BUILDING A BETTER WYOMING 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Staff Dear Friends, Craig Showalter Year after year I write this introduction. Each President/CEO time I feel more grateful for the generosity of Samin Dadelahi Wyomingites just like you. You amaze me. Chief Operating Officer So much good was accomplished across Misty Gehle Wyoming and in your community in 2017. Chief Financial Officer Each success was made possible because Sarah Chapman you supported the work we do. We hope this Director of Philanthropy annual report, full of feel-good stories, lets Kathleen Chick you see the impact you made. Scholarship and Communication Coordinator Because of you, the Wyoming Community Foundation is building a better Wyoming. We’re travelling the state with a mission of helping nonprofits Susan Day and connecting donors to the causes they care most about. Nonprofits feel Office Manager the impact of your generosity. Wyoming feels it too. Mandy Fabel Assoc. Director of Thank you so much for all you do for us, and for Wyoming! Philanthropy (2017) My sincerest gratitude, Vickery Fales Hall Director of Donor Relations Crystal Mayfield Grant Coordinator (2017) Anita Roman McLaughlin Craig Showalter, President Program Associate Wyoming Community Foundation Vickie Quisenberry Database Specialist Micah Richardson Director of Communication Kate Smith Event Coordinator Linda Barton Director, WY Afterschool Alliance Erin Harvey Program Coordinator, WY Afterschool Alliance (2017) Kate Foster Program Coordinator, WY Afterschool Alliance Rebekah Smith Director, WY Women’s Foundation Tony Woodell Director, WY Wildlife Foundation iii 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Contents Home Away from Home – Jason’s Friends ......................................................................2 Trouble on Whiskey Mountain – Natl. Big Horn Sheep Interpretive Center .................4 Making it on Her Own – Wyoming Women’s Foundation ..............................................6 Connecting Locally – Wyoming Community Foundation Local Boards .......................8 Afterschool Turns Things Around – Wyoming Afterschool Alliance ...........................10 Little Critters, Big Impact: Wyoming Wildlife Foundation’s .......................................12 Butler Wyoming Non-game Species Fund The Verdict’s In: Court is Cool – Wyoming Judicial Learning Center .........................14 Western Giving - French Creek Endowment Fund ........................................................16 Legacy, Key Club and President’s Circle Members ......................................................17 2017 Grantmaking...........................................................................................................18 Our Wonderful Volunteer Board Members ....................................................................19 Hot Tamale Louie (Fiscal Sponsorship) .........................................................................20 Race in Wyoming: Wyoming KIDS COUNT ................................................................22 Financials .........................................................................................................................23 Annual Fund Donors .......................................................................................................24 All Other Funds’ Donors .................................................................................................26 Memorial and Honors .....................................................................................................31 Not Your Father’s Library ...............................................................................................34 WYOMING COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 1 Home Away from Home erek’s mom has wished for a long time that her The space made a world of difference to the Augustins son could have a normal life. and now it will make a difference to so many other Derek’s first treatment started in Denver. Wyoming families. Treatments seemed to work, and they eventually Bonds that Last a Lifetime headed back to Laramie, cancer-free. Brent’s Place is comfortable and welcoming. It’s also Derek Augustin, a second grader at the time, relapsed as close to sterile as living quarters can get. Each room twice more. Eventually, he and his family would be has its own ventilation system. There are no carpets and long-term visitors to the Children’s the couches are leather. All surfaces Hospital in Aurora. There, Derek can be easily cleaned. A must for kids would receive stem cell transplants for like Derek. his neuroblastoma. It was also so much more for Derek and The transplants required Derek be other families staying there. Shared watched closely. His immune system recreational spaces let families get to was vulnerable, and he could easily know one another. become sick. Derek and his family “Nobody