In the next few weeks, our mountain community will offer several signature events to support nonprofits that fill the gap in local services. Whether you are passionate about victim advocacy, education or the arts, there are opportunities to contribute and ease the financial burden of worthy organizations operating in our neighborhood.
Floyd Hill 5K to Benefit Clear Creek County Residents in Need
You can race for a cause at the July 19 Floyd Hill Dash featuring breathtaking mountain views and following a course along historic paths once traveled by Gold Rush settlers. The 5K event begins at 9 am with registration at 7:45 am. Race check-in and starting line are at the Game Check Station Trailhead Parking Lot, 970 East Idaho Springs Road, Evergreen. Individual participant fee is $39.44 with discounts available for youth, seniors, and groups of 5 or more. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/267jx367
Whether you’re chasing a personal best or enjoying a relaxed walk, this event is all about celebrating the outdoors, enjoying community, and making a difference for those in need. Every stride supports the Clear Creek County Advocates (CCA). CCA is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive support to victims of crime and personal tragedy and offers community education regarding victimization and crime prevention in Clear Creek County. Donations enable CCA to continue offering essential services for survivors of crime and trauma, including 24/7 on-scene response, emergency safe housing, food and transportation, mental health assistance and referrals, legal aid referrals, and other critical support services. To learn more about CCA, go to clearcreekadvocates.org.
SUMMERFEST Celebrates Art, Music and Family Fun
A cornerstone of the foothills’ festival season, SUMMERFEST returns for its 46th year on July 18 and 19 at Buchanan Park in Evergreen. Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE) presents this 2-day immersion into 100-plus artist booths, live music, kid’s activities, food trucks and spirits vendors. The festival runs Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is $5, with kids 10 years and younger free. Saturday participants may return on Sunday with no additional entry fee as long as they keep and display their original admission sticker.
Proceeds from SUMMERFEST benefit CAE, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, and its year-round outreach and education programming. For details, including participating artists, the music stage schedule, Sunday morning yoga registration, and parking information, visit evergreenarts.org.
Support Bootstraps Scholarships July 23 at Aspen Peak Cellars Event
Bootstraps invites you to its July 23 Sips for Scholarships event, a memorable evening at Aspen Peak Cellars, where fine wine, delicious food, and a shared commitment to education come together. Attendees will sip, savor, and support Bootstraps Scholarships, helping mountain-area students achieve their educational and career dreams. The gathering takes place from 6-9 pm at Aspen Peak Cellars, 60750 US-285 in Bailey. Admission is $85 per person and includes dinner, wine, gratuity and taxes. For more information, go to bootstrapsinc.org.
Donations to Bootstraps empower local students to pursue education beyond high school. Gifts may help first-generation college students achieve their dream of attending college or support a student seeking certification in a trade or career field. Bootstraps also offers interest-free loans that cover books and living expenses for college students, enabling them to graduate with less financial burden.
Evergreen Newcomers and Neighbors Presents Evergreen Speaks!
Evergreen Newcomers and Neighbors (ENN) is continuing its Evergreen Speaks! Series on August 4 featuring Kris Kazian, Division Chief of Fire Operation at Evergreen Fire Rescue from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive. Kazian will address the challenges our local government officials face—from providing safe drinking water to promoting fire protection and maintaining emergency medical systems.
Kazian is a career fire service leader with more than three decades of experience in emergency services, organizational leadership, and public safety operations. He also helps lead strategic planning, and the development of sustainable service models for a growing mountain community.
Evergreen Speaks! is a free series that spotlights Evergreen residents in a TEDx format with short presentations followed by time for questions and discussion. The series is free and open to the public. For more information, go to evergreennewcomers.com.
Lutheran Church Hosts the 32nd Annual Community Grove Sale
One of the largest outdoor “yard sales” takes place on Saturday, August 8 at Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Hwy 73 from 7:30 am – 3 pm. The Grove Sale is an event where the community donates gently used clothing, collectibles, electronics, tools and furniture in good, clean condition for the church to sell and raise money for mountain-area nonprofits. Over the years, the Grove Sale has yielded more than half a million dollars to benefit nonprofits from Conifer, Evergreen, Bailey and Idaho Springs.
Donations to the sale will be accepted Monday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 5 from 9 am – 6 pm each day at the church. Please note that the following items will not be accepted: large exercise equipment, tube televisions, ceiling fans, computer towers, mattresses, Christmas lights, file cabinets, and entertainment centers.
The Grove Sale runs on the work of volunteers both prior to and on sale day. Local service organizations and nonprofits contribute sweat equity to make the event a success. Young people needing community service hours are encouraged to sign up. Please call Evergreen Lutheran Church for more information at 303.674.4654.
