Making A Difference In Our Community

Since 2014, the Payette Lakes Progressive Club has raised and given over $314,000 to our community, supporting age groups spanning from young children, to high school seniors, to senior citizens. ​ In the last 10 years, we have increased our annual Scholarship budget from $4,000 to $27,000, and increased the annual Grant budget from $5,000 to $32,000!  One of the most rewarding aspects of supporting the Progressive Club is knowing you have made a positive difference in someone's life and for your community. 

McCall Public Library Children's Section Dontation -- Supporting our community with a philanthropic donation to fund the children’s section of the new McCall public library. 

Seated left to right: Lola Elliot, Linda Corder, Meg Lojek, Linda Hallock. Standing left to right: Jennie Tunnell, Kathy Menten, Katie Gwynn.
​Mia Rider -- "I am an 8th grader at Payette Lakes Middle School, a member of the local NICA mountain bike team, and a member of the Cadette Girl Scout Troop #255 in McCall. For my Silver Award project, I am partnering with the McCall Public Library to help improve literacy among children by increasing public library awareness and access. Thank you Progressive Club so much for your financial support of the Library Book Bike project. We are so excited about this!"  
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Meg Lojak, McCall Public Library -- "Community grant funds helped to purchase a Book Bike, a custom tricycle that functions as a mobile library to expand library services and resources from the McCall Public Library to community neighborhoods, schools and events.  In addition to the generous $1,000 Progressive Club grant, funding was provided by the McCall-Donnelly Education Foundation and the Friends of the McCall Library. "  ​
Dean Jones, Roseberry -- "Here are photos of the general store and school painting and maintenance thanks to the Progressive Club grants and generous donations. The photo of the store shows the terrible condition of the paint contrasted with the first coat of paint... It looks GREAT!"
McCall-Donnelly High School Softball Team -- "Thank you for the generous grant that has allowed us to purchase new uniforms for the MDHS softball program. Four bases, three balls, two teams, one winner. It's not just a game but a way of life. Softball, this is my destiny."  
Stephanie Day, Roots Forest School -- "It is with deep appreciation that I write to thank you for the generous $3,000 grant Payette Lakes Progressive Club awarded us. This funding has allowed us to provide early childhood education to our community. We are grateful for the diverse learning opportunities your grant has provided our students. You are continuing to impact the lives of young children in McCall, helping them form a connection with our environment that we hope will stick with them throughout their lives."
Jennifer Dummar, Little Ski Hill -- "The Payette Lakes Progressive Club awarded us $2,500 to aid in the replacement of Little Ski Hill's aging infrastructure. This includes replacing our nearly 50-year-old lift with a modern T-bar, and updating and expanding the lighting system for night skiing. Construction has been taking place at the hill all summer, with the new lift and replacement lights ready for the upcoming season. The project is a large endeavor for the Payette Lakes Ski Club and we're very grateful the Progressive Club's grant toward its completion."
Beth Kochevar, MOSS -- "Thank you for your generous donation of $2,000 to the McCall Outdoor Science School K12 Day Program. Your donation helped to sponsor two students who qualified for a full scholarship for tuition and allowed those students to experience 30 days of outdoor environmental education. With your donation we were also able to purchase 15 picture and chapter books to bolster our student library. These help incorporate reading skills into daily outdoor learning and contextualize the topics explored in Ponderosa State Park within the greater world and society. We truly appreciate your support for our programs and our community."
Kattie Kingsley, MCPAWS -- "We are the proud recipient of a $1,000 grant from the Payette Lakes Progressive Club to help fund the purchase of supplies for our Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program at MCPAWS. The goal of this program is to reduce unwanted litters and keep our community cat colonies healthy. Thank you Payette Lakes Progressive Club for this generous grant!" ​
VeggieMights Program, Donnelly Farmers Market -- "Sponsored by the Payette Lakes Progressive Club, the VeggieMights program provides children in the Donnelly area with free fruit and vegetables during the Farmers Market summer season. All kids attending each weekly Market from June through September receives free fruit! Additionally, fruit and vegetables are given to the summer school elementary kids in Donnelly, as well as to the entire Donnelly Elementary School each week in September. This program encourages better nutritional habits and builds a stronger immune system."
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Payette Lakes Community Association (PLCA 4 KIDS)  -- "Since 2007, we have been the only program of its kind to offer on-site after-school programming at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary. We have been able to serve more than 40 children per quarter with healthy snacks, science, technology, engineering, math, art, recreation, homework assistance, and most importantly daily caring smiles. Some of these children were able to take part in our program due to the generosity of the Progressive Club who awarded grants to PLCA Kids year after year, funding our scholarship program. Helping families and enriching children are obviously important goals that our organizations share. Thank you for your consistent and necessary partnership in guiding today's youth. You make a difference every day and we see it in the smiles of our PLCA Kids!"
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Julia Welch, Payette Children's Forest -- "Thank you so much for awarding Payette Children's Forest a grant to plant a rain garden. Over 50 people showed up to help plant and it was a successful day tying in beautification, practicality, and education! We really appreciate your support!"
AWeSOMe! Board of Directors --"Thank you Payette Lakes Progressive Club for their generous financial contribution"..."The $2,870 grant funds for the Adaptive and Alpine Instructor Training and PSIA Certification will have a significant impact on our program. Going forward, our volunteer instructors will have improved knowledge on instructing students with cognitive and/or physical disabilities on how to ski or snowboard with confidence and safety."
Jessica Budzianowski, Girl Scouts of Silver Sage -- "The Progressive Club has helped make it possible for local Girl Scouts to enjoy outdoor activities in Idaho. We would like to sincerely thank you for your generous gift of $1,500 for new solar lighting at Camp Alice Pittenger. At camp, girls learn team-building and leadership skills, they explore the outdoors, and form lasting friendships--all of which help them develop a stronger sense of self."

