Stories from the Club
The Passport Club is more than just about enjoying that perfect powder day. You are part of a community of like-minded individuals and organizations who share a passion for the outdoors and for the vitality of our valley.
For more information, questions or to join please contact Traci Hiatt at 970-879-8632 or traci@yvcf.org
$386,152 was given in 2016 by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation via the Passport Club to support YVCF and local nonprofits. NWCCI (Northwest Colorado Center for Independence) is one of many organizations that received a grant from this program. Ian Engle, Executive Director of NWCCI, explains how the Passport Club supports this nonprofit’s vital mission.
Why is NWCCI critical to the health and vitality in the Yampa Valley? We are the Center for Independent Living serving the Yampa Valley and the only nonprofit built on a civil rights foundation. Our mission is to support people with disabilities and help them reach identified goals for being productive and engaged members of our communities. We are also the only organization established around a peer support model of mentorship and leadership development; the majority of our staff and board members are people with permanent disabilities. Inclusive communities are healthy communities and the success of the people with whom we work is vital to realizing this end.
In 2016, NWCCI received a grant to assist individuals through the application process for public benefits. How did this grant benefit your program?
The grant from the Yampa Valley Community Foundation allowed NWCCI to better assist people with disabilities to apply for public benefits, in turn establishing a foundation of basic needs from which to better realize secondary goals such as civic engagement and employment (often accessing work-incentives).
What would you like to tell Passport Club Members? NWCCI is the vanguard of freedom from isolation and the voice of democracy calling for inclusion and accessibility in the name of inclusive communities. Thank you!
“We really enjoy being members of the Passport Club not only for the benefits and meeting new people and making new friends, but because we know every year we are supporting local nonprofits and helping people in our community.”
– Keith and Sandra Miller
$385,503 was given in 2015 to support YVCF and local nonprofits by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation via the Passport Club. REPS is one of many organization that saw support from this program.
REPS (Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide) seeks to preserve, protect and promote life by providing the Yampa Valley with a group of trained volunteers, collaborative initiatives, educational programs, compassionate survivor-care and proactive suicide prevention
“We were honored this winter to participate in a STARS (Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports) day which allowed us to interact with a challenged young woman and her family during a day of skiing. The family could not say enough positive things about the STARS program. In fact, they had returned to Steamboat versus other resorts with similar programs because they felt that their daughter got a superior experience here in every way. We came away exhilarated by our experience and pleased to know that Yampa Valley Community Foundation and Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation are supporting such a great organization.”
– David and Beth Foster