2019 Grant Recipients Announced

2019 Grant Recipients

​Article recently appeared in the Redstone Review
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The Lyons Community Foundation is thrilled to announce the 2019 Community Support Grant Awards.  Each fall, Lyons- area non -profits apply for grants that will support the work they will do in the coming year.  As a community foundation, LCF’s job is to raise money that supports a diverse range of projects and populations.  By offering a centralized source for fundraising, non-profits can focus on the projects they perform.  The grant review committee, an anonymous group of area citizens, meets to analyze grant applications and award those whose intent aligns with LCF’s mission to improve the quality of life, build of culture of giving and encourage positive change in the greater Lyons area.
 
This year, the committee approved more than $27,000 in grants to 14 separate projects. Grant applications received totaled several times over this amount. While LCF would like to provide funding for many more projects and scholarships, increased investment by local individuals is necessary.  The following is a brief description of the projects awarded.  For more information on these awards see www.lyonscf.org.
 
LEAF (Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund) continues to be the largest single recipient of LCF funding.  While important projects such as the Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels received renewed grants, there are 2 new projects that were awarded.  There is a new Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery program initiated by LEAF that will support the community’s overall well- being.  There is also a Basic Needs and Resource Matching program that provides emergency grants or broader case management and/or resource referrals to clients in times of crisis. Help with things like housing or heat may provide the difference for a neighbor to stay in their home, further supporting those most vulnerable in our community.
 
Habitat for Humanity of Saint Vrain Valley is another 2019 grant recipient.  Since the 2013 Floods, Habitat has brought volunteers and financial support to help repair 12 homes in Lyons, and rebuild another destroyed home.  The Park Street development will allow 6 additional families to return to the Lyons community. The grant will help close the gap in funding for completion of the last 2 units in this project, allowing the last two families to be home for Christmas.
 
The new Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens, in the 504 buyout property in the confluence area of town, is blossoming as a post-flood highlight of community collaboration.  Their mission is to create an educational native plant botanic garden for residents and visitors to Lyons. The grant will support a small free library on the site of the garden. Visitors may both borrow and donate books or guides on native plants and gardening, for sharing and learning from each other and the books.  Groups already contributing to the gardens include the Lyons Volunteers, the Lyons Weed Posse, the Lyons Ecology Board, the Lyons Walking Arboretum, the Town of Lyons and Lyons’ school athletic and service organizations.  The soil testing Safe Organic Sustainable Weeds Action Plan (SOSWAP) group received a grant to perform further testing of the soils in areas of our public parks that have shown elevated levels of pesticides, protecting public health and safety for our residents.
 
A new mental health initiative started by the Lyons Regional Library will receive a grant to support their once-month “community dinner and arts” nights. The program is designed as an extension of a mental health initiative by offering a safe, social, sober environment for residents of all ages. This group has offered successful programming on issues of suicide awareness and other topics, and intends to provide access to more socialization and human connections, proven to increase mental well- being for individuals and within the community.  The vision of this program is “Creating belonging and personal safety for everyone”
 
Two grants focused on the schools include one for the Lyons Elementary Garden Club that supports garden-based curriculum and programs. The seed collection program provides an opportunity for plant-cycle learning with a bounty of food produced for the Lyons Food Pantry.  A grant awarded to the Lyons High School After Prom program will go towards supporting a safe, sober, supervised activity for high school students.
 
Other 2019 grants include the Town of Lyons for the ever-popular Sandstone Summer Concert Series, and the Holiday Parade of Lights.  The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission received an award to continue their work in securing the public art sculptures around town, supporting Lyons’ identity as an art-loving and artist-enriched town. Funding for the Lyons Historical Society will go towards a 2020 exhibit celebrating Lyons’ rich history in the quarry industry.
 
The Lyons Community Foundation traditionally raises funding for ALL future grants and student scholarships with an annual gala held in November.  In order to provide a more inclusive opportunity for residents, we have decided NOT to hold the gala this year and are planning a different focus in 2020. We are asking all residents to consider LCF in their year-end giving by donating to the foundation at www.lyonscf.org.

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