 Since the Lyons Community Foundation’s inception in 2008, more than half a million
dollars has been given out in the form of Community Support Grants. These grants are designed to support local initiatives that align with our mission of improving the quality of life, building a culture of giving, and encouraging positive change for the greater Lyons area. Each Fall, Lyons-area nonprofit organizations apply for grants that will support the work they plan to do in the year to come. This year, an unprecedented number of applications was received, indicating an increasing need for support in our community. In all, 27 applications were submitted, totalling $90,000 in requested funds, a more than 50% increase over the amount requested in 2022. With so many applications to review, the volunteers who comprised this year’s grant review committee had their work cut out for them. After careful consideration, the committee decided to recommend that the LCF Advisory Board award funds in support of 24 different projects, for a total of $50,000 in grants. The Lyons Community Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of our Community Support Grants, organized here by category and recipient: Human Services: Town of Lyons Lyons Senior Programs - $1,200 Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) Lyons Community Food Pantry - $5,000 Lyons Meals on Wheels - $5,000 Basic Needs and Resource Matching - $3,750 Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery - $2,500 Lyons Volunteers - $1,000 Lyons Fire Fund DEA-compliant drug safes to support Paramedic Advanced Life Support - $3,000 Community Connectivity: Town of Lyons Sandstone Summer Concert Series - $4,000 Winter Wonderland Concert Series - $1,800 Parade of Lights - $2,227 Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission Creative Outlets - $1,250 heARTS of Lyons - $2,000 Lyons Historical Society dba Lyons Redstone Museum Exhibit enhancement and operational expenses- $2800 Lyons Community Theater - $2500 Local Ecology: Town of Lyons Ecology Advisory Board Astronomy and Nocturnal Birds Experience for Lyons Students - $500 Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitating orphaned, injured, and sick wildlife- $2,000 Simply Bee Conservation Lyons Community Pollinator Pathways Project - $1,000 Lyons Community Farm Project - $2,000 Youth Investment: Lyons Elementary School Robotics - $1,177 Garden - $546 Lyons Backer Football Club, LTD. - $1,000 St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grants - $2,000 Lyons Middle/Senior High School Computer Replacement Project - $750 Lions’ Booster Club After-Prom Event - $1,000 In all, $21,450 was awarded in the category of Human Services, $16,577 in the category of Community Connectivity, $5,500 in the category of Local Ecology, and $6,473 in the category of Youth Investment. “We’d like to say congratulations to all of this year’s grant recipients! Thank you for all you do to make this community an inspiring and caring place to live,” said Ella Levy, who chairs the Grants Committee for the LCF Advisory Board. As a community foundation, LCF’s work consists of raising money to support a diverse range of projects and populations in the greater Lyons area. By offering a centralized source for fundraising, nonprofits can focus on their programs and projects instead of on raising money. While LCF would like to provide funding for many more projects each year, we need more donations to do so. We are asking all residents to consider LCF in their year-end giving by making an online donation to the foundation at www.lyonscf.org. If you prefer to send a check, please watch for our annual appeal holiday card that should arrive in your mailbox in the next few weeks. Thank you! As we approach our 10th anniversary from the devastating flood of 2013, I
