Jody Harris
Officers
.jpg)
Jody Harris
Career Highlights Certified Public Accountant
Volunteer Highlights WGA Board, Treasurer, and Grant Co-chair; Volunteer income tax preparer for AARP Foundation's TaxAide; Church treasurer, youth leader, worship leader, study leader; Lutherhaven Ministries Development Advisory Committee and Fundraising Events Committee.
El Lyon
Vice President
Career Highlights: University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, Researcher and Assoc. Professor. Currently Research Consultant for National Center on Domestic Violence.
Volunteer Highlights: Boards - Safe Passage, HREI, CDA Symphony, Natl Board of Applied Sociology, WGA Board & Grants committee
Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, Northwestern University.
Judy Salzer
Secretary
Joan Woodard
Treasurer
Career Highlights: Commercial Real Estate design, management, finance, development for buildings, hotels, retail centers, medical buildings.
Volunteer: Highlights WGA Grant committee Co-chair. Instructor and mentor, participated in business and economic development organizations. Board of Community Foundation of Sonoma County, social therapy and comfort dog volunteer.
President
Board
.jpg)
Laurie Brunette
Grant Administration
Career: Physical Therapist, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Kootenai Medical Center
Volunteer: Medical Reserve Corps, WGA Grant Committee and Coordinator
Personal: Moved to North Idaho from New York City in 1971, and enjoy the outdoors.
Susan Engebretson
Grant Committee Co-chair
Career: Wells Fargo for 26 years in the Treasury Management Group.
Volunteer: Board of Global Minnesota, Swedish Institute Museum and Mansion. In Idaho, Board of HLCC, Chair of Hayden Arts Commission, WGA Board
Personal: Built home in Hayden 2008, relocated here with husband in 2011.
.jpg)
Sarah Swanby
Grant Committee
Co-chair
Career: Social Services Director in long-term care, Social Worker and Case Manager in community mental health
Volunteer: WGA Grant committee member and Co-chair, Board Secretary for Civic Engagement Alliance, Homeless & Community Outreach volunteer at Heritage Health
Education: BA, Univ. of Idaho; BSW, Lewis-Clark State Coll.
Jan Tymesen
Member At-large
Career: Licensed As a CFP® with Wells Fargo Advisors for over twenty three years. My life work and mission is to help people gain financial clarity. I am honored to have been recognized on the 2021 list of Best-in-State Wealth Advisors by Forbes.
Personal: My husband Troy and I have called North Idaho home for over thirty years and are blessed with three adult children, four grandchildren and a variety of grand pets.
Pat Krug
Membership Chair
Career: Licensed Realtor for over 35 years, Designated Broker Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty, Co-owner Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene and Seasons CDA Fresh Grill and Bar
Volunteer: WGA Grant committee, Coordinator of the Elderly Christmas Adoption for Area Agency on Aging since 1992, 2021 Soroptimist Woman of Distinction Award and Idaho Nonprofit Adult Philanthropist of the year, Board Chair Big Brothers Big Sisters
about
We support local nonprofits that improve the quality of our community, whether that's a raptor program at the Birds of Prey Northwest, adult literacy in Rathdrum, or clothing for high school students, we are there to support and help through collective philanthropy.
_j.jpg)
.jpg)
Janice Baldwin
Emerita Board member
_JPG.jpg)
Janet Robnett
Emerita Board Member
_JPG.jpg)
History
In March of 2004, Janice Baldwin and seven visionary women established the
Women's Gift Alliance of Kootenai County. The goal of this endeavor was two-fold:
-
to enable women to pool their financial resources in order to make large focused gifts to improve the community
-
to teach women about giving and developing skills as engaged and informed philanthropists
In 2005, 52 women served as the founding members of Women's Gift Alliance.
The membership voted to award its first pooled grant of $26,000 to Kootenai County Search and Rescue Council.
As of 2021, WGA has gifted over $1,400,000 back to the community through its pooled grant fund and individually designated gifts. Over 100 different organizations have received funds through pooled fund grants and individually designated gifts of the membership. Countless women in the region have been given the opportunity to give through WGA, and to gain a deeper knowledge of the greatest needs in Kootenai County.