Women's Gift Alliance awards $100K in grants to local nonprofits

COEUR d'ALENE — Five local nonprofits have been given a financial boost by a large group of gals with even larger hearts for giving.

"This is my favorite day of the year," Women's Gift Alliance President Jody Harris said Wednesday evening after $100,000 in grants had been awarded during a ceremony in the Hospice of North Idaho Community Room.

Pooled grants of $30,000 each were presented to Habitat for Humanity North Idaho, Lake City Center and Specialized Needs Recreation. Finalist grants of $5,000 each were awarded to Gizmo and Growing the STEM.

Habitat for Humanity, which builds affordable housing and works to improve living conditions for those in need, will use its WGA funds to help low-income families and seniors with home repairs.

Habitat for Humanity North Idaho Executive Director James Casper, who has been in his role since 2016, shared an anecdote about a local man who was helped with a roof repair and is now a leader of a civic organization because he wants to give back to others in need.

"It's hard to know what's going to happen in the future when you do these kinds of things for people, but the stability it provides is really impressive," Casper said. "The people in this community that choose to use their time, energy and dollars to help other people in their community, that's the real winners. I'm lucky to get paid for what I do, it is nothing compared to what you all choose to do to help support others in your community."

Lake City Center will enter a new era of community connection and experience as WGA funds help replace outdated audio-visual equipment in the banquet room. This will enhance activities and allow the center to expand programming and improve sustainability by attracting more revenue-generating events.

"The community center is in the heart of Coeur d'Alene," Executive Director Nancy Phillips said. "We have all sorts of folks that come to see us — we have seniors, we have children, we have everyone — and the banquet room is where we all gather. We share meals together, we share laughs together, we make friends, lasting memories. This banquet room is more than a space; it is the heart of the center."

She said the updated sound and video system will make it more welcoming to people of all walks of life "and just give everybody a place where it's dignified and they can enjoy it."

"It's going to be great," she said, looking out at the WGA members in the audience. "Because of all of you and your contribution, it's going to make a better place for not only seniors but the entire community.

Renovation and restoration will be the focus of Specialized Needs Recreation's WGA grant. Items such as chairs and tables will be fixed or replaced, the van donated by WGA in 2011 will undergo maintenance and the funds will help pay for program scholarships.

SNR just celebrated its 40th anniversary serving Kootenai County, Executive Director Lindsay Patterson said.

"People come to us because they enjoy connecting with their friends, with people like them, they can enjoy playing basketball, bowling, we offer cooking classes, there's not really anything we haven't had on the calendar at one time or another," she said. "Our population of people is very eager to try new things. They just want to be together in a space where they can enjoy, and they are the most joyful bunch around."

The WGA gift will benefit Gizmo's Pathways to Potential, a program that gives secondary students opportunities to explore different career paths such as engineering, manufacturing, technology and creative arts.

Growing the STEM leaders plan to use their nonprofit's WGA grant to better connect and communicate with students, teachers and coaches as they continue mentoring and developing youth through afterschool programs.

As a nonprofit membership organization, the Women's Gift Alliance pools together the talents and resources of Kootenai County women to support a wide swath of educational, cultural and charitable projects in the community.

Info: womensgiftalliance.org

    Lake City Center Executive Director Nancy Phillips, left, and Women's Gift Alliance member Karen Shaul hold up a big check Wednesday as the center is presented with a grant of $30,000 to upgrade the audio-visual system in its banquet room.
  

    From left, Kelly Powell, James Casper and Joan Woodward give a big smile Wednesday evening as the Women's Gift Alliance presents Habitat for Humanity North Idaho with a $30,000 grant. Also pictured: WGA Grant Committee co-chair and evening emcee Allie Lee.