CDAIDE HISTORY
SEEDS PLANTED
IN 2014
CDAIDE is an independent, community based nonprofit that originated as part of the strategic planning process of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
In 2014, First Presbyterian began a yearlong process to discern its future mission outreach, which included getting input on community needs from local leaders and organizations. One result of this process was a decision to create an outreach program to workers in the hospitality industry, who are among the most underserved in our community and also the church’s neighbors, given its downtown location.
To start, this effort was buoyed by the gracious mentorship of Big Table, a nonprofit in the Spokane area that has been a pioneer in efforts to support hospitality workers, and by a summer fellow from Whitworth University who worked to build awareness of and relationships with downtown businesses.
BECOMING A NONPROFIT
In 2016, First Presbyterian’s leadership recognized that this project deserved to be its own nonprofit and to grow beyond the walls of the church. With the support of seed money from First Presbyterian, CDAIDE was born and incorporated as an Idaho nonprofit in 2017 and as a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2018.
CDAIDE’s founding board of directors included owners and managers in the local hospitality industry, leaders in the community and other local churches, and members from First Presbyterian who had been part of the original vision.
KEY PLAYERS IN CDAIDE ORIGIN & EVOLUTION
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN STRATEGIC
'DREAM TEAM'
Craig Sumey, Chair
Rob Buckham
Dustin Cook
Ginny DeLong
Sarah Holcomb
Nate Jolley
Deirdre Lawrence
Charlie Nipp
Nichole Piekarski
George Sayler
Bill Welsh
Becky Clegg
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DOWNTOWN WORKERS COMMITTEE
Yvette Wyatt, Chair
Gina Dingman
Lindsey Hertwick
Carolyn Keefer
Ron Keefer
Deirdre Lawrence
Melissa Peace
George Sayler
Rebecca Gershenson Smith
WHITWORTH FELLOW
Amy Cheng
CDAIDE FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rebecca Gershenson Smith President
Lindsey Hertwick
Vice President
Deirdre Lawrence
Secretary/Treasurer
Yvette Wyatt
Programming Chair
Doug Johnson
Church-Community Liaison
Renee Bordelon
Board Member
Jeff Messinger
Board Member