Alpine Bank branches in the Colorado River Valley celebrated veterans beyond Veterans Day this year, with a month-long fundraiser for all of November. The community was invited to give to the nonprofit Western Slope Veterans Coalition (WSVC), with the promise that Alpine Bank would match up to $5,000 in contributions. By November 30, customers of Alpine Bank had stepped up to donate $4,976.21 to meet the matching funds challenge.
“Alpine Bank holds veterans in our communities in the highest esteem,” says Alpine Bank Regional President Jay Rickstrew. “It is our honor and privilege to present this check on behalf of our generous customers and Alpine for $10,000 to the Western Slope Veterans Coalition.”
The WSVC provides outreach to all military service persons by connecting veterans in Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties to local and national agencies and resources. It was founded in 2015 after the suicides of two Marine Corps combat veterans with local roots: Jesse Beckius and Casey Owens.
“We plan to expand the space to offer more services to veterans and provide a place to connect, relax and exercise at our location on Colorado Avenue in Glenwood Springs,” says WSVC Treasurer and founder John Pettit. “This grant gets us much closer to making those plans a reality.”
There are 40,000 veterans on Colorado’s Western Slope. About 60 veterans come together each month for the Coffee & Donuts event, sponsored WSVC in the three counties. More than 300 veterans and their families are served each year by the WSVC. Learn more: https://www.westernslopeveterans.org