reflect on what our community endured and the strength, grit and determination we demonstrated to persevere and grow to where we are today. Our updated infrastructure, parks, bridges and new affordable housing just starting to be occupied continues to obscure the evidence of our catastrophic flood and has allowed us to move forward. Many of us still have PTSD when we experience heavy thunderstorms but hopefully that will continue to fade over time. The flood brought a new awareness to the meaning of giving, helping and supporting those around us. September 11 th 2013 brought a change in history to our little town that affected every one of us living here at that time. From the day the flood started, our community gathered together as a family to create a united front. Those who had never been involved stepped up to assist community leaders and took on new roles that they never imagined they would ever have to fill. As soon as the flood hit, people from all over the country started reaching out to our community asking what they could do to help. Many offered donations that the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) carefully collected, a plethora of kind hearted volunteers drove from all over the country to help muck out our homes and others opened up their doors and gave us warm places to live for many weeks as we patiently waited to return to our community. FEMA, United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Life Bridge Church, Team Rubicon, Christian Ministries and many other organizations from around the country came to our assistance immediately. Folks, not only here in town, but from far away held fundraisers to support Lyons. Events such as Lyons Homecoming, the Holiday BBQ Fundraiser for Lyons (that was responsible for feeding a local family for 6 months), Celebrating Lyons Music Concert/Rebuild Lyons One Life at a Time, NOLARADO in New Orleans, Flood Relief Benefit Concert by The Songwriters Association in Washington DC, The Lyons Holiday Bazaar and many more. Local businesses such as Gwynne’s Greenhouse and Lyons Quilt Shop donated proceeds from recent sales to help the LCF collect money. Lyons own South Creek Limited held an online auction and donated the proceeds, with generously donated items from their longtime customers, to the LCF. Residents held birthday fundraisers, school children near and far held bake sales, put up lemonade stands and sold beanie babies so they could collect funds to donate to the LCF fundraising efforts. Lyons, New York, a sister community with a common name, even donated to our Lyons, Colorado. The Community Foundation in Boulder (LCF’s fiscal manager), had been instrumental to the success of the LCF’s fundraising efforts. They supported the LCF and the town of Lyons by working tirelessly behind the scenes to help nurture large donations to help our residents start to recover. Local and national organizations such as Oskar Blues CAN’D AID Foundation, established by Lyons own Dale Katechis, Foothills United Way, The Dr. Scholl Foundation and other extremely generous donors gave handsomely to our fundraising cause. I don’t want to forget our local and nearby residents who made substantial donations which gave us our start to gather matching funds and allowed us to collect large swaths of money. We should all be forever grateful for this unprecedented support during these tough times. In just a short few months we raised over $1,000,000 and the temporary board of our local Rebuild Lyons One Life at a Time team was responsible for approving and delivering funds to eligible local residents by Christmas 2013. I do ask our community to remember Mr. Gerry Boland who perished in the 2013 flood. Gerry was a beloved teacher, coach and resident of Lyons. His family created a memorial found in front of the elementary school that reads “May we forever remember Gerald Boland, teacher, coach and lifelong resident of Lyons. Through caring, compassion and leadership, he taught our children well for 30 years.” Because there have been many recent tragic natural disasters around the world, I find it hard not to mention other communities and the suffering they are now experiencing. Local community foundations are entrenched in the day to day needs of their residents and I find it a great resource for those wanting to donate to these community necessities. At this 10 year milestone, I ask that you continue to support your local Lyons Community Foundation and its ongoing community support efforts. You are Lyons and we, my friends and neighbors, ARE collectively the LCF. Sincerely, Liz Erley Former Chair: Lyons Community Foundation  Time spent by the river with friends is a hallmark of summertime in Lyons, and there’s no better place to indulge in this activity than the gorgeous grounds of River Bend. On Sunday, August 27th, from 2pm to 7pm, the greater Lyons community is invited to join Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) for our 3rd Annual Hootenanny at River Bend. This family-friendly event offers free admission, in the hopes that everyone in town can come spend an enjoyable afternoon by the river.
