STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
History and culture, the American Legion and a Can-Do Fund will be among the items 100 Men Who Care will consider at their quarterly meeting this coming Tuesday.
The public is invited to join the philanthropic gathering from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ketchum’s Community Library. There, attendees will determine individually which organization or organizations to give their $100 to.
The lineup:
BLAINE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The foundation assists students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade with financial support for school-specific supplies and activities.
Its SCHOOL MEALS FUND provides expanded free lunch opportunities for Blaine County School District students whose families struggle to pay for school meals. Working families of four earning more than $39,000 are excluded from qualifying for government support for free meals, despite the higher cost of living in Blaine County. The BCEF is committed to providing $250,000 for the School Meals Program over three years. It funded 583 students during the 2022-23 school year and expects to spend $119,893 on the program in 2023-24.
The CAN DO FUND provides health insurance, physicals and uniforms for students who lack the finances to participate in school sports. It also pays dual credit and elective fees, field trip insurance fees, competition fees at school-sponsored events, as well as providing money for instrumental rental, activity cards, yearbooks, and graduation regalia.
The BACK TO SCHOOL FUND enables students nominated by school social workers, The Advocates and other community organizations to receive backpacks with grade specific supplies. The BCEF distributed 400-plus backpacks and zip binders last year and would like to have additional funds so social workers can purchase needed supplies through out the school year as new students in need of resources arrive.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 115, KETCHUM
The Post, located at 220 Cottonwood St. in Ketchum, is dedicated to enriching the lives of U.S. veterans and their families, including that of providing advocates to help veterans achieve meaningful careers, education, health-care services and friends.
It is currently undergoing a remodel project that will provide state-of-the-art sound facilities, a recreation room for youth and an attractive space for those who wish to rent it for wedding receptions, family reunions, Girl Scout groups, celebration of life ceremonies and other events.
THE WOOD RIVER HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUM
The Community Library recently moved the former Regional History Museum from Forest Service Park into a new museum space on 4th Street near the library. The re-imagined museum includes four galleries and a Cabinet of Wonders, designed and built to house rotating exhibits and artifacts. More than 16,000 visitors toured it between its opening in July and the end of December 2023.
The museum is bringing in school groups ranging from pre-K to 9th grade. It hosted a presentation on Sheepherding in the Wood River Valley in October and it hopes to develop new lectures and initiatives connecting locals and visitors to Sun Valley’s regional history.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to one or all of the organizations that cannot make Tuesday’s meeting may mail a check to Marty A. Lyon, founder of 100 Men Who Care, at 106 Red Cloud Way, Hailey, ID 83333.
100 Men Who Care meets quarterly. To learn more, visit https://www.100menwhocarewoodrivervalley.com.