Joyce Stein Winner 2017: Luci McDonald

Luci McDonald

Luci McDonald has been active in impacting the lives of women and children in the Treasure Valley for more than 30 years. Her involvement has been both at the leadership level as well as in the trenches where she has worked directly and indirectly in providing the opportunities for women and their families to be in a position to succeed. Her work has included contributions of time, talent and treasure. While she has been able to contribute monetarily to many organizations, she has also volunteered her time focusing on those who might need a helping hand or who have come across a rough patch in their life. She believes in providing tools to encourage individuals to build a sustainable life for themselves as well as their families.

She has worked with the United Way of Idaho, the Assistance League of Boise as well as the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. She is a Hope Society member of the WCA as well as founding member of the WCA’s endowment campaign. In addition to being a major donor to the WCA’s building expansion project, she also volunteered to be the Building Committee chair and helped ensure the new facility came in under budget and on time. She has been active in the holiday family sponsorship program both as a sponsor and a volunteer to help manage the pickup and delivery for the families who the WCA helps. Her time and financial support have had a significant impact on both WCA clients and staff. In addition, Luci is a past recipient of the TWIN award and has been active in the Healing Begins with Hope breakfast as a participant as well as a table host.

Luci’s work with the Assistance League of Boise includes Operation School Bell, helping children in the community with school readiness by providing essential supplies and clothes enhancing a child’s opportunity to learn. In addition, she works every fourth Saturday in the thrift store and supports many of the special events the League sponsors.

Luci has been an ardent supporter of the United Way and the programs it provides to benefit women and children in the Treasure Valley. She served as a board member from 2006 to 2010 and supported many of the events helping families benefitting from the United Way. Her emphasis has been on programs that support education and quality of life for the less fortunate families in the Treasure Valley. She recently has accepted a co-chair role with the United Way’s Encore program, focused on engaging volunteers from former United Way leadership to enhance the programs the United Way supports.

In the words of Nora Carpenter, United Way Executive Director, “Luci continues her love of our community and its people by continuing to volunteer in the community and makes a difference every single day.”

Luci has also recently been volunteering at the Idaho FoodBank where she helps coordinate travel arrangements for women and families who don’t have adequate transportation to get home with their food boxes, including arranging for rides home from private drivers or paying for taxis or Ubers out of her own pocket so they can safely get their goods home.

This is a sampling of some of the work that Luci does, all without the expectation of any recognition or acknowledgment. She does it because the need is there and she wants to help those who have a need and may be a little less fortunate than she has been.

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