Each fall The Community Foundation presents NOVA Awards at the Community Stars Event. Given in the categories of Arts, Civic, Environment, Education and Health and Human Services, these awards are designed to recognize and honor some of the outstanding nonprofit organizations in our county. Each of the NOVA award winners is presented with a beautiful plaque designed by local artist John Haertling, accompanied by a $1,000 cash award.

The 2001 winners are:

• Arts: Artwalk (Old Firehouse Art Gallery, Longmont.) 
  Artwalk is a multi-cultural, multi-media arts event in downtown Longmont. Similar to a gallery hop, the event transforms local businesses into makeshift galleries. Rather than be discouraged by the lack of art galleries in Longmont, the volunteers and organizers of the event have created a valuable community event, which supports local artists, highlights Longmont’s historic downtown and brings traffic into local businesses.
  
  
• Civic Partnership: Developmental Disabilities Center, Lafayette
  The Developmental Disabilities Center created the Valentine’s Bouquet of Goods and Services five years ago, inventing a unique partnership between the DDC and local businesses. During the month of February, businesses offer a special promotion or make donations from sales to the Center. What started with one local repair shop offering the proceeds from oil changes has grown into a group of 74 businesses that help to raise more than $35,000 for people with disabilities.
  
  
• Education: Intercambio de Comunidades Español/Inglés
  This program offers free and "learner-friendly" English as a Second Language classes. The program unites volunteers with Spanish speaking students to have lessons in students’ homes or public spaces, such as libraries, supermarkets or concerts. The informality of the setting allows Spanish speakers who have children to care for their children and learn at the same time. It has also led to many friendships between students and volunteers and has contributed to breaking down barriers between communities.
  
  
• Environment: Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery, Nederland
  The Wild Bear Center offers ecologically-based programs year-round to people of all ages. Since serving its first eight children in 1995, the center, through its innovative offerings, now attracts 450 participants a year. Some of its programs include summer camps, after school programs, family workshops, earth art classes, and the Magic Bus, an exhibit where visitors board the bus and participate in hands on activities about what they can do to be more earth conscious at home.
  
  
• Health and Human Services: Dental Aid, Inc. 
  Dental Aid’s Child Care Outreach Project targets children in child care centers throughout Boulder County. The children receive tooth brushes and tooth paste, and they and their teachers learn about oral health. Dental Aid also screens these children to identify those in need of further dental care. The program has already touched 295 children in its first year, likely reducing future dental disease in many of these children. It is a cooperative project between Dental Aid, the Boulder County Health Department and the Boulder County Early Care and Education Task Force.