International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Women Who Strengthen Our Community

Each year on International Women’s Day, we pause to recognize the women who shape our communities, lead with compassion, and create pathways for others to thrive. At Eagle Valley Community Foundation, women are at the heart of this work, as leaders, caregivers, entrepreneurs, volunteers, donors, and neighbors.

They are the women who organize food drives, mentor new business owners, care for families, volunteer their time, and advocate for a stronger, more inclusive community. They are also the women who come through our doors seeking support, opportunity, and connection and who, in turn, help strengthen the very community that surrounds them.

Across Eagle County, women are helping build a future where families can access nutritious food, healthcare resources, and opportunities for economic mobility. From The Community Market to MIRA (Mobile Intercultural Resource Alliance) and Elevar, the stories we witness every day reflect the power of women supporting one another.

The Women Behind the Work

At Eagle Valley Community Foundation, much of the work happening across the valley is led by an extraordinary team of women who bring expertise, compassion, and dedication to serving the community every day.

Our staff includes program managers, community health navigators, outreach coordinators, and administrative professionals who work alongside partners across the county to ensure families have access to essential resources. Many of these team members share lived experiences with the communities they serve, speaking multiple languages, understanding cultural barriers, and building trust through relationships.

Their leadership extends far beyond program delivery. EVCF staff serve on more than twenty nonprofit boards and community coalitions, helping strengthen the broader nonprofit ecosystem and ensure that families across the region have access to coordinated support.

Whether they are helping a family enroll in health insurance, organizing a mobile market in a neighborhood parking lot, mentoring a first-time entrepreneur, or stewarding donors who make the work possible, the women of EVCF demonstrate every day that community care is both a profession and a calling.

Why Women’s Health and Stability Matter

The challenges facing women and families across the country underscore why this work is so critical.

Nationally, 1 in 7 households experiences food insecurity, and households led by single mothers face significantly higher rates with more than one-third of female-headed households struggling to consistently afford food. When families lack access to nutritious food, it can affect everything from children’s development to long-term health outcomes.

Health access is equally critical. The United States continues to experience some of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income countries, and more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable. Barriers such as language access, transportation, and lack of culturally responsive care often make it harder for women, particularly immigrant and low-income mothers, to receive the services they need.

These realities highlight why Eagle Valley Community Foundation’s work focuses on the interconnected needs of families. Access to nutritious food, healthcare navigation, and economic opportunity are not separate challenges, they are deeply linked.

Through The Community Market, MIRA, and Elevar, EVCF works to ensure women and families have the resources they need not only to get by, but to thrive.

Women Leading Within Our Programs

Across EVCF programs, women are not only receiving services — they are leading change in their families and communities.

At The Community Market, women are often the primary decision-makers for their households’ nutrition. Our customer-choice pantry model ensures families can select foods that reflect their cultural traditions, dietary needs, and health goals. Many of the women who visit the Market are also volunteers, helping stock shelves, welcome neighbors, and build a sense of dignity and belonging for everyone who walks through the doors.

Through MIRA, mothers and caregivers connect with trusted community health navigators who help them access health screenings, insurance enrollment, behavioral health services, and preventive care. These relationships are built on trust and cultural understanding, ensuring that families feel seen, respected, and supported as they navigate complex healthcare systems.

In Elevar, women entrepreneurs are transforming ideas into businesses that contribute to the local economy. Through mentorship, curriculum, and access to capital, the program helps emerging leaders build confidence and financial stability while creating opportunities for others in the community.

In each of these programs, women are strengthening their families while helping shape a more resilient local economy.

Leadership From Women Across Our Community

EVCF’s work is also guided by an extraordinary group of women serving as board members, donors, volunteers, and community partners. Their leadership helps ensure that programs continue reaching thousands of families across the valley each year.

EVCF Board Member Samantha Hodgkins reflects on the importance of supporting families as the foundation of a thriving community:

“As a mother, wife, business leader, non-profit executive and community service advocate, I see first hand the impact of strong, healthy families in our community. That ranges from wellness at home, connection to essential resources, and opportunity for financial security and professional advancement.

When families are secure, rooted and thriving, energy and vitality pour into the community, lifting everyone. Just like I deeply value core essentials like nutritious food, health access and economic opportunity for my own family, I see it as an imperative for every member of our community to benefit from these same elements… so that we see all families grow and thrive.”

For EVCF Board Member Gretta Kuebert, the strength of community lies in connection.

“To me, a thriving community is one centered on cultivating meaningful human connections and strengthening a shared sense of community.

EVCF exemplifies this approach through trusted relationships with neighbors who rely on its services and through collaborative partnerships with other local nonprofits and business partners who expand the impact.

As these relationships deepen, they create a more interconnected network that bridges those with resources and those in need. This commitment to community connectedness ultimately lays the foundation for long-term resilience and collective prosperity.”

EVCF Board Member Kathryn Carson reflects on the leadership of women across the organization and the community:

“As I think about the work of Eagle Valley Community Foundation and our points of connection with those we serve, I am inspired by our many strong and capable female leaders who are helping members of our community meet the critical needs of their families. Along with the support of our phenomenal donors, I trust that these circles of caring will continue.”

For EVCF Advisory Board Member Beth Slifer, supporting families through access to essential resources reflects the shared responsibility neighbors have to care for one another.

“All members of our community are important to the future of Eagle County. We want our neighbors to know we support and value them by offering to meet some of their family needs for medical and food assistance.”

Her reflection speaks to the heart of EVCF’s mission: ensuring that every neighbor, regardless of circumstance, feels valued, supported, and connected to the resources they need to build a stable future.

When Women Thrive, Communities Thrive

International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a reminder of the work still ahead. When women have access to nutritious food, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity, the benefits extend far beyond individuals, strengthening families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.

At Eagle Valley Community Foundation, we see every day how women lead with courage, compassion, and determination. Whether they are stepping forward as volunteers, donors, entrepreneurs, community health advocates, staff leaders, or customers seeking a better future for their families, their leadership strengthens the entire valley.

Today, we celebrate the women who nourish our community, advocate for opportunity, and inspire the next generation.

Because when women thrive, communities thrive.