National Philanthropy Day is a free celebration of donors, volunteers, nonprofits—all the people who give in various ways to the Estes Valley. Dinner and drinks provided, the evening includes the presentation of annual philanthropy awards.
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All photos provided by John Berry, Visit Estes Park Staff Photographer.
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Congratulations to the 2022 winners!
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Enduring Service – David Hemphill
Business Philanthropist of the Year – You Need Pie! Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year – Mary Banken Youth Philanthropist of the Year – Valya Tryduhk Shavlik Nonprofit of the Year - Crossroads Ministry Previous Winners |
Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Nominees |
CORY WORKMAN
Dr. Cory Workman is our local audiologist, and is one of those "silent do-gooders" volunteering in various capacities. He is treasurer of an audiology cooperative and volunteers as a medical provider. He acquires new hearing aids through donations then fits the underserved community across the state and locally, via Quota Club, so that they may "rejoin the conversation." You can see him working concessions, pulling trailers, holding props at band competitions and so much more. Thank you, Cory!
MARY BANKEN (NOMINATED TWICE)
Mary is the bookkeeper for The American Legion, Post 119 in Estes Park. That’s what she volunteered to do, but what she actually does is serve as Administrative Director. She manages the whole show, including the tavern, kitchen, and events. She puts in anywhere from 8 to 12 hrs per day, 7 days per week. Prior to her investment of time and talents—the Legion was an eyesore situated at the entrance of our town. Mary's efforts have taken the Legion from surviving to thriving. I hope she understands the immense value of her role in this community!
CHIEF DAVID WOLF
Chief worked hard to organize and bring the 9/11 Memorial 5k and Stair Climb / National Fallen Fire Fighters event to Estes Park, CO. After the fires of 2020 and 2021, the first year of this event was meaningful to our community and drew in firefighters from all over Northern Colorado.
MARTHA CORDONA
Martha's contributions have made it possible for EVICS to support and serve more local families. She provides office coverage, leads a weekly Hispanic Women's group, Mujeres en Conexion, and commits additional volunteer time to Cultivamos, an emerging leaders program for Hispanic individuals. She models the impact of participation and actively draws in other community members, encouraging their voices in decision-making.
LINDA POLLAND
Linda has been active for seven years, including as chairperson, in the Estes Park Quota Club’s (medical equipment) Loan Closet. If you have ever had an injury or surgery, or known anyone in need of a hospital bed, you’ve met Linda. She is cheerful, compassionate and incredibly organized! She uses her experience as a nurse practitioner in the armed forces to run a well-maintained and much used program for our community.
Enduring Service Nominees
Jean Rissmiller
Jean Rissmiller is a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club and is very involved in various organizations throughout Estes Park. She has organized the Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival for the last several years; this year’s funds will exceed $40,000 which funds youth scholarships and provides grants to local nonprofits.
Nancy gregg
Nancy is never known NOT to be doing something to support the community, especially vulnerable families and children. Nancy was the visionary behind the Kids Quest Playground and has served on the Estes Park School Board. Nancy is perhaps best known for her work with Crossroads as a volunteer, Board member, and project leader. For the past 8 years, she has spearheaded the Bright Christmas program, organizing volunteers, shopping for Christmas gifts and school supplies and coordinating the community-wide distribution of gifts to families in need. Nancy has a heart for people; she works quietly in the background, making a tremendous impact.
David hemphill
David has served on many boards: Estes Valley Crisis Advocates, Pet Association, the Nonprofit Resource Center, Bella Fortuna Center, and the Estes Valley Library. He has provided accounting services for these organizations as well as the Estes Park Learning Place. His work and wisdom goes far beyond the financial support he provides to these and other nonprofits in Town. And, with out a doubt, his wife Mary works with David and supports all that he does.
alice league
Alice has served as a Board Member, then Treasurer, then volunteer accountant for 21 years at the Art Center of Estes Park. Her “working board” position is deep and persistent, from insurance policies to grant writing. She also collects donations for community-wide projects such as the Women’s Monument. "Go ask Alice!" That's our mantra here at the Art Center. I cannot imagine a more hard-working and deserving volunteer.
marlene bornemAN
Marlene volunteers with the RMNP Junior Ranger program and supervises the Hidden Valley sledding hill in the winter. She shares her extensive knowledge of wildflowers by teaching classes at the Library. She volunteers at Cliffhanger Used Book Store and helps deliver food for Meals on Wheels. For the last year-and-a-half, she has chaired the Park District’s Trails Committee, working to build trails throughout town for commuters and visitors alike. Our town has benefited tremendously over many years due to Marlene’s generosity of her time and talents.
