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Colorado Trust: Finding worthy grant recipients

Karli Bockelman/For Craig Press

The C.R.A.I.G. Group has selected its final round of grantees for 2019.

We’ve selected United Way’s Community Impact Program: Bridges Out of Poverty, Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, and the Dental Program of Northwest Colorado Health.

“Our goal through the Bridges (Out of Poverty) program is to alleviate poverty in Moffat County” said Community Impact Program Coordinator Genevieve Yazzie.



The Bridges Out of Poverty model is a resource-focused program that helps to educate the community about poverty and how daily instability adversely effects not only those who live in poverty but the community as a whole. Also, their Getting Ahead Program, which is a piece of the Bridges Out of Poverty model helps those who live at or below the federal poverty line learn skills and access resources to help them thrive rather than just survive.

Another piece of the Bridges Out of Poverty model is teaching the “R Rules” curriculum to students at the Yes Opportunity School. “R Rules” empowers youth to build for their futures by self-designing their lives and establishing what resources are needed for them to live that life.



Grand Futures Prevention Coalition requested money from the C.R.A.I.G. Group to help offset the cost of a full-time employee in Moffat County.

“Grand Futures Prevention Coalition (GFPC) takes a three-pronged approach to substance abuse prevention: youth development, education for trusted adults, and community engagement,” said Executive Director Lindsey Simbeye. “Through positive youth development, we aim to empower youth to make healthy, positive, substance-free choices by addressing both risk and protective factors. Educating trusted adults helps to ensure that adult leaders who serve as role models for the youth in each community are able to positively influence choices and behavior surrounding substance use for the next generation.”

By having a full-time staff person in Moffat County Grand Futures plans to be able to do more of this work and have a larger impact on Craig, especially for our youth. The main focus will be on cultivating youth leaders to lead advocacy work, advocating for themselves as well as for their peers.

The Dental Program through Northwest Colorado Health requested money to offset costs to provide toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, brushing timers, and dental mirrors during their dental screenings at Moffat County schools.

“…it is through these screenings, that we educate our local youth on how to maintain good dental hygiene and the impact dental hygiene can have on their overall health.” said Suzi Mariano, executive director of the Dental Program.

For some school-aged youth this is the only time they get the opportunity to see a dental hygienist and be provided with the tools to have good dental hygiene.

It has truly been a pleasure for the C.R.A.I.G. Group to hear about the fantastic work being done by organizations in our community and to be able to provide some assistance to that work through this grant process.

We want to say, “Thank you and to keep up the great work!”


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