101 Women select POAC as $11K fall grant recipient
November 19, 2025
By Reader Staff
Local philanthropic organization 101 Women Sandpoint recently congratulated the Pend Oreille Arts Council for winning its 2025 fall grant of $11,000, recognizing POAC’s collaboration with the Lake Pend Oreille School District, homeschool academies and Panida Theater to bring educational visual and performing arts programs to Bonner County students and residents.
The grant will be used to support the Kaleidoscope Visual Arts and the Ovations Performing Arts Educational Outreach programs to help fund much-needed, high-quality art supplies. Both programs serve about 3,700 students each year.
Last fall the grant went to the Sandpoint Teen Center.
L-R: Kirsten Thompson (101 Women board vice president), Liz Koster (101 Women board member), Claire Christy (POAC arts coordinator), Tone Lund (POAC executive director), Dyno Wahl (POAC board president), and Judy Thompson and Vanessa Velez (101 Women board members). Courtesy photo.
“We were happy to hear that with our grant and exposure to the 101 Women Sandpoint community, they were able to provide the participating teenagers with after-school activities, including: healthy snacks and hot meals prepared through their culinary development program, assistance with homework, and projects and games initiated by the teens — all overseen by a caring and mentoring staff,” 101 Women stated.
POAC was selected by the 101 Women membership from among three applicants for the fall grant.
“All three presentations by the nonprofit finalists were compelling and informative, and it is always a hard choice,” the organization stated.
For more information on the three finalists — and to contribute — refer to their websites to donate money or other items, or to volunteer:
Kaniksu Land Trust and Washington Elementary: kaniksu.org and wa.lposd.org; POAC: artinsandpoint.org; Selkirk Conservation Alliance: scawild.org.
For more information on 101 Women Sandpoint, go to 101womensandpoint.com.
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