stares at you because you’re stayed in Denver for five months as he bald or have a feeding tube or wear a got treatment. mask,” says Lisa as she thinks back on His mom, Lisa, explained that because her son’s experience. he was so vulnerable, the family could She shares that the families would come hardly go anywhere. together to watch a movie, play games or “At times, it was horrible,” said talk. They quickly bonded. Derek became Lisa. “We were so antsy and ready Derek enjoys some time outdoors, very close with a boy from Casper. cancer-free! to get out.” Lisa believes families at Brent’s Place One thing made it bearable though: Jason’s Friends at have stayed connected because of the shared experience. Brent’s Place. “You just know what others are going through. You both Jason’s Friends is a statewide nonprofit based in Casper. view life a bit differently.” They support non-medical needs of families of kids Thanks to you, Jason’s Friends has created a safe, with cancer. welcoming place for Wyoming families dealing with Because of you, the Wyoming Community Foundation the worst. made a grant to Jason’s Friends. The grant means families As for Derek’s health? This is his longest remission. like the Augustins now have a special living space He’s been cancer-free for a year and a half now. His mom available to them at Brent’s Place in Denver. hopes this means a return to a more normal life soon! The space made a world of difference to the Augustins and now will make a difference to so many other Wyoming families. 2 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Derek’s experience was made just a bit easier because of Brent’s Place. STATS&FACTS Funded by Number of apartment In just seven months, Walking distance WYCF’s Grace spaces for Wyoming 3 Wyoming families to the hospital: Amspoker Fund kids at Jason’s Friends 23 have utilized minutes at Brent’s Place the space. 15 WYOMING COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 3 Trouble on Whiskey Mountain ven by Wyoming standards, Dubois is remote. If you love wildlife, you likely feel the same way. Once you wind your way to the small town A Fund for Bighorn Sheep though, chances are you’ll be rewarded. The “There are no easy answers,” says Sara, “but people here Whiskey Mountain herd of Bighorn Sheep lives are committed to finding them.” just a few miles away. They’re nearly as accessible as the local coffee shop. For the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, this means prioritizing education. Offering more opportunities The sheep have always been a part of the community. for learning and research. Creating more ‘place based’ But today, they’re facing tough times. According to education in the wild. Sara Domek, Director of the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center in Dubois, disease is threatening them. Luckily, Sara and the group are getting a leg-up in reaching that goal. They created an Agency Endowed Scientists are Baffled Fund with the Wyoming Community Foundation 15 “Lambs are not surviving the summer months,” years ago. They’ve now decided they’re ready to start says Sara, “which is the time of year they should be using the funds. their strongest.” In 2017 the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center A healthy herd usually has 30 lambs per 100 ewes. accepted their first grant from the fund. Grants they’ll be Last year there were only 11 per 100 ewes. If this trend able to count on each year. continues, the situation will soon be dire. Because of your support, the Wyoming Community “The community is concerned,” says Sara. “We all feel a Foundation helps nonprofits like this one create funds that sense of ownership to protect the herd.” give back. Forever. “There are no easy answers, but people here are committed to finding them.” 4 2017 ANNUAL REPORT A sheep from the Whiskey Mountain herd leaps above the water. Photo: Bill Sancavage STATS&FACTS National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center Fund $120,000 Current herd Herd population population objective $100,000 750 1,300 $80,000 Gifts to the Fund Gains Current lamb Healthy lamb $60,000 population population PER EVERY PER EVERY $40,000 11 100 EWES 30 100 EWES $20,000 Bighorn Sheep summer in the high country, making them difficult to study $0 during those months 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 WYOMING COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 5 Makingon it Her Own want the opportunity to do something that is complex For Debbi Gorski, Director of WWBC, the grant has and challenging and lets me make enough money to made a huge difference. make a living,” says Pamela T. “This grant has let us launch an expansion of our Pamela is 26. She’s been a social worker since program,” Debbie says. 2015. She enjoys the job, but the part-time work has not In fact, the IDA program has doubled because of the covered her expenses. grant.