STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation board has approved more than $800,000 in grants for initiatives dealing with mental health, senior care and end-of-life support.

The grants were awarded for:

COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIP FUND--The foundation awarded $210,000 over three years to the Counseling Scholarship Fund managed by St. Luke’s Center for Community Health in Hailey. The program offsets the high cost of counseling for those in need in a county where mental health consistently ranks as a top health priority.

The Center for Community Health awarded 244 scholarships during the fiscal year ending October 2024.

“Access to mental health care is essential for a healthy community,” said Sarah Seppa, director of Community Health and Engagement and manager of the Center for Community Health. “These critical counseling sessions help address a wide range of mental health issues including suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression. The scholarships make it possible for individuals and families to get the support they need.”

KEITH SIVERTSSON, MD COMPASSIONATE CARE FUND

The foundation granted $73,352.32 to the Keith Sivertson MD Compassionate Care Fund. This fund is also managed by the Center for Community Health, and it helped 292 community members pay for dental emergences, vision care, prescriptions and transportation last year.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FUND

The board awarded $150,000 to the Circle of Friends program over three years. The grant helps St. Luke’s Wood River employees during times of personal crisis, helping promote long-term employee retention.

“Circle of Friends is about caring for those who care for us,” said Megan Tanous, chief development officer for St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation. “This grant ensures we can continue to provide help when our team members need it most.”

BLAINE COUNTY FiRST

The Foundation is providing $25,000 to the BC FiRST (Blaine County First Responder Support Team) to start a First Responder Peer Support Program—a trauma-informed initiative designed by and for Blaine County’s first responders. The program is designed to reduce the stigma, build resilience and provide confidential peer support guided by clinicians.

The funding will serve between 200 and 250 responders including law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, ski patrol employees and ER-based staff who are exposed to cumulative trauma, chronic stress and life-threatening situations.

BLAINE COUNTY SOUTH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

The board has awarded $70,000 to refit an existing ambulance that is currently out of service. The upgraded ambulance will be used to transfer patients and air ambulance crews between St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center and Friedman Memorial Airport when fixed wing air assets are required. It will also assist air ambulance crews when rotor-based aircraft cannot fly due to weather conditions.

Furthermore, the ambulance will serve as a fourth out-of-scene response unit during large-scale incidents or when all three frontline ambulances are in use.

HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE OF THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY

The Foundation board has awarded $120,000 to support the recruitment of a medical director to provide clinical leadership for the nursing team, improve responsiveness to complex cases and sustain the hiring of highly qualified clinicians.

THE SENIOR CONNECTION

A $50,000 grant will support individuals with Alheimer’s and their caregivers through the Senior Connection’s Caregiving and Memory Care programming.

It will also fund two caregiver support groups and individual counseling sessions facilitated by a licensed geriatric psychologist. With Blaine County’s senior population nearly doubling during the past decade, the county is now home to about 600 residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES

The board approved funds to help the Bellevue clinic purchase medical equipment. The clinic provides care for nearly 1,500 patients a year.

“These grants reflect the power of philanthropy and the Foundation’s commitment to partnering with local organizations to improve quality of life for all.” said Tanous. “These funds ensure that vital programs—from mental health counseling to emergency response—are more accessible to everyone in Blaine County.”