Wheat Ridge Foundation

TO ENCOURAGE GIVING BY CONNECTING DONORS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUILDING PERMANENT CHARITABLE FUNDS, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT WHEAT RIDGE. TO OVERSEE THE DISPOSITION OF DONATIONS MADE TO THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE.

THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS EDUCATION ENRICHMENT BY MAINTAINING SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS VARIOUS ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES AT WHEAT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL. SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS MAINTAINED BY THE FOUNDATION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: BAILEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THE BAILEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER OF 2012. THE BAILEY SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNIZES A GRADUATE OF LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAS MADE AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO HIS/HER SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY AND IS PURSUING STUDIES TOWARD A MEDICAL OR PUBLIC HEALTH CAREER. CURTIS GILMORE SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THE CURTIS GILMORE SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF CURTIS GILMORE. PRIMARY CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO WHEAT RIDGE AND JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREES AND TRADE CERTIFICATIONS. CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, WHO HAVE DEFINITE CAREER GOALS AND ARE PREPARED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. CARL CERVENY SCHOLARSHIP - THE WHEAT RIDGE OPTIMISTS ESTABLISHED AN ANNUAL 2,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP IN HONOR OF CARL CERVENY. CARL WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE WHEAT RIDGE OPTIMISTS IN 1957 AND WAS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH THE WHEAT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL STEM/STEAM PROGRAM, THE CAREER EXPLORE PROGRAM, AND THE FARMERS 5000. THE FARMERS 5000 ANNUAL RACE CONTINUES TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PROMOTES PHYSICAL FITNESS AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO FACILITATES BOOSTER SUPPORT FOR WHEAT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL GIRL'S LACROSSE, CHEER AND POM TEAMS. FRIENDS OF STEVENS ELEMENTARY - FRIENDS OF STEVENS IS A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND STUDENTS THAT CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AT STEVENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH MATERIALS AND TOOLS TO LEARN IN HANDS-ON WAYS AND TO SUPPORT AND LIFT UP OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF. TOUTANT INTELLECTUAL COMPETITION FUND - THE TOUTANT INTELLECTUAL COMPETITION FUND SUPPORTS GRANT PROPOSALS. OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS INFORMED BY VOLUNTEERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN CONTENT CREATION AND COMPETITION. WE STRIVE TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPANTS AND EVENTS, AND TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. KYLE BRAKE SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND & ENDOWMENT - THE KYLE BRAKE MEMORIAL SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND ENDOWMENT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MEMORIAL TO KYLE BRAKE, A YOUNG BOY WHO LOVED TO PLAY SPORTS. THE ENDOWMENT WILL PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR CHILDREN'S SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN ORGANIZED TEAM/INDIVIDUAL SPORTS. SCHOLARSHIPS CAN BE REQUESTED TO COVER REGISTRATION FEES, UNIFORMS, AND EQUIPMENT COSTS. PARTICIPATION IN ORGANIZED TEAM SPORTS PROVIDES PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS TO CHILDREN. IN 2015, 16,000 IN RESTRICTED FUNDS WERE GIVEN TO THE KYLE BRAKE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC. A 501(C)(3) ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE THE AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIPS. THE WHEAT RIDGE FOUNDATION STILL ADMINISTERS THE ENDOWMENT FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. FEED THE FUTURE BACKPACK PROGRAM - VARIOUS NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AN ONGOING FUND WHICH SUPPORTS THE COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF FOOD ITEMS, EACH WEEKEND, TO STUDENTS IN EIGHT TITLE I (FREE/REDUCED LUNCH ELIGIBLE) ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WHO ARE ON THE SCHOOL FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM WITH EXTRA MEALS TO SEE THEM THROUGH THE WEEKEND WHEN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD GO HUNGRY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TWO BREAKFAST AND TWO LUNCH ITEMS, TWO SNACKS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. IN 2021, THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER 8,000 TO THIS VALUABLE PROGRAM. ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAMS - AS A COMMUNITY ATTENTIVE TO ITS CULTURAL LIFE, THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ART. ART ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN WHEAT RIDGE AND BENEFITS ITS CITIZENS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE CITY ESTABLISHED THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN EXPANDED PUBLIC ART PROGRAM IN 2002. THE PROGRAM HAS ENABLED THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT THE ACQUISITION OF ARTWORK IN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LOCATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR CITY BEAUTIFICATION. THE FUNDS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE CULTURAL COMMISSION. ACTIVE ADULT CENTER FUND - THE WHEAT RIDGE ACTIVE ADULT CENTER OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE 50 AND UP CROWD. PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE FROM NUMEROUS EXERCISE CLASSES AND A VARIETY OF GENERAL INTEREST CLASSES. THE ACTIVE ADULT CENTER ALSO OFFERS AN EXCELLENT TRIP PROGRAM AND MANY WONDERFUL SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DONATIONS ARE USED TO FUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT, AND A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR ADULTS 50 AND OVER FOR PARKS AND RECREATION CLASSES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. PERFORMANCE IN THE PARK - PERFORMANCE IN THE PARK IS A FREE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT SERIES THAT TAKES PLACE OUTDOORS IN AN AREA PARK DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE SERIES FEATURES EVENING FAMILY-ORIENTED PERFORMANCE AND MORNING PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN. SPONSORSHIP DONATIONS ARE USED TO PAY THE PERFORMERS AND PROMOTION COSTS. GENEROUS CITIZEN AND BUSINESS CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 25 CONCERTS SINCE INCEPTION. MEMORIAL PARK PROGRAM - THE MEMORIAL PARK PROGRAM ALLOWS FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HONOR A LOVED ONE BY PURCHASING A TREE OR BENCH FOR PLACEMENT IN A WHEAT RIDGE PARK OR BY PURCHASING A MEMORIAL BRICK FOR PLACEMENT ON THE WALKWAY OF THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL GAZEBO LOCATED IN HAYWARD PARK; ONE SECTION OF THE WALKWAY IS RESERVED FOR BRICKS HONORING NON-VETERANS AND ONE SECTION IS FOR BRICKS LISTING THE NAME OF A VETERAN. CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE DESIGNATED IN THE PERSON'S NAME. RUMBLE AT BERKLEY - THE FREE EVENT IS A CLASSIC CAR SHOW AT BERKLEY PARK. PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. EASTER EGG HUNT - THE EASTER EGG HUNT IS A LONG TIME TRADITION FOR THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY. EVERY YEAR, THIS FREE EVENT BRINGS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TOGETHER TO WELCOME SPRING TO WHEAT RIDGE.

THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FACILITATES THE COLLECTION OF DONATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS OF GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MANY COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATION ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHEAT RIDGE COMMUNITY.