Community Foundation Boulder County today announced $5,700 in Veterans Fund grants to four nonprofits serving local veterans, including Warrior StoryField, the Medicine Horse Program, Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE), and Cultivate.
Community Foundation Boulder County today announced $5,700 in Veterans Fund grants to four nonprofits serving local veterans, including Warrior StoryField, the Medicine Horse Program, Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE), and Cultivate.
“The Veterans Fund was established in 2016 when Veterans Helping Veterans Now in Longmont closed its doors,” says Lisa Moreno, Senior Program Officer for the Community Foundation. “Since then, the fund has been supporting Boulder County nonprofits that serve our community’s vets.”
Specifically, the Veterans Fund – a permanent endowment of the Community Foundation – grants to programs that support the strengths and needs of local veterans and their families; builds community among veterans, including efforts by veterans to help other veterans; fosters education about veterans’ issues; and creates dialogue between veterans and the general community. Grantees are chosen by an advisory committee comprised of community members who are veterans, or who are family members of veterans; or who have direct experience providing veterans’ services. By donating to the fund by Veterans Day, November 11, community members can double their gift with the foundation’s current $25K match.
“Some 14,000 veterans live in our county representing a wide range of ages, interests. and needs,” continues Lisa. “The fund’s focus is to support programs across the county that understand veterans’ experiences, and prioritize including them in the design and implementation of programs that serve them. It’s the best way to ensure that veterans are valued, and their needs are met.
“Grantees like Warrior StoryField demonstrate strong veteran involvement and engagement in planning and implementing their programs and projects.”
Adds a Warrior StoryField participant, “I came home from Vietnam and hid for more than 40 years, never telling my friends or family what I’d gone through. Most didn’t even know I was in the military, let alone Vietnam. It wasn’t until I landed at Warrior StoryField that I found a community that allowed me to trust again. This community saved my life. I can now own the wisdom I carry from the experience of combat, as well as holding myself in silence for decades.”
Indeed, Warrior StoryField is a collaborative art project that bridges the gap between veterans and civilians by fostering community through the creative process. Another grantee that works directly with local veterans, the Medicine Horse Program partners veterans with horses, offering a unique approach to emotional and relationship healing; the eight-week program helps participants manage reactivity, and develop presence, focus, and the ability to overcome often overwhelming and difficult emotional experiences. In summary, current Veterans Fund grantees and grant amounts include:
Cultivate/RSVP ($2K)
VetsGo: medical transportation for Boulder County veterans, age 60+.
Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE) ($1,500)
Veterans’ Outreach: connecting veterans experiencing homelessness with representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to access benefits.
Medicine Horse Program ($1,200)
Operation Be Herd: eight-week equine-assisted therapy groups for veterans and active duty personnel.
Warrior StoryField ($1K)
Providing veterans with a sacred place for connection, conversation, and expression that goes beyond words.
