About Us

Advancing The Common Good in the Yampa Valley

United Way of the Yampa Valley (UWYV) creates solutions that advance the common good in Northwest Colorado. We’re improving education, strengthening financial stability, and making our community healthier. Our community-led solutions focus on four goals to make the greatest impact in our community: giving children a strong start through early childhood education, providing youth a safe, healthy and nurturing environment to promote successful youth, improving the financial stability of all Northwest Colorado Citizens, and promoting access to mental health and crisis services. We mobilize change by funding local nonprofits through grants, encourage ideas and connection through partnerships, and foster initiatives that directly support UWYV’s values in the community through our programs.

UWYV is the leader in health and human services. We are a community builder, leader, unifier, and champion.

We’ve Merged!

Routt County United Way and Moffat County United Way have joined forces! We are excited to announce that we are now United Way of the Yampa Valley!

OUR VISION

We envision a county where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through access to education, opportunities to improve financial stability, and support to lead healthy lives.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to unite people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good in education, financial stability, and health.

How We Make Our Impact

Programs

Grants

Partners

The Team That Makes It Possible

Kate Nowak

Executive Director
director@unitedwayyv.org

Kate started with UWYV in October 2013. Previously her 11 years of nonprofit work included Yampa Valley Data Partners and the International Erosion Control Association. Kate and her husband, Jim, have been in the Yampa Valley for 20+ years. Kate is passionate about serving people through United Way.

Jennifer Bruen

Associate Director
associatedir@unitedwayyv.org

Jen is a native Michigander. With an education in cultural anthropology, regional planning, and historic preservation, she’s built a 20-year career heavily focused on equitable, inclusive, and sustainable community and economic development. She’s worked with communities nationally and internationally on innovative projects in collaboration with universities, regional planning organizations, non-profits, businesses, and local governments. She loves the outdoors, traveling, volunteering and spending time with her family.

Deanna Sanchez

Marketing and PR Manager
marketing@unitedwayyv.org

Deanna was born and raised in a small mountain town in southern New Mexico. She graduated with a non-profit-focused business degree at Colorado State University. For most of her career, she has been working and volunteering at various non-profits in Routt County. Her love for community, passion for storytelling, and dedication to human services attracted her to United Way of the Yampa Valley.

Michele Barkal

Business Operations Manager
office@unitedwayyv.org

Michele has been in the Valley for 20+ years, relocated from Connecticut and started working with Vectra Bank as an AVP, Commercial Lending Officer.  Raised a son while owning a restaurant and working with the South Routt School District.  Have volunteered for several organizations in Routt County throughout the years and am thrilled to be able to have impact from within.

Marco Borja

Moffat County Community Impact Manager
mccommunity@unitedwayyv.org

Marco (He/Him/El) was raised in the Yampa Valley, immersed in a Mexican-American household where English was limited. This upbringing instilled in him a deep understanding of the significance of accessible healthcare services, not just for his own family, but for the entire community. Marco’s unwavering passion lies in advocating for those whose voices are often disregarded or silenced. Recognizing that everyone has a unique story, regardless of their background, he dedicates his time to championing the rights of the Hispanic/Non-English-Speaking Community, and Sexual Assault Survivors. Marco finds joy in connecting with loved ones through outdoor activities and cooking, cherishing these moments as opportunities to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.

Kelsey Spahr

Routt County Community Impact Manager
rccommunity@unitedwayyv.org

Kelsey is a Colorado native, born and raised on the Front Range, she recently relocated to the Yampa Valley after getting married. With an education in Social Work and passion for serving people, she comes to the Yampa Valley with a wealth of experiences and excitement to become immersed in this new (to her) community. Kelsey has worked with a wide variety of organizations and populations since graduating college in 2017 and obtaining her master’s in social work in 2021. She has spent time living in Uganda serving the community, working in foster care and adoption, working with youth and adults, and is excited to combine all of her experience and knowledge to serve the Yampa Valley community. She loves spending time with family and friends, reading books, traveling, and trying new restaurants/coffee shops.

Our Board of Directors

We are governed by a Board of Directors, whose responsibilities include: reviewing and guiding organizational direction, ensuring effective management and financial stewardship, representing UWYV in the community, bringing the community’s voice to our decision-making, and maintaining the community’s trust in the organization.

