By: Molly Balison
Word on the Street Issue 48, October 2024
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On Wednesday September 18, two hundred thirty Interfaith Sanctuary sponsors, donors and community members flooded into the Treefort Music Hall in downtown Boise for Interfaith’s Be Like Fred gala.
Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers, with the help of the Interfaith team, organized and hosted the gala in Fred Cornforth’s honor. The beloved man who passed in March 2024 left his impact on the Boise community and the world through his philanthropy and empathy. Cornforth gave generously to Interfaith Sanctuary, enabling the nonprofit to build a new sanctuary.
To set the tone for the event, Cornforth’s son Charlie spoke about his father’s heart behind the generosity he blessed others with. “My father’s passion for helping people began when he was just a boy,” he said. “He came from very humble origins. I remember him sharing stories about relying on food stamps at certain times.”
Fred’s empathy for the less fortunate grew from knowing what it’s like to have little. He established 65 orphanages around the world and three food banks at Idaho colleges.
Charlie said Fred’s favorite quote was, “The measure of a man is not the wealth and power he possesses, but in the compassion and kindness that he shows others.” This truth is apparent in Fred’s legacy.
Author Marc Johnson quoted a psalmist that was true to Fred’s character. “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely. Who conduct their affairs with justice,” he said.
“Fred was a man of deep faith,” he said. “What could be more in keeping with the idea of living your faith than to commit to helping other people?”
The Fred awards were created around the qualities that Fred embodied: fearless, resilient, empathetic and dynamic. Award recipients were recognized by these traits.
Leonard Peoples was presented the guest of the year award for his resilience in Interfaith’s recovery program and becoming a leader to others on the same journey. “Interfaith Sanctuary gave me the opportunity to grow into the person I am today and I am eternally grateful. If you ever had a “wow” moment in your life, this is mine,” Peoples said.
Terrance Sherrer, director of Project Recovery, and Nicki Vogel, director of Project Well Being, (also known as the wonder twins), received the employee of the year awards for their empathy in the programs they lead.
Vogel shared her motivation to be a safe person for guests in the shelter was shaped by her parents implementing an open door policy that gifted people with love and home cooked meals. “My hope at the end of the day, if I do nothing else, is that I can provide that for all of them because they deserve it.” she said.
Awards were also given to Heritage bank, Micron Foundation, Treasure Valley YMCA, College of Western Idaho and Idaho Workforce Development Council for their contribution and collaboration with Interfaith Sanctuary.
Jodi Peterson-Stigers hosted the order of events and encouraged attendees to open their hearts and consider lives that would be changed by a single donation.
“We have these little street corners of despair and crisis and what is it that one person can do to lift that despair and crisis. We don’t have to solve everything. We just have to lean in a little and change one person’s life,” Peterson-Stigers said.
Boise community members floated around the music hall looking at auction items consisting of clothing decorated by guests and filled the elegant tables ready to participate in the paddle auction. The auction items consisted of two sets of adirondack chairs, a private concert at a wine house with Curtis Stigers and band and jackets and overalls decorated by guests. People also donated toward housing, transportation and resources for guests. One evening raised $142,000 for Interfaith.
The evening inspired acts of kindness beyond the gala. Charlie Cornforth bid on a jean jacket with a Fred’s painted on the back by Chris Alvarez in the silent auction and won it. Charlie gifted the jacket to his stepmother Jill Cornforth. A donor who purchased A set of adirondack chairs built by Interfaith guests and painted by Alvarez surprised Peterson-Stigers by leaving the chairs on her lawn the next day. The quote by Nicky Wilton written across the back of the chairs says, “If something isn’t impossible, there must be a way to do it” reminds Peterson-Stigers that nothing is impossible if one person is willing to take the step to impact someone else’s life.
Interfaith expresses gratitude to all the sponsors, donors and community members who made the evening possible and contributed generous donations and those who proved themselves fearless, resilient, empathic dynamic. Those who want to be like Fred.