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FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 10, 2019 – More than 400 Larimer County middle and high school students participating in the Give Next youth philanthropy program capped off their school year by awarding more than $100,000 to 40 Larimer County nonprofits.
With financial support from local businesses, foundations and individuals, students from the Poudre and Thompson School Districts awarded grants to recipients including Hearts & Horses, Inc., the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center and Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center. Give Next is a partnership of community volunteers and organizations that includes Bohemian Foundation, the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, Poudre School District, Thompson School District and the Give Next Advisory Committee.
“Give Next reminds us all about how thoughtful, insightful and inspiring local students are,” said Sara Maranowicz, Bohemian Foundation’s Community Programs Director. “We celebrate this important accomplishment of awarding grants, but it’s just the start of what students have achieved this year. Students convey an expanded understanding of social issues; empathy for individuals impacted by these issues; a deep appreciation and knowledge of local nonprofits; a sense of responsibility to actively engage in their community; a willingness to constructively debate and share decision-making with their peers; and the pride of knowing they’re creating real change – not just through money, but by caring.”
Give Next is a school-based youth philanthropy program designed to provide middle and high school students with experience in philanthropic giving. Through the program, local businesses, foundations and individuals become classroom donors by providing each participating school with $5,000 to award to Larimer County nonprofits. Many of the students from participating schools also complete their own fundraisers to add to the $5,000 grant amount provided by donors. This year, Give Next students raised more than $10,000 through these fundraisers. Throughout the year, students design and manage their own grantmaking programs. Students work together to identify community needs, choose a focus area, create their own mission statement, research nonprofits, volunteer, conduct site visits, review grant applications and make funding decisions. At the end of the school year, students award grants to selected nonprofits. Through the process, Give Next enables students to experience the power of teamwork, the impact they can have on their community and the rewards of giving time, talent and treasure.
Currently, 18 middle and high schools in Poudre and Thompson School Districts participate in Give Next. Since the program’s inception in 2012, more than $450,000 has been awarded to Larimer County nonprofits – $390,000 of which was provided by classroom donors and nearly $70,000 of which was raised by Give Next students. Every donor dollar goes directly to student grantmaking. For more information about becoming a Give Next classroom donor or about participating in the program, contact Jodie Riesenberger at 970-221-2636 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Note to editors: Download this news release as a PDF to see the full list of grant recipients.
Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives. Bohemian Foundation provides management support for Give Next.
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., May 15, 2019 – Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, today announced the artists selected to paint pianos in 2019.
Local artists selected to paint pianos in 2019 are: Natalie Selden Barnes, Chelsea Ermer, Elisa Gomez, Wildrose Hamilton, Amy Heyse, Carly Knowles, Mike McPuff (McClure), Joe Motive (Myers), Lynn Rizzotto, Werner Schreiber, Larry Tucci and Kristen Vohs.
“We’re excited to watch alongside the community as this year’s artists paint scenes both familiar and fantastical under the tent in Old Town Square,” said Ellen Martin, visual arts administrator for the City of Fort Collins. “Whether it’s music-playing aliens or a colorful rendering of Horsetooth Mountain, each piano will be an adventure to those who see and play it.”
Outdoor summer painting will take place May through October underneath the Art in Action tent on the south side of Fort Collins’ Old Town Square.
Pianos About Town brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins. Pianos About Town started in 2010 as a collaboration among Bohemian Foundation, the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places program and the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority. Community members watch as local artists transform donated pianos into public art. In 2018, the program celebrated its 100th painted piano.
Scattered among 20 locations across town in the summer, and six locations in the winter, the completed pianos offer surprise interruptions of color and music across Fort Collins. The whimsical pianos beckon to passersby and invite them to make and listen to music together.
First-time artist with the Pianos About Town program is Natalie Selden Barnes, who has been an art educator for more than 20 years. Barnes is currently a teacher and adviser in the Department of Art and Art History at Colorado State University. She was a founding board member of Artistic Abilities, a local nonprofit with the mission of providing access to the arts for artists with disabilities.
Barnes will paint “Carousel Magic,” a concept that comes from the artist’s life-long love of carousels. “One of my earliest happy memories is of riding a merry-go-round,” said Barnes in her artist statement. “The feeling of freedom and pure joy. Reaching out to try and snatch the brass ring and running through the animals to find my favorite ride. Even today, in my sixties, I’ll always jump at the chance for fun on a carousel. I’ve tried with this design to capture the feeling of riding one.”
Concept images:
Returning artist Amy Heyse will paint her third piano in 2019. Heyse is a Fort Collins artist and resident who currently works as lead artist and artist trainer at Pinot’s Palette in Old Town.
Heyse will paint “How to Fold a Paper Crane,” a concept that shows step-by-step instructions on how to fold a paper crane, using colors and design elements inspired by Japanese origami paper. In describing the inspiration for her piece, Heyse said, “Growing up, I loved learning how to do origami from my mom. For most people, origami is synonymous with paper cranes. A person who folds a thousand paper cranes is said to have a wish of theirs granted. They’re also a symbol of hope and healing.”
“My goal is to create a striking piano that is not only beautiful and enticing to play musically, but also instructs any passersby on how to create a small work of art on their own.”
Concept images:
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FORT COLLINS, Colorado, April 8, 2019 – Bohemian Foundation today announced that it awarded $522,500 to 42 local organizations working to encourage and enable youth to thrive, empower individuals and families on the path toward economic stability, and strengthen our vibrant community. Bohemian Foundation awards Pharos Fund grants twice every year. Since its inception in 2001, Bohemian Foundation has awarded $19,384,190 in Pharos Fund grants to a variety of organizations serving the Fort Collins area.
Pharos Fund is a responsive grantmaking program of Bohemian Foundation that makes awards up to $30,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government units. A committee comprised of Bohemian Foundation board members and community reviewers selects grantees through a competitive application process.
Click here to view the full List of Spring 2019 Pharos Fund Recipients.
Bohemian Foundation will begin accepting applications for the next Pharos Fund round in August 2019. Visit BohemianFoundation.org for more information.
Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grantmaking programs and special initiatives.
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., April 3, 2019 – Bohemian Foundation today announced that applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2019 Muse grant round. Muse is a responsive, competitive grant program offered by Bohemian Foundation’s Music Programs.
Muse provides support to organizations that have popular contemporary music as their primary focus, or that have a program that centers on popular contemporary music. Through Muse, Bohemian Foundation makes awards of up to $20,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Larimer and Weld Counties. Applications are accepted twice per year. Funding requests must align primarily with one of Bohemian Foundation’s Music Programs goals: to provide youth with encouragement and opportunities to express themselves through music; to help musicians and music-related businesses grow and develop; and to increase performances of live music.
Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on April 24.
For more information or to apply for a grant, visit Bohemian Foundation’s website at bohemianfoundation.org/music-programs/muse.
Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grantmaking programs and special initiatives.
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