Lyons Community Foundation 2020 Grant Recipients
As a community foundation, LCF raises money to support a diverse range of projects and populations. The Grant Review Committee, an anonymous volunteer group of area citizens, meets to analyze grant applications and award those whose intent aligns with the mission of the LCF:
To improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving and encourage positive change in the greater Lyons area
This year, the committee awarded over $31,000 in grants to 14 separate projects. These projects represent four key areas that LCF has identified as their focus areas: Human Services ($16,700), Community Connectivity ($10,850), Local Ecology ($2,700) and Youth Investment ($1,250).
*Click on the interactive links below to learn more about each organization's project
Human Services: $16,700

Lyons Emergency and Assistance Fund
Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) remains the biggest recipient of grant funding as their programs continue to grow to meet the community's need for human services:
- Food Pantry
- Basic Needs and Resource Matching
- Meals on Wheels
- Mental Wellness & Addiction Recovery
- Lyons Volunteers (new grantee in 2020)
Community Connectivity: $10,850

Town of Lyons - Parks and Recreation
Town of Lyons has received two grants to continue our local traditions which support community connectivity:
- Sandstone Summer Concerts (grant awarded in 2019 to be repurposed in 2021 due to COVID-19)
- Holiday Parade of Lights
- Winter Wonderland Concert Series
Town of Lyons - Parks and Recreation
Town of Lyons has received two grants to continue our local traditions which support community connectivity:
- Sandstone Summer Concerts (grant awarded in 2019 to be repurposed in 2021 due to COVID-19)
- Holiday Parade of Lights
- Winter Wonderland Concert Series

Town of Lyons- Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission
Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission received two grants:
- heARTS of Lyons: an outdoor collection of public art sculptures which are displayed around town (two years)
- Creative Outlets: a program creating works of art by painting local utility boxes
Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission received two grants:
- heARTS of Lyons: an outdoor collection of public art sculptures which are displayed around town (two years)
- Creative Outlets: a program creating works of art by painting local utility boxes

Lyons Historical Society
The Lyons Historical Society was awarded two grants:
- Lyons Redstone Museum for a 2022 exhibit celebrating Lyons’ rich history in the quarry industry
- Julie Smith and Priscilla Cohan have been awarded a grant to write a children's book about Lavern Johnson
The Lyons Historical Society was awarded two grants:
- Lyons Redstone Museum for a 2022 exhibit celebrating Lyons’ rich history in the quarry industry
- Julie Smith and Priscilla Cohan have been awarded a grant to write a children's book about Lavern Johnson
Youth Investment: $1,250

Lyons Elementary School Garden Club
- This grant supports the new hydroponic gardening project providing an opportunity for plant-cycle learning year-round as students will be able to grow plants indoors at Lyons Elementary School.

Lyons High School Booster Club
The grant will go towards supporting a safe, sober, supervised activity for high school students after prom. See Lyons High School Booster Club for more info.
The grant will go towards supporting a safe, sober, supervised activity for high school students after prom. See Lyons High School Booster Club for more info.
Local ecology: $2,700

Lyons Garden Club
The LCF grant will support projects for the coming year which include a garden tour as well as maintenance of their garden sites: West Wall, Butterfly Garden and Berm (on High Street). Click here for more info.
The LCF grant will support projects for the coming year which include a garden tour as well as maintenance of their garden sites: West Wall, Butterfly Garden and Berm (on High Street). Click here for more info.

Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens
Blossoming in the 504 buyout property, in the confluence area of town, is a post-flood highlight of community collaboration. The mission is to create an educational, native plant, botanic garden for residents and visitors to Lyons. This grant will help pay for two Lyons residents as part-time gardeners in the spring/early summer of 2021. They will work 40 hours ($15/hour) each over a period of two or three months in the garden. To qualify, the persons would be short-term contractors whose regular jobs are or were disrupted due to the 2020 pandemic. Some gardening experience (weeding, planting, watering, digging and raking) will be required. Click here for more information.
Blossoming in the 504 buyout property, in the confluence area of town, is a post-flood highlight of community collaboration. The mission is to create an educational, native plant, botanic garden for residents and visitors to Lyons. This grant will help pay for two Lyons residents as part-time gardeners in the spring/early summer of 2021. They will work 40 hours ($15/hour) each over a period of two or three months in the garden. To qualify, the persons would be short-term contractors whose regular jobs are or were disrupted due to the 2020 pandemic. Some gardening experience (weeding, planting, watering, digging and raking) will be required. Click here for more information.