Welcome to the Grantee Projects page! Here IWCF focuses on our grantees by summarizing their projects, highlighting their activities and giving voice to their experiences. You can use the hotlinks to learn more about them on their own websites.
IWCF studies innovative projects local groups propose to address community needs. We are honored to fund such projects in five interest areas: Cultural Arts, Education, the Environment, Financial Stability and Health.
Over the past ten years, we have seen many great ideas take root and grow with support from our pooled funds.
On this page, we spotlight examples, changing the grantees monthly. Please celebrate their accomplishments with us!
Discovery Center of Idaho - 2011 Grant Technology for Ongoing Transformational Learning Grant Grant Amount: $22,000
Project: Develop a robotics lab for 4th-12th graders and create a statewide contest for high- schoolers integrating science, technology, engineering and math
Occasionally, IWCF members have opportunities for hands-on experiences with the projects our grants support. One is coming up on Saturday, April 14, during the Boise Robotic Competition (Bot Comp) at the Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 W. Myrtle St.
At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., we will be able to log onto a remote robot, learn to program it and watch it do our bidding - just like dozens of students in the grant's pilot project have been doing this school year. The public event begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m., with many activities happening throughout the day; the main robot competition starts at 3 p.m.
This annual, non-commercial, grassroots event is based entirely on the culture and passion for robotics, making things and engineering. Community entities come together to create a truly original environment for various types of robotics, from hobby to high-tech levels.
Project overview DCI Executive Director Janine Boire and Education Director Woody Sobey used the $22,000 IWCF grant to launch a project that has attracted additional funds and support from the Idaho Department of Education and NASA. Developed by Sobey using relatively inexpensive Parallax Basic Stamp robots, it has turned out to be the first of its type in the world, allowing simultaneous log-ons from anywhere. Students in rural and urban areas around Idaho learn to write code to program a robot, watch it via webcam and make it perform tasks.
DCI staff, in collaboration with Reuseum, is presenting the remote robotic project as part of National Robotics Week, April 9-15. This project signals another step in the Discovery Center's continuing progress in moving beyond being a "children's museum" to becoming a high-tech partner in the community, Boire says.
Discovery Center of Idaho 131 W. Myrtle Street Boise, ID 83702 Janine Boire, Executive Director Phone 343-9895 Email jboire@dcidaho.org Website www.dcidaho.org
DCI education director Woody Sobey and IWCF member Anne Hay in the robotics lab at the Discovery Center of Idaho
Students anywhere in Idaho can remotely program and watch this robot via computer
Woody Sobey developed the computer program that links students with the robot
Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts - 2008 Grant Theater Lighting & Sound System
Grant Amount: $25,000
In 2008, an Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation grant literally shed light on the arts and young artists. With this $25,000, the Treasure Valley Institute for Children's Arts (TrICA) bought lights and sound equipment to take performances into classrooms. By the time TrICA celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2011, the nonprofit had served more than 45,000 Treasure Valley children, filling a need for quality art education in financially pinched schools.
TrICA's current task -- refurbishing of an historic Hyde Park church -- will fill several needs. In addition to restoring the spirit of a cherished landmark, the Emmanual Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Eastman and 14th, the historic building will become the TRICA Center for Arts Education.
To date, TrICA founder Jon Swarthout, his board and generous supporters have raised more than $2 million in cash, pledges, services and supplies, including $625,000 from the community and $10,000 from the North End Neighborhood Association. From March through May, 2012, TrICA is working to leverage these gifts and finalize Phase I of its multi-year restoration campaign. At this time, TrICA needs to raise the final $600,000 needed to transform the former sanctuary into classroom and performance space.
Currently, TRICA is reaching out to individual supporters and groups to tell the story of this amazing project, one-on-one, during intimate soirees in the building itself. The campaign theme, “Get Your TrICA Wings," comes from this saying: "The two things in life we pass on to the children are roots and wings."
Volunteers are invited to host 10-20 friends for an informal wine and cheese gathering and a tour of the Center-to-be with Jon or a staff member. IWCF members are welcome to schedule a party or make a gift of time, treasure or talent by calling TrICA at 344-2220, or email info@trica.org.
