Nearly 150,000 people across 22 Western Slope counties will benefit from funding recently awarded by Rocky Mountain Health Foundation to nonprofit organizations that address physical and mental health, basic needs, and COVID-19 Response.
“Right now, we’re focusing on addressing the wide-spread effects of the pandemic,” said Michaelle Smith, executive director of the Foundation. “These grants will assist the amazing people doing the important work — the “boots on the ground” work – of trying to meet the increasingly complex needs of marginalized and vulnerable people living on the Western Slope. What a gift it is for our Foundation to support these dedicated and compassionate people who make our community better.”
The 43 organizations receiving grants in this cycle are (by county): Archuleta County: Rise Above Violence; Delta County: A KIDZ Clinic, Delta County Memorial Hospital, HopeWest; Eagle County: Bright Future Foundation for Eagle County, Eagle Valley Community Foundation; Garfield County: Carbondale Age-Friendly Communities, Family Visitor Programs, River Bridge Regional Center, YouthZone; Grand County: Mountain Family Center; Gunnison County: Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, Project Hope of Gunnison Valley; LaPlata County: La Plata Family Centers Coalition, La Plata Youth Services, Volunteers of America, Southwest Colorado Division; Lake County: St. George Episcopal Church Food Pantry; Mesa County: Counseling and Education Center, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, Lower Valley Hospital Association, STRiVE, SummitWest Care, The Joseph Center, The Kids Aid Backpack Program, Western Slope Center For Children; Montezuma County: Montezuma County Public Health Dept., The Bridge; Montrose County: All Points Transit, Haven House, Hispanic Affairs Project, Montrose Memorial Hospital, Sharing Ministries Food Bank, The PIC Place; Rio Blanco County: Rangely Community Medical Health and Wellness Center; Routt County: Advocates of Routt County, Horizons, Integrated Community, LiftUp of Routt County, Routt County Council on Aging; San Miguel County: San Miguel Resource Center; Summit County: Advocates for Victims of Assault, BOEC, Family and Intercultural Resource Center.
In response to their award notification, Danielle McQueen, grant manager for the Family and Intercultural Resource Center said, “This funding and partnership strengthens families – and our community – by improving both health outcomes and overall stability. Summit County is a beautiful and picturesque community but many local, working families struggle with poor mental health, barriers to health care, (and) food insecurity…especially in low-income families.”
Rocky Mountain Health Foundation was established in 2017 to improve the health of Western Slope Coloradans by being a catalyst and collaborator for innovative healthcare approaches and promoting the health and well-being of Western Slope communities. These awards bring the total amount distributed since the Foundation’s inception to nearly $3 million, benefiting 257 organizations. To learn more about Rocky Mountain Health Foundation and to see a detailed list of funded projects, visit https://rmhealth.org/grant-making/funded-projects/.