Ciara Bartholomew

Finance/Business Manager, South Routt School District

Ciara Bartholomew is a Colorado native, born in Leadville and raised in Eagle County. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado-Boulder (Go Buffs!), Ciara embarked on an 11-year journey in our Nation’s Capital where she worked for a management consulting firm, McKinsey & Co. and a brief stint for a middle-market investment firm during the 2007-2011 financial crisis. Returning to her roots of Colorado, she now spends her time as the Finance/Business Manager for South Routt School District. Ciara holds a masters in finance from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado. You can find Ciara skiing, mountain biking, rafting and enjoying the fresh air of the Colorado mountains with her husband, their toddler, and the family favorite Homer (the dog).

Andrew Czysz

Director of Operations at Alpine Insurance Brokers

Andrew brings his contagious excitement to Steamboat as the new face of Alpine Insurance. As Director of Operations, he is tasked with community outreach, building relationships within the community, assisting agents with exceptional client service and creatively progressing our agency to the next level. A lifelong Chicago native, he has embraced all things Steamboat – from hiking and golfing to catching a soak after a morning workout at OTHS. Next on his list: learning the slopes. You’ll often find him at happy hour venues around town, ready for a good conversation with someone new. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, as an agent, manager, recruiter, and owner. He also sits on both the finance committee and donor relations committee as a board member of the Routt County United Way.

Jim Feree

Previous Craig City Manager 

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oklahoma.  After holding several positions in local government in Oklahoma, Jim accepted the position of City Manager in Craig in 1998.  Jim retired after serving 18 years as City Manager.

Jim served 9 years on the Moffat County United Way Board of Directors. Jim enjoys volunteer work and in addition to the United Way of the Yampa Valley Board of Directors, Jim serves on the Craig Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of the Craig Kiwanis Club.

Jim enjoys fly fishing, hiking, golf, and cooking.

Chick Corrado

One of the founders of Applied Physical Sciences

Chick Corrado grew up in Connecticut and has been an active supporter of the United Way for many years.  Chick received his Ph.D. in Acoustics from MIT.  He is one of the founders of Applied Physical Sciences, an undersea and maritime technology development company supporting the US Navy and the Oil and Gas industry.  He served as the President of the company for 20 years.  A strong believer in the mission of the United Way, he made it the designated non-profit organization supported by the company.  Chick also served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut before moving to Steamboat in 2022.

Chick joined the United Way of Yampa Valley Board to give back to the community he now calls home. Chick and his wife Sandy have two daughters that live in the Boston area. Chick is semi-retired and is a fanatical fly fisherman and skier.

Cuyler Meade

Director of Communications and Grants at the Moffat County School District

Cuyler Meade is a husband, father of six, and the Director of Communications and Grants at the Moffat County School District. Cuyler came up professionally in the journalism world before transitioning to strategic communications after about a decade in newspapers. He’s passionate about helping people connect and work together toward accomplishing great purposes. Cuyler has six amazing kids and a wonderful wife, Sarah.

Anamaria Flores

Yampa Valley Bank Operations Officer

I am a Mexico native. I moved to Colorado with my family at age of eight and have been living in Colorado ever since. I was hired at Yampa Valley Bank in 2014 as a teller and have worked in a variety of roles in the Operations Department. My most recent role at YVB is that of Operations Officer. My primary goals at Yampa Valley Bank are to support our team and customers. I have helped elevate YVB’s reach into the Yampa Valley’s Spanish speaking population. My passion for nonprofits partially comes from my experience in working with our community members and seeing firsthand the difference nonprofits like United Way make in our community and how Yampa Valley Bank makes an impact in the community as well. I also find satisfaction with being able to help customers navigate the complicated financial world and helping them to thrive in banking. I am thrilled to serve our community through United Way. I enjoy the outdoors, spending time with family and my furry friend Nala (my golden retriever) and friends.

Leslie Gibson

Sales & Marketing Special Projects Supervisor, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation

Leslie has been an integral member of the Steamboat Ski Resort team since 2009 in a variety of roles in both the Mountain Operations and the Brand and Resort Strategy divisions. Before working at the resort, Leslie attended the Art Institute of Colorado and worked as a cabinet designer at Rustic Woodworks. Leslie is a second-generation leader at the resort.

