Aspen Sking Co. employees’ foundation celebrates anniversary by giving $117,389
Enviro grants
Here are the grants the Aspen Skiing Co. employees’ Environment Foundation awarded:
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies: Three Years of General Operating Support for Environmental Education Programming ($7,500 commitment per cycle through 12/31/17) $3,000
Aspen Valley Land Trust: Strategic Conservation Plan - Increasing the Impact of the Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp $5,000
Basalt High School: Renewable Energy Exploration $2,000
Buddy Program: LEAD Outdoor Leadership in Basalt $5,000
Citizens for a Healthy Community: Pipeline Safety Project $5,000
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative: Elk Mountain Fourteeners Trail Maintenance, Restoration and Data Collection $4,460
Conservation Colorado and Western Resource Advocates: Tackling Climate Change in Colorado $25,000
EcoFlight: Overflights for Wild & Scenic designations for Deep Creek and Crystal River $4,000
Energetics Education: Solar Rollers Program $3,999
Fat City Farmers: Teacher Gardening Workshops $5,000
High Country News: Environmental News for the Roaring Fork and Western Colorado $5,000
“How We Grow” Documentary $5,000
LOVA Trails Group: South Canyon Trail $5,000
Middle Colorado Watershed Council: Riverwatch/Citizen Scientists from Glenwood to DeBeque $6,000
Riverview Elementary School: Riverview Greenhouse y Jardin: Planting para el Futuro $5,000
Roaring Fork Conservancy: Water Quality Program Support $4,430
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps: Youth Programs Expansion $10,000
Snowmass Discovery: Science Education Programming in Schools $3,000
White River National Forest: Provide Bear Food Storage Lockers at Lincoln Creek Dispersed Camping $11,500
Total this grant cycle: $117,389
The Environment Foundation, operated by employees of Aspen Skiing Co., awarded $117,389 to 19 organizations or environmental causes for its spring cycle, it announced Tuesday.
The foundation is celebrating 20 years this spring. It has donated more than $3 million to over 500 projects, with the support of the Aspen Skiing Co. and Aspen Community Foundation. It’s helped with projects and causes throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.
“Spring of 2017 was no exception as the foundation’s board invested in the future generations of farmers, scientists and engineers throughout the valley,” the foundation said in a statement.
As part of this grant cycle, Basalt High School’s science class received $2,000 to explore renewable energy.
“With this grant we are able to engage more students at Basalt High School with hands-on STEM exploration. Through their learning they develop the passion to make their world a better place to live,” said Karen Ross, current Basalt High School STEM teacher and former aerospace engineer.
The most significant award this spring went to Western Resource Advocates and Conservation Colorado to promote renewable energy at the state level. The $25,000 grant recognizes that building a strong foundation for policy action at the state level is critical to addressing climate change.
“We are facing a new level of open hostility toward climate-change policies from the federal government. The best way to make progress in this political environment is to focus on the state level and pursue policies for Colorado to tackle climate change,” Western Resource Advocates’ Steve Seely said. “The complementary policies we are pursuing would not only significantly impact climate change and reduce carbon pollution, but also provide millions of Coloradans with an opportunity to drive investment in clean energy and re-establish the state’s leadership role in building a clean energy future.”
Applications for the fall 2017 grant cycle are due Oct. 23.
