We believe deeply in the power of place-based giving. When people invest where they live, meaningful change follows. Thanks to donors who have established a wide range of charitable funds with WCCF, more than $3.7 million has been distributed to organizations serving Garfield County since 2005. In addition, our Community Foundation has distributed over $5.5 million in scholarship support through the Genevieve Clough Scholarship Fund since 2008.

This is the ripple of generosity in action!

If you’re inspired to join this legacy — by creating a fund of your own or contributing to one that already exists — we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence. Together, we can continue shaping a brighter future for Garfield County and all who call it home. 

Honoring a Legacy of Care:

Remembering John Breckinridge 

We are honored to recognize the legacy left by John Breckinridge, a longtime resident in Garfield County and a member of the Western Colorado Community Foundation Legacy Society since 2008. 

John was a retired meteorologist from Richmond, Virginia, who made Rifle his home in the 1980s. Drawn to the mountains and outdoor lifestyle, he quickly found his place in western Colorado. John volunteered regularly at Valley View Hospital and was active with the Valley View Hospital Auxiliary, forming deep connections over many years of service. 

John began drafting the plan for his charitable legacy in 2008 and when he moved back to Virginia in 2019, he left Colorado but not the community he cared for. In his estate plans, he thoughtfully included support for causes close to his heart: CARE (Colorado Animal Rescue) and Hospice of the Valley. His legacy gift now ensures continued care for animals in need and compassionate support for individuals and families navigating end-of-life journeys. 



We are grateful for John’s foresight and generosity. His story is a meaningful reminder that planned gifts—of any size—can sustain the places and organizations that shape our lives. 



The Western Colorado Community Foundation recently launched the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Fund, created by local doctors and health professionals committed to supporting whole-person health in the valley. 

In its first year, the fund awarded $40,000 in grants to nine local organizations working to expand access to care, support mental and emotional wellness, and strengthen community well-being. Grantees included Mountain Family Health Centers, FocusedKids, Valley Settlement, Valley Meals and More, and others working directly with individuals and families.  

The fund is guided by core values of innovation, equity, legacy, and integrity—investing in community-based solutions that make health care and support more accessible for everyone. 

Valley Settlement:

Building Stability and Expanding Reach 

Valley Settlement empowers Latina families in Garfield County through early childhood education, adult learning, and family connection—helping children and parents thrive together. Each year, their programs reach more than 1,200 individuals through home visits, a mobile preschool, and parent mentors. 

Because of our generous donors, WCCF has awarded nearly $100,000 in grants to Valley Settlement since 2020. 

In 2025, Valley Settlement received several WCCF grants: $55,000 Capital Campaign grants to support their move to a permanent administrative location in Silt, and a $20,000 Community Grant to strengthen their Family Support Team’s work with families in crisis. Additionally, Valley Settlement was one of the inaugural recipients of the new Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Fund. WCCF’s 2025 Community Grants were designed to help nonprofits weather shifts in federal funding and build resilience for the road ahead. For Valley Settlement, these grants mean more stability for families and a stronger foundation for expanding services throughout western Garfield County. 

Local Community Funds are one of the ways Western Colorado Community Foundation helps activate and amplify generosity across our region. Built in partnership with local leaders, these permanent charitable endowments create steady, lasting support for programs and organizations serving their communities—now and for generations to come. 



In 2017, the Two Rivers Community Foundation in Glenwood Springs partnered with WCCF to establish its own Local Community Fund—the T.R.U.E. (Two Rivers Unrestricted Endowment) Grants Fund. Since then, the fund has invested more than $100,000 in 36 nonprofits serving Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and New Castle. 

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, the Two Rivers Community Foundation recently awarded $30,000 through the T.R.U.E. Grants Fund to 12 nonprofits strengthening the wellbeing of the Two Rivers area. 

WCCF is honored to support this year’s grantees in partnership with the Two Rivers Community Foundation: 



• College Outreach 
• Family Resource Center of the Roaring Fork Schools 
• FocusedKids 
• KDNK Community Radio 
• LIFT-UP 
• Literacy Outreach 
• Raising A Reader Aspen to Parachute 
• Roaring Fork Music Society, Inc. 
• Stepping Stones of the Roaring Fork Valley 
• The Meeting Place 
• UpRoot Colorado 
• Valley Meals and More 



Founded during COVID to support isolated seniors, Valley Meals and More continues to be a lifeline for older adults in eastern Garfield County. Each week, volunteers deliver meals—and much-needed human connection—to more than 130 residents over age 60. For many, that knock on the door is the only interaction they have all day. 

With a nearly 30% drop in federal and state funding this year, the organization is especially grateful for support from the T.R.U.E Grants Fund. Executive Director Mary Kenyon shared, “A community is only as strong as its members… Your support goes a long way in helping older adults stay in the communities they love. It’s not really about the meal—it’s the connection to their beloved community.” 

"I feel part of the community again."

One client, age 81, wrote to express what those visits mean to her: “I hadn’t realized how many days I was totally alone. Now, four days a week, a smiling volunteer arrives with my meal, and I feel part of the community again. What a gift this program is to me. All I can say is THANK YOU!!” 



Thanks to programs like Valley Meals and More, older adults are able to stay nourished, connected, and supported right at home. 

Giving by Check or Donate Online 

Please make checks payable to Western Colorado Community Foundation and include the name of the T.R.U.E. Grants Fund in the memo line. 

Mail to: 

WCCF 

P.O. Box 4334 

Grand Junction, CO 81502 

If you’re exploring the idea of creating your own charitable fund, please contact Kristin Lynch at 970-243-3767, or email klynch@wc-cf.org.

Stock Gifts and Year-End Deadlines 

For gifts of stock or other securities, please initiate the transfer with your financial institution by December 12 to help ensure assets arrive by December 31. And please let our Development Team know a transfer is on its way. 

Learn more about our Year-End Giving Deadlines and Holiday Hours here. 

Learn more at www.wc-cf.org