LCF and LEAF are teaming up to put on the event, which is a fundraiser for both organizations. There will be something for everyone: live music, kids zone, dance performances, silent auction, cornhole tournament, food trucks, a bar, and the ever-popular rubber ducky race. On the music front, the Hootenanny will feature live music by Wood Belly, who won the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition. According to the band’s official bio, “the quintet is forging a sound that is based in newgrass and flavored with alt-country, rock, and just enough jam to glue it all together.” Sounds perfect for a Lyons Hootenanny! In addition to musical entertainment, we will feature dance performances by Lyons’ own Mayama Dance Company. Mayama’s performances are always captivating and fun, and we are looking forward to seeing what this fantastic local dance company has in store this year. For the kids, we’ll have a wonderful children’s area designed and presented by Rainbow Lightning Productions, whose mission is to keep the inner child inspired. This nonprofit based out of Crestone, Colorado, creates playscapes and activities where kids can have an exploratory and fun experience. Colorado Fairy Hair will pay us a visit as well, for all of you who are looking to add a little sparkle to your hair. The rubber ducky race will take place late afternoon, when we will be dropping the ducks in the river from the bridge on Highway 36. Watching the ducks float down the river is so much fun! Sign up for a duck the day of the Hootenanny at the LEAF tent. The cost per ducky is $5. A raft of ducks cost $20 for five. The cash prize for 1st place is $100, 2nd place is $50, and 3rd place is $25. There will also be a cornhole tournament for cornhole lovers of all ages. We are offering a $100 cash prize for the winners of the tournament. Teams of two can sign up at the LEAF booth at the Hootenanny. The cost is $20 per team of two. Since this is a fundraiser, we are planning a silent auction, too. We will be featuring chances to win several mountain getaways, three different local staycations, and a stay in a lovely Mexican casa near the ocean. Also on offer will be all kinds of services from facials to portrait sessions to estate planning. You may also be tempted to bid on artwork from local artists, custom dinners, music festival passes, and more! Thank you to everyone who contributed such amazing items for the auction. We are excited to see what bidding wars might ensue, all in support of LCF and LEAF. There will be three food trucks at the Hootenanny this year. McDevitt Tacos will have a variety of tacos on offer, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices. Jacaranda will be serving up wood-fired pizza by Chef Modou. For dessert, plan to indulge in ice cream treats from Sweet Cow’s MooMobile. At the shady bar under the trees, we will have a choice of beverages for purchase, including wine, Oskar Blues beer and hard seltzer, Spirit Hound vodka lemonade, as well as non-alcoholic offerings. We want to thank all the sponsors of this year’s Hootenanny: CEMEX, River Bend, Lifetime Windows & Siding, Sisters’ Pantry, 24-7 Restoration, Lumber Liquors, The Laura Levy Group, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Western Stars Gallery, Spirit Hound Distillers, Moss Rock Development, Lyons Dairy Bar, Gateway Auto Services, MainStage Brewing, Lyons Lawn and Landscape, Gateway Realty, Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons Automotive, and Tucker Group Real Estate. We truly appreciate your generosity and support. Finally, just a few notes: 1. If you bring a motorized vehicle, we are asking for $5 for parking. 2. Please leave your furry friends at home. 3. LEAF will be collecting donations for the Lyons Community Food Pantry at the event. Please bring along a non-perishable item to contribute. Come out and have some fun and help those in need at the same time. It’s definitely a win-win at the Hootenanny! All of us at Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) are pleased to announce our 16th Annual Community Support granting season. Each year in August and early September, Lyons-area organizations apply for grants that will support the work they plan to do in the year to come. This year, more than $45,000 will be made available to deserving recipients. As the Grants Committee chair for LCF, the beginning of our granting season is an exciting and busy time for me. Recently, I volunteered at a Wednesday night Sandstone Park concert. I spent the evening popping and serving popcorn, collecting donations, chatting with fellow community members, and listening to some amazing live music. I felt proud knowing that an LCF grant to the Town of Lyons had helped make that concert possible. It was a good reminder of why our Community Support Grants are so important to our community, and of how they bring people together. Simply put, these grants make life in Lyons better. From the public art we all enjoy as we walk through town, to the work of LEAF and the Lyons food pantry, to the beauty of the Rocky Mountain Botanical Gardens, it’s hard to find a corner of our town that hasn’t been touched by the funding from these grants. Applications for Community Support Grants are open to government agencies, schools, local nonprofit organizations, and