STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Students who participate in Far+Wise programs this coming school year will have Taylor Swift to thank, among others.

An auction lot offering four VIP floor seats at the last concert of the fabulously popular performer’s Eras Tour, the highest grossing tour of all time, went for $60,000 at the Far+Wise Black Tie+Blue Jeans fundraiser Thursday night at The Argyros.

The auction lot, which includes a swanky dinner and accommodations at the five-star Pan Pacific Vancouver, may be the highest bid ever placed on a fundraiser auction item in Sun Valley. And it set the stage for a generous evening of pledges that included two pledges for $100,000 and two for $75,000.

“So beyond excited. The evening was so joyful. Our community is incredible,” said Laura Rose-Lewis, executive director of the organization that provides afterschool tutoring and cultural enrichment for under-resourced Blaine County youth to ensure they graduate from high school.

Ken Lewis, who started it all in 2012, sat on the patio of the Argyros before the chicken piccata and eggplant marinara dinner, gushing over his tasty huckleberry vodka drink and how Far+Wise, formerly known as I Have a Dream Foundation-Idaho, helps students achieve academic success and pursue their dreams.

One of the young women involved in his I Have a Dream Foundation in Portland, Ore., not only got a signing bonus as a professor at Harvard University but now lectures about trauma throughout the country, even before Congressional members. Locally, one of the students who graduated in the Wood River Valley’s first I Have a Dream class is just about to graduate from a two-year nursing program.

“We’re helping to break the cycle of poverty. We started with Jacob Greenberg, Reginald Reeves, then Brent and Bev Robinson came on and the program has exploded under Laura Lewis,” he said. “It has far exceeded my expectations.”

Lewis’ vision and passion for the program hasn’t gone unnoticed. In honor of his efforts and financial commitment, board chair Pamela Mann told the 200-plus attendees Thursday night that Far+Wise was naming its core program getting kids from kindergarten to graduation and beyond the Kenneth Lewis Scholars Program.

“Ken Lewis has always had a belief in education as the power to change people’s lives,” she said.

Andria Friesen, who co-chaired the event with Susan Greenspan and who obtained the Taylor Swift package, told those in the audience that 49 percent of the families in Blaine County are considered below the poverty line.

“So, thank you for being here and helping to make this a record-breaking event for education,” she said.

Laura Rose-Lewis noted that Far+Wise goes beyond math and reading to work with students on social skills, physical fitness and the enjoyment of the outdoors. She also noted that children who can’t read at grade level by third grade are more likely to drop out of school.

When financial barriers are removed every child has chance to succeed, and they do, she added. She recounted how Far+Wise was able to cut the percentage of students reading below grade level from 50 percent to 10 percent. All of its first class graduated; 70 percent are in college while the remainder are productively working.

“We realized that post-secondary education isn’t for everyone. That’s why we started the Center for Career Exploration,” she added.

Winelli Weaver, a Wood River High School senior who also serves as a student representative on the school board, attended four Center for Career Explorations Camps designed to expose students to career opportunities not addressed in school but vital to the Wood River Valley. She got a job at the Limelight Hotel following the Far+Wise hospitality camp hosted last spring by Sun Valley Company and Ketchum’s Limelight.

Hailey Police Chief Steve England recounted how he and school resource officer Morgan Ballis put on a six-hour camp for youngsters during which the department’s officers told what attracted them to law enforcement. The kids also got to do some things they would do at police academy, including handcuffing one another.

“And Morgan Ballis got a College of Southern Idaho scholarship for anyone to pursue a law enforcement career so it’s pretty awesome,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue with it—maybe make it a two-day camp next year.”

Robert DeGenarro told the audience that he is passionate about educating his children.

“Children are our greatest national resource, not gas or oil. Investing in our children is an investment in our collective future—when we are educating our children, we’re not just preparing them for jobs but we’re preparing them to be problem solvers….the best they can be in life,” he added. “Education is the best equalizer. It nurtures the soul…empowers young people to seek answers and challenge the status quo. Far+Wise takes a child’s hand and holds on. They walk with that child…never letting go.”

With inspiration in abundance, VAMPs founder Muffy Ritz performed 20 pushups on stage, getting a bidder to bid $8,000 for a Sun Valley Challenger Ski Pass coupled with Nordic and downhill ski lessons from herself, Mark Miller and Danielle Crist-Carruth.

Other auction packages included a five-night getaway in Tuscany and a Best of Sun Valley package that included a golf pass, Ballet Sun Valley tickets and guided fishing trip provided by Lost River Outfitters.

Victor Watson became familiar with Far+Wise through his son, who was introduced to the Sun Valley Culinary Institute by the program.

“These types of program help move kids forward,” he said.

“We need more people to care, to have a heart,” added Delma Herrera.

DID YOU KNOW?

Far+Wise allocates 80 percent of its resources to its core program of seeing kids from kindergarten to high school graduation and beyond. Another 15 percent goes to its Center for Career Exploration, or trade camps.

Learn more at https://www.farandwise.org/.