Home

Steamboat Springs — Millie Beall came to Steamboat Springs in 1971 for the ski season. She has been here ever since.

But now she doesn't spend too much time on the slopes. She is all too often found in her office -- Saturdays and Sundays even -- talking on the phone and pounding away at the keyboard.

She doesn't need overtime pay. Actually, she has worked many jobs that don't pay at all.

"I think fate brought me to this job," Beall said. "I love it."

Beall, 53, is the executive director of Routt County United Way and works to raise funds for various community projects. Before the United Way, she was involved with Steamboat Springs schools for many years, serving on the Steamboat Springs School Board for eight years, including four as its president, and eight years on the Routt County Education Foundation.

Beall was honored Saturday night as the winner of the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.'s 2003 Hazie Werner Award for Excellence. The award was presented at the 21st annual Snowball, held at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center.

"In everything she's accomplished, Millie has exemplified Hazie Werner's incredible dedication and community loyalty," Ski Corp. President Chris Diamond said in a prepared statement. "Millie has played a key leadership role in the Steamboat Springs community."

"It's an honor," Beall said. "I see awards like this as being a shot in the arm that sort of keeps you rolling on projects. But quite frankly, I love what I'm doing now, and I don't know if this award is for stuff I'm doing now or what."

Her uncertainty in justified; along with working for the United Way, Beall has been involved with the El Pomar Youth in Community Service program, the Economic Development Committee for the Steamboat Springs Community Area Plan, the Northwest Colorado Philanthropy Days Steering Committee, the Colorado Consortium of Education Foundation, the Community Committee for the Arts, the Vision 2020 Education Committee, the Steamboat Springs Land Use Comprehensive Plan Education Committee, Gov. Roy Romer's Smart Growth and Development Education Committee, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation steering committee and the Yampa Valley Partners/Healthy Communities Committee.

After a career largely based on volunteer work, getting paid to help the community as Routt County United Way's executive director is just icing on the cake for Beall.

"I have always had jobs, but my first jobs I never got paid for," Beall said. "I just liked serving the community, but all of the sudden, I was looking for a job that actually paid. I saw a job description and they were looking for a director for Routt County United Way and I said, my gosh, this is what I've been doing for years, and they're willing to pay me for it. And I said, what a concept!

"This job is the most feel-good kind of position you could ever have. Every time someone can smile and get a helping hand, and maybe you had a little hand in that, it's so rewarding."

Beall also said she believes anyone can make a difference.

"With all the mess that the world is in, if everybody would work locally to make their communities the best they can be, it would answer the call for the whole world," she said.

The mission of Routt County United Way is to raise funds for local entities who provide direct service to the health of the community, she said.

"What I do is ask my neighbors to help their neighbors," Beall said. "That's what it's all about."

This isn't the first time Beall has been honored for her community service. Other awards she has received include the 1994 Yampa Valley Woman of the Year, the Colorado Association of School Board's 1996 Honor Roll recipient and 1999/2000 McGuffy Award winner.