STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Barbara Thrasher says she became concerned about what the future might hold for the people of the United States following November’s acrimonious election, leaving social safety nets in jeopardy. But then her husband reminded her to just focus on her what she could do in her own community.

Barbara Thrasher certainly needs no help doing that.

The Wood River Women’s Foundation that she and Jo Murray started 20 years ago during a ride up the chairlift on Bald Mountain has certainly made a difference in the Wood River Valley. The organization awarded a record $503,647 to 27 nonprofits this past year. And it’s granted $3.95 million to nonprofits in the Wood River Valley since its founding in 2005.

“This community has heart,” Thrasher told the organization’s members at their annual Christmas party held at Trinka Dyer’s home near Hailey.

WRWF President Jeannie Shroads told the women that their donations had made a big difference this past year: “They touched every corner of the community, including providing soccer opportunities for kids.”

After a brief lull for the holidays, the women will be back to work fielding applications for grants from local nonprofits, vetting them and prioritizing projects for another round of donations. The money comes from membership dues, which are pooled and handed out to the nonprofits.

“You’re the hardest working women in the valley,” Shroads told them. “Let’s make the next 20 years even brighter than the last 20 years.”