YVCF News
Steamboat Springs Running Series support local trails
This past August 21st, the Steamboat Springs Running Series in partnership with Smartwool organized the Continental Divide Trail Run with over 350 entrants. The net proceeds raised by the event, $6,700, was donated to support the Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund...
North Routt Community Fund: Now accepting applications
The North Routt Community Fund was established at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation for the purpose to benefit North Routt County, Colorado. Only grant requests for charitable purposes that have a public benefit will be considered. Programs and services that...
Snow Bowl Steamboat – 2021 Business Philanthropist of the year
“It’s wonderful to see how far a good deed can go. We continue to be filled with gratitude,” Meryl Meranski, Owner, Snow Bowl Steamboat – the 2021 Business Philanthropist of the Year. Meryl Meranski has a big spot in her heart for service work. After graduating from...
Johnny B Good’s Diner – Business Philanthropist of the Year 2021
When Kathy and Mike Diemer opened Johnny B Good’s Diner in February, 1994, they wanted to create “that feeling that people care about you and want to see you happily enjoying your time with us.” In the 25+ years since opening, Johnny B Good’s has become more than an...
Jim “Moose” Barrows – Legacy Philanthropy Award
Jim “Moose” Barrows and the term “legacy” are almost synonymous. Most people know about Moose’s legacy in the ski racing world. He helped mold the sport, with some of the most famous names in skiing as his teammates and friends – Spider Sabich, Billy Kidd, Jimmie...
IMPACT100 Closes Out Season 15 with $11,500 in Grants Awarded
At IMPACT 100’s closing event of Season 15 in April 2021, members voted to award $11,500 to four deserving nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2006, YVCF’s IMPACT100 program has granted $178,550 to 50 local nonprofits. The concept of IMPACT100 is simple:...
Snow Bowl Steamboat – Business Philanthropist of the Year 2021
“It’s wonderful to see how far a good deed can go. We continue to be filled with gratitude,” Meryl Meranski, Owner, Snow Bowl Steamboat – the 2021 Business Philanthropist of the Year. Meryl Meranski has a big spot in her heart for service work. After graduating from...
Leona Thurston – Youth Philanthropist of the Year 2021
Congratulations to Leona Thurston, 2021 Youth Philanthropist of the Year. Leona is an intelligent, passionate and driven young woman. Her involvement in non-profit work came about during her senior year in high school when she became active in school politics, using...
Gillian and Michael Morris – Individual Philanthropist of the Year
From Gillian and Mike Morris’s perspective, being members of this community means giving back however you can. Gillian says, “Everyone has something to give. We each have the power to change the world by one small, kind gesture or act at a time. We just want to do our...
Giving Circles Grant Over $103,000 in 2020
Quality of life, especially toward the end of life, is priceless. That’s why Northwest Colorado Health submitted a proposal to Yampa Valley Community Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle for consideration of funding in August 2020. The client, we will call her Norma, is...
WHILD Stories: Missy Dressen…Leading across boundaries!!
By Michael Osterman Collaboration is not a word being used very frequently these days. Yet without the partnership formed between various governmental agencies and private landowners, Routt County would not be seeing the many benefits of the work being done to improve...
Maddie Craigen – 2020 Youth Philanthropist of the Year
“With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time you can change the world. One day at a time we can change everything.” This quote from Steve Maraboli is the mantra by which Madeleine (Maddie) Craigen leads her life, and these are words that guide...
Steamboat Ace Hardware – 2020 Business Philanthropist of the Year
According to Marc Swanson, owner of Steamboat Ace Hardware, “A hardware store is rooted in its community, helping people with projects big and small. There are so many different ways that we help our community members on a daily basis through our business, charitable...
Graham Muir – 2020 Individual Philanthropist of the Year
Graham “Bush” Muir is well-known among those he coaches at his Manic Training gym as someone who will push you to your limits and beyond. He is a hard driver with a work ethic and intrinsic motivation beyond compare. But it is Graham’s innate desire to help those in...
WHILD Stories: Becky Edmiston…Benevolent Beekeeper!
By Michael Osterman Bees have been declared to be “the most important living being on the planet” by the Earthwatch Institute. While that may be a bit controversial, there is wide agreement that one-third of our global food supply is pollinated by bees. Perhaps more...
WZ Giving Circle Grants $27K During Virtual Spring Meeting
At its recent spring 2020 meeting, the WZ Giving Circle funded eight grants totaling $26,964 to assist local families in need. The WZ Giving Circle reviews proposals submitted by partner organizations on behalf of individuals or families experiencing a crisis and in...
WHILD Stories: Nancy Merrill… CRANIAC!
By Michael Osterman Photos by Harold Kamins The Yampa Valley is home to a large variety of animals. For 6 months of the year we are graced with one of the oldest living species of bird… somewhere between 2 – 10 million years old! Those majestic birds that we see...
WHILD Stories: Weed Warrior
written by Michael Osterman This is the first in a series of stories acknowledging local heroes who are volunteering their time, wisdom and talents to improve our local habitat and benefit the entire Yampa Valley community. Today’s story has three key parts to it;...
Anna Poirot – Routt County, Colorado Winner 2011
Anna Poirot was awarded $1,500 for travel to Norway for one year under Steamboat Rotary youth exchange program. Her program included attending local schools and living with several host families. This is a later, follow up the report she sent in January 2016. I’m not...
Every day we meet with partners, new and longstanding, to pass on our passion to build a better Yampa Valley. If you have a passion, we can help you find the best way to pass it on.