Approved Grants - October 2026

October 2026 Rotary Community Needs Grants: $30,000

Steamboat Tennis Association $1,458. Help fund transportation for under-resourced youth to participate in tennis and mentorship programs. This funding will help eliminate transportation barriers, ensuring more local children have access to recreational opportunities, positive role models, and programs that build confidence, sportsmanship, and life skills.

Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA $2,000. To support and expand its Supervised Family Time program, which provides safe, structured, and trauma-informed visitation opportunities for children and their non-custodial parents involved in child welfare and custody cases. Funding will help cover staffing, training, program coordination, and resources needed to maintain a safe visitation environment. The program helps children maintain important family connections, supports parents working toward reunification, and ensures families have access to these services regardless of their ability to pay.

Steamboat Dance Theater $2,000. To support its Embrace the Rhythm of Aging program, which provides free, accessible dance classes for seniors throughout the Yampa Valley. The funding will help cover instructor costs and expand programming, allowing older adults to improve mobility, balance, cognitive health, and emotional well-being while fostering social connections and reducing isolation. The program currently serves 20–40 seniors weekly in Steamboat, Hayden, and South Routt.

Northwest Colorado Health $1,250. To purchase therapeutic games, art supplies, sensory tools, and storage materials to support its expanding school-based youth behavioral health program. These resources will help children and teens develop healthy coping skills, express emotions, and improve emotional well-being while increasing access to mental health services across six Routt County schools. The materials are expected to benefit approximately 276 youth annually through school-based and clinic services.

Better Tomorrow dba Queer Futures $2,000. To support its Youth Advisory Committee, a year-round leadership and advocacy program for LGBTQIA2S+ youth in Northwest Colorado. Funding will help cover youth-led project expenses, meeting space, food, and educational supplies, empowering approximately 10 young people to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and design and implement projects that positively impact their peers and community. The grant will also help fill a funding gap caused by the loss of a previous state grant.

Steamboat Springs Actors Studio (Wildhorse Cinema & Arts) $1,955. to purchase a wireless microphone system and accessories as part of its Multi-Generational Audio Accessibility Initiative. This equipment will provide young actors with hands-on technical training, improve sound quality and accessibility for seniors and hearing-impaired audience members, and reduce costly equipment rentals. The investment will help make local theater productions more affordable, accessible, and sustainable while supporting youth performing arts opportunities throughout the Yampa Valley.

Routt County Riders $2,000. To support and expand its Street Smarts bicycle and e-bike safety education program for sixth-grade students at Steamboat Springs Middle School, Sleeping Giant School, and Hayden Middle School. Funding will help develop a new e-bike safety curriculum, purchase instructional materials, and provide hands-on training in bicycle safety, traffic rules, helmet use, and responsible riding. The program is expected to benefit at least 200 local students, helping them develop the knowledge and skills to safely navigate roads, paths, and trails.

Serving Older Adults in Routt $2,000. To purchase a commercial heated food-holding cabinet for its Eat & Greet Lunch and Meals on Wheels programs. This equipment will help ensure meals are served at safe, consistent temperatures, improve efficiency for volunteers, and reduce food waste. The investment will support reliable meal service for older adults throughout Routt County, benefiting approximately 100 individuals per service and an estimated 20,000 meals annually.

Steamboat Soccer Club $2,000. To support its School Outreach Program, which brings free soccer clinics directly to elementary and middle schools and Boys & Girls Club sites throughout the Yampa Valley. Funding will help purchase take-home mini soccer balls for students and interactive soccer equipment to enhance clinics and community events. The program aims to reach more than 2,000 youth, removing financial and transportation barriers to participation while promoting physical activity, confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong interest in sports.

Steamboat Symphony Orchestra $2,000. To support its inaugural Family & Sensory Friendly Concert in December 2026, designed to make live orchestral music more accessible to children and families throughout the Yampa Valley. Funding will help cover concert expenses and provide discounted or complimentary tickets for families who may face financial barriers. The concert will also feature sensory-friendly accommodations, including adjusted lighting and sound, communication aids, and a more flexible environment to ensure children of all abilities can enjoy a welcoming musical experience.

Yampa River Botanic Society $2,000. To support its Plant Heroes children's education program by funding the printing of approximately 3,000 interactive educational journals. These free journals engage children in learning about plants, nature, conservation, and horticulture through creative, hands-on activities that combine art and science. The program benefits local families, visiting children, school groups, and summer camps while encouraging environmental awareness, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for nature.

Hayden Middle School $2,000. To expand its STEM education program through Discover, Create, Dream: A Rural STEM Engineering Pathway. Funding will help purchase 3D printing and digital fabrication equipment, providing students with hands-on opportunities to design, build, test, and solve real-world engineering challenges. The project is part of a larger initiative incorporating robotics, automation, and flight and space technology, helping rural students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills while exploring future careers in STEM fields.

Integrated Community $2,000. To support two early childhood education programs, Listo para Kinder and Raising a Reader, serving young children and families in Steamboat Springs. Funding will help cover bilingual kindergarten teachers and provide bilingual book bags to promote early literacy, school readiness, and family reading habits. The programs primarily support children from Spanish-speaking families, helping remove language and educational barriers while preparing children for success in school. Together, the programs are expected to benefit approximately 43 children and their families.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Steamboat and Pearl Lake State Parks $1,654.97. To purchase a child safety seat for its adaptive Track Chair Program, which provides free access to outdoor hiking experiences for individuals with mobility challenges. The specialized seat will allow children ages five and under, or those with smaller body sizes, to safely use the all-terrain electric wheelchair on trails that would otherwise be inaccessible. This expansion will help children with disabilities participate in outdoor recreation alongside their families, promoting inclusivity, independence, and access to nature throughout the community.

The Next Page Learning Center $1,987.40. To purchase specialized reading instruction materials and learning assessment tools for students in fourth grade through high school who struggle with reading, particularly those with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Funding will support evidence-informed literacy programs, educational games, and diagnostic evaluations that help identify individual learning challenges and provide targeted instruction. These resources will help local students strengthen their reading skills, build confidence, and achieve greater academic success while making evaluations more accessible to families regardless of their financial circumstances.