BY RENEE SPOONER
The Wood River Women’s Foundation’s Board of Directors has voted to elect Sandy McCullough its new Board President, as outgoing President Terri Bullock completes her term.
Sandy McCullough became a WRWF member in 2014 and immediately volunteered to serve on the Grants Committee. After joining the Board in 2017, she chaired the Communications Committee, then co-chaired the Grants Committee, while also serving on the Executive Committee and as WRWF Secretary.
“WRWF and its members have been providing needed support to the Wood River Valley Community for 17 years and it has been my absolute pleasure to be part of its leadership team for the past five,” said McCullough. “It will be a privilege to continue working with local nonprofits to help them deliver on their missions as WRWF delivers ours.”
McCullough retired from a 25-year career in the communications field and now contributes her services to nonprofits that focus on supporting women and education. She currently serves on the Leadership Council of the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Pacific Northwest and a private, for-profit advisory board. Her community engagement history includes board roles with Business Volunteers for the Arts (Seattle Chamber), Special Olympics Washington, Seattle Country Day School, and Women’s Funding Alliance.
“Sandy has been an invaluable asset ever since she joined WRWF,” said Terri Bullock. “I am excited to welcome her as our new President as she leads and inspires the next generation of WRWF philanthropists.”
Under Bullock's leadership WRWF completed an aggressive strategic plan that formed the scaffolding on which the organization can safely withstand any challenge while it continues to grow its membership and donor gifts. She will remain a WRWF board member for the next year, join the Past Presidents’ Council as the chair, and work with McCullough to ensure a smooth transition.
The WRWF will hold its 16th Annual Celebration of Grant Recipients and Luncheon on Aug. 3 to honor the 20 local nonprofits that were granted awards totaling more than $348,000 this year. The guest speaker is Beth Oppenheimer, executive director of Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.
“To our delight 2022 proved to be a record-breaking funding year for WRWF,” said Bullock. “Our generous philanthropic-minded members contributed close to $350,000 for Wood River nonprofits. This is more than $43,000 above what we awarded in 2021. We are honored to collectively support those delivering services throughout our community.”
The WRWF 2022 grant recipients are ARCH Community Housing, Blaine County Charitable Fund, Higher Ground Sun Valley, Idaho Trails Association, Ketchum Fire Department, Kids Mountain Fund, Kiwanis Club of Hailey, Men’s Second Chance Living, Swiftsure Therapeutic Ranch, Syringa Mountain School, The Advocates, the Alliance of Idaho, The Community Library, The Crisis Hotline, The Hunger Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, The Space Idaho, Wood River Fire & Rescue and Wood River Land Trust.
The Wood River Women’s Foundation’s mission is to inspire and educate women to become leaders in philanthropy. The organization seeks to create significant positive change through pooled grant-making.
Since 2006, the WRWF has funded 193 grants totaling $3,095,244. Beginning with 27 founders in 2005, the WRWF membership has grown to over 325 today. To learn more, visit www.woodriverwomensfoundation.org.