DAVE THOMAS
Dave Thomas is important to recognize for his ongoing efforts to help others. He is an inspiration for making a better and stronger community, specifically through education. He is currently volunteering with ESL clases, and just stepped up to help organize Día de Los Muertos. He cares for each one of his students and wants to see them achieve the ability to understand, speak, and write the language.
CYNTHIA KRUMME
Cynthia has worked passionately on various boards, including EPNRC and The Learning Place, and given generously of her time, talent, and treasure to many causes over the years. Recently, she’s dedicated significant efforts to improving the American Legion Post 119. It's hard to think of a nonprofit that hasn't received some gift from Cynthia. This is often done quietly and without much attention. She very much deserves to be recognized by the entire community.
FRANK THEIS
Frank has been an integral part of the Watershed Coalition since the 2013 floods. His service has included the original flood restoration projects, forestry projects, and the formation of the Wandering Wildlife Society (WWS) in 2019. The WWS offers wildlife education in the Estes community through educational talks and provides public outreach such as the Elk Ambassador program
LOUISE OLSON
Louise was instrumental in creating a Hispanic serving organization that supports language learning, finances, and promoting Spanish-speaking families’ engaging in the community, including the schools. Louise worked on Estes Cares, a program designed to promote better civil discourse and empathy in Estes. Her long-time service extends to the Catholic Church and Crossroads. This is not even half a complete listing of her caring ways.
SALLY PARK
Sally has been volunteering with Partners since 2001. She has mentored 4 youths and engages youth who are waiting to be matched. Sally has considerable skills in group facilitation, leadership training, and fundraising for various nonprofits in Estes. Her special work with Salud, The Learning Place, the Nonprofit Resource Center, School System, and Loving Spirit have made this community richer and kinder.
MARY BANKEN
For the past six years, Mary has donated countless hours, shared her contagious energy, spearheaded transformative initiatives, and contributed financially to the sustainability of American Legion Post 119. She is at the heart of propelling the Legion into a more modern view of service to veterans and to the community they live in. She enthusiastically lends a hand in any and EVERY capacity through the “Circle 119” initiative to update the facility.
Business Nominees |
kep expeditions
Kep Expeditions brought veterans from the Oscar Mike Rocky Mountain Veterans Clinic to Rocky Mountain National Park. Veterans are provided adaptive access to all that RMNP offers: camping, getting wheelchair users on non-accessible trails, hiking, wilderness therapy, fishing, photography, etc. This program has united Estes Valley locals in grassroots giving, from local tour companies and lodging owners, private individuals, to food and beverage donations from local restaurants and breweries. The impact on the veterans, as well as all the visitors to RMNP met along the way, is rewarding and wonderful.
This is a unique program to RMNP—and Colorado—in that it is built on a foundation of locals who love the area, and strive to bring its offerings to ALL people of ANY abilities. In the first year of the program, there were six five-day sessions, serving approximately 50-60 veterans. This community collaboration would not have been possible without “Chief Expeditionary” Brian Kaepplinger’s passion to serve through his business.
This is a unique program to RMNP—and Colorado—in that it is built on a foundation of locals who love the area, and strive to bring its offerings to ALL people of ANY abilities. In the first year of the program, there were six five-day sessions, serving approximately 50-60 veterans. This community collaboration would not have been possible without “Chief Expeditionary” Brian Kaepplinger’s passion to serve through his business.
you need pie!
