Philanthropy and excellence of Idaho 

Looking back on the year we’ve had, we thought we’d celebrate some wins and successes across Idaho and highlight some of the ways Idaho businesses exemplify excellence and give back to their communities. Many companies and organizations throughout the state have contributed both their time and money to the betterment of Idaho residents. Here are some of the ways Idaho businesses have provided additional service and care to the people who support them and their constituents. 

Hubble Homes donates over $500,000 to local charities on Giving Tuesday 

Hubble Homes donated $534,990 to seven valley charities at the end of November as part of Giving Tuesday. The charities that received the donations were Advocates Against Family Violence, Alliance Serving Kuna/Kuna Community Food Bank, Boise & Girls Clubs of Ada County and Canyon Country, Camp Rainbow Gold/Hidden Paradise, Idaho Humane Society, Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline and the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Each of the organizations received just over $76,000 from the sale of the 2022 Hubble Hero House. The 2022 Hubble Hero House was built using materials and labor provided free of charge from subcontractor and vendor partners. Since its inception, Hubble Homes has contributed over $3 million to local charities and nonprofits. 

TDS donates to West Valley Humane Society through social media campaign 

TDS Telecommunications presented a donation of $2,700 to the West Valley Humane Society as a part of Giving Tuesday at the end of November. The funds were raised through a TDS social media campaign. TDS spotlighted dogs at the humane society on their Facebook page this year that needed homes and donated $1 to the Humane Society for every share the post received. “We’re proud to partner with an outstanding organization like the West Valley Humane Society and help pets find their forever homes. During this time of great need, we encourage the community to continue supporting the Humane Society and the animals in their care,” said Pamela Hayn, TDS associate manager of field marketing in Nampa, in a statement. More than $90,000 has been donated to various nonprofit organizations in TDS communities throughout the week of Giving Tuesday. 

Ford Idaho Center upgrades facilities; improves energy efficiency 

The Ford Idaho Center is celebrating the completion of its yearlong project of making major facility improvements to increase energy efficiency and cost savings. The project was carried out in partnership with Idaho Power. Idaho Power helped the Ford Idaho Center identify and improve lighting and safety features throughout the buildings, which saved 1,491,571 kilowatt hours of energy; that can power around 130 average-sized homes in the area. The areas upgraded include the sports center and horse park lighting, outdoor safety lighting and arena HVAC improvements. The Ford Idaho Center plans on continuing their partnership with Idaho Power to find new ways to improve energy efficiency throughout the facility. 

Bank volunteers help build sensory room in local high school

Mountain West Bank helped Silver Creek High School in Hailey create a sensory room. Sensory rooms are specially designed spaces within schools where students can engage in sensory play under the guidance of trained professionals, enabling students to go about their day better prepared to learn and interact with others. Studies show that upon returning to their classrooms, students tend to follow directions better and spend more time on tasks without getting distracted. The project was completed on June 8 and volunteers from Mountain West Bank’s Hailey branch helped paint, assemble and install components in the room. Silver Creek is an alternative high school that helps students search for new ways of learning and encourages nontraditional students to seek out opportunities for change.

INL named leading disability employer 

The National Organization on Disability (NOD) has named Idaho National Laboratory (INL) a 2022 NOD Leading Disability Employer. This is the fifth consecutive year INL has received recognition for demonstrating exemplary employment practices for people with disabilities. To earn this recognition, INL completed an assessment that evaluates competency in six areas: climate and culture, talent practices, people practices, workplace and technology, strategy and metrics, and veterans’ employment. INL is one of 52 employers to be recognized by NOD in 2022. “For the past 40 years, we have envisioned a world where all people with disabilities enjoy full opportunity for employment, enterprise and earnings, and employers know how to make the most of their talents,” said NOD President Carol Glazer in a statement. “I congratulate these 52 organizations for their leadership and commitment to hiring and retaining people with disabilities. Together we can re-imagine the future by harnessing the power, creativity and innovation of disability-inclusive diversity in the workplace, marketplace and communities across America.” 

Caldwell medical center receives ‘A’ safety grade 

West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell received an ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade in the fall of 2022. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns a grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. This is the 17th consecutive ‘A’ grade West Valley Medical Center has received. Some of the initiatives that have contributed to its grade include West Valley and parent company HCA Healthcare’s Sepsis Prediction and Optimization of Therapy, which helps clinicians detect sepsis up to 18 hours sooner, and enhanced surgical recovery such as utilizing pain management techniques without the use of opioids and reducing the length of hospital stays. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. 

Amalgamated Sugar celebrates 125 Years 

The Amalgamated Sugar company is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Amalgamated Sugar produces sugar from sugar beets on approximately 180,000 acres in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The oldest factory still in operation was built in 1916 in Twin Falls and produces sugar 11 months out of the year. Additional sugar factories operate in Nampa and Paul. Amalgamated Sugar employs 1,700 people companywide and produces 2.2 billion pounds of sugar a year, making it the second-largest sugar beet refiner in the country. The sugar beet industry contributes to 1.7% of Idaho’s Gross State Product. The company supports local communities by donating over 86,000 pounds of sugar to local food banks, senior citizens and other organizations that work to end hunger each year. Additionally, Amalgamated Sugar has made $27,500 in contributions to Make-A-Wish Idaho, Habitat for Humanity Magic Valley and The Idaho Foodbank. 

Lewis-Clark Healthcare Foundation awards over $800,000 in grants to local nonprofits 

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation has approved 15 Large Impact Grants totaling $815,821 to be given to area nonprofit agencies to promote health, wellness or disease prevention. The Large Impact Grants are intended for requests up to $100,000. Recipients include the Snake River Community Clinic, Community Health Association of Spokane, Interlink, Inc.’s volunteer transportation program, Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness, Suicide Prevention of the Inland Northwest, Kamiah Food Bank, The Idaho Foodbank, Lewis-Clark Council St. Vincent DePaul, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Winding Waters Medical Clinic, Backyard Harvest, Northwest Children’s Home, and Clearwater Quick Response Unit. The Large Impact Grants were awarded based on recommendations from community advisors to the foundation. The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation has awarded over $1.2 million in 2022 alone.