Friends of Gilpin County Community Center
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.
About 95 percent of our work and funding is directed toward working with the Center 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.
We’ve solicited and contributed time and money for activities, equipment, and events. For example, we helped pay for a bouncy obstacle course for kids to use indoors. We also funded a Water Safety course for kids for the past two years and are hoping to expand that program in 2024. We participated in the organization and presentation of an annual “Get Fit Day”, aimed at providing healthcare advice for those who wish to get involved in a more active lifestyle. We’ve supported the Winter Arts Festival, the Fair, and the Spooky Stroll, the First Responders’ Day, as well as this year’s Farmer’s Markets at the Community Center.
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. We worked with the department to help bring senior insurance program coverage for folks in the county who qualified for Silver Sneakers, RenewActive, and Silver&Fit programs (through Medicare). This county has a large population of seniors and many benefit from the offerings that Parks & Recreation provides – along with the Volunteers of America (for senior lunches).
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 finding grants for new and continuing programs, as well as working on the creation of a Parks and Recreation District in the future.
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 the FGCCC 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. It 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 | |
| President and Press Contact | Carolyn Collins Petersen |
| Vice President | Steve Schwettman |
| Treasurer | Ginger Baer |
| Secretary | Currently vacant |
| Functional Operations | |
| Correspondence | Carolyn Collins Petersen Ginger Baer |
| Fairgrounds | Norma Jones |
| Wellness, Sports, Recreation | Steve Schwettman |
| Fundraising | Board Members |
| Volunteer Task Force | Marilyn Ashmore |
| Board of Advisors | Bonnie Cowherd Karen Eye 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 community.
Goals
- Continue to maintain and enhance the Community Center as a Focal Point for:
- Celebrations such as Christmas Holiday Crafts Fair, dances and birthday parties
- Gatherings like the County Fair, High Country Auxiliary Silent auction/chili dinner, fundraisers, 4H, and election polling.
- Promote and evolve the Community Center as a Multi-generational Resource supporting:
- Youth programs including after-school, 4H, athletics, aquatics and summer programs
- Adult programs such as pottery, quilting, yoga, athletics and aquatics
- Senior programs from senior lunches, transportation, senior exercise and shopping
- In conjunction with the Colorado State University extension office build and bolster the Community Center as an Educational and Information resource providing:
- the community garden
- CPR training
- evacuation training
- forestry education
- mountain gardening
- noxious weeds mitigation
- Wildfire preparedness training
- Maintain and keep ready the Community Center as an Emergency Shelter that is:
- Red Cross approved
- ADA Compliant
- Ready for animal rescue through GCART
- Improve and better the Community Center as a Recreational Facility for activities such as baseball, basketball, children’s playgrounds, equestrian arena and barn, hiking trails, martial arts, pickle ball, soccer, softball, volleyball, plus much more
- The FGCCC will also act as a support organization for the Community Center providing input on programming, management, finance and enhancements
- Finally, the FGCCC will act as a grant-seeking and fundraising group for future programs to be held at the Campus.
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.
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: friends@gilpincommunitycenter.org