Lake County Community Fund Allocates $120,000 to Community Programs
Community and Copper Mountain Resorts Grants Announced
The Lake County Community Fund Board of Directors met April 7th to determine two 2020 grant awards, the Lake County Community Grant and the new Copper Mountain Resort award.
The Board awarded $31,000 to nine Lake County nonprofit organizations as part of the Community Grants and $25,000 to four nonprofits under the Copper Mountain Resort grant program. The City of Leadville provided $9,000 in funding for the Lake County Community Grant.
Recipients were selected through a competitive grant application process.
This grant program was the highpoint for April and May in which more than $120,000 was distributed to vital Lake County nonprofit organizations. Also funded were the Disaster Relief Fund and recipient nonprofit organizations through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation United Way contributions company match program.
Lake County Community Grant
The Lake County Community Grant supports projects that fit within the following areas:
- Arts and Culture
- Community and Economic Development
- Education and Training
- Environmental Initiatives
- Health and Wellness
Copper Mountain Resort Grant
In 2020, thanks to a $25,000 gift from Copper Mountain Resort and POWDR Corp., a new grant-making program was initiated to fund projects which include the following criteria:
- Outdoor adventure education
- Development of lifetime sports skills and
- Environmental causes
The objective of this grant is to inspire a healthy adventure lifestyle among Lake County youth, promote lifetime sports, and protect our natural environment.
The Board of Directors is excited to announce the recipients of the Lake County Community Fund’s 2020 Grant Awards:
Lake County Community Awards
Advocates of Lake County: Awarded $6,000 to cover the upkeep and utilities to ensure that the Safe House remains operational and able to act as a refuge for victims of violence.
Bright Start Learning Center: Awarded $5,000 to fund operating costs associated with running an early childhood education center for Lake County children.
Buena Vista Rotary: Awarded $500 to purchase 30 infant/child car seats in partnership with the Leadville Lake County Fire Rescue.
Cloud City Wheelers: Awarded $1,976 in funding for single track trailhead improvements in the Turquoise Lake area.
Full Circle of Lake County: Awarded $1,000 to fund the Family Resource Connection Project which connects families with opportunities, events, organizations, and resources available in Leadville and Lake County.
St. George’s Episcopal Church: Awarded $9,200 to fund the purchase of an electric double full-size convection oven for the new kitchen which will function as a hub for Lake County residents to access wholesome, nourishing foods.
Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation: Awarded $2,018 to fund the purchase of a movie projector at the Tabor Opera House to allow local organizations who hold events at the Opera House to show films as part of their event.
Lake County Build a Generation: Awarded $3,712 to fund an AmeriCorps VISTA position. The VISTA position will help strengthen Lake County Build a Generation in its first year as a stand-alone nonprofit.
Planned Pethood Leadville: Awarded $1,594 to purchase medical equipment for the Leadville Lake County Animal Shelter for preventative procedures, software to improve shelter management efficiency, staff training and animal training and safety equipment.
Copper Mountain Resort Awards
The Center Early Childhood Programs: Awarded $2,000 to fund the learn to ski program for twenty pre-school aged children. The learn-to-ski program advances the goals of health and wellness, youth-oriented outdoor adventure education, and teaching lifetime sports skills.
Cloud City Conservation Program: Awarded $5,937 to fund the expansion and improvement of the community garden component of the Cloud City Farm so that it is a welcoming community space. Funding will help address the environmental impact of our local food system while also increasing access to healthy food, reducing food insecurity and engaging residents in environmental issues hands-on through Lake County’s first community garden
Friends of Cloud City Ski Club: Awarded $5,000 to fund the purchase of rental cross-country ski gear for high school and middle school skiers in the Cloud City Ski Club programs. The objective is to engage a diverse group of skiers at a young age so that they will learn to love the sport and want to continue it throughout their life.
Get Outdoors Leadville: Awarded $12,063 to support the Rockies Rock Summer Camp, an eight-week summer enrichment camp for 1st-8th grade youth. The program will teach human-powered outdoor recreation, placed-based environmental education, and character development.
Disaster Relief Fund
In 2018, The Lake County Community Fund established the Disaster Relief Fund as a community safety net in the event of a natural disaster. The Fund is now being utilized to deal with the COVID-19 crisis to channel immediate and humanitarian needs to Lake County’s most vulnerable citizens.
As of May 1st, and thanks to contributions from Lake County citizens, businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations, the Disaster Relief Fund has distributed $54,488 to 65 households representing 167 individuals for rent and utility assistance.
Freeport-McMoRan Foundation
Through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation United Way contributions company match program of the Climax Mine, Climax Molybdenum Company, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation has contributed $9,819 through the Lake County Community Fund to the following vital nonprofit organizations: $3,273 each to St. George’s Food Pantry, Full Circle of Lake County, and Advocates of Lake County.
