At St. Luke’s, the mission is “to improve the health of people in the communities we serve.” That means more than just outstanding care inside clinical spaces.
St. Luke’s recently hosted nonprofit leaders and community partners from across southern Idaho for its annual Community Impact Celebration, recognizing organizations that are improving health and well-being in their communities throughout the Treasure Valley, Wood River Valley, plus Adams, Elmore and Valley counties.
The event celebrates recipients of St. Luke’s Community Health Improvement Fund, which supports nonprofit organizations addressing a wide range of community needs, from access to health care and behavioral health services to youth development, family support and basic needs.
“Community partners are essential to improving health beyond the walls of our hospitals,” said Theresa McLeod, St. Luke’s administrator of community health and engagement. “Together, we are addressing the unique needs of our communities and creating healthy impacts for the people we serve.”
In addition to celebrating community impact, attendees also participated in a learning session led by Kevin Bailey with the Nonprofit Center for the Idaho Community Foundation focused on community advocacy and elevating a nonprofit’s voice and impact.
Five community organizations shared stories about the impact their programs are having in their communities. Speakers included Nancee Baaken of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho in Boise, Aleshea Boals of Camp Hope Idaho in Nampa, Nicole Cruser of West Elementary School in Mountain Home, Sonya Wilander of Men’s Second Chance Living in Hailey and Mayor Julie Good of New Meadows Youth Center.
Their stories reflected the many ways community partners are addressing health and well-being, including supporting children and families during medical crises and expanding access to childcare, to helping individuals overcome adversity and build brighter futures.
Supporting families through challenging medical journeys
For nearly four decades, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho has helped ease the burden on families with ill or injured children receiving medical care away from home.
What began in 1988 as a four-room facility has grown into a 48-room house near St. Luke’s Boise and a family room in Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center serving families from across Idaho and beyond. Today, the organization provides lodging, meals, day-use services and other resources designed to help families focus on their child’s care rather than the financial and logistical challenges that often accompany a medical crisis.
In 2023 alone, Ronald McDonald House served nearly 2,500 families through the house and family room, provided more than 9,300 nights of lodging and served more than 4,700 individuals through the day-use program.
“Our goal is to remove barriers and reduce burdens so families can focus on what matters most, which is the health and wellbeing of their child,” said Baaken, executive director.
Baaken highlighted the organization’s longstanding partnership with St. Luke’s, which helps connect families to needed resources and support when they need it most. “The generous funding we receive through the CHIF program fuels our growth and ensures every family that walks through our doors is feeling welcomed and supported,” she said.
