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John William Jackson Fund Gives $10,000 to Benefit Valley Youths

Posted on: Thursday, 15 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By The Idaho Statesman, Boise, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Dec. 15--BOISE -- The John William Jackson Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation announced the award of $10,000 in financial grants Wednesday that will benefit youth in the Treasure Valley.

Grants will go to the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Opera Idaho, Inc., Boise Philharmonic Association, Inc., Boise, Kuna and Meridian school districts, Boise State University and the Optimist Club of Meridian, Inc. The awards support the Fund's mission of advancing academic excellence, performing arts, and outdoor sporting for young Idahoans.

New corporate donor Pacific Steel & Recycling, headquartered in Great Falls, Mont., and its Idaho-based employees have joined in the fund's efforts to support the 2005-2006 youth music education outreach program.

The Treasure Valley Family YMCA will receive $3,000 to promote greater interest in rock climbing and mountaineering for local youth. Opera Idaho and Boise Philharmonic were awarded $1,000 each to facilitate greater access to opera and symphony music through their children's outreach efforts.

The Boise, Kuna and Meridian school districts were awarded $1,000 each. Funds will go to assist needy Boise elementary and middle/junior high school students to rent musical instruments, to repair musical instruments at Kuna Middle School, and to purchase orchestral or band performance chairs at Centennial High School. Boise State University's music department received $1,000 to help high school students attend the 2006 Summer Chamber Music Camp.

In addition, the Optimist Club of Meridian will receive $1,000 to support their youth rifle-shooting program for needy students and tournament competition.

"The John William Jackson Fund is tremendously proud to support educational, cultural and sporting opportunities for young Idahoans and to make an investment in the future of our community," said fund spokesperson Ben Blaine. "Of course, none of this would be possible without the generous help of many friends and supporters of the fund from both local residents and citizens across the country."

The fund was established in memory of John William Jackson in fall 2000 by friends and family, including Bill and Jackie Jackson of Boise and Marcus and Pat Meier of Monti Antico, Italy. John William Jackson graduated from Centennial High School in 1994, and went on to Georgetown University where he received his degree in psychology in 1998. At the time of his death in a climbing accident in Central Asia, he was conducting graduate research at the University of Montana in Missoula.

The fund endeavors to capture the enthusiasm, passion, contemplation and enterprise that John William Jackson exhibited in his life and individual pursuits, and to support greater opportunities and involvement for young Idahoans.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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