Jump to a Post:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
- Brent’s Place
- Bridging Bionics Foundation
- Hilltop Community Resources
- Manna
- Routt County Cattlewomen
Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
A place where great futures take shape
For the young people who walk through the doors each day, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County feel less like an afterschool stop and more like a launching pad.
It’s where new ideas spark, friendships form, and kids discover possibilities they may not have known existed.
For nearly 40 years, the organization has grown into one of the most trusted youth-development resources in Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, and Estes Park. Its mission remains centered on helping kids grow into responsible, caring citizens.
Chief Executive Officer Allison Hines said that their mission to enable all young people to reach their full potential isn’t something that just gets discussed in board meetings or printed on posters. It’s visible in the relationships being built between staff and kids.
“I love being part of an organization where I can see the positive impact of our work every day,” noted Hines. “Our team is passionate about creating safe spaces for kids, and we ensure that every youth who walks through our doors has a place to be who they are and gets the support they need as they learn, grow, and chart their futures.”
And the Clubs’ reach goes well beyond traditional after-school activities: art, theater, academics, and athletics fill the afternoons. Meals arrive through a partnership with the Food Bank of Larimer County, and behavioral health services are offered without extra cost to families.
These layers of support create consistency for parents and opportunities for kids, particularly in a community where affordable care and extracurricular activities are often difficult to find.
“When it comes to kids, consistency matters,” added Hines. “Our Club staff are committed to always showing up with an open heart and a willingness to meet kids where they are, empowering them to make new friends, create new experiences and chase their dreams.”
Community partners help amplify that impact. Alpine Bank’s involvement includes supporting major fundraising events but also connecting members with collegiate role models from Colorado State University.
“When adults invest even a few minutes in a young person, it sends a powerful message: you matter,” explained Alpine Bank Senior Vice President Drew Johnson, who also serves on the Club’s Board of Directors. “That simple exchange can change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life.”
For countless families across Larimer County, the Clubs are a lifeline. For the youth who gather there each afternoon, they are something even more—a place to grow into themselves and toward a future that feels within reach.
“When kids feel supported, they show their strengths,” remarked Hines. “Seeing that is such a gift.”
To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, visit begreatlarimer.org.
Brent’s Place
Stability when families need it most
When a medical crisis sends a family hundreds of miles from home, the search for stability becomes urgent. At Brent’s Place, that stability arrives the moment families walk through the door and realize they will not face the long road ahead alone.
Based in Aurora, Brent’s Place provides medically safe, long-term, cost-free housing for families of pediatric and adult patients who are receiving life-saving medical treatment in Denver. The nonprofit is built on a simple promise. No family navigating a life-threatening illness should have to worry about where they will sleep or how they will make it through the days ahead.
“Every day, families arrive exhausted and overwhelmed,” said Monique McCoy, vice president of external affairs at Brent’s Place. “We help replace fear with comfort and isolation with community. That is what drives our work, and it is what makes Brent’s Place feel like a home away from home.”
Families who stay at Brent’s Place come from across the country to access treatment at Denver’s world-class hospitals. Behind each apartment door is more than a bed or a kitchen. Staff members surround families with support that is both practical and deeply personal.
That can mean a stocked pantry, trauma-informed programming for siblings, or a quiet conversation at the end of a difficult day. Everything is provided at no cost.
“Our superpower is creating real stability in the middle of chaos,” McCoy said. “By removing as many everyday barriers as possible, we help families find the space to breathe and focus on healing.”
Teams here collaborate closely with medical partners, anticipate needs before they arise, and deliver care that often happens quietly behind the scenes. It is steady work, built on trust and compassion, and it is carried out day after day with a sense of purpose.
That purpose resonates with volunteers and partners as well, including members of the Alpine Bank Denver team. Assistant Vice President Jackie Devine shared that time spent volunteering at Brent’s Place has left a lasting impression.
“Just by showing up, offering a smile, a hug, you can feel the relief in the room,” said Devine, who oversees community and business development at Alpine Bank. “Brent’s Place is more than a building. It becomes a lifeline during the hardest moments a family can face.”
