Annual Community Celebration
Thank you to everyone who showed up on what turned into a very stormy afternoon to celebrate the wonderful people working in the nonprofit sector in the Gunnison Valley. Over 100 people attended and more than 40 local and regional community-building organizations were represented.
Community Grants Recipients Honored
We honored 2024 grantees and invited them to share something about their organization’s work in building a thriving Gunnison Valley. To change it up just a bit compared to past years, we gave the organizations the following prompts as a lens to focus what they shared about their missions and programming:
- At _________________ (org name), we’re creatively building community in the Gunnison Valley by ________________________________________.
- At __________________ (org name), we are making sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive by _________________________________________.
- At ______________ (org name), we are elevating voices for those who don’t have a platform by ___________________________________.
- At ______________ (org name), we are investing in the strengths of the Gunnison Valley by ____________________________________.
- At ______________ (org name), we are deepening connections among unlikely groups by ___________________________________.
It was inspiring to hear all the ways that the organizations are contributing to our vision of a Gunnison Valley where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Connections Built and Nurtured
One of the best parts of the event every year is the opportunity for so many folks working in and volunteering for the nonprofit sector to come together at an event celebrating their work without any ticket sale, fundraising, or auction goals. Instead, they get to relax a bit and just connect with peers and colleagues. This lower pressure environment often results in new partnerships between organizations, which offers benefits for the whole Gunnison Valley. While staff members have always attended our annual event, more and more organizations’ board members have been joining the fun over the last few years, deepening the connections between local programs and projects.
Annual Nonprofit Class Photo
It has become a tradition to take a photo of all the nonprofit people who attend. From staff to board members and volunteers, everyone working in and supporting the sector is invited to join for a “class photo.” It ends up being a nice reminder that the people working so hard for the Gunnison Valley are your friends and neighbors.
Next time you see one of these people on the street, the trail, or in the grocery store line waiting to check out, we encourage you to say thank you for all that they are doing to build a thriving Gunnison Valley.
Simplified Summary
Thanks to everyone who came out on a stormy afternoon to celebrate the awesome people working in nonprofits in the Gunnison Valley! Over 100 people showed up, and more than 40 local and regional organizations were there. We celebrated the 2024 grant winners and asked them to talk about what their organizations are doing to help the Gunnison Valley grow and succeed. This year, we gave them some new ideas to share their missions. It was really cool to hear how they’re making the Gunnison Valley a better place where everyone can do well. We especially liked it when they called their teams “thrivers.” One of the best parts of the event is seeing so many nonprofit workers come together and relax. They don’t have to work the room or network. Instead, they get to enjoy each other’s company, which often leads to new partnerships that help the whole Gunnison Valley. Every year, we take a group photo of everyone involved in nonprofits. This includes staff, board members, and volunteers. It’s a nice way to remember that the people working hard for the Gunnison Valley are your friends and neighbors. Next time you see someone from this group around town, on a trail, or in a store, make sure to say thank you for everything they do to help the Gunnison Valley thrive!