As a Routt County native, Leslie has huge respect and admiration for the history and traditions of the Yampa Valley community and that is what drew her to the United Way Board. She hopes that through her work with United Way, she can make a positive difference in our community and beyond through serving, advocating, and empowering others.

Olivia Goldsworthy

Consulting Professional Almora Advisors

Olivia is a consulting professional in the Fundraising and Development field. Her work currently is with a national firm, Almora Advisors, that helps small and mid-size nonprofits achieve their strategic goals in the social sector. As a Colorado Mountain College graduate, Olivia has experience in various sustainability-focused research and planning positions, and her interests emphasize community development, social equity, and trust-based philanthropy. Since moving here in 2012, Olivia has embraced Steamboat’s outdoor lifestyle. Outside of work, she can be found rowing her boat on the Yampa or enjoying an après session with friends after skiing.

Nate Browning

Tri-States Corporate Chemistry Manager

Nate was born and raised in Moffat County.  After Graduating from Colorado State University with a Degree in Chemistry Nate returned to Craig and worked for the City of Craig as the Waste Water Treatment Plant Manager for several years. Since 2010 Nate has worked for Tri-State G&T and is currently Tri-States Corporate Chemistry Manager.  Nate joined the Moffat County United Way Board of Directors in 2018. Nate is also an active member of the Journey at First Baptist Church in Craig and is on the Board of Directors of Mt Elim Bible Camp in Routt County.  Nate is married to Karina and has three boys, ages 19, 12, and 11.  Nate enjoys snowmobiling, skiing, backpacking, hunting and fishing.

Carrie Helmcamp

14th Judicial District Family Court Facilitator for Routt and Moffat counties

Carrie moved to Steamboat in 2016 and joined the United Way Board in April 2019. After practicing law in Texas for over 20 years, Carrie and her husband (and their dogs) relocated to the Yampa Valley in 2016. A strong believer in United Way’s mission to “improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community,” she looks forward to becoming more deeply involved in programs supported by Routt County United Way and its community partners.

Carrie works with the 14th Judicial District as the Family Court Facilitator for Routt and Moffat counties, and enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and fly-fishing.

Dave Kinnear

Community Member

Dave Kinnear grew up in Minnesota and received his degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota. Dave held two different positions with the State of Minnesota before beginning a 34-year career with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in Minnesota and Wisconsin. After leaving Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dave has been pursuing an active retirement, which includes skiing, biking, hiking, photography and travel.

Dave has been a supporter of the United Way for many years and has volunteered with a number of organizations in the Milwaukee area and beyond.

Since moving full-time to Steamboat Springs in 2017, Dave has been involved with the Steamboat Springs Over the Hill Gang, for which he currently runs the web site and leads bicycling outings.

David Lundeen

Community Member

David moved to Steamboat in 2013 after over 35 years in the Oil and Gas Business where he managed large international projects in numerous countries. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He has supported United Way in many communities where he has lived around the country.

David joined the Routt County United Way Board to serve the community and help Routt County be a great place to live for all people. He has one child at Steamboat High School and two grandchildren in the Steamboat school system. He is an active member of Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church and enjoys golf, tennis, fishing and plans every year to do some mountain biking.

Debra Sauermann

Community Member

Debra Sauermann has been behind the scenes for 5 years, since Kate has been working at RCUW. With a BA in math from Austin College in Sherman Texas, and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School, she worked 25 years at Exxon (1985-2010). After leaving ExxonMobil, she consulted at SGV International, her husband’s company.

For the past five years she’s worked with RCUW to do donor outreach in and beyond Routt County, and has researched low income populations in Routt to support the collective impact initiative. She and her husband Roland have a son who lives in New York. She lives the majority of the time in Houston, Texas;. her second home is in Steamboat Springs, which she bought in 2007. But because her extended family is from Steamboat (her cousins all graduated from SSHS), she’s been coming to Steamboat for most of her life.