For McCoy, that human element of Brent’s Place is what matters most. It’s about people being there for one another.
“No one should face this journey alone,” she said. “Here, they never do.”
To learn more about Brent’s Place, visit brentsplace.org.
Bridging Bionics Foundation
Expanding what mobility can mean
Amanda Boxtel refused to accept a life defined by paralysis.
After a skiing accident left her unable to walk, Boxtel sought out new approaches to mobility, eventually transforming her personal pursuit into a community resource now serving people with neurological challenges across the Roaring Fork Valley.
Today, the Bridging Bionics Foundation blends cutting-edge technology with expert therapy to help clients build strength, reclaim confidence, and often defy expectations.
“I encourage individuals to dream generously and nourish their imaginings,” said Boxtel, who is the founder and executive director of Bridging Bionics. “If I can inspire others to tap into their unmet potential through sharing my journey, then I have met my goal.”
Since 2013, the organization has worked to remove the financial barriers that keep many people from accessing the therapy they need. Insurance rarely covers it, yet the benefits can be life-changing.
Bridging Bionics is known for pairing skilled therapists with advanced tools such as exoskeleton suits and vibration systems that support neurorecovery. These technologies help clients with spinal cord injuries, MS, cerebral palsy, and other conditions work toward their own benchmarks for movement.
Clients at Bridging Bionics build strength and gain confidence as they work toward better mobility. The foundation offers services five days a week at no charge, supported entirely by donors and community partners.
“We pride ourselves on giving the gift of mobility,” said Boxtel.
The program’s long-term consistency is one reason families report meaningful physical and emotional gains. As Boxtel puts it, the aim is to help people “rise to the occasion” in their daily lives.
In early 2026, Bridging Bionics secured a permanent home, The Center for Neurorehabilitation. This facility marks an important step forward, allowing the program to meet growing demand while remaining rooted in its values of community and inclusivity.
Alpine Bank has supported Bridging Bionics since its early years, which is a reflection of the bank’s admiration for the work being done.
“Bridging Bionics shows what is possible when people are given the support they need to thrive,” said Alpine Bank Head of Community Outreach Isabel Johnson. “Their work reminds us that we are all made for mobility.”
Bridging Bionics continues to expand opportunities for people who need them most, staying focused on a simple but powerful belief that movement matters, and access to it can change a life.
To learn more about Bridging Bionics, visit bridgingbionics.org.
Hilltop Community Resources
Celebrates 75 years with new downtown Grand Junction location
For 75 years, Hilltop Community Resources has helped people in Western Colorado find steadier ground when life becomes uncertain.
Recently, the organization opened a new chapter with the move into its expanded downtown Grand Junction location, a milestone that brings several departments together under one roof.
The move is more than a change of address. It reflects what Hilltop has become for generations of families: a trusted source of support and problem-solving. The nonprofit began in 1950 as a small rehabilitation hospital, and over the past seven decades, it has grown to operate a wide range of human services programs shaped by the evolving needs of the community.
Today, Hilltop’s reach extends across the region through three primary program areas: community-based programs, brain injury services, and assisted living for seniors.
“Every day, people walk through our doors carrying more than most of us will ever see, and it’s our privilege to meet them with compassion,” said Hilltop CEO Mike Stahl. “This new space helps us show them they’re not alone.”
The new facility provides workspace to support program growth, improved infrastructure designed around participants’ needs, greater accessibility and safety, and meeting areas that encourage collaboration among community partners and nonprofit organizations.
“It is rare to see this many people come together around one purpose,” added Stahl. “It demonstrates to us that this community truly values connection.”
Alpine Bank was among the organizations that supported Hilltop’s capital campaign and continues to supply volunteers for events and senior programs.
“When you sit with someone who is trying to rebuild their life, you realize how important Hilltop is,” said Alpine Bank Branch Manager Tom Oliver. “They make complicated situations feel manageable. They help people move toward brighter futures.”
Looking ahead, Stahl hopes the new building becomes a gathering place for those seeking hope.
