Fosdick Awards Over $61,000 to Meadows Valley Organizations
Corby and the late Dwight Dickey were honored as 2025’s Friends of the Fosdick this past Thursday, October 23 during The Fosdick Benefit’s award night. Over $61,000 in grants were awarded to Meadows Valley organizations and continuing education students as the group celebrated its 40th year.
During her acceptance speech, Corby encouraged those attending, “You’re here because you’re extraordinary, talented, a leader. I hope in the future you use your talents, share them, volunteer. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Be honest. Be on time. …Floss your teeth. Be kind.” A dental hygienist for 20 years, Corby came to Meadows Valley with her husband Dwight in 2004. Dwight, a 30 year Marine Corps veteran who retired as a full Colonel, served 12 non-consecutive years on the Property Owners’ Association board at Meadowcreek including time as board President. Colonel Dickey passed away after a cancer battle in 2020. Both Dickeys were instrumental in making MeadowCreek what it is today and very involved with The Fosdick.
Coordinator Candace Soderston welcomed everyone in attendance and said those honored “are the organizations that are improving our lives” in this community. Soderston announced that they raised $81,581.47 this year and said this was more than the group has ever made.
Soderston introduced Fosdick CEO Tom Anderson who said, “One of the reasons we’ve been so successful is because of Candace.” He gave tribute to the more than 50 volunteers who work hard to put on the events and make the fundraiser possible. Anderson noted the group is approaching 1 million dollars raised and hopes they will achieve that milestone next year. With that, he said, “Let’s give some money away”!
Eleven groups received monetary awards and each representative gave a speech detailing how the money would be put to use and how it benefits the community. These organizations contribute to the community by bringing services like family counseling, after school care, arts and music education, skiing and snowboarding lessons, transportation to activities, and bringing fresh produce to the area while highlighting local entrepreneurs and farmers. Klaryssa Keane with YAC summed up the recipients speeches well, saying, “you help us create memories, learning opportunities, and connections. That means so much to everyone involved and we can’t thank you enough for believing in what we’re doing.”
The Fosdick organization represents values the night’s honorees held dearly. Colonel Dickey’s daughter, Laurel Morgan said of both her Dad and Corby that volunteerism and selfless service represented them to their core. Anderson spoke about Corby saying, “every time someone says we need a volunteer for this, Corby puts her hand up. She is an amazing lady.”
With the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps and Veterans Day coming up, it seems right to pass on the full story shared by Dwight Dickey’s daughter Laurel Morgan of his experience during the Vietnam War. She shared, Colonel Dickey, a Major at the time, was a month into a tour in Vietnam in 1968. His platoon got pinned down by the Viet Cong and many were injured. A grenade landed in the middle of them and, being a very talented athlete and a strong baseball player in his earlier years, she said he selflessly picked up the live grenade and used his baseball pitch to throw that grenade back at the Viet Cong. She detailed that the grenade exploded just after it left his hand and he sustained some shrapnel injuries, but if he hadn’t thrown it, “we wouldn’t be here talking about him tonight”. Congratulations and thank you to the Dickeys for their service.
2025 Fosdick Award Recipients are:
Idaho Sled Dog Challenge - $1,000 for the Wye Checkpoint
City of New Meadows/ Meadows Valley Early Learning Foundation - $5,000 for Youth Center project completion
Ignite Idaho - $2,500 to establish regular hours in New Meadows
MV Community Center - $7,500 for new windows
MV Planet Youth / YAC - $8,000 to support healthy activities and food for children
Meadows Valley Library - $5,000 for remodeling the entry lobby
MV School Music Department - $6,948.70 for new and safer risers for school concerts
MV School Art Department - $4,678.67 for 2-D and 3-D art materials, a pottery wheel, and an art field trip
MV Farmers Market Senior Produce Program - $3,200 for program continuation, fall festival
Payette Lakes Ski Club - $3,000 for after school program transportation and ski scholarships
Fosdick Scholarship Committee - $15,000 including $3,500 each to Joseph Padgett who is studying Diesel Mechanics at Lewis-Clark State College and to Leylani Vargas-Mendez who is studying HR Management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship at the University of Idaho in Moscow. As well as, $8,000 for a 2026 scholarships reserve fund and scholarships in 2027.
