Chuck McAfee, of Cortez, is the inaugural recipient of El Pomar’s Award for Leadership and Service for his commitment to Lewis, Colorado, and Southwest Colorado, as demonstrated by his volunteer and board service and his role in launching the TeamUP Initiative, a collaboration focused on cradle-to-career education.
As part of the leadership award, McAfee was given $25,000 to donate to a local nonprofit of his choice.
“I chose to donate it to KSJD public radio because of their community value,” he said. “It’s been a huge honor and a great experience receiving the award.”
The TeamUp Initiative is in the planning stages, he said, and is expected to be rolled out this spring.
“The idea is that when organizations work together, they can have a bigger impact,” he said. “Our nonprofits have a lot of common ground in supporting young people entering and exiting the education system successfully.”
McAfee was one of two people to win individual awards at the El Pomar ceremony in Black Hawk, Colorado, on Oct. 2.
Adam Meyerson, president of Philanthropy Roundtable, received the Ben S. Wendelken Special Trustees Award in recognition of his commitment to philanthropic efforts across the nation.
The nonprofit organizations recognized as 2017 Awards for Excellence winners are:
Center for Restorative Programs promotes a system of restorative justice in the San Luis Valley.Kit Carson Rural Development engages in a wide variety of projects to benefit the Kit Carson and Wild Horse communities.Project Angel Heart provides nutritious meals to individuals battling life-threatening illnesses in Denver and Colorado Springs.Each organization received a $25,000 contribution for bettering the lives of Coloradans.
The El Pomar Awards for Excellence annually recognize the state’s highest performing nonprofit organizations. Since 1989, the program has provided over $6.2 million in grants to more than 450 nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado.
On Sept. 26, United Way of Southwest Colorado honored McAfee and his wife, M.B. McAfee, with its Spirit of Giving individual award. McAfee said he’s seen the Southwest chapter grow significantly since it started.
“United Way is always changing and getting better,” he said. “They are becoming more and more vibrant in the community.”