groups/projects that do not have 501(c)3 status but do have a nonprofit sponsoring organization. You can apply online starting August 1st. Submissions are due on September 9, 2023. These grants are typically available only once per year and must be applied for at this time. Electronic submissions are required. Granting information and applications are available at lyonscf.org. As a community foundation, LCF’s work consists of raising money to support a diverse range of projects and populations in the greater Lyons area. By offering a centralized source for fundraising, nonprofits are able to focus on their projects and programs, instead of on raising funds. Since LCF’s inception in 2008, over half a million dollars has been distributed in grants to support local initiatives that either build community connectivity, provide human services, invest in our youth, or support local ecology initiatives. In 2022, Community Support Grants totaled over $50,000 and were awarded to 17 projects including LEAF (Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund) and the Lyons food pantry, the Town of Lyons Parks and Recreation (Sandstone Concert Series and Parade of Lights), Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission, Lyons Historical Society (Redstone Museum), Lyons Booster Club, Lyons Regional Library, Lyons Creates, St. Vrain Valley Schools, and Rocky Mountain Botanical Gardens. LCF welcomes the participation of community members who wish to serve on the Grants Review Committee, which is separate from LCF’s Advisory Board. Grant applications to LCF are reviewed by a committee whose members represent the Lyons community. Being a grant reviewer is a fun way to learn about some of the exciting efforts going on in Lyons, and aid in the LCF granting. If you wish to be considered for the Grants Review Committee, please submit the application form that can be accessed on the LCF website, www.lyonscf.org. The commitment for this volunteer opportunity is two evenings in September. Applications to serve on the Grants Review Committee must be submitted by September 4, 2023. I, for one, am looking forward to reviewing grant applications this year, and to learning about the innovative programs and projects that local organizations are hoping to have funded. We will announce the grant recipients for 2023 in November. -Ella Levy   Lyons Community Foundation runs largely on the power of volunteers. From our Advisory Board of twelve, who handle tasks such as budgeting, event planning, and running our scholarship and grants programs, to former board members who still devote hours each week to help out with whatever is most pressing, to those who show up occasionally to work a few hours at a time at our events, volunteers are instrumental to our ability to help the community.
Recently, many volunteer hours went into preparation for LCF’s participation in the 3rd Annual Artisan Market, scheduled for June 4th. But as event day drew closer, the weather forecast was looking more and more ominous. Sure enough, despite the optimism and determination of everyone involved, the incoming rainstorm made the decision to cancel simple, if not easy. By the time that decision was made, LCF volunteers (led by Sean Dunn, famous locally for his BBQ prowess) had already purchased and prepared a large amount of food. According to Gil Sparks, chair of the LCF Advisory Board, “When we heard that the event was postponed, we had kielbasa, pork shoulder, veggie sausages, chicken, potato salad, beans, and boiled peanuts all in various states of preparation. Honestly, my kitchen smelled like a little slice of paradise. We also had four big tubs of ice cream and dozens of cans of root beer for root beer floats. A lot of time and money had been invested. We considered just hosting a BBQ at our house for friends and volunteers so the food wouldn’t go to waste, but Sean Dunn decided that the show must go on, so go on, it did!” Sean, his wife Julie Jacobs (a former LCF board member), and other LCF volunteers took over the pavilion in Bohn Park, lit the grills, put on some music, and encouraged people to come on down to get some BBQ. The day turned out to be one to remember, with old friends and new gathering together at the covered tables, away from the downpour, enjoying a shared meal. Several people even indulged in root beer floats, despite the chilly temperature. Others brought takeaway containers so they could enjoy a BBQ dinner later that evening. We are grateful to Sean and Julie, and to the other volunteers who made that day possible. In all, nearly $1,000 was raised for LCF, money that will be used for grants to nonprofits and scholarships for local kids. If you have interest in being a part of the work of LCF, please consider volunteering for an event or even joining the Advisory Board. Simply fill out our online volunteer interest form at https://www.lyonscf.org/volunteer.html, and we will be in touch.  Lyons Middle Senior High School celebrated the accomplishments of graduating seniors at an awards ceremony on May 10th. During the ceremony, seven students were awarded a total of eight scholarships from the Lyons Community Foundation. These students have shown extraordinary leadership and meaningful work in the local community in addition to their academic and extracurricular achievements.
