High-Impact Philanthropy
In 2016, Aspen Community Foundation created the Cradle to Career Giving Network with the support of Laura and Gary Lauder. The Network provides the unique opportunity for philanthropists to not only make a difference in the lives of children and their families in the Aspen to Parachute region, but also to learn more about the region among peers. Each member contributes a minimum of $5,000 annually. Since its inception, more than $1,000,000 in Giving Network investments have advanced youth outcomes in kindergarten readiness, youth social and emotional wellbeing, and post-high school success.
Members of the Cradle to Career Giving Network convene several times a year to learn from experts and practitioners working directly with the region’s youth and families, review data and explore challenges facing the region. Collectively, they participate in peer conversations to discuss promising solutions and engage with nonprofits organizations. Annually, these conversations and collective learning opportunities culminate in group decisions on how and where to allocate the pooled funds to create the most impact.
The Network’s Chair, Ramona Bruland, joined initially to learn more about the issues impacting the lives of children in the region and has been struck by the comradery within the group along with the depth of philanthropic experience fellow members bring and the ease of participation in impactful philanthropy The Network provides. She says, “Everyone is so busy that taking on something else can feel overwhelming, but the Giving Network provides easy access to compassionate philanthropy, connection to peers and is extremely rewarding.”
In 2021, the Cradle to Career Giving Network learned about and explored the significant impact family resource centers have on student wellbeing and achievement and overall family stability. These centers played a critical role throughout the pandemic, providing increasing housing and food security, connecting families to mental and physical health services, and supporting students as they navigated remote learning. The Giving Network also continued its support of boosting the quality and safety of family, friends and neighbor care, which played a significant role in addressing the childcare crisis during the pandemic.
Giving Network Benefits: learn from experts and practitioners working to improve youth outcomes; review regional data on issues and challenges facing the region; participate in a series of meetings with peers to discuss promising solutions; decide how to allocate the pool of funds (typically $200,000-$300,000; engage with nonprofit organizations.
Join the Giving Network: To join, contact stephanie@aspencommunityfoundation.org or 970.925.9300. Giving Network members contribute at least $5,000 annually.
Members of the Cradle to Career Giving Network convene several times a year to learn from experts and practitioners working directly with the region’s youth and families, review data and explore challenges facing the region. Collectively, they participate in peer conversations to discuss promising solutions and engage with nonprofits organizations. Annually, these conversations and collective learning opportunities culminate in group decisions on how and where to allocate the pooled funds to create the most impact.
The Network’s Chair, Ramona Bruland, joined initially to learn more about the issues impacting the lives of children in the region and has been struck by the comradery within the group along with the depth of philanthropic experience fellow members bring and the ease of participation in impactful philanthropy The Network provides. She says, “Everyone is so busy that taking on something else can feel overwhelming, but the Giving Network provides easy access to compassionate philanthropy, connection to peers and is extremely rewarding.”
In 2021, the Cradle to Career Giving Network learned about and explored the significant impact family resource centers have on student wellbeing and achievement and overall family stability. These centers played a critical role throughout the pandemic, providing increasing housing and food security, connecting families to mental and physical health services, and supporting students as they navigated remote learning. The Giving Network also continued its support of boosting the quality and safety of family, friends and neighbor care, which played a significant role in addressing the childcare crisis during the pandemic.
Giving Network Benefits: learn from experts and practitioners working to improve youth outcomes; review regional data on issues and challenges facing the region; participate in a series of meetings with peers to discuss promising solutions; decide how to allocate the pool of funds (typically $200,000-$300,000; engage with nonprofit organizations.
Join the Giving Network: To join, contact stephanie@aspencommunityfoundation.org or 970.925.9300. Giving Network members contribute at least $5,000 annually.
2021-2022 Giving Network Members
Pam Alexander
Abby and Steve Anderson
Jill and Paul Aschkenasy
Jody and Jeffrey Black
John Cresap
Lynn Russell and Stoney Davis
Nick Lincoln and Tony DiLucia
Gail and Alfred Engelberg
Laurel Gilbert and Bruce Etkin
Jaimie and David Field
Carla and George Frampton
Anna and Matt Freedman
Barbara and Karl Friedman
Dale Genet
Rachel and Ephraim Gildor
Barbara Gold
Ramona Bruland and Michael Goldberg
Pam Alexander
Abby and Steve Anderson
Jill and Paul Aschkenasy
Jody and Jeffrey Black
John Cresap
Lynn Russell and Stoney Davis
Nick Lincoln and Tony DiLucia
Gail and Alfred Engelberg
Laurel Gilbert and Bruce Etkin
Jaimie and David Field
Carla and George Frampton
Anna and Matt Freedman
Barbara and Karl Friedman
Dale Genet
Rachel and Ephraim Gildor
Barbara Gold
Ramona Bruland and Michael Goldberg
Andi and Jim Gordon
Jane and Allen Grossman
Bobbi Hapgood
Jamie Helzberg
Jackie Merrill and Jay Hughes
Jenny and Tim Hurd
Jennifer Johnston-Jones and Mike Jones
Donna Barranco Fisher and Robert Kammer
Laura and Mike Kaplan
Laura and Gary Lauder
Melony and Adam Lewis
Marcie and Robert Musser
Navias Family Foundation
Laurie Crown and Rick Ortega
Julia Pirrung
Barbara and Don Rosenberg
Katya and Zach Sternberg
Elisha and Jeffrey Zander
Jane and Allen Grossman
Bobbi Hapgood
Jamie Helzberg
Jackie Merrill and Jay Hughes
Jenny and Tim Hurd
Jennifer Johnston-Jones and Mike Jones
Donna Barranco Fisher and Robert Kammer
Laura and Mike Kaplan
Laura and Gary Lauder
Melony and Adam Lewis
Marcie and Robert Musser
Navias Family Foundation
Laurie Crown and Rick Ortega
Julia Pirrung
Barbara and Don Rosenberg
Katya and Zach Sternberg
Elisha and Jeffrey Zander
Cradle to Career Giving network members granted $455,000 in 2021 to 8 recipients. Grantees were asked to report on how they have used (if they received a grant in 2021) and plan to use their funds in 2022.
July 2022 Update
March 2022 Update
For more information about the Giving Network, please contact Stephanie Gianneschi, Philanthropy Director.