Blue Cross Foundation Anniversary Tour Stops in New Meadows
The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is celebrating their 25th anniversary with visits to their top partners in all 44 counties in Idaho. Their chosen partner for Adams County is the City of New Meadows. A group of eight representatives from the foundation toured City Hall at The Historic P. & I.N. Depot, the New Meadows Youth Center and the Mehen Memorial Skatepark on July 13.
Stephanie Wright, VP of Growth and Retention said the last time they visited New Meadows the skatepark was just starting construction. Courtney Frost, Executive Director of the foundation gave high praise for Mayor Julie Good and her efforts calling her incredible.
As the tour entered the youth center, Good explained the beginnings of the building as a pole barn that held the local recycle center. Good told the group the county was phasing out use of the building and after some negotiations, agreed to sell it to the city for just over $60k. Good’s vision for turning the pole barn into a youth center for the city took time to find both an architect and contractor who could share the dream and start action on the vision.
Good explained that Blue Cross had been supportive from the beginning as they donated the money for the project’s feasibility study. The foundation gave again when the project needed additional funding. The mayor said, “Thank you for being part of this wonderful project. It has made such a huge difference in our community.” Foundation President and Board Chair Mike Reynoldson said, “it is motivation for us” to see this.
The group exclaimed cheerfully as they entered each room of the building, expressing excitement at the whimsical details and clean spaces. Good said, “We wanted the kids to feel like it was fun to be here,” and talked about the school’s use of the building for the preschool class as well as the newly opened daycare. Around 22 preschoolers are already signed up for the next school year.
As the tour made its way to the main entrance where colorful glass filters light from the ceiling, Reynoldson expressed his thoughts on the local projects. “This is an amazing accomplishment,” he said of the youth center. He briefly described how the foundation got its start 25 years ago and said one of the foundation’s first fundraisers was a bike tour. They organized Wheels for Wellness which was later renamed Blue Cruise, charity bike rides that helped the group invest in local communities. The foundation grew from there to what it is today impacting the whole of Idaho.
Reynoldson presented a certificate and a check for $1,025 to Good. He said, “We’re not successful unless we have partners that are successful. Unless we have partners that have a vision, follow through, and we see the outcomes. There’s nothing like this in the state of Idaho. It’s just amazing.”
