HOLLIS J. BROOKOVER

SECRETARY

Hollis is a third-generation Boisean who lives in Boise and serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Raised on the Boise Bench, she graduated from Borah High School and spent her childhood skiing at Bogus Basin, climbing Camel’s Back, and enjoying Julia Davis Park. Working in her family’s women’s apparel stores, Brookover’s, taught her early lessons about entrepreneurship, community, and giving back.

After graduating from Smith College with a degree in Government, Hollis spent 23 years working in public affairs, campaign management, nonprofit development, and business. Her career took her to Dallas, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, but some of her most meaningful work has been in Idaho, particularly advocating for children.

In 1988, Hollis returned to Boise to work for Governor Cecil Andrus. As part of the Governor’s Task Force on Children at Risk, she traveled to every Idaho county seat to examine how the justice system handled child abuse and neglect cases. The experience deepened her understanding of how public policy affects children and families.

In 2002, Hollis returned to Boise with her husband, Milt Gillespie, and their son, Samuel. Recognizing the need for a strong, statewide, bipartisan voice for children, she helped found Idaho Voices for Children. Over the following decade, she helped build the organization into an effective advocate for children's education, health, safety, and economic security.

Hollis later served as Vice President of Idaho Business for Education, expanding its statewide membership, advocating before the Idaho Legislature, and serving on the Early Reading Task Force, which helped shape Idaho's approach to assessing early literacy. Improving children's reading proficiency remains a particular passion.

Following her family's entrepreneurial tradition, Hollis and Milt purchased a private-label soap and lotion manufacturing company in Garden City. She subsequently launched a branded bath and body business that grew to distribution in approximately 2,500 stores across the United States and Canada.

Throughout her life, Hollis has followed the example of her parents, Gordon and Barbara Brookover, who instilled in her the importance of hard work, community involvement, and philanthropy. She is honored to serve the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and shares the Cunningham and Bettis families' enduring commitment to strengthening Idaho. She believes deeply in preserving what makes Idaho special while creating greater opportunities for future generations.

LAURA M. BETTIS

PRESIDENT

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Laura, a 5th generation Idahoan and Moore family member, named for Laura Moore Cunningham, lives in McCall where she raised her children, helps manage a family ranch, and practices law. A Director of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation since 2001, she is currently the President, and previously served as Vice President and Secretary.

Laura spent her childhood attending school in Boise and working summers on family ranches in Valley County.  Laura attended Duke University, earning degrees in Psychology and Biology, and tutoring with an after school program and serving on student government. Next, Laura worked on the Jemez Pueblo Indian Reservation in New Mexico teaching middle school and coaching basketball, and quickly found herself driving the school bus and calling BINGO. She has always jumped right in and done whatever is needed, whether at work, in her family, or in the larger community.

Next, Laura worked in DC for a large nonprofit in administration and fundraising, giving her insight into how nonprofits work from the inside.  In her twenties, she traveled through Europe, Asia and Latin America. She returned to Idaho for law school, graduating magna cum laude from University of Idaho and working as an attorney in Boise. 

Laura learned philanthropy through experience.  She remembers organizing Christmas baskets for the YWCA as a small child with her mom, and volunteering to help remodel it in high school. Laura also started a peer tutoring program to help English language learners at Boise High.  She used Mrs. Gabbert’s classroom at lunchtime, where she joined recent immigrants to help them with homework and practiced conversation and reading in English. Now, thirty five years later, Laura leads a group called “Intercambio” at her local library for people learning English and Spanish to get together and practice their language skills.

Philanthropy isn’t a solitary activity, the whole family gets involved. From a young age, Laura’s two children helped with community projects. Each Christmas, they enjoy shopping together for local families. With her kids’ help, Laura taught an embryology unit at Donnelly Elementary School, hatching eggs, and leading interdisciplinary activities like coop design. In their Country Corrals 4H club, the kids hosted a petting zoo at the local library, with the family’s three legged dog and chickens being favorites. Whatever was happening in their community, the kids knew they may be roped into helping! They learned that a thriving community relies on the contributions of its members.

Through her work with the Foundation, Laura hopes to connect with community champions and help Idaho kids get a leg up and become tomorrow’s leaders.

           

The Foundation is governed by a three member Board of Directors, who work on a volunteer basis. Directors have never taken a salary or any fees for their management of the Foundation.  Our overhead costs are minimal, allowing us to maximize the impact we can have in Idaho's communities, improving life for Idahoans. 

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Photo: Janelle, Laura and Hollis

JANELLE A. WISE

VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER

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Janelle, a 5th generation Idahoan, Laura's sister, and great-great niece of the venerable Laura Moore Cunningham raises her children in Boise and spends most of her time volunteering.  A Director of the Foundation since 2002, she serves as Vice President and Treasurer.

Janelle grew up splitting her time between school in Boise and arduous work on family ranches, began volunteering in elementary school and has never stopped. Her childhood memories include ski racing at Bogus Basin, biking the Boise greenbelt to visit elderly neighbors and countless hours on horseback. Attending seven schools K-12 taught her to adapt to change and embrace new communities, though Boise has always been home.

At Seattle Pacific University, Janelle double majored in Psychology and Family Studies. She helped build a rehabilitation home in Puerto Rico for boys ages 10-13 as an alternative to prison and spent five days homeless in Seattle through the “Urban Plunge” program, an experience that profoundly shaped her understanding of poverty. She also spent three years mentoring a young girl in Seattle’s Central District. Exchange semesters and travels through Europe, Asia and Central America left her with a lasting love of culture and exploration.

After college, she completed NOLS expeditions in Baja and the Himalayas, then helped start a Young Life camp in Romania, became an outdoor guide which cemented a love of the outdoors and experiential learning. After becoming a certified massage therapist and pilot, she earned her master’s and Educational Specialist degrees in School Counseling and School Psychology from the University of Idaho and spent a decade as a school psychologist in the Lapwai, Moscow, Kellogg and Boise School Districts.

Janelle learned philanthropy through service and continues to spend time alongside her children and friends to uplift the community through IWCF, YoungLife, 100 WFG, YMCA, Scouting, NLYM, WarmSprings Care Farm, Idaho Youth Ranch and other projects. Motherhood is her top priority, including modeling service through time, talent, treasure and gathering friends to join in making an impact that funds clean water in villages abroad, fills the food bank or helps the local neighborhood.

Faith, family and friends have shaped who Janelle is. She lives by Mother Teresa’s words, “Spread love everywhere you go,” and finds an abundance of happiness in advancing philanthropy through the foundation, tangible acts of service and in helping others see their own limitless potential.