Award Winners Hall of Fame 

Who is Katie Speer?

In honor of the memory of Katie Speer, the Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center hereby designates its annual award, “The Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Award,” effective 2014, and for all years hereafter.

Katie Speer was instrumental in the founding of the EPNRC, and for many years served as a member of its Board of Directors.  An outspoken advocate for the causes and organizations she espoused, Katie was a strong leader, putting her actions behind her words.  She was a gifted writer, and demonstrated time and again her skills at writing successful grant proposals that benefited dozens of nonprofit organizations in the Estes Valley.  Her perceptive ability to seek out and secure funding for organizations was legendary: untold thousands of dollars were thus channeled to Estes Park charities and nonprofits, enabling them to achieve their missions to serve others.
 
On behalf of the EPNRC, Katie acted as fiscal agent for many fledgling organizations, enabling them to get a foothold toward financial sustainability.
 
Katie’s selfless service on behalf of others earned her, among other recognitions, the “Citizen of the Year” award from the Town of Estes Park.
 
It is fitting, therefore, that the Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center designate its annual award to recognize the value and importance of  philanthropy in our community as the Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Award in memory of her steadfast commitment to the spirit and achievement of philanthropy.
 
2014 EPNRC Board

Hall of Fame / List by Year (Most Recent First)

2018 Enduring Service – Ruth Hess
2018 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Village Thrift Shop
2018 Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year – Gail Albers
2018 Youth Philanthropist of the Year – Lydia Pita

2017 Enduring Service – Pieter and Helen Hondius
2017 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Mountain Home Cafe’, Olga & Enrique family and staff
2017 Business Philanthropist of the the Year – Snowy Peaks Winery – Candice Mohr
2017 Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year – Terry Rizzuti
2017 Youth Philanthropist of the Year – Micah Brown

2016 Enduring Service – Jean Austin
2016 Enduring Service – Bill and Sue Pinkham
2016 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Anthony DeSousa – Antonio’s Pizza
2016 Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year – Kristen Berg
2016 Youth Philanthropist of the Year – Estes Park High School/Environmental Sciences Class

2015 Enduring Service Award – Bob & Ludie Dickeson
2015 Business Philanthropist of the Year Award – Kris & Gary Hazelton – Estes Park News
2015 Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Award – Judi Cunningham
2015 Youth Philanthropist of the Year Award – Will Thomas

2014 Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Award – Sherry Davis
2014 Enduring Service Award – Jayne Zmijewski
2014 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Amy Hamrick – Kind Coffee

2013 Individual Philanthropist of the Year – Kathy Littlejohn (Kids Cafe’, Fine Arts Guild)
2013 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Rocky Mountain Park Inn
2013 Lifetime Philanthropist Award – David Krumme

2012 Individual Philanthropist of the Year – Don Widrig
2012 Business Philanthropist of the Year – Jared Andrew, Store Manager at Safeway Food Store #0920
2012 Individual/Business Philanthropists of the Year – Rob and Julie Pieper, owners of Poppy’s and Mama Rosa’s

2011 Philanthropist (donor and/or grantmaker) – Peggy and John Lynch (major gift to EVICS)
2011 Philanthropist Honorable Mention – Estes Park Community Thrift Shop
2011 Outstanding Volunteer – Andi Smith (Elizabeth Guild)
2011 Outstanding Volunteer Honorable Mention – Marilyn Vergoth (Estes Park Medical Center)
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2010 Special Recognition – Frank Shavlik (retiring EPNRC board member)