Legacy Luncheon

Thursday - May 13, 2026

11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Hillcrest Country Club

Attire: Business

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Early Education Impact Award

2026 Honoree - Patricia Kempthorne

The Early Education Impact Award was created to honor individuals who, through exemplary work and commitment to education, have impacted multiple generations of children and families in our community.

On May 13, 2026, the Children's Museum of Idaho will be honoring Former First Lady Patricia Kempthorne with the Early Education Impact Award at the Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

 

Patricia Kempthorne began her commitment to early learning in the early 1980’s as the chair of Childcare Connections, a program focused on resource and referral of quality childcare.  She continued that work as the director of Wesleyan Preschool and developed Kids are Special People program before assisting in the establishment of Little Luke’s and the Downtown Childcare Center. With several others, she established the Family and Workplace Consortium, focused on parents’ and business’ need for childcare and flexibility. While serving as Idaho’s First Lady from 1999 to 2006, she was part of Governor Kempthorne’s Generation of the Child initiative and the Coordinating Council for Families and Children. In 2005, she created the Twiga Foundation which focuses on family engagement and early learning opportunities across the nation.  
 
Patricia Kempthorne is the past-chair and Life Member of the Parents as Teachers National Center Board of Directors, past-chair of the St. Luke’s Children’s Advisory Board, and on the board for Idaho Children are Primary and the Alliance for Early Success. In 2020, she was honored by Idaho Voices for Children with their Children’s Champion Award. Her greatest joy is spending time with her husband, Dirk, their two children, seven grandchildren and one smart dog.
 

To reserve your ticket, sponsor a table, or provide a tribute ad, please reach out to Amy Costello at (208) 205-9522 or Amy@CMIdaho.org.

Contributions will directly support program expansion, museum access, and sustainability of the museum for generations to come.