Alan M. Sidman

Community Member

Alan is a former finance executive having worked for Arthur Andersen & Co after receiving a degree in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine. He has also worked at ITT Grinnell, Altria and Instrumentarium in finance capacities. Alan has acted as a Data Base Consultant to major money center banks in the Chicago area as well as Not-For-Profit and Education organizations.

Alan has been a supporter of United Way in other parts of the country since early in his business career. Now, with time availability, volunteering with Routt County United Way is an opportunity to make a direct and positive contribution. Alan moved to Steamboat in 2014 and enjoys skiing, hiking, golf and reading.

Maggie Taylor

Director of Youth and Connectional Ministry, Heart of Steamboat

Maggie is a Nashville, TN native who moved to Steamboat a year ago to join the ministry team at Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church. She is the associate pastor and focuses on youth and connectional ministry. She completed her undergraduate in psychology and religion at Martin Methodist College and her Master of Divinity at Boston University.

Maggie is passionate about advocating for the active involvement of young people in their communities and co-chairs the Division on Ministries with Young People for the global United Methodist Church. She enjoys CrossFit, baking, hiking, and spending times with friends and family.

Marci Valicenti

Broker Associate | Partner, The Group Real Estate

Marci is a Broker Associate and Partner at The Group Real Estate. Marci has been fortunate to be part of the Valicenti Team, which her husband established in 1991 and son, Zach joined in 2018. The family real estate team primarily serves the real estate needs of Routt and Moffatt counties.  Marci has a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University. Her real estate designations include a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and e-PRO which relates to technology. In addition to her real estate experience, Marci skills include interior design and staging.

After visiting Ground Zero with her family in 2002, she co-found “Support the Troops” – a local grass-roots effort via the Yampa Valley Community Foundation where thousands and thousands of monetary and tangible donations were raised for care packages that were sent to American military stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq for approximately 10 years. The Valicenti’s have long been supporters of the United Way and for all the good that it does. Marci’s husband Tom served previously on the United Way Board for the term limit of five years to include serving as vice-president and president. While an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs, Marci believes in UW’s mantra “advancing the common good in Routt County” and wants to help this non-profit where she can.

Lynn F. Zinn

Co-Chair Women United

Lynn has been in the field of education for 53 years and considers herself only semi-retired at this point. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, her master’s in special education at the University of Maine, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. She has been a classroom teacher, special education resource teacher and consultant, reading consultant, central office administrator, graduate instructor in educational leadership, and educational consultant. In her work as an educational consultant, she has travelled to school districts all over the country (including Alaska), where she has served as a curriculum management auditor and facilitated work of school personnel in effecting curriculum change. She has made herself available to various nonprofit and governmental agencies to assist grant writing and in designing, implementing and evaluating programs. She is a self-admitted data geek!

She grew up in New England, but she, her husband Harry and her two children, Dave and Katie, spent seven years in Fort Collins before moving to Pennsylvania for her husband’s work. After Harry retired at the end of 2011, they immediately returned to Colorado, moving to Steamboat Springs to partake in the outdoor lifestyle so many of us enjoy.

In addition to other volunteer positions, Lynn is currently co-chair of the Steering Committee of Women United, where she gets to support the members of four very active committees (Events, Literacy, Membership and Financial Literacy) work to make a difference here in Routt County. She has loved getting to work with this group of remarkably talented, engaged women.

Ashly Shipman

Tri-State Human Resources

Ashly is a 30+ year native to the Yampa Valley, working in various capacities during her professional career. Ashly currently works in Human Resources for Tri-State G&T. She is passionate about our community and serving those in need and greatly enjoys volunteering time to serve on the United Way board. When not working, she can be found doing outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and paddleboarding with her two children and dogs Cash and Arlo.

Financials &
Policies

Financials

2022

2021

2020

IRS Form 990

2021

2020

2019

Policies

Core Values & DEI Statement

Code of Ethics

Privacy Statement

Annually, all United Ways certify their adherence to standards that include comprehensive requirements for financial reporting, governance, ethics, diversity and operations.

A BBB accredited charity is an organization that meets all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability based on a review of information and materials provided by the organization.

GuideStar Seals of Transparency indicate that a nonprofit has provided key information to its GuideStar profile. This recognition shows commitment to transparency. By providing up-to-date information, we allow potential donors to make educated decisions.