This year, thanks to the generous donations given by our financial supporters, LCF was able to substantially increase the amount of money awarded in scholarships. Instead of the $21,500 originally budgeted, the LCF Advisory Board voted to award a record-breaking $35,000 in scholarships for 2023. Gwydion Winkelmeyer, chair of the LCF Scholarship Committee, said of the scholarship program, “The Lyons Community Foundation is proud to support the young people of Lyons as they continue their journeys into higher education. Scholarships such as those endowed by the LCF Board and generous families in our community act to give students some well-deserved support to undertake the challenges of going to college and beginning their careers. Scholarships are also excellent indicators of the hard work and dedication to their future success that these young people have displayed.” The Lyons Community Foundation Mission Scholarship was awarded to Maya Caplan. This $5,000 scholarship recognizes a student from the greater Lyons area who embodies LCF's mission of improving the quality of life, building a culture of giving, and encouraging positive change for the greater Lyons area. The Lyons Community Foundation 2-Year Study Scholarship was awarded to Lochlan Osborne. This $5,000 scholarship recognizes a student who plans to attend a two-year program at college / university, trade school or other technical / vocational training. The scholarship was also designed to recognize a student who embodies LCF’s mission. The Uncle Louis “Bud” Winkler Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Hunter Powell. Honoring the memory of businessman Louis Winkler, this $5,000 scholarship is intended for a student who plans on majoring in business or finance. The Janet Orback Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Samantha Rickman. Established in 2018, this $5000 scholarship honors the memory of lifelong Lyons resident Janet Orback, who along with her husband Dave, tirelessly helped to provide support and friendship to her neighbors whose homes and lives were destroyed in the 2013 floods, as well as being stewards of the Lyons Cemetery for over 15 years. The Gerald Boland Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, was awarded to Cambria Burton by Amy Hoh. This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Gerald Boland, a 54 year resident of Lyons who taught in Lyons Schools for 31 years. Mr. Boland was a coach, Boy Scout Leader, and mentor who had a passion for learning and the outdoors. This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who shares these passions. The Scholarship in Memory of Steve Ralston was awarded to Cole Thomas. Created in 2009 to honor the memory of Lyons resident, businessman, and community supporter Steve Ralston, this scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who best expresses their passion for learning and sharing their interests, skills and joyful life experiences with their community. The CEMEX Environmental Stewardship Scholarship, which is brand new for 2023, was awarded to Keara Ping by Michael Clausen of CEMEX. This $1,000 scholarship is open to students with a planned field of study in natural resources, engineering, wildlife biology or geology. The Lyons Garden Club Scholarship, in the amount of $4,000, was also awarded to Keara Ping by Sara Erickson of the Lyons Garden Club. This scholarship, which is new in 2023, is open to students who intend to study horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, botany, plant ecology, forestry, plant pathology, or any field of study involving plants. Student scholarships have been an area of focus for LCF since its inception in 2006, and in that time approximately $110,000 has been awarded to Lyons-area students.  "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb
Since Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) was founded in 2007, we’ve embraced the idea of partnering with other organizations. In fact, the people who started LCF brought their idea of having a community foundation to life by choosing to partner with the Community Foundation of Boulder County (CFBC), an existing nonprofit organization. This decision proved to be a wise one, and the two organizations have worked closely together for the last 15 years. As an affiliate of CFBC, LCF is the beneficiary of many administrative resources that help us strengthen our local efforts. Since Gil Sparks stepped in as LCF Advisory Board Chair a few months ago, he has worked to deepen the relationship and the opportunities for cross-pollination with CFBC, including paying a visit to their offices in Boulder, and inviting CFBC staff members to participate in LCF advisory board meetings, starting with a day-long planning session here in Lyons. Similarly, Gil recently became a member of the CFBC Board of Trustees. We are grateful for this partnership, and enjoy working with the talented team at CFBC. Our ongoing partnership with another nonprofit, Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF), produces results that benefit our community. LEAF is an organization doing critical work for local residents, and all of us at LCF have deep respect for their team. Each year, a significant portion of our Community Support Grants funds go to LEAF, providing support for the LEAF Food Pantry, mental wellness programs, and more. On August 27th, 2023, LEAF and LCF will be joining forces to bring you the 3rd Annual Hootenanny. This community fundraiser is now a Summer tradition, with live music, a silent auction, a rubber ducky