Emergency Incident Support EIS is an on-demand response group comprised of volunteers who are called on to provide critical support services for fire, search and rescue, law enforcement, medical, wildland, HAZMAT and other deployed emergency responders during large, major, sustained or complex emergency events prolonged situations, as well as large scale training events.  By providing rehydration, shelter, safe haven, snacks, and meals, EIS helps ensure that all first responders and community members can perform optimally in their duties.  Grant funding helped purchase necessary equipment and supplies to continue EIS support.  

Monument Warriors Chapter of Special Olympics Colorado The Monument Warriors is a Special Olympics Colorado team of over 70 members founded in 2021 to meet the demand for sporting opportunities for those with disABILITIES living in the Tri-Lakes area. Grant funds purchased uniforms, wind jackets, and equipment for their athletic programs.

Monument and Palmer Lake Fire & Police Departments Numerous grants have been made to police and fire department to meet a variety of needs, including thermal imaging equipment to find people in smoky or very low light situations, laptops that allow responding officers to obtain information and complete reports real time without having to go back to the station, search, rescue and survival training equipment, bullet proof protective vests, fitness equipment to maintain optimal physical conditioning necessary for the demands of their job, tablets, training uniforms,  and a refrigerator to store food at a fire station.

Tri-Lakes Cares Several grants within the past few years have enabled Tri-Lakes Cares, the only comprehensive human services organization and food pantry in northern El Paso County, to increase their ability to provide emergency, self-sufficiency and relief programs to those who are underprivileged or experiencing crisis.  Recent uses of these funds included the purchase of computers and related technology to integrate and automate client data and program tracking; professional presentation materials for outreach programs, education and fundraising; additional coolers, carts, shelving and bins to expand the food pantry; and security, safety and communication equipment.     

Rocky Mountain Youth Leadership Foundation Grant money was used to enable several high school students to attend the annual peer leadership conference, a five-day, college-like experience that provides education in leadership and the free-enterprise system and allows rising high school seniors to develop youth leadership skills they can utilize to benefit their schools upon their return.  

Silver Key at Tri-Lakes Senior Center Silver Alliance programs and events help keep senior citizens in the community socially, physically and mentally engaged.  As a result of recent grants, additional exercise equipment was purchased to meet increasing demand for a wider range of senior fitness programs to keep senior citizens active and healthy, along with portable picnic tables to enhance their courtyard space.   Funds also enabled the senior center to install an Automatic External Defibrillator, a device increasingly recommended in public places for its life saving potential in a cardiac emergency.  

School District 38 Preschool, Elementary, Middle & High School Grants 

• Preschool manipulative/sensory learning materials, games, and dramatic play items to accelerate cognitive, fine motor skills and social-emotional development.

• Elementary school literacy kits, robotics & innovation stations, keyboards, and enhanced art materials 

• Middle & high school social studies breakout kits, life skills learning sets, whiteboards for tutoring centers, robotics, and materials for an outdoor learning lab

• Transitions Services - cooking ingredients for Domestic Science class, Career Readiness Curriculum,  and sensory supplies

Mountain Community Senior Services A matching grant was made to help purchase a large passenger shuttle van to provide transportation for seniors who are unable to drive themselves to basic services such as grocery shopping, medical appointments and social opportunities, particularly in rural and far suburban areas that lack mass transit. The van is also used to provide bus transportation to Silver Key’s senior citizen congregate meals during the week.  Transportation is provided free of charge by volunteer drivers, so that service is available to all regardless of ability to pay.

Town of Monument A square tree ring bench that had been in Limbaugh Park for many years was literally duct-taped together. Grant funding enabled the town to replace the bench with a new, larger bench in front of the band shell in the park.

Colorado Families for Hands And Voices CO Families for Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and enable Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to reach their highest potential.  A grant for a laptop, headset, monitor and software helped provide families with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children.   

Friends of Fox Run Park Grant money purchased 10 tons of gravel used for trail maintenance and repair in Fox Run Park. Volunteers from the group provided the intensive labor to spread the gravel which keeps trails safe for over 2,000 visitors that use the park every month.

Adaptive Physical Education Programs A.P.E. provides special needs students the opportunity to participate in school and community recreational and fitness activities regardless of their skill level, including such programs as equine therapy, self-defense, swim lessons and more. This is accomplished through personalized instruction, in-depth support and the use of adaptive equipment.  Such programs promote individual independence and active and healthy lifestyles. Students gain confidence in their physical, cognitive and social abilities, and are able to enjoy recreational activities with their family and friends. Grants have enabled more students to participate in a wider variety of A.P.E. programs.  

Rocky Mountain Music Alliance RMMA offers classical chamber music concerts at a reasonable cost to allow everyone, especially those 50 and over and middle and high school students, to experience quality classical music without having to travel to major city centers, particularly at night. Grants enable RMMA to provide not only concerts, but Master Classes for high school students, encouraging youth to continue the study of music.   

Monumental Impact for Technology, Engineering & Entrepreneurship (MITEE) MITEE offers a shared space equipped with the resources and a mentoring community of support to provide opportunities for industry experiences for individual students and the capabilities to enable student programs in technology, engineering and entrepreneurship.  Grant funds enabled MITEE to expand their Bearbotics teams, where students build advanced robots to compete at regional and national competitions. 

Western Museum of Mining & Industry WMMI educates the public about the history and contributions of mining in the American West, as well as farming and ranching in the Pikes Peak region.  Visitors from all 50 states, as well as foreign countries, school groups, scout troops and other organizations enjoy and learn from the exhibits and activities.  Grant funds enabled the museum to convert its popular, award winning "Gold Mining in Colorado '' display into a    traveling storyboard and artifacts exhibit that can be brought to students, community groups, nonprofits and others to continue WMMI’s mission of educating the public about this unique history.    

High School PEER Tutoring Center & Mental Health Resources Material The establishment of a PEER tutoring center and the purchase  of eBooks to provide readily available, reliable, current and relevant resources for students and staff on mental health issues was made possible by a recent grant.  As, depression, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety and suicide rates for teens/young adults continue to rise, materials addressing such topics as anxiety disorders, stress, healthy relationships, coping strategies, eating disorders, self-esteem, family conflict, peer pressure and more can have a much needed positive impact.    

School & Community Educational Garden:  Educational Garden   A series of grants were the catalyst for a community partnership to convert a neglecting, uninviting area of Palmer-Lake Elementary School into an outdoor classroom that would promote learning and provide a welcoming, peaceful space for the entire community to enjoy. Carefully selected rocks and interpretive signs reinforce the geological studies curriculum, while benches and a shade canopy create an inviting atmosphere for all grades, special education, arts and music classes.  The design ensures that the educational garden will be extremely low maintenance and sustainable for years to come.   

Other Grant Recipients:

Ryan Pappas Memorial Foundation - Real Alternatives to Drink & Drugs High School Program

Pikes Peak Hospice

Bears Baseball Club