STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Alissa Weber has worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She’s helped local governments and nonprofit organizations secure funding for housing for the homeless.

She’s worked in criminal legal system reform and served as the City Clerk for the City of Sun Valley.

Now, she’s joined the Wood River Women’s Foundation as its membership and communications manager to help the 300-member women’s philanthropic organization make the Wood River Valley a better place to live.

Toni Danalas poured the wine.

“There were so many amazing candidates. We were amazed so many wanted to work for us,” said WRWF Board President Jeannie Shroads. “Her expertise, heart for service, and genuine passion for making a difference are exactly what our organization needs as we continue to grow. Someone of her caliber and commitment will help take WRWF to the next level.”

Weber introduced herself to the members of the WRWF at their annual holiday gathering held at Roland Wolfrom and Patti Zebrowski’s Sun Valley home.

Originally from Monterrey, Calif., she told how she moved to the Wood River Valley with her husband Brock, who was raised in Bellevue, and their 9- and 6-year-old children Hudson and Elowen. She likes running, cooking, reading, being in nature as she basks in the warm days and cool evenings of summer and spending time with her family. But she also wants to give back to community.

“Private philanthropy is more important than ever, and I’m excited to support the power of the collective giving model in serving people in our community,” said Weber, who has a law degree from Duke University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California-Berkeley. “The dedication and generosity of the women leading WRWF is incredibly inspiring.”

Jeannie Shroads introduced Alissa Weber, second from left.

Weber said she loves the sense of community in the Wood River Valley and the connection and care that people show for their neighbors.

““There is such vibrancy here, and a celebration of diversity and inclusion that runs through so much of life in this valley. I look forward to using my experience in nonprofit capacity building and collaboration to connect more deeply with our local community and strengthen the relationships that make our valley so special.”

The Wood River Women’s Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary, having awarded more than $4 million in grants to local nonprofits working across the arts, education, environment, health, and social services since 2005.

The organization had its genesis in a conversation on the chairlift between Jo Murray and Barbara Thrasher. They gathered a group of women together to talk about how collective giving could have a bigger impact than individuals giving smaller donations to every end-of-the-year solicitation that arrives in the mail.

Many of the attendees posed for a picture.

One of the first awards they made in a gathering so small that attendees could sit on a couch was to the Senior Connection.  And The Senior Connection’s Executive Director Jovita Pina was on hand to tell how that grant and others the WRWF has made to the organization over the years has enabled it to provide Meals on Wheels and fulfill other needs.

The Senior Connection was started 54 years ago in Our Lady of the Snow Catholic church in Ketchum, she said. A bus brought people from Hailey for periodic lunches.

Today seniors have a robust social activity schedule through The Senior Connection, ranging from Bingo nights to a summer campout in tipis at Smiley Creek.

“Nutrition, transportation and caregiving is at our core,” said Pina. “A lot of seniors have to choose to spend money on medication over food.”

The Senior Connection served 26,625 nutritious meals to Blaine county seniors during the past year—15,369 were Meals on Wheels. Volunteer drivers have driven more than 35,000 miles to take meals to those who can’t cook for themselves, she added.

The Senior Connection has also provided 251,000 caregiving hours over the years—5,976 hours this past year--to help those with health issues so they can stay in their homes, she said.

“Less than 2 percent of philanthropic dollars go to support seniors in this country. You’ve made a profound impact in our community for 20 years. And 20 years is not just a measure of time—it’s also a measure of dedication.”

Shroads noted that this coming year the organization will focus a little more on its members providing women with more social gatherings to make connections.

“But grants are at the heart of the Wood River Women’s Foundation,” she added. “Although it feels like we live in our little snow globe here, the community needs us. We have women here tonight who work at nonprofits and they count on us.”

Want to learn more? Visit https://woodriverwomensfoundation.org/.