Lyons Community Foundation 2023 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 $50,000 in grants to 16 separate projects which will take place in 2024.
These projects help to PROVIDE Human Services, CONNECT the Community, SUPPORT Local Ecology and INVEST in our Youth in the greater Lyons area.
Human Services: $21,450
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.
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LEAF - Lyons Community Food Pantry The Lyons Community Food Pantry ensures that no one goes hungry in Lyons. When the Community Food Share isn't able to meet the Lyons Food Pantry's needs, this grant helps to buy food such as bread and meat. Most people don't realize that LEAF is seeing a record number of clients in its history. LEAF - Lyons Meals on Wheels Lyons Meals on Wheels helps older residents stay in their homes longer by providing hot meals up to five times a week. This grant will help to subsidize the average cost of a meal for Seniors living on a fixed income, by offering a sliding scale. LEAF - Mental Wellness & Addiction Recovery The Mental Wellness & Addiction Recovery program offers no-cost mental health care for people with Health First Colorado insurance coverage. This grant will keep our community safe by providing mental health services to locals in need. LEAF - Basic Needs & Resource Matching The Basic Needs & Resource Matching program helps our friends and neighbors stay in Lyons by providing financial assistance in emergency situations. This grant will help local residents meet their basic needs. In times of emergency, some residents need help keeping the heat on, repairing their vehicle to get to work, etc. LEAF - Lyons Volunteers The Lyons Volunteers is LEAF's newest program that helps local residents in their time of need, whether it be installing grab bars in an elderly person's home or recycling Christmas trees. Town of Lyons - Senior Programs The Town of Lyons offers a variety of programs for local seniors. This grant will help fund the much loved senior outing/picnic with lunch and programming, additional trips for seniors to places such as the Stock Show, Botanical Gardens, and Art Shows AND free art/exercise classes for seniors and scholarships for other recreation class offerings. Lyons Fire Fund This grant will allow the Lyons Fire Fund to purchase a DEA-compliant drug safes to support Paramedic Advanced Life Support. |
Community Connectivity: $5,500
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Town of Lyons - Events Every year, the Town of Lyons organizes seasonal events for local residents and guests to enjoy. LCF has supported popular events such as the Sandstone Summer Concerts, the Holiday Parade of Lights and the Winter Wonderland Concert Series since 2013. |
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Town of Lyons - Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission LCF has been a huge supporter of public art since 2009. The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) has received two grants to support the heARTS Outdoor Art program and the Creative Outlets program. The LAHC hopes to install new sculptures in 2024 for a two year period as part of the heARTS program. Another grant, Creative Outlets will pay for a local artist to paint a local utility box. Lyons Historical Society - Lyons Redstone Museum For the last 44 years, the Lyons Redstone Museum has been the repository and caretaker of Lyons history. The LCF grant will be used for exhibit upgrades. Lyons Community Theater Lyons Community Theater is a new organization, but already has big plans to enhance the community through live theater. |
Youth Investment: $6,473
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St.Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation
The St.Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation (SVVSEF) offers grants for teachers to support their innovative ideas. LCF is happy to support their Teacher Innovation Grant Program for the benefit of St. Vrain Valley Schools within the Greater Lyons area which include: ● Lyons Elementary School ● Hygiene Elementary School, and ● Lyons Middle Senior High School |
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The Lions Booster Club
The Lions Booster Club exists to promote, aid, encourage and enhance the development of all Lyons Middle Senior High School students through support of classroom and extra-curricular activities including academics, fine arts, athletics, social development and leadership. This grant will help fund the After-Prom event which enables the school and parents to provide a safe, alcohol and drug-free environment, and a fun alternative to other potentially hazardous activities during prom night for Lyons’ students. Lyons Middle Senior High School This grant will help get new computer equipment for the library at LMSHS. Lyons Elementary School This year, the elementary school received two grants. One will be used for the garden program, in which second grade students learn to grow food in the school garden, and then donate that food to the local food pantry. The other will be used to help fund the Robotics program. Lyons Backer Football Club, LTD A group of parents and coaches partnered with the town of Lyons to create a new middle school football program/club for kids in grades 6-8 who are interested in playing, even those without experience. This program emphasizes safety, fun, respect, character development, and leadership. |
Local Ecology: $5,500
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Town of Lyons Ecology Advisory Board This grant was given in support of an astronomy and nocturnal birds experience for Lyons-area students. Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Funds from this year's grant will be used for rehabilitating orphaned, injured, and sick wildlife. Lyons Community Farm Project This organization is focused on building food forests and gardens for the Lyons community. They harness the power of nature to grow food, grow community, and grow our collective resilience. Simply Bee Conservation Simply Bee Conservation's mission is to create community connecting programs grounded in creating community bee habitats as living classrooms to support bee populations in proliferating and expanding their territory. With our Save the Bee program, we can create a network of pollinator gardens that will provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for bees and other pollinators. |