Val Thompson, owner of You Need Pie!, is always there to donate to any cause in town. She actively supports the clubs and teams at the school, the Rotary, the Car Club, the Quota Club, the Library, the Rec Center, the American Legion, the Chamber, the Rodeo and likely…more?! She also supports the business sector by organizing the Dine Around Town event every year. She is truly a person who gives selflessly. She rarely self-promotes, preferring to just donate quietly and not expect anything in return. I can't say what her monetary contributions might be because she doesn't really talk about it. It just seems to me that she leads her business in a way that exemplifies the spirit of this award.
kind coffee
Amy Hamrick epitomizes a truly unique business that not only has fine products, but is known as a strong supporter of their customers. She is an exceptional contributor of many, many nonprofits. She is known for her creative responses to the various disasters we all have been through these last several years. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Kind Coffee, and although Amy and Kind Coffee have been honored before, this is a good time to celebrate her and her special business yet again
Estes park mountain shop
In the fall of 2022, The Mountain Shop lent their shop to host the Rocky Mountain Facelift volunteer program, which worked across the Estes Valley to support increasing recreational access, as well as removing over 300 pounds of trash from Lake Estes and the Big Thompson River. Along with helping get volunteers out doing work, they provided a space for volunteers to convene and feel like a part of a community, by providing food and drink for folks that came through.
Estes Park Mountain Shop should be recognized and appreciated as a steward and supporter of Estes Valley's world-class recreational resources, our locals and visitors alike. They provide ongoing support of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy programs each year, ordering gear and apparel for Corps members to ensure that they are properly equipped and always rise to support the Conservancy's education, volunteer, and High School Leadership programs.
Estes Park Mountain Shop should be recognized and appreciated as a steward and supporter of Estes Valley's world-class recreational resources, our locals and visitors alike. They provide ongoing support of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy programs each year, ordering gear and apparel for Corps members to ensure that they are properly equipped and always rise to support the Conservancy's education, volunteer, and High School Leadership programs.
macdonald book shop
Anastacia “Staci” Galloway Reed and Kevin Reed energize the one-hundred year old tradition of Macdonald Book Shop by saying YES! to serving our community with care, compassion, and an absolute fantastic sense of humor.
Macdonald Book Shop (with additional support from Noon Rotary) supported EVICS Family Resource Center’s early literacy project by acquiring bilingual books—over 1500 bilingual, social-emotional book titles were made available to every family of every kindergartner. Macdonald Book Shop sponsors another literacy program in which local families are able to shop for FREE books, a program Staci initiated to respond to and highlight the real need of families in Estes to help get their kids books. Staci also donates her time, talent and treasure as a nonprofit board member, bringing her business skills, experience in educational settings, and passion to help all Estes families thrive. Macdonald Book Shop is an important part of our Village!
Macdonald Book Shop (with additional support from Noon Rotary) supported EVICS Family Resource Center’s early literacy project by acquiring bilingual books—over 1500 bilingual, social-emotional book titles were made available to every family of every kindergartner. Macdonald Book Shop sponsors another literacy program in which local families are able to shop for FREE books, a program Staci initiated to respond to and highlight the real need of families in Estes to help get their kids books. Staci also donates her time, talent and treasure as a nonprofit board member, bringing her business skills, experience in educational settings, and passion to help all Estes families thrive. Macdonald Book Shop is an important part of our Village!
Youth Nominees |
Estes library teen summer volunteers
It's worth recognizing the teens in our community who took time over the summer to volunteer at the Estes Valley Library. The Teen Summer Volunteers ran the summer reading programs, assembling prizes for young readers, and make kits for those that could not attend the programs. They communicated with their supervisors and took accountability; they produced a well-run program that shows younger kids that older kids like to read!
Valentyna (Valya) Trydukh
Valya, who is from Ukraine, wanted to do something last year that would have an impact on the many families and friends trying to survive the conflict. In talking with folks back home, she found two immediate needs; medical supplies and money. From there, Valya created beautifully decorated boxes for both collecting money and medical supplies. She promoted the collection of supplies and money through Schoology (our district's Learning Management System), morning announcements at the high school, and awareness/fundraiser through the high school's BAM (Business and Management) class. Student and staff across the district were very supportive of the idea! She quickly discovered that it was easier to send money than medical supplies. She switched gears to fundraising through Venmo and Western Union. Valya's godmother in Ukraine helped run a large food packing center where the donations from students and staff made an immediate impact. Her godmother sent a video which was shared with staff. Valya should be recognized for taking action, adapting along the way, and letting her heart lead the pursuit of positive impact.
