WET MTN VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The succession and sustainability fund (sas) was established to support long-term planning and sustainability efforts for the community foundation and our custer county nonprofit community. Such efforts may include board education, consultations, strategic planning, and development.

The high mountain hay fever childrens health fund is managed through a contractual agreement with the wmvcf. Funds are available to local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations through a yearly grant process. A committee of health aware community members is appointed to administer a grant cycle process for childrens programs that address physical, emotional, social, and educational health needs for children, ages birth to 18 years. Continued support for the childrens health fund is buoyed by yearly grants from the high mountain hay fever bluegrass festival association and other private donations.

The wmvcf oversees the rebecca samuelson fund for the arts. This program provides funding for youth programs and opportunites in the arts based on a grant application and review process. The goal of this fund is to provide an endowment for the arts in custer county.

The wmvcf administers the valley strong fund. The designated purpose of the valley strong fund is to foster and strengthen community building by supporting education, communication, programs and events which celebrate and advance community relationships. The annual valley strong dinner, the car show and the christmas parade are all examples of events sponsored by the fund. The fund may also provide services or support programs that include but are not limited to: providing education in the form of public meetings, events, reading groups, articles, social media and workshops, with a focus on community building and growth; and encouraging local, community-based youth leadership training via grants or education.

The wmvcf sponsors the excellence in education committee. The excellence in education fund is a designated fund within the wmvcf and was founded to help address pressing educational needs for our community youth that fall outside the resources provided by the public school system. The result is a three-way partnership between the committee, the wmvcf, and the c-1 school district of custer county. The committees accomplishments include: new mathematics curriculum in grades 1-9; support for digital curriculum; teacher training; support for the arts programs; supplies including textbooks, calculators, chromebooks, and projectors; volunteer coordination; and the adopt-a-class program.

The bluff and summit parks, at the west end of main street in westcliffe, provide sweeping views of the wet mountain valley and the sangre de cristo mountains. The bluff and summit parks are owned by the town of westcliffe and colorado open lands holds the conservation easement. An advisory committee, made up of members of local nonprofits and community members, oversees proposed projects for the parks.

As part of the foundations 25th anniversary, the foundation launched the $25k for 25th year youth in philanthropy initiative, with the goal of recruiting the communitys young adults to engage with the local non-profit sector and to help award $25,000 in community grants.

The wmvcf maintains a space for other non-profits to use.

The foundation oversees grant funds received by the custer county kids council (cckc). Through a collaborative of over 20 local agencies and organizations, the goal of cckc is to provide a local comprehensive early childhood system so all children and their families have equal access to quality programs and services that ensure every child in custer county is healthy, valued, thriving, and ready to succeed in school and throughout life.

Seated at the base of the magnificent sangre de cristo range and surrounded by the lush hay meadows of the wet mountain valley, the ula cemetery provides a dramatic yet tranquil setting for a final resting place. The ula cemetery perpetual fund will ensure the cemetery maintenance and upkeep needs are met well into the future.