Music to Our Ears

On January 5th, 60 people enjoyed a concert featuring Baroque Music Montana under the direction of Carrie Krause at the home of Mitzi and Jim Vorachek, with refreshments provided by Babcock and Miles and Honey’s. Everyone enjoyed the amazing music and the opportunity to talk with the musicians about their instruments and the music they play. Coming up on February is another house concert with the world renowned Muir String Quartet. On March 18th, Leonard Garrison will present a special program of flute music at the Red Lodge Community Church. For information call 406-425-8922.

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What's New at Old Roosevelt

The Old Roosevelt steering committee met on January 16th and approved the 2018 business plan, a capital campaign of $980K in 2018, the city zoning approval for the parking plan, and discussed moving forward with the occupancy review by completing the required building permit. Announcements included a successful grant award of $25K for staffing, a combined grant application with the Arts Guild to provide a professional development series for artists and the Foundation to provide spaces for the classes to occur, and a subcommittee that will create the final version of the Proclamation of Old Roosevelt’s role in the community.

Here are some Volunteer Opportunities at Old Roosevelt

Check Out Upcoming Events or Make a Reservation

Combining Art and Our Outdoor Spaces

On February 7th, the Old Roosevelt Project received a 1:1 matching grant for $10,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts to reinvent the outdoor spaces at Old Roosevelt. In creating theses outdoor spaces, we will work with local artists to capture the creative spirit and vibrancy of our unique, rural mountain community and bring that into the outdoor space that will be shared by 10,000 Carbon County residents and 360,000 tourists each year. This provides increased opportunities to cultivate a diversity of artists and art practices at the prominent southern entrance of Red Lodge. The further development of these outdoor spaces will present a communal image of rural heritage, sustainable environment, and enduring cultural identity through murals, sculptures, interactive displays and features.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman, Jane Chu, has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to under-served populations— those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

Now we need to raise the $10,000 in matching funds to receive this grant. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please donate today.

Make Your Donation

Supporting Charities Focus on Their Mission,

Not Paperwork

A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit organization that provides financial oversight and other administrative services to help build the capacity of charitable projects. The Foundation is currently the fiscal sponsor for 13 awesome community

organizations. One of the groups we sponsor is Friends of the West Fork Winter Recreation, who ensures the West Fork road is plowed and available for winter recreation. Judith Gregory initiated the fiscal sponsorship and shared this, “Supporters can now contribute to the Friends through the Foundation and Friends can participate in the Fun Run which provides a platform to broadcast our message and solicit tax-deductible contributions for the plowing. ” Fiscal Sponsorship is one way the Foundation is working to build community. By managing resources and enabling donations to be tax-deductible, an organization can continue to expand its reach and focus on its charitable mission. To learn more, email Abby.

Email Abby to learn more

Ready, Set, GO Fun Run 15!

Each year community members come together with the Fun Run to support the amazing work local nonprofits are doing to improve the quality of life for all of Red Lodge. The Fun Run is a great way to raise money spending less of your time and other resources. Red Lodge Ice has been participating in the Fun Run for 9 years. “Each year, Red Lodge Ice raises roughly 60% of its funds during the Fun Run event. Without the help of Fun Run fundraising, Red Lodge Ice would not have been able to operate over the last 10 years. This fundraising impact allows us to buy new rink liners when needed, maintain snow blowers and other ice maintenance equipment.” Andy Simpson, Red Lodge Ice. You don’t have to have a 501c3 to participate as long as your cause is charitable. If you are interested in participating as a charity in the Fun Run, visit our website or email [email protected]. Applications are due April 3rd 2018.

Fill Out Your Application Today!

Let Us Help You Grow!

We have expanded Back Office Services through our Shared Service Center to generate economic growth in the community and provide resources for our nonprofit sector. The Foundation understands how hard it can be to access the

tools you need as an organization. We want to help supplement professional services in Carbon County for growing organizations in need. We can create custom service packages that work for you. Together, we will address what your needs are and make a plan that is focused on your priorities and goals. Contact us to schedule a free one-hour consultation to determine how we can help you grow.

Contact us for your free consultation!

The Pro Cut Green Fund is Opening

The Green Fund is accepting grant applications beginning February 19. For the 2nd year the Pro Cut Green Fund is partnering with members of the Green Team at Red Lodge High School to continue the mission of supporting green projects in our

community while building youth philanthropy. The Green Fund was created and is funded by Pro Cut Lawn & Landscape and contributions from the community. In the last five years, the Pro Cut Green Fund has supported 14 projects for a total of over $12,000 in cash and in-kind services. Deadline for applications is March 23rd.