race, a kids zone, and more. The event will once again be held on the beautiful grounds of River Bend, thanks to yet another partnership, this one with owners Mike Whipp and Betsy Burton. Partnering with the Town of Lyons is also a priority for LCF. Whether it’s giving out grants to support the Sandstone Concert Series or programming for seniors, creating a float for the Holiday Parade of Lights, or setting up a tent with baked goods at local events, we endeavor to give both volunteer time and funds to help make Lyons a vibrant community and a great place to live. This June, we’re partnering with the town to put on the 3rd Annual Artisan Market. Scheduled for Sunday, June 4th from 10am-4pm, the Bohn Park event will feature 20+ vendors and music by the Blue Canyon Boys. During the event, the LCF team will be bringing together local grillmasters for “Grillin’ and Chillin’ in Lyons,” with tasty food for all, a healthy dose of competition, craft beer, and our locally-famous root beer floats. Events like the Hootenanny are only possible thanks to the financial sponsorship of local businesses, another important category of partners on which LCF relies. Without our local businesses, Lyons wouldn’t be the same. LCF attempts to support these businesses however we can, even in small ways like choosing to hold some of our meetings at local coffee shops or restaurants, and buying supplies locally whenever possible. In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the Lyons Community Foundation launched “The Lyons Share - a small business economic relief fund” in partnership with the St. Vrain Market. The fund, seeded with proceeds from the St. Vrain Market and matched by LCF, was designed to help local businesses survive the impact of COVID-19’s forced business closures. With the added donations from the Town of Lyons and area residents, the Lyons Share Fund provided $43,000 to local businesses in 2020. Earlier this month, Planet Bluegrass generously gave us the opportunity to bring in donations during their Easter celebration. Between bar proceeds, and donations at our baked goods tent, we brought in more than $1,200 in just a few hours! This money will go back into the community in the form of grants to nonprofits and scholarships. In just a few weeks, we are teaming up with the A-Lodge to bring you Movies on the Lawn, scheduled for the first Thursday of each month, May through October. The inaugural event is on May 4th, so come on out and enjoy a movie under the stars, sip a beverage or two, eat some delicious food, and show your support for both LCF and a local business. We are always open to new partnership opportunities. Please reach out with any ideas or proposals: info@lyonscf.org  Any long-time Lyons resident will tell you that the town has changed a lot since 2007, the year Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) was founded. Businesses have come and others have (sadly) gone, new houses have risen from what once were open fields, property values have increased exponentially, and the flood of 2013 brought devastation followed by a vast rebuilding effort.
One thing that hasn’t changed? Lyons is still a small town with a big heart. Evidence for that can be found in the commitment of our citizens to improving the community and giving back to others. The Lyons Community Foundation was established in 2007 when several generous and caring area residents saw the need for a locally-based philanthropy and began the hard work of setting up the organization. John Burke, Gary LaFever, and Rick England, among others, were key in laying this groundwork. Connie Eyster and Christy Crosser were the first Advisory Board co-chairs. LCF was established under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Boulder County and remains one of their funds. In the 15 years since LCF was started, nearly 60 area residents have served on its Advisory Board, volunteering their time to help the community. Those same board members have collectively donated approximately $300,000 to LCF! In fact, many of LCF’s original board members continue to support the organization to this day, funding grants to nonprofits and scholarships for local students. One reason for having a community foundation is the ability to address the unique needs of a small and diverse community. There are events, projects, and programs that otherwise would not occur, given the budget and constraints of a small town. Accordingly, LCF focuses on raising funds to support a diverse range of projects and populations in order to improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving and encourage positive change in the greater Lyons area. By offering a centralized source for fundraising, nonprofits can focus on their programs, and individuals and businesses have a way to easily support all the good work happening in the community. Since 2008, the first year LCF gave out grants, more than $500,000 has been awarded to a variety of local nonprofit organizations such as the Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund, the Town of Lyons, the Lyons Historical Society, Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens, the Lyons Elementary School PTO, and the Lyons Middle/Senior High School Booster Club. These community support grants help these organizations and others fulfill their missions. The 15 years since LCF was founded have also seen nearly $75,000 distributed to local graduating seniors to further their education. In all, approximately 70 students have benefitted from these scholarships. In no time was the need for