The Friends of Gilpin County Community Center (FGCCC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation and Colorado Charitable Corporation made up of citizens of Gilpin County, Colorado who support the mission of the Gilpin County Community Center and its vital position in the life of our mountain community. We provide Gilpin County Parks and Recreation department members with research and community feedback. We also help Gilpinites who need help accessing the Center with funding for specific activities.
Much of our work and funding is directed toward working with the Center to promote programs, to acquire equipment, plan and fund specific recreation and social programs and activities, and help Gilpinites in need gain access to the Center’s programs. We’ve done this since our incorporation in 2020. We also do outreach to help inform the public about the P&R Department, its activities, budget, and funding.
You can read more about our activities since 2020 in our three-year report.
Since our founding, we have acted as an auxiliary (in much the same way that HCA does for Timberline and the Boosters do for Gilpin School) to support activities at the Center, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Late 2020 - Early 2021: Planning (with the director) for reopening after the pandemic shutdown was eased (the center reopened spring of 2021).
- Late 2020 - Early 2021: Provided extensive research to help P&R define its post-shutdown re-opening budget and fee structure. We also researched and vetted software options for P&R’s day-to-day operation.
- Early 2021: Created a video explaining the pandemic-related safety measures visitors had to take in order to use the center.
- Spring 2021: Center cleanup. FGCCC joined with the P&R staff to get the center ready for the late spring reopening after pandemic shutdown was eased.
- 2021: FGCCC worked with the Center Director to get the center registered to offer three Medicare-related senior programs: SilverSneakers, RenewActive, and Silver&Fit (we contacted officials at each program on behalf of the Center).
- Conducted a survey of Gilpin citizens in 2022 and 2024 regarding the kinds of activities they’d like to see at the Center. We shared the results with the P&R Director to aid the department in planning future activities and programs.
- 2021 - Present: Gilpin County Fair. FGCCC participated in planning, and execution of the Fair (as volunteers), set up a table for our group; we are part of the planning committee for the 2024 fair; as part of our support for the 2022 fair, we paid for the rental of a bouncy house for kids to play in during the Fair.
- 2021 - Present: Gilpin County Spooky Stroll/Spooky Trick and. FGCCC supplies hot drinks, volunteered for kids’ games supervision, and participated in planning.
- 2021 - Present: Winter Arts Festival. This is a two-day arts festival with local vendors, activities for kids, and holiday entertainment for adults. FGCCC participates in planning, supplies refreshments, sponsors such things as Santa and face-painting.
- 2022 - Present: Water Safety Days. Paid for swimming and safety instructors to teach Gilpin youth about water safety.
- 2022 - Present: GetFit Day. We paid for refreshments, we gave away water bottles.
- 2023: Farmer’s Market. We sponsored facility rental for organizers from April through October and set up a table with information about us.
- 2021, 2022, 2022: Star Parties. Offered at the Center. In 2023 we did this in coordination with Golden Gate State Park; we received a grant in 2024 to offer a Gilpin AstroDay activity that was held in August.
- October 2023: We met with officials (including State Attorney Philip J. General Weiser) in October 2023 as part of a listening session with the AG to discuss ways our county can combat rising drug addiction. Our interest is to involve recreational activities for kids and families in the effort.
- October 2023: participated in First Responder’s Day at the Center.
- Earlier in 2023, we purchased equipment for the Center in the form of a bouncy obstacle course for use indoors or outdoors. The funds for that came from directed donations restricted for such use. We have an MOU with Gilpin County to cover the transfer of funds/equipment to the County’s ownership. We’ve also contributed for purchases of other materials for use in youth programs.
- We are currently working on a video introducing new Gilpin residents to the Center and its classes and activities.
- For 2024 we are involved in a Center Cleanup Day, Water Safety Classes for kids, the Fair, and much more.
We regularly volunteer on activity committees, such as the Fair Committee, and are working with the P&R director to create a sustainable volunteer program at the center. Just in 2023 alone, our core group, plus a volunteer squadron we recruited for the Fair, have volunteered nearly a thousand volunteer hours across all activities we’ve been involved with for the Center. We volunteered roughly the same number of hours for the 2024 fair, as well as a center-wide cleanup project.
We offer a Heart of the Community Fund to help people who can’t afford the Center get access to it. Through that, we’ve funded a number of Gilpinites with those needs and also connected some of them with other programs in the county for food relief, rental costs, etc.
These and other support activities make up the majority of our work. A small percentage of our time is devoted to outreach about issues that affect the Center and Department.
Our officers and members are all volunteers. We range across the political spectrum and our main goal is to support the Center and P&R Department.
FGCCC is also planning long-range sustainable funding of our Community Center campus programs. This includes advising on and helping to find grants for new and continuing programs.
Our Members
Organizationally the FGCCC is composed of a Board of Directors that oversees the work of the group. We also have a Board of Advisors.
Think of us as a “support arm” non-profit working on long-term solutions to Community Center challenges and use. We can apply for grant funding, solicit commercial support, and advise the county on issues of importance to the Community Center’s use and future. We can do voter education on ballot issues related specifically to P&R and the Community Center to inform and educate the public. We are not allowed to speak out on behalf of any political party or candidate; our outreach is solely limited to issues specific to the object of our mission.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Board of Directors: Petersen, Bryan, Yeck, Eric Douglas | |
| President and Press Contact | Carolyn Collins Petersen |
| Vice President | John Bryan |
| Treasurer | Susan Yeck |
| Secretary | Currently vacant |
| Functional Operations | |
| Correspondence | Carolyn Collins Petersen |
| Webmaster | Steve Schwettman |
| Fundraising | Board Members |
| Volunteer Task Force | Marilyn Ashmore |
| Board of Directors | John Bryan Eric Douglas Carolyn Collins Petersen Susan Yeck |
| Advisory Board | Marilyn Ashmore Virginia Baer Elisabeth Dow Karen Eye Phillip Gibbs Roxy Goss Norma Jones Carol Mirarck Sarah Swanson |
Mission Statement
In concert with the Gilpin County Parks and Recreation Department, the mission of the Friends of the Gilpin County Community Center is to enrich the lives of Gilpin County residents by providing opportunities to gather, celebrate, and engage in activities that promote health, education, and comm
Donations to and sponsorships of FGCCC will go to support its activities that enhance and sustain our Community Center. This includes outreach activities regarding the future of the Community Center and its programs. Our officers are currently volunteering their time and efforts and do not receive pay for their volunteer work. Our administrative costs are very low; we aim to spend most of our money on the above-mentioned programs and activities. In 2020 and 2023 we advocated in support of a mill levy to fund the Department. This is allowable as it furthers our mission. We have not, do not, and will not advocate for or against any person running for public office. We are a non-partisan group.
We offer a newsletter for further information about our activities. To be put on our mailing list (it is opt-in), please contact us at: [email protected]