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2023 Community Pioneer

Nominate a Community Pioneer

Community Pioneer logoFrom community nominated individuals, Pioneer will select four winners throughout the year and award each of them $4,000 for the organization they represent. Each winner is highlighted on our website and social media in order to spread awareness for their organization's cause. These individuals are people who work or volunteer at an Idaho non-profit organization within our field of membership.

Second Quarter Winner: Kate W. with Foster + Heart

woman with children holding a large checkOur second quarter Community Pioneer winner for 2023 is Kate with Foster + Heart out of the Treasure Valley! Kate has been passionate about foster care since she was 16 years old when she witnessed a personal friend have two kids removed from her home. Since then, it’s been Kate’s lifelong work to foster children and make sure they have the easiest transition possible. Kate herself has fostered 50 kids and adopted five, all siblings! Her children are ages 4-8 and she currently has a 6-year-old foster girl living with them as well. Her family loves to be outside and enjoys church regularly. She fills her free time with the kids activities such as swimming, dance, gymnastics and soccer.

Foster + Heart is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Their mission is to ignite the hearts of our community to foster and meet the needs of children in foster care. The idea for the organization came to mind in 2020 and officially launched in 2021. They operate a home, Mimi’s House, for children in transition to foster care and allow for siblings to stay together throughout the process, giving the Department of Health and Welfare time to find children not just the first home, but the right home. This amazing home opened officially last winter and houses eight children. The organization also hosts engaging events that benefit the foster care community, allowing both the children and parents to connect and feel supported.

Foster + Heart has heartwarming goals they are striving for to ensure children in our Idaho communities get the absolute best care possible. Within the next year, they would love to open 1-2 more homes in the Treasure Valley and within five years they would love to see a home in every region across Idaho. They can’t do this without our community’s help. We know not everyone can foster, but everyone can help a foster child.

Donate to Foster + Heart

 

woman holding a check Katie H. with Magic Valley Fellowship Hall
   
   

 

2022 Community Pioneer Winners
January Winner: Janice A. with the Mountain Home Senior Center
old woman holding check February Winner: Shari D. with Castleford Community Men's Club
group of people holding a large check March Winner: Cheri M. with the Wounded Vets Fishing Alaska Organization
man holding check April Winner: Cody P. with the Kimberly FFA organization
woman with glasses holding check May Winner: Macarah W. with Boise Period Project
smiling blonde woman June Winner: Lonni with Camp Rainbow Gold
July Winner: Dominique with the Dominifarm Animal Sanctuary
man with a large check August Winner: Jen S. with the Sawtooth Botanical Garden
September Winner: Jeannie S. with Idaho Battle of the Books
woman holding large check October Winner: Amanda A. with Tough Enough to Wear Pink Twin Falls
woman with a large check November Winner: Candice B. with the Elmore County Domestic Violence Council
woman holding a large check December Winner: Melissa B. with Lake Lowell Animal Rescue