The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Deborah Fuller of Yampatika will be able to keep winter and summer programs up and running now that the nature store has been chosen as a co-beneficiary at Snowball 2002 with the Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

Money that will benefit the Steamboat Springs Arts Council and Yampatika will go toward operating costs and special programs.

"This is the first time we have received money and this is the fourth year we've applied," Fuller said. "We're ecstatic because it couldn't have come in a better year."

Snowball 2002 marks the 20th anniversary of assistance to local organizations through ticket sales and live and silent auction items. The event typically raises the organizations about $25,000 at the event through corporate table sales and the auction items.

Snowball is an annual dinner and dance sponsored by the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. designed to support community organizations and outstanding residents of the town. This year's theme is "Preserving Our Community through Culture."

Local residents created the Steamboat Springs Arts Council in 1972 as a nonprofit art and cultural programming and service organization that serves more than 20 different cultural programs. 2002 also marks the Arts Council's 30th anniversary of providing art and cultural opportunities to the community.

Yampatika is a nonprofit organization created in 1992 dedicated to providing an understanding of the natural and cultural resources of Northwest Colorado and a sense of place through education, communication, participation and example.

"The money will go to support programs that's what we're all about," Fuller said. "We can maintain qualified staff to maintain quality programs."

Last year, First Impressions of Routt County received $38,000 from Snowball. First Impressions liaison Renee Donahue said that is the most money ever raised to benefit one organization and she thinks it's due to the amount of support in the county for early childhood education.

The Ski Corp. chooses a different community organization every year. Organizations are chosen as beneficiaries because of their monetary need, longevity in the community, current situation, future challenges and how they would spend the money received.

Other beneficiaries include LIFT-UP, Advocates Against Battering and Abuse, Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Steamboat Mental Health, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp, Partners in Routt County and Grand Futures Prevention Coalition.

Also part of Snowball 2002 is the distribution of the 14th annual Hazie Werner Award of Excellence. The award was established by the Ski Corp. to pay tribute to women who have achieved a standard of excellence in their field.

The event is March 2 at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel with live and silent auction items as well as entertainment by The Nacho Men. Tickets are $90 a person or $1,500 for a corporate table. Call 871-5403 for more information or to make reservations.