a local foundation more critical than during the 2013 flood. Because LCF existed, the “Rebuild Lyons One life at Time” grant program was able to spring into action, awarding over $1M to local residents and businesses when they needed it most. Funds were given out within three months of the flood to address critical needs. In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the Lyons Community Foundation launched “The Lyons Share - a small business economic relief fund” in partnership with the St. Vrain Market. The fund, seeded with proceeds from the market and matched by LCF, was designed to help local businesses survive the impact of COVID-19’s forced business closures. With the added donations from the Town of Lyons and area residents, the Lyons Share Fund provided $43,000 to local businesses in 2020. As you can see, it’s been a busy and productive 15 years since our founding! Thank you to everyone who has donated and volunteered over the years. All of us at LCF are inspired by your dedication and commitment to this town we call home. We can’t wait to see what the next 15 years will bring, and we’re committed to keep making a difference in the lives of all who live here.  For the past six years, Jeanne Moore provided exceptional leadership for the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF), all for the benefit of our local non-profits, students, and local residents.
In January, I assumed her role as the LCF Advisory Board chair. Stepping into Jeanne's shoes is a daunting undertaking, but I believe that LCF's role in our community is critical. My wife Kay and I moved to Lyons in October 2020 to be with our son Chris, our daughter in law Jen, and our 4 year old granddaughter Juniper. We are both quite active in the community and have a vested interest in seeing it thrive, which is why I am committed to upholding and championing LCF’s mission and values. Many of you may not be aware that LCF is an advisory board of Community Foundation Boulder County (CFBC). CFBC has supported nonprofit organizations throughout the county for more than 31 years, granting nearly $150 million to community partners. CFBC has worked closely with LCF since 2007, to help us improve the quality of life for everyone in the greater Lyons area. As an affiliate of CFBC, LCF has been the beneficiary of many administrative resources to help supplement our local fundraising efforts. The resulting funds help us meet a myriad of our community’s needs, including being able to provide grants for flood recovery, assisting in keeping our businesses strong during the pandemic, providing college scholarships for local students, and, more recently, providing funding to assist with the Main Street fire recovery efforts. In addition to the critical programs listed above, Lyons Community Foundation also has the honor of helping bring you many of your favorite local events, such as the Sandstone Concert Series (Wednesday evenings in the Summer), the Artisan Market, the Hootenanny (scheduled for Sunday, August 27th this year), and the Holiday Parade of Lights. This Winter and Spring, there are several events you’ll want to put on your calendar. First, the Winter Wonderland Concert Series has two more family-friendly concerts scheduled: Saturday, Feb. 25th with Dechen Hawk performing, and Saturday, March 25th with Ian Brighton performing. If the weather is cold enough to allow ice skating, concerts will be held in LaVern Johnson Park, and free skate rentals will be available. If not, concerts may be moved to a sunnier location. Either way, hot chocolate and other goodies will be for sale, benefitting local non-profit organizations. We are also partnering with Gemini Adventures to bring you the second annual Lucky Lyons 5k and 10k run on March 11th, 2023. With a start and finish in Bohn Park, and a St. Patrick’s Day theme, this event is the perfect opportunity to don your green running gear and get out on our local trails. Participants will not only earn their green beer, they’ll be supporting a great cause, because net profits from the event will be donated to LCF. You can register for Lucky Lyons online at: https://geminiadventures.com/run/lucky-lyons I volunteered at an aid station for the race last year, and had a wonderful time cheering on all of the adults and kids who ran past. Kay and I will be volunteering again this year, and we’d love for you to join us. Please sign up to volunteer with us at: https://tinyurl.com/luckylyonsvolunteers Lastly, I’d be remiss this month if I failed to let you know that the deadline for college scholarship applications is March 10th. This year, we are offering 8 different scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to up to $5,000 each. They are open to Lyons area graduating seniors. All the details can be found on our website: https://www.lyonscf.org/ During my tenure as chair of the Advisory Board, I am hoping to get to meet and know as many of you as possible. Let's get together, over coffee, lunch or an afternoon beverage to discuss your thoughts about Lyons Community Foundation and its potential future contributions to our community. I can be reached at gsparks@nwi.net. Hope to hear from you.  The more support that nonprofit organizations have, as counted in both funds raised and volunteer hours devoted, the more good they can do. Thanks to the generous, ongoing support of community members in both of these realms, Lyons Community Foundation is thrilled to report that it will be able to do even more good in the greater Lyons area in 2023 than it was able to do in 2022.
