how expensive it is to pay those hours for caregivers to care for up to 20 youth at one time,” Moos said. “We are committed to building a safe environment for our community’s male youth, but we also remain steadfast in serving our current program youth aged 0-17 female and 0-12 male.”

Regarding the name change, she said the nonprofit is just like the kiddos it serves: It's growing up.

“Canopy Village is just our ‘grownup name,'" she said. "But we will always be the Village.”

    Attendees toast Thursday evening to a $1 million donation and the announcement of a new name at the Children's Village Annual Event. Children's Village will soon transition to Canopy Village.