STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

It’s been known as the Papoose Club since 1954 when a group of mothers formed a grassroots babysitting co-op so they could take turns hitting the ski slopes.

But this week members of the 72-year-old organization celebrated its rebranding as the 5B Kids Fund.

The new name better reflects its mission as a community-wide funding organization open to women and men who want to support local youth, they said. And, no, don’t need to have children to join the nonprofit.

Members of what used to be the Papoose Club say the newly named 5B Kids Fund is the: Same Mission. Fresh Name, Bigger Impact.

The “5B” is an assurance that funds raised stay in Blaine County. And “Kids Fund” communicates the organization’s purpose—raising and grating money exclusively for youth programs.

“Celebrating our new name is the most important thing that’s happened to us this year,” the organization’s president Kat Vanden Heuvel told members sipping wine and nibbling coconut shrimp at the launch party held at the Harker Center.

Vanden Heuvel noted that the organization is no longer a babysitting group. And it’s no longer just for Moms. Some have questioned whether it was okay in this day and age to use the term “papoose,” she said. And members have often been asked just exactly what the Papoose Club is.

Richard Puddicombe is one of the men who now count themselves members. Puddicombe has lived in the Wood River Valley 40 years--long enough to remember when there were three gas stations on Ketchum’s Main Street and when townspeople thought the banks that sprang up were better than weedy lots they were built on.

Kat Vanden Heuvel tells members that putting funds to use in other nonprofit organizations is where the magic happens.

He’s happy to take his place among the others raising money for to purchase sports equipment so kids can play sports, learn to flyfish or attend cheer camps. 5B Kids Fund has also raised money for such endeavors as The Space afterschool tutoring program, Summer Read program, Senior Bash, mental health programs, robotics, theater and arts supplies.

Members raise money through the Webb Nursery Plant Sale in spring, the Wagon Days Pancake Breakfast over Labor Day Weekend and the Holiday Bazaar the first weekend of December. The organization also receives donations from sponsors and generous donors.

Organizations that apply for grants are invited to make presentations to organization members at their monthly meetings.

Vanden Heuvel said that 5B Kids Fund has awarded $56,000 in grants to 27 different organizations in 2025, “and we keep growing and growing and growing. 5B Kids Fund has given out nearly $600,000 in the last 20 years as part of its mission to support the cultural, social, educational and athletic activities of Blaine County youth.

Carrie Kotara, Rich Puddicombe and Mary Fauth were among those attending the Launch Party.

“We even fund basic things like snacks during school day to make sure everyone learns on a full stomach,” she said.

Vanden Heuvel read a letter from high school student Ryan Tenold, whose Hailey Futbol Club had been a beneficiary. Tenold wrote that their funds had allowed some of the club members to travel to Boise to compete when they otherwise could not have afforded it.

“We won our second state championship in three years,” he added. “You have created lifelong memories for me and my closest friends. Your compassion means more than you’ll ever know.”

Ashton Wilson, the executive director of the ERC, recounted how he always felt most comfortable when exploring the creeks in Colorado when he grew up. The ERC’s eco camps that the Papoose Club helped fund provides that for youth of Blaine County while entreating children to look down at the critters in the creeks and up at the stars.

Ashton Wilson describes the impact grants from the 5B Kids Fund have had on youngsters attending ERC eco camps.

“We can see amazing interpersonal growth,” he said.

Sara Gorby told members that the 5B Kids Fund had supported St. Thomas Playhouse’s the touring theater program for 17 years, allowing actors to go to schools and preschools to  expose 3,000 students each year to creative retellings of classics like “Peter and the Wolf.”

She told how one young boy who had trouble sitting in class wandered around the first year he saw the mobile theater production.

“The second year he sat riveted,” Gorby said. “We’re celebrating 25 years and you have been the organization that has supported us the longest and most consistently.”

Learn more at https://www.5bkidsfund.org/ https://www.5bkidsfund.org/our-grants

Mission to support the cultural, social, educational and athletic activities of blaine county youth.

The 2025 grant recipients include: 5B Anglers; Alturas Elementary PTO; Bellevue Elementary PTA; Blaine County Education Foundation; Carey High School Spanish Program; Crisis Hotline / Neighbors Helping Neighbors; ERC; Hailey Library; Hailey Soccer FC; Hunger Coalition; Idaho Mavericks; Kids Mountain Fund; Kiwanis Club; Make-A-Wish Idaho; NAMI; Sawtooth Botanical Garden Bug Zoo; St. Thomas Playhouse; Sun Valley Museum of Art; The Space; Wood River Baseball; Wood River High School: Best Buddies, Ceramics, Cheerleaders, and Senior Bash; Wood River Middle School: Best Buddies, Library and Robotics.

To learn more, visit https://www.5bkidsfund.org/. To apply for a grant, go to  https://www.5bkidsfund.org/our-grants.

NORDIC CUP and KINDERCUP

The 5B kids Fund hosts the Nordic Cup in February and the 69-year-old Kindercup in March at no cost to the youngsters who take part.

The Nordic Cup was cancelled this year since there was no snow at Quigley Nordic. But the organizations is recruiting volunteers to help with the Kindercup, which will be held Sunday, March 1, on Dollar Mountain.

The free ski and snowboard race is for ages 3 to 10.

Volunteers may sign up at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/42287592065/false#/invitation.