Summer 2023 Newsletter
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What's Inside<br />
<strong>Summer</strong><br />
Upcoming Events<br />
Get Involved<br />
Great Rubber Duck Race - Sept. 2<br />
Wine in the Mine - Sept. 7<br />
Parade of Homes - 09/23 -24<br />
09/30 -10/01<br />
Leaving a Legacy<br />
Tyler Updegraff memorial scholarship<br />
The Quiet Struggle<br />
The effect of cost of<br />
the living increases<br />
Bonnie Ward<br />
A welcoming volunteer<br />
Welcome New Residents<br />
Creating Community Connections<br />
Hello ,<br />
As the vibrant days of summer unfold<br />
before us, so too do countless<br />
opportunities to engage, inspire, and make<br />
a lasting mark. In this sizzling edition of our<br />
newsletter, we're excited to guide you<br />
through a journey of exploration,<br />
participation, and creating a legacy that<br />
resonates long after the season fades.<br />
From local events that spark connection, to<br />
initiatives that magnify the need for<br />
positive change, we're here to help you<br />
step out, get involved, and amplify your<br />
impact. So let's dive into the warmth of the<br />
season, embracing the chance to leave our<br />
mark on the world and uplift the<br />
communities we touch.<br />
Warmest Regards,<br />
Summit Foundation<br />
Board & Staff<br />
www.summitfoundation.org
Thursday, September 7th<br />
5:30 - 9:00 pm<br />
Tickets are limited! Buy yours today!<br />
Fun Raisers!<br />
We invite you to join hands with us in<br />
creating a stronger, more vibrant community.<br />
Our upcoming events offer a unique<br />
opportunity to not only experience<br />
meaningful moments but also make a lasting<br />
difference. Whether you attend, volunteer,<br />
or sponsor, you're directly contributing to<br />
the growth and prosperity of our<br />
community. Every dollar raised and every<br />
minute volunteered adds up, empowering us<br />
to create sustainable change and foster an<br />
environment where everyone can thrive.<br />
Together, we can turn awareness into action<br />
and dreams into reality. Join us in this<br />
journey of transformation, as we paint a<br />
brighter future for all.<br />
Upcoming Events<br />
Parade of Homes
TYLER UPDEGRAFF<br />
Leaving a legacy that cherishes his memory<br />
The family of Tyler Updegraff has established a<br />
scholarship fund at the Summit Foundation in his<br />
memory to honor Tyler’s love of Summit County and<br />
continue his impact.<br />
Tyler passed away in January <strong>2023</strong> as a result of a<br />
skiing accident in Aspen. He grew up in Pennsylvania<br />
and had been in Summit County since 2019. Tyler<br />
loved the community, and he especially enjoyed<br />
giving back and helping young people find their path<br />
in life. He found his mission working as a Youth<br />
Program Coordinator for the Mountain Mentors<br />
program and was a role model to many youth. He<br />
was also an assistant football coach at Summit High<br />
School and those students also looked up to him.<br />
Tyler was fortunate to live his life authentically in<br />
our beautiful community with wonderful friends and<br />
coworkers.<br />
Two annual scholarships will be awarded, starting<br />
with the 2024 Summit High School graduating class.<br />
The scholarship recipients selected will be student<br />
athletes with financial need who demonstrate<br />
academic excellence and outstanding leadership or<br />
community service. Students may apply beginning in<br />
December <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
The Summit Foundation honors Tyler and his life,<br />
and we offer our sympathy to his many friends and<br />
family. His legacy will continue to live on in Summit<br />
County in so many ways, including through these<br />
scholarships. Donations to the Tyler Updegraff<br />
Memorial Scholarship Fund are welcome and can be<br />
made on our website summitfoundation.org.<br />
<br />
www.summitfoundation.org
The Quiet Struggle<br />
How cost of living increases impact working<br />
families and the need to support local<br />
nonprofits.<br />
Living expenses have been on the rise, affecting<br />
everyone in society. However, certain professions,<br />
like teachers, healthcare workers, and frontline<br />
service workers in our community, have unique<br />
challenges. Despite their indispensable roles, they<br />
often face financial vulnerability. These dedicated<br />
individuals play crucial roles in shaping society and<br />
caring for its well-being, but they are not immune to<br />
the pressures of escalating costs. The seemingly<br />
minor increases in expenses, such as gas prices and<br />
groceries, can cause significant financial strain,<br />
making it increasingly difficult for people to manage<br />
daily life expenses, including transportation,<br />
groceries, childcare, and healthcare.<br />
The Necessity of Community Resources<br />
As the costs of daily living continue to rise, more<br />
families find themselves relying on community<br />
resources to fulfill their basic needs. The food<br />
market, health clinic, childcare tuition support, and<br />
rental assistance programs serve as essential lifelines<br />
for these families, preventing them from slipping into<br />
financial crisis or moving away.These programs and<br />
organizations such as FIRC and the Community Care<br />
Clinic help to bridge the gap between financial<br />
struggle and stability, ensuring working families<br />
can access food, healthcare, and rental support.<br />
However, the growing demand for these<br />
services reflects the severity of the issue. Many<br />
families who once lived comfortably now find<br />
themselves dependent on these resources, and<br />
it is vital to address their needs so they can<br />
continue to live here.<br />
Challenges of Seeking Nonprofit Support<br />
One of the most significant hurdles faced by<br />
working families is the stigma associated with<br />
seeking help. The belief that asking for<br />
assistance indicates weakness or failure<br />
prevents many families from accessing the<br />
