What brought you to United Way?
I first got involved with United Way through my work in the nonprofit sector. Though I grew up here in Boise, before moving back home I worked for nonprofits in both Denver and Seattle. United Way was a great partner in both those areas. I joined the City of Boise as the Director of Community Partnerships in 2013 and United Way (and Nora Carpenter) quickly became my "go-to" organization to help facilitate collaboration and tackle tricky issues.
How long have you been involved with United Way and in what capacity/capacities?
See above. About 8 years - 6 of those years as a Board Member. I also organized the United Way Campaign at both the City of Boise and Ada County.
What are you most passionate about when it comes to the work UWTV does?
It's hard to say just one! What I'm most grateful for when it comes to UWTV is the data-driven research and the effort that goes in to making sure that community needs are identified and that grant-making supports those needs. If I have to pick just one issue area, it would be early childhood education. The data shows us that early childhood education yields a 7:1 return on investment. But that's just the metrics, when you see adorable kids light up through learning it's truly magical.
Tell us more about you! Family, hobbies, interests, etc.
I'm proud to be a 4th generation Idahoan on my mom's side and Basque-American on my dad's side. Boise and the Treasure Valley have given my family so much. I feel an obligation and passion to make sure that these opportunities are here for generations to come.
My husband is a local physician and we have two elementary school-aged boys. We love to ski, both snow skiing and water skiing, and enjoy hanging out with our extended family. 2020 was a tough year, but we are looking forward to a much brighter 2021!