No headline

“When we look back at all the women who have been honored over the many years, the common thread is consistently love of and commitment to the beautiful community we live in. Donna Hutter exemplifies what it means to ‘give back’ to all those organizations that make this community so very special,” wrote Barbara Eacret in her letter nominating Hutter to be chosen 2017 Woman of Wisdom.

“She has tirelessly immersed herself in the community, she is a member of the North Idaho Community Foundation, the Northern Grants Panel and on the Northern Region Leadership Council, and was, along with husband Richard, recipients of the ‘Friends of the Foundation’ award in 2011,” Carol Sheridan said. “Donna is a member of Angels Over Sandpoint, sponsor and volunteer of the School Backpack Program and is a Kinderhaven Ambassador, a former Advisory Board member, and is a Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Committee member.”

Donna Hutter is active in the Susan G. Komen, Idaho-Washington Grants Panel, Sandpoint Historical Society, and Cancer Care Services. She is currently a board member, for Community Assistance League, serving as the Ways and Means chair, her vision of the future of CAL and other organizations have played a significant role in the future of their legacy. Hutter is a one-woman powerhouse in her support of setting up endowment that assures a future for CAL, Kinderhaven, Angels Over Sandpoint, the Bonner County Food Bank and other community organizations through her work with Idaho Community Foundation.

Robin Hanson said it best when she wrote, “Donna identifies needs in our community and takes action to see that those needs are met, not just momentarily but also with hands-on participation. Donna works hard to bring support to many organizations through other donors and by recruiting other people to join”.

Even her hobbies and leisure time activities are related to volunteerism and service. She is a member, volunteer and supporter of the Bonner County Sportsman Association. She is a volunteer at their Daughter & Son Day at the Range and the Gun & Horn Shows. She also likes to shoot at the range and is fairly proficient at bench rest rifle shooting. Donna’s other hobbies include gardening, knitting baby hats for the new born babies at the hospital and RVing.

We share in honoring Donna Hutter as a 2017 Woman of Wisdom along with her husband Richard, son, Raymond, grandsons, Mason and Clayton, stepsons Michael and Richard Jr.

The 2017 Women of Wisdom will be honored at a Gala Luncheon hosted by the Women Honoring Women Committee on Saturday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Tango Café in the Columbia Bank Building. Contact Diane Stockton for reservations at 208-290-6362 or at stockton_diane@yahoo.com.

To be nominated for Woman of Wisdom, a candidate must be 65 years or older. She demonstrates vision, collaboration, leadership, grace, courage, integrity and a love of learning. She shows a commitment to the Bonner County community and has had a positive impact on it. She is an inspiration to others and an example for future generations of women.

The 2017 Women Honoring Women committee members are: Kari Saccomanno, chair; Diane Arrants; Kathy Chambers; Kathy Conger; Barbara Eacret; Deanna Harris; Alana Hatcher; Betty Heffner; Julie Jurenka; Pat Lewis; Sally Lowry; Maribeth Lynch, Laurie Mattila, Jeralyn Mire; Marlene Rorke; Sandy Ross; Patty Schwartz; Joyce Smith; Diane Stockton; Kendall Stratton, Sally Transue and Linda Van Dellen.