Aspen Teen Giving Circle raises over $30k for local nonprofits

Last September, 25 Roaring Fork Valley high school students embarked on a philanthropic mission to raise money for three local nonprofits: Access Afterschool, Recovery Resources and Valley Meals and More. 

Through individual outreach, which included contacting family members, friends and community members, the Aspen Teen Giving Circle has now surpassed their goal of $30,000 for the second year in a row, according to a press release.

Cori Berger, a program facilitator, shared that the students focused on three different areas of need in the community. 

“They decided to split their focus into three different baskets,” Berger said. “One is food insecurity, which is Valley Meals and More; one is securing safety for kids, which is Access Afterschool; and Recovery Resources is for breaking addiction.”

The Aspen Teen Giving Circle is a student-led, interfaith program grounded in service and grassroots fundraising. The program aims to unite teens over shared Christian and Jewish values, with additional facilitators including Dan Dangler, regional director of Christian nonprofit Young Life, and Rabbi Sima Oster of the Aspen Jewish Congregation. 

The process involved monthly meetings where students analyzed community needs, researched local nonprofits and identified their fundraising strategy.

“We’ve learned that fundraising is really about building connections and explaining why something matters,” said Berger’s daughter and co-head Alexis in the release. “It’s been meaningful to see how people respond when you share a clear purpose.”‘

The team’s nonprofit research included a thorough review of a list of regional nonprofits provided by the Aspen Community Foundation. Students met directly with nonprofit leaders to learn about their goals and community contributions.

“We spent time considering where our efforts could have the most impact,” said co-head Emmet Meidar in the release. “That shaped how we approached every part of this work.” 

Fundraising and grant distribution were supported in partnership with Erica Snow and Emily Kornhauser of the Aspen Community Foundation. 

The Aspen Teen Giving Circle will award $10,000 to each nonprofit in a ceremony from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at the Aspen Jewish Community Center. The ceremony is open to program participants, their families, facilitators and donation recipients. 

To learn more about The Aspen Teen Giving Circle, visit aspentgc.com, and donate at aspencf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1462.