support they desperately need. Moreover,<br />
navigating the process of seeking help can be<br />
complex and intimidating for those unfamiliar<br />
with resources. By reducing stigma and<br />
promoting accessibility, we can empower<br />
families to seek support without fear or shame.<br />
The Summit Foundation's Role in Supporting<br />
Local Nonprofits<br />
To combat the challenges working families and<br />
local nonprofits face, the Summit Foundation<br />
plays a crucial role. The Foundation is<br />
committed to providing secure funding to local<br />
nonprofits, enabling them to continue their<br />
essential work. Additionally, the Summit<br />
Continued...<br />
www.summitfoundation.org
... continued<br />
Foundation empowers nonprofits with leadership<br />
and professional resources, ensuring they have the<br />
tools and knowledge to expand their capabilities<br />
and support an increasing number of families in<br />
need. By forging successful partnerships with local<br />
nonprofits, the Summit Foundation positively<br />
impacts the community, inspiring hope for a<br />
brighter future.<br />
The plight of working families facing cost of living<br />
increases is a pressing concern. The reliance on<br />
community resources and nonprofit support is a<br />
reflection of the growing financial strain on these<br />
families. Our local nonprofits, government entities,<br />
and businesses are all working to help address this<br />
issue and make sure people who work here are<br />
able to live here. That is the fabric of our<br />
community. The Summit Foundation is committed<br />
to recognizing the importance of these essential<br />
services and strengthening our support for our<br />
working families. We can create a more equitable<br />
and compassionate society for everyone through<br />
collective efforts.<br />
A welcoming volunteer<br />
Bonnie Ward gives her time to help new<br />
residents get involved.<br />
Bonnie Ward is an outstanding community<br />
volunteer who is involved in various education<br />
endeavors. She is the Vice Chair of the<br />
nonprofit Education Foundation of the Summit<br />
that supports local teachers and schools, a<br />
mentor and director for Mountain Scholars as<br />
well as the Pre-Collegiate program, and was<br />
formerly on the Summit School District Board<br />
of Education, among others.<br />
In addition to the tremendous impact she<br />
makes in our community and the lives of so<br />
many students, Bonnie partners with the<br />
Summit Foundation by having coffee (her<br />
treat!) with potential volunteers interested in<br />
education and gets them connected with the<br />
projects that align with their passion.<br />
Thank you, Bonnie, for all you do! You are a<br />
true role model for all in our community.<br />
Volunteer
a tapestry of support and compassion that enriches<br />
the lives of all who call Summit County home.<br />
Creating Community Connections<br />
Welcome New Residents<br />
At the Summit Foundation, we believe that<br />
engaging with our new residents is key to<br />
fostering and continuing a thriving and<br />
interconnected community. Our Welcome New<br />
Resident Program aims to extend a warm hand<br />
of friendship to those who have recently made<br />
Summit County their home. Through a<br />
partnership with local realtors and other<br />
community partners, we have reached out to<br />
new homeowners, ensuring they feel connected<br />
to the community from the beginning.<br />
As part of this program, we proudly offer a<br />
complimentary bottle of our signature "Soul of<br />
the Summit Wine," crafted in collaboration with<br />
Carboy Winery. This small gesture serves as a<br />
warm welcome, but it is just the beginning of<br />
what we hope will be a deep and meaningful<br />
connection.<br />
Connections Made<br />
The essence of our New Resident Program is to<br />
initiate conversations that spark community<br />
interests, introduce like-minded individuals, and<br />
encourage their community involvement. When<br />
we connect with our neighbors, we can weave<br />
Another pivotal aspect of our outreach is our home<br />
receptions, graciously hosted by our esteemed board<br />
members or other donors. These gatherings provide<br />
an opportunity to bring together new residents,<br />
long-time community members, and supporters of<br />
the Summit Foundation.<br />
During these gatherings, we share information about<br />
the Summit Foundation as well as stories of the<br />
remarkable resources and nonprofits that form the<br />
very fabric of our community. We believe that these<br />
stories inspire and unite us all in our shared mission<br />
to make Summit County a place where everyone<br />
thrives.<br />
As we engage with our community, progress through<br />
our Welcome New Resident Program, and host<br />
engaging home receptions, we are reminded that our<br />
greatest strength lies in the connections we forge.<br />
These connections empower each other to create<br />
positive change and lasting impact in our community<br />
Help us Connect<br />
We acknowledge that our incredible donors play a<br />
vital role in our success. Your support has allowed us<br />
to uplift countless lives and make a tangible<br />
difference. Now, we kindly ask for your help in<br />
expanding our network of community champions.<br />
If you have friends or acquaintances new to Summit<br />
County and who share a passion for community<br />
involvement, we would be thrilled to meet them and<br />
help connect them. Please let us know, and we will<br />
extend our warmest welcome and provide them with<br />
information on how they can get involved.<br />
New Resident Form
DONATE TODAY<br />
Summit Foundation Staff<br />
Jeanne Bistranin Executive Director<br />
Megan Adamson Community Programs Manager<br />
Fran Blumenfeld Scholarship Manager<br />
Chad Covell Director of Finance<br />
Kate Cowdrey Development Program Manager<br />
Suzanne Lifgren Marketing Manager<br />
Kristin Williams Development Manager<br />
Ashley Zimmerman Events Manager