Eagle Valley Community Foundation was built on the belief that everyone in our valley deserves the opportunity to thrive. What began in 2015 as a response to growing community needs has evolved into a trusted organization advancing equity, connection, and care across Eagle County. Inspired by the concerns of local residents and driven by a desire to create lasting change, a group of community leaders came together to form a foundation grounded in listening and action. Their early efforts laid the groundwork for what would become a decade of impact—improving access to food, healthcare, education, and opportunity for thousands of individuals and families.
We invite you to check out the timeline below to see key moments in our history and how far we’ve come—together.
We honor the vision and generosity of our founding board members, whose commitment to community made the creation of Eagle Valley Community Foundation possible. Their leadership helped shape our mission, guide our early steps, and establish the core values that continue to define our work. This 10-year milestone would not be possible without their belief in a more equitable future for all who call this valley home.
“At Eagle Valley Community Foundation, we stand on the shoulders of those who believed in our mission from the very beginning. Our Founders, Mike and Sue Rushmore alongside local Leaders like Seth Ehrlich, Jason Denhart, Jeremy Rietmann, and Chris Romer have helped shape who we are today — not just through their service, but through their steadfast belief in the power of community. As we celebrate our growth, we also honor the legacy of those who have walked alongside us. Their impact will be felt for generations to come.” -Melina Valsecia- Monreal, Eagle Valley Community Foundation Executive Director
In September 2015, OCF was invited to partner with Advisory Board member Beth Slifer to sponsor a bi-annual gathering of Eagle County nonprofit leaders. That gathering now includes over 100 community leaders and facilitates awareness and collaboration across organizations and people. In December 2015, OCF was awarded a grant by…
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In 2021, Rob Katz and Alana Amsterdam made a transformative $250,000 donation—the largest in Eagle Valley Community Foundation’s history at the time. This extraordinary gift supported efforts to provide nutritious meals to local children through deep partnerships with schools, early childhood programs, and community organizations. Their generosity helped expand food…
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The original members of the Board of Directors include Chair Mike Rushmore, Bill Jensen, Seth Ehrlich and Jeremy Reitmann. In July 2016, the Board of Directors was expanded from four members to six members with the addition of Ron Davis and Chris Moffet. In August 2016, OCF and the…
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AmeriCorps VISTA Several local non-profits are fighting poverty but are under-resourced. With funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, EVCF established a scalable AmeriCorps VISTA program in Eagle County. OCF’s AmeriCorps VISTA program places National Service within local non-profits to assist in capacity building measures. EVCF managed seven…
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We welcomed five new AmeriCorps VISTAs to the valley. Our current AmeriCorps VISTA members are hard at work serving within EVCF, the Eagle River Valley Food Bank, the Vail Valley Salvation Army and the Eagle River Watershed Council. The AmeriCorps VISTA program is managed by EVCF and funded by a…
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Eagle County partners celebrate launch of mobile clearinghouse program. The MIRA RV is a rolling clearinghouse for services available in Eagle County. Examples include basic health education and screenings, application support for public assistance programs, food resources, workforce development, early-childhood education coordination and physical activity programming. In Spanish, MIRA means “look”…
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According to a study done by Feeding America, 16% of Eagle County residents struggle to put food on the table for their families. That’s about 8,700 people in our community. When EVCF received the results of this study at the end of 2017, they concluded that there was an unmet…
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Rebranding from Our Community Foundation to Eagle Valley Community Foundation.
In 2025, The Community Market deepened its commitment to addressing food insecurity in Eagle County by partnering with four local restaurants—Hovey & Harrison, Red Maple Catering, Splendido, and Vin48—to provide 500 home-cooked meals each week to those in need. This initiative not only ensured consistent access to nutritious meals for…
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The Eagle Valley Community Foundation selects Melina Valsecia as its executive director. Valsecia has managed MIRA (Mobile Intercultural Resource Alliance), a partnership program with Eagle Valley Community Foundation, since 2018. “The entire board is proud of the work that Melina has done with MIRA, and we are confident that Melina…
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As we look ahead, we remain grounded in our community and guided by a bold vision: a valley where everyone belongs and thrives. Our current strategic plan focuses on expanding access, deepening impact, and building systems rooted in dignity and inclusion. With continued partnership and support, we are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our neighbors and creating opportunities that will last for generations to come. We invite you to join us—because the next decade of progress starts now.
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