Showing Up for the Community We Call Home

For Gretta Kuebert, getting involved with Eagle Valley Community Foundation (EVCF) began with a two-hour volunteer shift at The Community Market—and grew into a deeper commitment to helping families and neighbors across the valley.

Gretta moved to Eagle County from Denver shortly after she and her husband, Kevin, met, just before COVID in 2020. Kevin had lived in the valley for more than 20 years. Although Gretta had lived in cities since high school, she grew up in a small, safe coastal town in Massachusetts. Now, raising their 3-year-old daughter, Oakley, in Eagle, she sees that same family-focused spirit in her mountain community.

“Although the valley is geographically spread out, it still feels like a small, connected community,” Gretta says. “A shared love of nature and adventure, friendly and outgoing personalities, community events, sports, local businesses, and the relationships we build across towns and generations create a common thread that brings people together.”

Gretta and Kevin first volunteered at The Community Market after signing up online for a two-hour shift. “We were immediately impressed by how easy it was to get involved and how beautifully the market was run,” she says. That experience led Gretta to learn more about EVCF’s work and join its women’s group. As her board term with a Denver nonprofit was ending, she began looking for an opportunity to contribute at the board level in her new community.

“The timing was perfect, as EVCF’s mission and values aligned closely with my desire to support the community’s most critical needs.”

Gretta’s commitment to service began long before she arrived in Eagle County. In middle school, she organized friends and parents to make PB&J sandwiches and distribute blankets, hats, and mittens to people experiencing homelessness in Boston during the holidays. Her mother, she says, instilled in her the values of generosity and volunteering. Friends in Denver later introduced her to broader philanthropic opportunities and board service.

Today, Gretta brings people together around causes that matter to them, especially those supporting young families. She organizes Diaper & Formula Drives and Christmas Toy Drives, creating practical ways for neighbors to help one another.

“I’m passionate about connecting people with meaningful ways to give back,” she says. “Often, people simply need greater awareness of the needs and opportunities around them to get involved.”

Giving back is also something Gretta and Kevin practice as a family. Kevin takes part in workplace service opportunities and charitable golf tournaments, serves on real estate industry boards, and supports local nonprofits aligned with his values. They each find ways to contribute and support one another’s efforts.

They are also teaching Oakley about community involvement from an early age. This month, she helped Gretta gather diapers and formula. This Christmas, she’ll help shop for toys to donate to other children.

“We believe caring for others is both a responsibility and a privilege that lifts us all,” Gretta says. “Generosity not only strengthens our community but also enriches our own lives.”

When Gretta first moved to the valley, Kevin helped her understand the income disparities and unique challenges facing the local workforce—realities she hadn’t recognized as a former Denver visitor. Her experience with EVCF has given her a closer view of the needs across the community and of the people working to address them.

“I’m incredibly proud to be involved with EVCF, whose thoughtful, transparent, and responsive work addresses the valley’s greatest needs while connecting individuals and families with vital resources,” she says. Gretta is continually impressed by the foundation’s dedication, candid conversations, and commitment to the community’s long-term success and sustainability.

For young families who want to get involved, Gretta encourages them to start with what they can offer. Donating unused items, volunteering, sharing professional expertise, or supporting fundraisers are all meaningful ways to contribute. She suggests identifying the causes that matter most, then asking friends who are involved in charitable work about local opportunities.

“You don’t have to find the right opportunity alone. It takes a village to build a strong community, and sometimes all it takes to get started is a conversation.”

Looking ahead, Gretta hopes Oakley will remember that their family led with empathy and took action to help others, knowing that no act of kindness or service is too small. Above all, she hopes Oakley grows up understanding that being part of a community means actively contributing to it.

“By showing her how everyday acts of generosity strengthen relationships and build a more connected community, we hope she’ll carry that spirit with her throughout her life.”