“Every person deserves a community that lifts them up,” he said. “Our new home is more than walls and workspaces, it’s a reminder that hope grows strongest when we grow it together.”
To learn more about Hilltop Community Resources, visit htop.org.
Manna
Serving up more than meals
Most days at Manna begin quietly, long before their doors open. Pots warm, volunteers arrive, and the familiar rhythms of the kitchen come alive.
What follows is not simply the preparation of food. It is the creation of a place where anyone in La Plata County can walk in and feel seen and valued. It’s support that goes far beyond a plate.
Manna has built its mission around offering nourishing meals and care for those who need it most. Over the years, that mission has grown into something deeper. The organization now provides pathways that help people regain footing and confidence.
Co-Executive Director Marissa Hunt described it as meeting people where they are with both compassion and purpose.
“We believe that dignity and connection change lives,” said Hunt. “A meal may be the beginning, but the relationships and support that follow are what help someone rebuild.”
Her fellow Co-Executive Director, Chris Andrews, sees those moments of connection every day. He said the work at Manna is grounded in a belief that hope flourishes when there are no barriers to help.
“When someone walks through our doors, they are welcomed without conditions,” Andrews said. “They might need food or housing support or guidance through a difficult moment. What matters is that they find a place that says ‘yes.’”
Manna’s services now include housing support, culinary training, and a garden that produces fresh food. Each piece reinforces the same idea. People deserve not just help, but a chance to move forward with confidence.
The organization’s partnerships throughout the community strengthen that mission. Alpine Bank is among those long-standing partners.
“Manna meets an essential need in a way that removes the hesitation many people feel when they are in a challenging situation,” noted Alpine Bank Durango Branch President Eric Eicher. “Their open-door approach doesn’t just offer a glimpse of support; it creates a wide-open path for meaningful transformation.”
For the team at Manna, hope is served daily in ways both practical and profound. And for many in need in La Plata County, it is exactly what keeps them going.
“We are more than a meal,” explained Andrews. “While we provide nourishing food every day, our true strength lies in the relationships and the connections we create in our community.”
To learn more about Manna, visit mannasoupkitchen.org.
Routt County Cattlewomen
Preserving heritage through community
Ask people in Routt County what defines this region, and many will point to our Western heritage. Ranching is part of our history, livelihood, and identity all at once. Routt County Cattlewomen aim to keep that connection strong.
Through events, education, and public outreach, the group, which has been around for nearly 75 years, works to make sure the community understands the value of ranching today and the traditions that built the area.
Yet anyone who has crossed paths with the group also knows their work goes far beyond education. It feels more like carrying forward a living legacy.
Last year, their inaugural All Women’s Ranch Rodeo revealed just how deeply that legacy is shared. What began as an idea to highlight the strength and skill of ranch women quickly grew into a full arena of energy and enthusiasm.
“The turnout stunned us in the best way,” said Hayleigh Aurin, president of the Routt County Cattlewomen. “You could feel the pride in the stands. People showed up not only for the sport, but for what the event represented. It fueled us to work even harder on this year’s rodeo.”
The 2026 All Women’s Ranch Rodeo is set for Saturday, June 27, at Home Ranch in Clark, CO. This year’s planning reflects the spirit of the first. A mix of local competitors, regional teams, community donors, and volunteers all contribute to an event that feels homegrown and heartfelt.
“We would like to express our gratitude to all the businesses and organizations that supported us and their continued generosity,” said Aurin.
The support of local businesses has played an important role in the event’s success. Alpine Bank was among the groups that stepped forward to help launch the first rodeo in 2025.
“Because I grew up in a ranching family, this heritage is a real part of who I am, and I truly appreciate the people who keep it alive,” said Alpine Bank Market President Adonna Allen. “Supporting the Cattlewomen felt natural because they lift up the traditions and the people who make this community what it is.”
For the Routt County Cattlewomen, the rodeo is more than entertainment or sport. It is a reminder that our traditions come to life when people gather around them.
“At the heart of this event is the community,” explained Aurin. “We could not do any of it without them, and that is what makes this work so meaningful.”
To learn more about Routt County Cattlewomen, visit their Facebook page.
