Southern Idaho schools receive INL grants for K-12 projects

Idaho National Laboratory has awarded nearly $100,000 in grants to teachers across the state to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in grades K-12.

Twenty of the grants, which will pay for good stuff like classroom equipment, materials and professional development projects, went to southern Idaho teachers.

Biggest Loser contestant gives back to the Idaho Foodbank

Aubrey Miller, of Gooding, who recently competed on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” weight-loss reality show, is lending her time as a volunteer at the Idaho Foodbank’s Mobile Pantry food distribution in Wendell today.

Miller has been candid, acknowledging that she has received food aid from the Foodbank in the past, and now wants to help others who are in tough circumstances.

Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation awards grants

The foundation, whose 260 members have given pooled grants totalling over $500,000 since 2001, has given $137,250 to local organizations in its most recent giving cycle.

Grants range between $10,000-$25,000, and will go to: Terry Reilly Health Services, Idaho Voices for Children, Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, The Caldwell Center for the Arts, Boise Urban Garden School, Idaho Foodbank, Interfaith Sanctuary.

Calling May DIRT Clods:

United Way’s DIRT team (direct impact response team, known for its fast and dirty good deeds that take place over a lunch hour every month, and go where few volunteers are brave enough to go) takes on an interesting task in May.

Sustainable Futures is a nonprofit organization that provides vocational training in green collar jobs through a cooperative effort with area businesses and the Idaho Department of Corrections.

After Chyrisa Quincy’s 22-year-old son, Mark, died in a car accident in 2006, she decided to pay tribute to his memory by organizing fundraisers for local charities on his birthday.

The third annual Mark C. Ellis Memorial Fundraiser is 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, May 22-23, at the Albertsons in Eagle, 250 S. Eagle Rd. You can buy raffle tickets and be in the running to win all kinds of prizes donated by local businesses, and organizations.

All proceeds this year, will go to the Boise Rescue Mission’s City of Light Shelter.

Spring volunteer fairs

Two spring volunteer fairs run concurrently on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Meridian School District Service Center, 1303 E. Central Drive in Meridian, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Caldwell Armory, 1200 S. Kimball in Caldwell.

Both fairs are sponsored by the Idaho Department of Labor, the Southwest Idaho Directors of Volunteer Services, the Idaho Nonprofit Center and the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

I got an email from Kerrie Taylor in Payette, about the 5th annual “Portia Club Pansy Sale” to benefit the Portia Club Restoration Project. The sale is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, May 15, at the Portia Club, 225 N. 9th Street, in Payette.

I love pansies, which I think of as old-fashioned, story book flowers, but I think I may love the Portia Club, too.

Preservation Month 2009 focuses on the New Deal, a retro “stimulus effort” during the 1930s to revitalize the country. This year’s theme, “Canals, Cabins and Civics,” focuses on government expansion and modern architecture during that era.

Here are some great upcoming events hosted by Boise City to remind you of Idaho’s old New Deal and its profound effect on the local landscape.

What I think is especially cool, is that you can go to a lecture, then take a companion tour related to the lecture.  

Lots in this giant blog. So much, I give you this table of contents: AIDS; opportunities for volunteers; kids who need you; nonprofit educational opportunity; cool upcoming events

AIDS

New local group: FACE AIDS BOISE

This nonprofit, born on the Boise State campus, will morph into a new incarnation, FACE AIDS BOISESTATE, in the fall, says organizer Maryam Sabetian.

I found this note from Roger Sherman, director of the Idaho Children's Trust Fund (Prevent Child Abuse in Idaho) among the comments posted here, and wanted to give it a little more attention, since it's such an important topic.

Thanks, Roger, and thanks for reading this blog — AW

Anna,

Thanks for posting a piece on the pinwheels. Actually though, the pinwheels are a newly established symbol to represent the idea that every child deserves a healthy childhood. That is the basis of prevention.