In the Ode to Joy concert program book produced by the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra in May, a full-page tribute pays honor to long-time supporter and friend, Wanda Putnam, who passed away earlier this year.

Wanda would have loved the soaring oration of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the new auditorium at Grand Junction High School. A passionate advocate and tour de force, Wanda loved our local symphony and was proud that the Grand Junction community had its own orchestra. Her long-time friend, Ruth Gormley, noted, "Anyone who knew Wanda understood that the Symphony was her number one love... [and more generally] her commitment to the arts in Grand Junction." Wanda helped found the Grand Junction Symphony Foundation and dedicated many years to its board, helping to ensure long-term financial support for the Symphony she adored.

In addition to the Symphony, Wanda and her late husband Bill had other charitable interests and worked with our Community Foundation as a "one-stop shop" to administer their charitable legacy plans. The William E. and Wanda Wray Putnam Fund is intended to provide annual support to the Symphony Foundation and scholarships at CMU, along with one-time contributions to the couple's alma maters and several local nonprofit organizations.

Wanda strongly believed in the value of permanent endowments and trusted the investment management expertise of our Community Foundation. If you're interested in learning more about planning a legacy gift, please contact our Community Foundation at 970-243-3767.

The Western Colorado Community Foundation is proud to celebrate an exciting new milestone for one of our grantees, English In Action. This organization recently opened its new Center for Communication in the Roaring Fork Valley. The facility, which now serves as English In Action’s main headquarters, is designed to better support the Hispanic and immigrant communities in the region. With multiple classrooms and private meeting spaces, it offers enhanced opportunities for one-on-one tutoring and personalized learning for adult learners.

Recently, English In Action hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together more than 300 community members to celebrate this new space. As highlighted by the Aspen Daily News, the event marked the beginning of a new chapter for the organization, which empowers adult immigrants with skills in English language proficiency, digital literacy, and leadership development, helping them thrive in Western Colorado.

As a convener, connector, and collaborator, we take pride in providing technical assistance and resources to local nonprofits and partners working in areas related to our impact work: Outdoor Recreation and Environment, Hunger Relief, and Youth Well-being. These initiatives are supported by generous donor contributions that provide us flexibility to address a variety of current needs.

Outdoor Recreation & Environment:

Grand Opening of North Fork Miners Trail

Delta County, the Town of Hotchkiss, and The Nature Connection celebrated the grand opening of the North Fork Miners Trail, completing a long-awaited project that highlights community collaboration. Connecting North Fork High School, the Hotchkiss pool, the town, and Delta County Fairgrounds, the trail makes Hotchkiss walkable for all ages. Generous funding from GOCO and CDOT, along with support from local landowners, made the project possible. WCCF contributed critical last dollars to ensure its completion. “This trail is more than just a path—it’s a bridge between neighborhoods and generations,” shared Delta County Commissioners.

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Hunger Relief:

7th Street Community Cafe Is Now Open

The 7th Street Community Café has opened in Grand Junction, serving as a hub for connection and nourishment. A heartfelt thank you to our donors and community members at large who made this possible for the Community Food Bank. Your generosity and support have helped transform Community Food Bank's vision into reality. Profits generated from the business will go directly to support the Community Food Bank and their mission to advance community health and economic stability in Mesa County by boosting nutritious food access and addressing root causes of food insecurity.

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Youth Well-being:

New Heads-Up Parenting Characters Join the Campaign

The Heads-Up Parenting campaign is expanding with new characters promoting the message: “Your phone doesn’t need you, they do.” These relatable figures will help parents and caregivers reflect on the importance of being present for their children in today’s digital age. You’ll see them on bus shelters, social media, community materials, and will hear more about the campaign on local radio.

The campaign reminds us to prioritize meaningful moments over phone use.

Learn more...

The Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA) has established an endowed nonprofit agency fund with our Community Foundation. The endowment will provide a diversified source of reliable funding for CNMA's mission supporting educational programs, conservation projects and visitor services at the Colorado National Monument.

Our Community Foundation is pleased to partner with CNMA in managing and building an endowment for our local national park, a treasured community asset.

Community members interested in learning more about the new endowment are invited to reach out to the CNMA staff or our Development Team.

We are thrilled to welcome Maggie Personeus as our new Donor Relations Associate. A University of Arizona graduate, Maggie brings experience in service-focused roles across education and community organizations, including The University of Arizona, Colorado Mesa University, and a fire protection district on the Front Range. Her career reflects a deep commitment to fostering connection and creating supportive environments.

Originally from Grand Junction, Maggie is a proud mom of twin daughters and two energetic dogs. She and her family love traveling, trying new foods, engaging in creative activities, and embarking on adventures—next trip, Egypt and Turkey!

Jenny Hart joined the WCCF Board in May, bringing a wealth of nonprofit experience and local connections to our work. A resident of Ouray since 1995, Jenny’s connection to the area runs generations deep—her mother was born and raised in Ouray, and her grandfather served as the General Manager of the Idarado Mine. Jenny dedicated 24 years to teaching third and fourth grades at Ouray School before retiring, and she has been an active member of numerous local organizations, including Ouray Mountain Rescue.

Passionate about building community and engaging in local events, Jenny also enjoys skiing, hiking, and exploring the San Juans with her family and friends. We are thrilled to have her on the board!

The 2024 Annual Report theme, Together in Gratitude, celebrates the collective effort that drives our mission forward.

In our 2024 Report to the Community, we share inspiring stories of donors, nonprofit partners, and the impact of generosity across western Colorado. This past year was our most impactful yet, with record-breaking grants fueling programs that improve lives and expand opportunities.

Didn’t receive a copy? Download the report at wc-cf.org!

The Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) is a nonprofit organization established in 1996 by community leaders. Covering seven counties in western Colorado, our Community foundation works to connect generous donors with causes that align with their philanthropic goals and interests.

With more than 330 charitable funds and over $187 million in assets under our stewardship, we distribute $8.3 million in grants and scholarships annually.