Boise Nonprofits and Charities

I have adopted volunteered, adopted, and fostered cats and dogs from the Idaho Humane Society since the 1980s. It is a wonderful caring organization whose mission is to help all animals find loving homes. One of their volunteer services provides pet food each month to owners of cats and dogs who are eligible for Meals on Wheels. This makes it possible for people to keep their beloved pets. Foster homes provide care for dogs and cats who need some extra TLC or are recovering from surgery. IHS does a great job reuniting lost pets with owners.

The Children's Home has been a great resource for our Family.

What the many Boise-community donors probably don't realize is how little of what they donate actually reaches, directly aids the Ada County homeless themselves. Whether commodities, (seasonal clothing, asked for requests: i.e. Cold Medicines, Q-Tips, etc.) or cash donations, those benefactions do not typically reach the Boise Rescue Mission residents. Instead, the clothing largely goes to a resale shop in Nampa to generate cash revenue (where I understand, BRMM "staff" is allowed first pick on items that come in, the sifted remains go to the homeless). Though I have no direct first-hand knowledge on the non-profits running finances, I can say it begs to question where monies/salaries actually go. According to Christian Living Magazine, Bill Roscoe (CEO & President) oversees a paid staff of 150 individuals-- interesting since under the BRM "umbrella" there are 6 outreach ministries, of which the Boise City Light Shelter employs only 10-12. Again, where does the money go? I can tell you from personal experience I have thrown out a loaf of bread served dated Oct. 6, when it was presented November 24th. (So clearly it's not going to fresh breakfast products.) A photo (taken in house) from Christian Living depicts Bill Roscoe in front of two American flags. But the man (imo) is very far removed from the actual experience of homelessness- which he doesn't need to run a charitable non-profit that benefits a select few. (Maybe direct family members?) These places are far less benevolent that you would expect. But then beggars can't be choosers. (But they can be commodities unto themselves.)

The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights introduced my students and me to the Anne Frank Memorial in Boise. I began bringing my middle school students to the center to deepen our understanding of the Holocaust and how to stand up against hate. These experiences at the center supported my students when they decided to make a Holocaust memorial in the small town of New Meadows, Idaho. Their reach is far from young children to adults.<br>Devon Barker-Hicks

Mr Jon has been teaching Dance Rascals dance classes for me for years and years to 3-5 year old children. His attention and focus on each child while simultaneously keeping the attention of the whole group is unparalleled. They have a great learning experience that involves fun dance moves explained in a manner kids can relate to while getting to actively move their bodies. It is a win!!

Advocates for the West is an outstanding non-profit legal organization that represents small environmental non-profits that need legal help protecting some aspect of the Western environment. What I appreciate most about this organization is their willingness and ability to take on really tough issues, come up with new legal theories to test, and work collaboratively with other organizations and not just try to get all of the fame for themselves.

Great to work with, compassionate and honest. Makes the dream become reality!

Idaho Jazz Society has been promoting Jazz in Idaho and providing scholarships for over twenty five years. It is 100% volunteer with VERY low administrative expenses. They are currently helping four college students.

BUGS provided scholarships to refugee children which enabled them to learn about horticulture, nutrition, team work and helped restore self-esteem in these children. <br> <br>

The thing that really stood out for me with The First Tee of Idaho is how dedicated the volunteers and staff members are to the children benefiting from the program. They all show such passion in getting kids on the golf course and making a difference in their lives. The passion resonates with the kids. They can feel it, they can see it. These individuals invest so much that these children can't help but benefit. The game of golf is such a great way to teach children about character and life skills but even more than that, these kids build confidence in themselves. That comes from the dedication of the staff and volunteers and for a young person, that is priceless.

The Idaho Eastern Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation was created to help fulfill the Lions Mission of “We Serve” by changing lives through sight and hearing preservation services. The Foundation sponsors Sight and Hearing screenings, assistance with eye surgery expenses and providing hearing aids are among the Foundation programs. I have volunteered to work on many school screenings and it is very gratifying to be thanked by the students and school staff for providing this service. The Foundation has an excellent record of transparency and provides information to the Lions Clubs and public in our service area on a regular basis. The fact that it impacts the lives of a large number of Idaho and E. Oregon residents is absolutely fantastic. The Board of Trustees is also proactive in the long term planning of the organization and participates in outreach to the community at large.