Fill out your application

The Early Childhood Development Program Supporting Young Families

With the recent closure of an in-home daycare, the Early Childhood Fund has become even more important. This fund supports families that struggle with affording daycare and preschool and it has already funded 4 families with over $2,000 since December. In other efforts to support these young families, we are implementing a special

backpack program focused on ages 0-6 at the Red Lodge Carnegie Library. To help fund these efforts, you are invited to a Pint Night at Sam’s Taproom on March 20th. Your support makes a world of difference for families in our community. Contact Debbie Brewer, Early Childhood Coordinator, with questions about the Early Childhood Fund at 406-425-4427.

Email Brittnee Coiner to learn more

Welcome New AmeriCorps Vistas

We are thrilled to introduce our new AmeriCorps VISTAs, Brittnee Coiner will be working in Early Childhood Development and Danielle Shilling will be working on the Youth Internship program. The AmeriCorps VISTA program is a federal program promoting service in rural and urban communities where these individuals work on initiatives to alleviate poverty. Since 2011, we have hosted 17 VISTAs who have served from 1-3 years of service. They have provided most of the research and development of the Foundation’s ongoing programs.

Stop by the Foundation and Meet the New VISTAs

Girls in Motion Getting Girls Active

Girls in Motion is a fund that supports girls 18 and under to pursue their athletic passions regardless of financial background or ability. This fund has helped support ladies with athletic training, attend tournaments and competitions, and helped girls get the gear they need for their outdoor adventures. To help generate funds for scholarships, Girls in Motion is selling raffle tickets for a 2018/2019 Season Pass to Red Lodge Mountain.The winner will be drawn on Friday, March 9th following a Girls in Motion scavenger hunt event at Honey’s. Raffle tickets are available at the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation or from committee members Kerri Wolfson, Stephanie Anderson, Jennifer Drinkwalter. $10 each or 6 for $50.

Email Abby for more details

Keeping Salvation Army In Our Community

Did you know that 90% of the funds raised from the Salvation Army bell ringers in Red Lodge stay in Carbon County? During the holiday season, 49 volunteers rang the bell, contributing 82 hours and raising $5,200, equating to $63.42 dollars an hour or $106.12 raised per volunteer. The money raised will be used to provide assistance meeting episodic and, often, emergent needs of Carbon County residents. These services could range

from car repair to food vouchers at a local grocer to a gas card. To keep Salvation Army in Carbon County, a committee is being created to determine how to distribute the funds. If you would like to learn more about the addition of Salvation Army and what comes next, please contact Therese Picasso-Edwards.

Email Therese for more details

Learning About Mental Health

After assessment and community conversations, there are several new programs that we will be rolling out to address mental health in the community. A mental health curriculum will be launched in the Carbon County high schools starting with the freshmen and sophomore Red Lodge High School health classes. A mentoring group, Big Sky Buddies, is in development that will pair caring adults with adults in the community who have special needs. In efforts to connect professionals, the Behavioral Health Guild will be established for all professionals in the county who work directly or indirectly with individuals with mental health difficulties. To bring neighbors together, the Community Mental Health Alliance will be available for caring members of the community to come together and fight the barriers of having a mental illness. To learn more about these initiatives, connect with Sage Henderson, Mental Health Awareness VISTA She is striving to weaken the stigma of mental health and form a stronger bond within the community and she would love your input.

Email Sage for more details

Providing Transportation to our Aging Community

The Age-Friendly Carbon County survey identified transportation as the top concern and opportunity for improvement. In nearly every community visited, transportation was the number one concern. During our second visit to each senior center in the county, we discussed specific concerns that people had regarding

transportation. People were interested in rides for groceries, medical appointments, and other important

errands. In addition, transportation to Billings was considered especially important for many of these tasks. Right now, we are putting together a request for proposals to engage a vendor that will assess the specific transportation needs in the county and create a Transportation Development Plan. If you are interested in learning more about this project or to volunteer, please contact George.

Email George for more details

Groundbreaking Developments

The Foundation Board of Directors approved $74,394 from the Habitat for Humanity funds to pay the 50% down payment for the build of an affordable home on Cooper Avenue. Justin Elton, the shop teacher at the RLHS, and his students are building the shed for this home as this semester’s project. The Request for Proposal for a General Contractor has been sent out, to be awarded by Feb 19th. Weather permitting, we will break ground the first week in May. KUDOS to ALL the many volunteers on the Workforce Housing Committee which exemplifies how our Red Lodge Community works collaboratively with the City government, public schools, for-profit businesses, non-profits and highly engaged citizens to make things happen. The Red Lodge way! If you would like to find out more or would like to volunteer your time or expertise, please contact Valentine Smith.

Email Valentine for more details