Chris Kapicka, Toby's Place -- "We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize, equip and empower individuals with disabilities through intentional living opportunities. We received a grant from Progressive Club that will allow us to start a pet biscuit baking business. We greatly appreciate the support of Progressive club in helping the disabled in our community."
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McCall Senior Center -- "We are so pleased and fortunate for the support the Payette Lakes Progressive Club has provided to the McCall Senior Center. In 2019 we received a Grant to replace carpeting that had been in our facility since 1972! We received a generous grant to upgrade our hot water system, which will provide ample volume to keep our dishwasher working during peak hours of operation."
This year, we will be granting $27,000 towards high school senior scholarships, and $32,000 towards non-profit organization grants.

Here are local grant recipients: 
  • ​AWeSOMe! Adaptive Sports of McCall 
  • Cascade Aquatic & Rec Center
  • Central Idaho Historical Museum 
  • City of Donnelly 
  • Community Children's Medical Fund
  • Courageous Kids Climbing
  • Donnelly Elementary School 
  • Donnelly Farmers Market
  • Educational Theater of Idaho
  • Girl Scouts of Silver Sage
  • Heartland Hunger Resource Center (McCall Food Bank)
  • Little Ski Hill
  • Long Valley Preservation Society
  • McCall area beautification projects
  • McCall Area Composite Mountain Bike
  • McCall Arts & Humanities Council
  • McCall Centennial Park
  • McCall College Foundation
  • McCall Community Center
  • McCall-Donnelly High School Softball Team
  • McCall Figure Skating Club
  • McCall Mountain Madness Softball Team
  • McCall Public Library 
  • McCall Senior Center
  • McCall Volleyball Club
  • McCall Youth Hockey Association
  • McPaws Animal Shelter
  • University of Idaho MOSS (McCall Outdoor Science School)
  • Payette Lakes Community Association (PLCA 4 KIDS) After School Program 
  • Payette Lakes Middle School
  • Positive Outdoor Teen Service (POTS Program)
  • Rise Up 2 Thrive
  • Roots Forest School
  • Seven Devils New Play Foundry
  • Shepherd's Home
  • Shining Light International
  • St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Summer Reading Camp
  • St. Luke's McCall digital mammogram machine
  • St. Luke's Hospital Hope and Healing Program
  • Toby's Place
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We are also a proud member of the
McCall Chamber of Commerce.