Treasure Valley Institute for Children's Arts (TrICA) 1406 Eastman St., Boise, ID 82702 Contact Jon Swarthout Phone 344-2220 Email info@trica.org Website www.trica.org
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION – 2006 Grant "Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho" - Documentary Grant amount: $10,000
This project exemplifies a successful IWCF long-term investment. In 2006, Idaho Public Television requested seed money for producer/host Marcia Franklin to research an hour-long documentary about the Idaho human rights movement — one that she had conceived of and begun work on in 2000. After receiving the IWCF grant, by February 2007 Marcia had used these funds to conduct interviews of Gov. Phil Batt and human rights leaders in Coeur d’Alene and Mercer Island, Wash., and to film Human Rights Week activities in Nampa and Coeur d’Alene. Such widespread, in-depth research, which allowed Franklin to develop a tape used to seek additional funding for the documentary, would not have been possible without the IWCF grant.
The final documentary, The Color of Conscience, first aired on IPTV on May 25, 2011. It is regularly shown at human rights events, to teachers and to students—12 screenings to date—and can be watched online at http:/video.idahoptv.org/video/1949293974. The film covers the citizen activists who fought the Aryan Nations neo-Nazi supremacists and examines current issues such as gay rights, immigrant rights, and hate crimes. It has received media coverage by television and/or newspapers from Spokane, Wash., to Pocatello. A K-12 curriculum specific to the documentary is in production.
Idaho Public Television 1455 N. Orchard St. Boise, ID 8306-2239 Contact: Marcia Franklin Phone 373-7379Email marcia.franklin@idahoptv.org
Idaho Public TV - The Color of Conscience
Anne Frank peers from her window in a tableau at the Anne Frank Memorial in Boise.
At a rally in John Day, Ore., a girl holds a sign to discourage neo-Nazi activity. The rally was addressed by Idaho human rights advocates.
T.J. Leyden, a former neo-Nazi who frequented the group's Idaho compound, helps his son do homework.
BOISE COMMUNITY RADIO – 2010 Grant Project: 89.9 FM Production Studio Grant amount: $24,000
Often, support from IWCF is worth much more than the dollar amount of the grant itself. Such was the case with a $24,000 grant made in 2010 to Boise Community Radio, a new, noncommercial, community-programmed radio station serving the Treasure Valley.
BCR requested the funds to pay for its FM broadcast production studio. In order to receive the $227,000 federal grant needed for its transmitter equipment, BCR (known as Radio Boise) was required to raise 25% of the overall budget locally. The IWCF grant was a significant part of that local match. In addition, according to Radio Boise founder Jeff Abrams, receipt of the IWCF grant “catalyzed enthusiasm and attracted attention to our effort.” One example was a gift of $7,500 made by a local family foundation “because of the credibility associated with IWCF,” Abrams said.
After nine years of volunteer efforts, 89.9 KRBX FM went on-air in April 2011, exactly one year after receiving notification of its IWCF grant. The station’s mix of locally - produced programming includes arts, culture, public affairs and music—with emphasis on the work of local artists and musicians. Also of interest to IWCF members is the station’s commitment to spotlight the work of area nonprofits, some of which have received IWCF support. Programs are streamed live at http://mainsite.radioboise.org/. Program proposals are welcome at http://mainsite.radioboise.org/participate/program-proposal/.
Boise Community Radio 1020 W. Main St #200 Boise, ID 83702 Contact: Jeff Abrams Phone 424-8166; Fax 424-8166Email jabrams@radioboise.org;
Radio Boise 89.9 FM
An IWCF grant outfitted the broadcast booth for Radio Boise, 89.9 KRBX FM, including the editing console, mics, earphones and other equipment.
Producer Amanda Turner interviews BSU creative writing professor and author Mitch Wieland on her weekly show, The Writer's Block, airing at noon on Thursdays.
Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation | P.O. Box 6164 | Boise, ID 83707 | 208-343-IWCF