youth in action
Youth in Action has been an active youth-led club in Estes Park for the past eight years. Students develop fundraising activities that benefit the needs of the youth of the Estes Valley. Their largest annual contribution to our community is Shark Tank. This started with about $500 to give away to local nonprofit programs that benefit youth. Last year the group was able, through the generosity of the Bohemian Foundation’s Give Next Program and the fundraising of Youth in Action to give almost $6,000 back to the community. Students often realize, for the first time, the need of some of our community members. Shark Tank requires students to learn the grant process and how to decide what funds should be allocated according to their mission, but it also teaches them empathy.
This year, YIA set up a locker full of personal supplies for students. Students do not have to go without simple items such as toothpaste or deodorant, they can take what they need from the locker without question. The students of Youth in Action are diverse and accepting, which makes the organization a positive in our school.
This year, YIA set up a locker full of personal supplies for students. Students do not have to go without simple items such as toothpaste or deodorant, they can take what they need from the locker without question. The students of Youth in Action are diverse and accepting, which makes the organization a positive in our school.
Shavlik Nonprofit of the Year Nominees
EVICS Family Resource Center
EVICS serves the community through event planning, cultural celebrations, volunteering, providing resources such as bilingual reading materials, etc. EVICS consists of volunteers who demonstrate genuine care and passion; they make a positive and lasting impact throughout the community. One example of impact and partnership is with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Together, they work closely to provide resources (after-school programs and summer camps) and opportunities to the youth and families in the Estes Park community.
EVICS reaches everyone in the community through cultural celebrations, providing bilingual (Eng/Spa) reading materials and resources for families, and translation services to aid in annual school registration, connecting with public health providers, and connecting new families to the greater Estes Park community.
EVICS reaches everyone in the community through cultural celebrations, providing bilingual (Eng/Spa) reading materials and resources for families, and translation services to aid in annual school registration, connecting with public health providers, and connecting new families to the greater Estes Park community.
Crossroads ministry of estes park
Crossroads is the safety net for those who need it the most in the Estes Valley. In the last two years alone, it has assisted 1,296 adults and 616 children (962 families--433 of which were new to Crossroads) in meeting urgent needs. Some highlights of assistance include 296 mortgage payments, 139 utility bills, 12,535 meals on wheels delivered, 255,155 pounds of food distributed, and 360 Thanksgiving dinner boxes. And Crossroads collaborates whenever beneficial to "make the magic happen". They have partnered with Bright Christmas, providing 225 Christmases to families, and 240 backpacks of school supplies to local kids. Their partnership with Village Thrift Shop has provided 914 coats. These vital needs of our community were met only through the efforts of nearly 15,000 volunteer hours, demonstrating the widespread support of this vital mission. This organization helps those who need it most in our community, through our floods, fires, the pandemic, and our individual times of need.
Crossroads not only serves clients from its location, but it also took over and operates the local Meals on Wheels program, delivering meals to those who are unable to come and pick them up. Bilingual services are available on-site and are frequently utilized, with other multi-lingual capacities available when needed.
Crossroads not only serves clients from its location, but it also took over and operates the local Meals on Wheels program, delivering meals to those who are unable to come and pick them up. Bilingual services are available on-site and are frequently utilized, with other multi-lingual capacities available when needed.
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The YMCA of the Rockies has consistently donated staff time, an amazing spread of food, centerpieces on every table with matching napkins and tablecloth, AV equipment (all set up and working!) and so much more! The YMCA is an amazing partner. They started supporting this event when it was in a wee little room. Now it is in a big room with lots of people and lots more food and yet they still give.
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A Huge Thank You to Sponsors. We couldn't do it without you.
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Heart Sponsors are invested in philanthropy. They believe in amplifying (and celebrating) the good work of volunteers and service organizations. Please join us in thanking Visit Estes Park and First Colorado Realty for their support of National Philanthropy Day.
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Philanthropy Sponsors reinforce the importance of Culture of Philanthropy in Estes Park.
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Giving and Community Sponsors provide additional support for National Philanthropy Day. Thank you!
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2021 NPD Event - Thank you for coming!
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