The current and permanent address of the church is: directly across the street from BSU on the corner of University and Juanita at 1301 Juanita St., Boise, ID 83706. <br> <br>The Church in Boise is a non-denominational church. We highly treasure the Holy Bible as God’s revelation of Himself and of His eternal purpose. We hold the common faith, which is revealed in the Bible and is common to all genuine believers. Please join us for a Sunday meeting - 10am-12pm.

I have been involved with Mercy In Action since 1999, when I attended midwifery and primary health care training. My love for the quality education I had while studying with them, and the compassionate and quality care that is the heart of the ministry, brought me into a lifelong relationship with this ministry. The heart of Mercy In Action is to provide free, compassionate care to poor women and their families, and to train midwives who can go out into the world to do the same, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality. Mercy In Action's statistics for their birth center show that their model works!

I joined Idaho Conservation League as a college student in the 70s, as environmental concerns gained greater public awareness. Over the past decades I have seen Idaho Conservation League grow into a full-fledged professional yet personally inspiring grown-up organization. There is a team of dedicated and smart staff who are knowledgeable about every aspect of environmental issues in Idaho. I particularly like their work advocating for the protection of public lands, because Idaho's quality of life depends on it. They also work on water and air quality, resource extraction issues, growth and urban planning, wildlife and fish, energy and just about anything else that is related to conservation of our environment. I feel like every contribution I make will be well-spent.

For myself it took one visit to the World Center for Birds of Prey to realize I had to be a part of this wonderful organization in some way, so I volunteer as a tour guide at the center. For visitors who wish an entertaining and educational experience, this facility is first class. During your visit you will learn cool facts about birds of prey, you will learn about the sport of falconry and the Peregrine Fund's mission. Upon arrival most visitors do not realize we have over 200 birds of prey at the Center. Many do not know that one of the Peregrine Fund's important missions is the propagation of endangered birds of prey for release to the wild. Fun and educational experiences await visitors of all ages from children making birds of prey masks to seniors who grab the "Kodak Moment" to get photos of the grand kids dressed up like birds of prey. You will likely leave with a greater appreciation for these awesome raptors. I have heard more than one visitor walk away saying they had no idea this place had so much to offer. For us tour guides, that is our reward. Steve Lewis

I am a Board Member of the Jesse Tree of Idaho. I have been involved since 1999 when this wonderful group of people decided that there was a need here in Boise to help people stay in their homes. The program is designed to help people get back on track to help them stay where they are and not on the street. We have found that the largest number of people that are in need are children. We want the family to stay where they currently live. The children need a stable place to go to school and live.

The Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise Idaho is the only Museum of its kind in the United States. I had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors from 2003 - 2005. Last year, I participated in a series of strategic planning workshops to chart preferred scenarios for the Museum's Future. The museum's vision is to be "an international leader showcasing Basque history and culture and connecting people to Basque experiences in the world." I remain impressed with how well this small organization is able to have such a big impact in the community. They are commited to inclusiveness and often provide their facilities to other groups and organizations that need space. All of their activities are designed to further eduactional and cultural understanding. This is a worthy organization that will creatively make great use of any donated equipment. I encourage you to get to know the Basque Museum for yourself. (Tim Mitchell, 208-396-4020; timm@hp.com).

I began working with Supportive Housing and Innovative Partnerships in early 2009. Since then I have seen many people turn their lives around and become successful members of our community, including several veterans and women with children. Working with this organization has changed the way that I view our community and the individuals that SHIP works with. The most amazing part is watching the individuals that have gone through SHIP's program coming back and volunteering, not only for SHIP but for other organizations in our community. They have created opportunities through Second Chance Building Materials Center to help individuals with barriers to employment. They are community oriented and have helped many other non-profit organizations in Boise with donations of items for auction fundraisers and the creation of a website designed to help link offenders with resources.