Grand County Life - Nonprofit Spotlight

Nonprofit Spotlight: Mountain Family Center

Grand County's Mountain Family Center: Providing Hunger Relief, Housing Assistance + More Since 1979

Many in our community have more than enough, making it surprising for some to realize the unmet basic needs of so many that call Grand County home. Food insecurity and housing uncertainty are a reality for a significant portion of our community. 

A true gift to our rural mountain towns, Mountain Family Center is quite literally "boots on the ground" as their team works diligently to tangibly meet community needs through their food pantry, thrift store, senior outreach, nutrition + wellness education, financial support for cancer treatment, and vision + dental programs. 

Based in Granby, the Mountain Family Center serves both East and West…

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Nonprofit Spotlight: Grand County Pet Pals

Grand County Pet Pals Promotes Compassion + Good Stewardship for Animals in the Community

It's no question that the active lifestyle in Grand County can go hand-in-hand with a furry friend. Dogs and their owners (us included!) love exploring the trails and taking advantage of all the outdoor adventure this side of Berthoud Pass. And if you spend enough time here, you'll see first-hand how pet-friendly our mountain towns are. Dogs are welcome on The Gondola at Winter Park Resort in the summer, on outdoor patios on these warm spring afternoons, and on our expansive trail system throughout the year.

What would a welcoming pet community be without an animal shelter and support system for responsible pet ownership? Grand County Pet Pals (GCPP) takes…

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Nonprofit Spotlight: Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Grand County Partners with Families to Provide Affordable Homes in Our Backyard

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization with a clear vision: living in a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our local branch has been investing in the Grand County community and putting that vision into action since 1999. We all know the real estate market across the country can make the dream of owning a home daunting, specifically for those with incomes well below the median for the area. And Grand County is no different. We are so grateful Habitat for Humanity of Grand County is actively addressing the need. Since its inception, they have built 13 homes in 24 years, and they have no plans of stopping!

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Nonprofit Spotlight: National Sports Center for the Disabled

National Sports Center for the Disabled: Locally Operated World Leader in Creating + Providing Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Experiences

The National Sports Center for the Disabled, operating out of the Front Range and Winter Park areas, has been an innovative and determined pioneer in the world of adaptive sports for over 50 years. Their entire mission is based on the truth that everyone has ability, focusing on the "ability" in disability and building confidence in participants by giving them experiences they never dreamed possible. 

Partnering with Winter Park Resort, the YMCA of the Rockies, Devil's Thumb Ranch, and the Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District and Denver professional sports teams, the NSCD offers summer and winter…

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Nonprofit Spotlight: Grand Foundation

The Grand Foundation Truly Makes Life 'Grand'

When we think about the effect the Grand Foundation has had on the quality of life in Grand County since its inception in 1996, there's no question that they have and continue to enrich our community in powerful ways. From Winter Park to Grand Lake to Kremmling, the work the Grand Foundation does tangibly touches lives. Their quick response and ability to centralize giving, raise awareness, and disperse funds after the devastating East Troublesome Fire is a testament to the foundation's commitment to our community. 

The scope of their partnerships and support is far-reaching. As the glue that binds the nonprofit sector in the county together, the Grand Foundation partners with organizations…

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Avalanche Rescue Dogs

Skiers' Best Friends: Avalanche Rescue Dogs Trained to Save Lives

We've probably all tried our hand at the basic dog "tricks" at some point: sit, shake, roll over, and, if we're feeling ambitious, the 360 show stopper. And if you spend much time on Grand County trails, you've likely noticed that dogs and outdoor recreation go hand in hand. Avalanche rescue dogs and their handlers couple dogs' love of play in nature and their inherent trainability to turn man's best friend into "skier's best friend." And getting your dog to roll over pales in comparison to what they can do!

There's no question that backcountry riding poses risks--avalanches are a known danger in ski country. When a skier or rider has been buried in an avalanche, dog response time and…

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Dive into Headwaters River Journey!

Headwaters River Journey: An Immersive Water & Wildlife Experience

We love walking along the Fraser River Trail, listening to its waters alternate between a rush and a trickle as birds chirp, the sun shines, butterflies dance around, and people enjoy fishing its waters. Having the Fraser River in our backyard is a gift that we do not take for granted. One of the many tributaries of the Colorado River, the Fraser River gets its start from the snowmelt on Berthoud Pass and winds through the valley, eventually joining up with the "mighty" Colorado in Granby.

Sitting at elevations over 13,000 feet, Grand County has the privilege of being the source of water for a large percentage of the American West. With that privilege comes responsibility. The…

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Nonprofit Spotlight: Headwaters Trail Alliance

Headwaters Trail Alliance Goes Big to Preserve, Enhance, and Promote Grand County's Extensive Trail System

When we hop on a trail for a quick ride or head out to hike for a few hours, we rarely consider how the trails we're using got here (or who is taking care of them!). Sometimes, I find myself so deep in appreciation for a sunset ride or seeing a rainbow from the top of the Leland Creek trails that I forget to remember the people who build and maintain the trails that make it possible for us to explore our backyard with such ease.

Headwaters Trail Alliance (HTA) is a local nonprofit that maintains, builds, and promotes high-quality, multi-use trails in Grand County. Linking towns, recreational areas, secondary trail systems, and cultural and…

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