On Thursday, January 27th, Jeannie Culpin, Peggy Martin, Margaret Storm, and Kathy West traveled to Westcliffe to represent the Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical & Historical Society at the annual Community Spirit Campaign of the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation. The Foundation supports non-profit groups working in the fields of education, public health and safety, recreation, historical preservation, youth and senior services, the arts, animal welfare, the natural environment and other services that improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in Custer County and the Wet Mountain Valley.
The Spirit Campaign assists non-profit organizations; the Foundation and other donors average a 40% match of contributions from the public to assist more than 50 non-profits in Custer County. Since 1999, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million.
Jim Little, Wet Mountain Tribune editor, was the MC for the meeting and is the President of the organization. Approximately 75 people were in attendance to receive their checks for the organizations they represented. WHG&HS salutes Jim, the other officers, and the Foundation for their enormous contribution and support of Custer County.
Kathy West, Treasurer of WHG&HS, accepted the contribution for our organization. The Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department, represented by Bill Donley, and the Wetmore Community Library, represented by Nan Davenport, were also in attendance and received funds for their entities.
Side note: on the trip up to the valley, the quartet was fortunate to see about 14 big horn sheep; on the return trip, they saw deer, antelope, and elk. Guess the bear were still hibernating. They also had lunch at "Karen's" prior to the meeting and stopped at the Bakery for bread before returning to Wetmore. A good trip in bright sunshine and beautiful Colorado blue skies.
Reported by Margaret Storm
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