With more than $150,000 in contributions, LCF had a banner year for fundraising in 2022. This amount compares to $119,955 raised in 2021, $98,973 raised in 2020, and $72,607 raised in 2019. All of the money raised will be used in support of LCF’s mission, which is to “improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving and encourage positive change for the greater Lyons area.” What does this mission look like in action? The funds you donate to LCF help nonprofit organizations like LEAF and the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens, they are given out to local high school students in the form of college scholarships, and they support community events like the Sandstone Concert Series and the Holiday Parade of Lights. In short, the funds you give make life in our community better for all. To put fundraising dollars to good work requires a hardworking and committed team of people. Accordingly, LCF has welcomed several new board members to its Advisory Board over the last year. Current board members are: Gil Sparks (Chair), Cory Pierce (Vice Chair), Gail Frankfort (Co-Treasurer), Kathy Hoyt (Co-Treasurer), Sara Erickson (Secretary), Gwydion Winkelmeyer, Ravi Gandh, Ella Levy, David Mencin, Jesse Garland, Dave Hatchimonji, Sarah Lorang, and Zach Tucker. Gil Sparks, the new Board Chair, is well-suited for the role, having served on the Community Foundation of North Central Washington board for 14 years, including two years as Board Chair. He also served on the boards of the Pybus Market Charitable Foundation, Pybus Public Market, Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, the Performing Arts Center, the Chamber of Commerce (President-2 years), the YMCA, Rotary (President-1 year) and co-founded the Apple Valley Human Resource Association (President-2 years). Gil’s goal as LCF Board Chair is to keep growing the organization so it can do even more good in the greater Lyons area. He is always willing to sit down and chat with people who are interested in the organization and its work, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to him with any questions, concerns or ideas you might have about LCF and its role in the community. Departing LCF board members are Jeanne Moore and Claudia Kean, both of whom dedicated countless volunteer hours helping the community during their many years with LCF. Jeanne served as Board Chair, and Claudia as Co-Treasurer. The Advisory Board is grateful to Jeanne and Claudia for their dedication, and wishes them well in their future endeavors. Tanya Daty, who served for more than two years as a communications consultant for LCF, has also stepped down from her role. Tanya’s work has helped LCF grow and thrive, and she will be missed. To fill Tanya’s shoes, Kate Schnepel has stepped in as communications consultant, effective this month. Kate spent nearly three years volunteering time as an Advisory Board member before resigning that role in order to take on the paid consulting role. Kate’s professional background is in marketing and communications for nonprofit organizations, and she is excited to be putting her skills to work to serve the community she has grown to love since her family moved to Lyons in 2019. If you have interest in being a part of the work of LCF, consider volunteering or even joining the Advisory Board. Board members are asked to commit to a three-year term, attend monthly Board meetings, to participate on committees, and to become financial supporters of the organization. The LCF Advisory Board would like to represent the community it serves by adding board members who are diverse in age, background, talents, and skills. If you are interested in learning about becoming a board member or in volunteering your time to help out with fundraising, grants, scholarships, or special events, please contact us at info@lyonscf.org. |
AuthorLyons Community Foundation Archives
April 2023
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