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Routt County United Way holds $20K Day fundraiser

Teresa Ristow

— Routt County United Way hopes to bring in at least $20,000 in donations Friday to help with community health and human service organizations in the region during its annual $20K Day fundraising drive at Yampa Valley Bank.

As much as $10,000 in matching funds will be contributed by the bank to match donations collected that day, and an additional $2.50 will be donated by the bank for each new “like” its Facebook page receives that day.

Members of the United Way board and representatives from the agencies the organization supports will be on hand, and free food will be available from Qdoba and Ciao Gelato.



“It’s going be a really fun event,” United Way Executive Director Kate Nowak said.

During the past five years, the annual event has raised more than $145,000 for United Way.



Nowak said the fundraising event will allow the United Way to continue to support their own project and help various other organizations in the county.

“United Way is the one organization in the county that understands all of the community’s health and human service needs,” Nowak said. “We work with these organizations to really meet the needs of the community.”

Currently, the United Way is hoping to increase the number of early childhood scholarships it offers to Routt County families struggling to afford preschool child care. Last year 96 scholarships were offered, and the organization hopes 115 will be given this year.

The nonprofit also support programs to help with at-risk youth, including the Boys & Girls Club, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and the initiative to create a Routt County Youth Services Coalition.

“There are a lot of programs with young adults that we support,” Nowak said.

United Way also supports the Routt County Bridges Iniative, a program to help stabilize struggling families, and contributes to organizations that help senior citizens with meals, transportation and home health care.

A new initiative in the works for Routt County United Way is a 211 phone line, which would offer anonymous counseling and support to callers. The hotline is set to launch later this month and offer callers resources and information.

“If you call, they’ll give you a list of organizations to contact,” Nowak said.

Friday’s event takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Yampa Valley Bank, 600 S. Lincoln Ave. Those who can’t make it can also donate by calling the Routt County United Way offices at 970-879-5605. Phone lines will be staffed to accept donations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow


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