EMBARGOED
FOR RELEASE ON MAY 7, 2009
Contact:
Dorothy Horrell
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
303.825.3774
Five cOLORADO NONPROFIT LEADERS awarded PRESTIGIOUS lIVINGSTON fELLOWSHIPs
Uncommon investment by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation supports advanced learning and development for promising nonprofit leaders
(Denver, CO – May 7, 2009) Today, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation announced the five 2009 winners of the prestigious Livingston Fellowship awards. The 2009 class of Livingston Fellows are Gregory Carpenter, Opera Colorado; Jay Grimm, Denver Indian Center; Christine Marquez-Hudson, Mi Casa Resource Center for Women; Charles Shimanski, American Red Cross Mile High Chapter; and Gretchen Van De Carr, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.
The Livingston Fellowships, each providing up to $25,000, are intended to give promising leaders in the nonprofit sector the opportunity for advanced study, research, and professional development. Since 2005, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has funded 25 nonprofit executive fellowships. The fellowship experiences have included seminars at leading universities, visits to nationwide best-practice sites, mentoring with thought leaders, and executive coaching. Fellows from previous years will serve as mentors to the 2009 class, creating a growing network of inspired leaders to strengthen Colorado’s nonprofit community.
Chairman J. Landis Martin announced the awards at the Foundation’s 24th Annual Awards Luncheon. “The Foundation recognizes the significant impact nonprofit organizations make on our community and our state,” noted Martin. “Our investment in high-potential leaders through the Livingston Fellowship Program is building a network of people finding fresh solutions and proving themselves as innovators and change agents.”
This year’s fellows were nominated by a panel of Colorado community leaders, interviewed by an independent consultant, and reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees. They were selected on the basis of exceptional leadership qualities, potential for significant contribution to the nonprofit sector, and the ability to be a role model for other Colorado nonprofit leaders.
The fellowship awards carry the name of Johnston R. Livingston (1923-2008), who served as a Trustee of the Foundation from 1979 to 2008. Livingston chaired the Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 2000 until 2005. His career included management positions at Honeywell and Whirlpool as well as the start-up of two manufacturing companies. He was an active volunteer and board member for various nonprofit organizations including the World Trade Center Denver, Denver Symphony Orchestra, and the Institute of International Education—Rocky Mountain Region.
About the 2009 Livingston Fellows:
Greg Carpenter was appointed the General Director of Opera Colorado in 2007. Opera Colorado is a premier regional opera company, setting exceptional artistic standards for excellence with classic and innovative productions. Prior to joining Opera Colorado, Greg worked as the Manager of Development with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He received a Bachelor of Music from Wittenburg University and a Master of Music from Michigan State University. With his fellowship he hopes to expand his understanding of the various business aspects of management, leadership strategies, and how to better connect himself and his organization to local communities. He plans to create mentorships with opera industry leaders, participate in an executive education program, and study best practices from other successful performing arts organizations.
Jay Grimm became the Executive Director of The Denver Indian Center in 2008. The Denver Indian Center, Inc. serves a diverse group of tribes, from the Southwest and the Northern and Southern Plains, by providing economic stabilization, education, security, and cultural preservation. Jay has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Metropolitan State College of Denver. He worked previously with the Casey Family Programs, JVA Consulting, and the National Indian Health Board. His fellowship plans include producing a paper or book documenting the unification of diverse communities, and traditional versus progressive community leadership concepts. Jay expects to learn and collect data for this work from the non-Native and Native communities. Additionally, he plans to attend trainings and educational programs to expand his understanding and to incorporate cutting-edge practices in leadership, management and community development strategies.
Christine Marquez-Hudson was appointed as the CEO and Executive Director of the Mi Casa Resource Center in 2008. Mi Casa provides education, career counseling and business development services to Latino individuals and families. Previously, she worked at JVA Consulting, the Piton Foundation, the Gill Foundation, and as a teacher in Costa Rica. Christine received her Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University, where she was a Colorado Trust Fellow, and received her Bachelors degree in Political Science from UCLA. With her fellowship, Christine plans to attend executive leadership programs and expand her network by visiting similar organizations in Wisconsin, Texas and California. She hopes to become a more effective leader by deepening her understanding of how to influence public policy, build collaborations, and achieve positive change in her organization and the nonprofit sector.
Charles Shimanski was appointed CEO of the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter in 2008. The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief and emergency prevention/preparation programs using a large network of volunteers. Charley began his career in banking with positions at the United Bank of Denver, Oppenheimer Funds, and Darlington Asset Management in Geneva, Switzerland. Most recently he served as the President and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association and Executive Director of the American Alpine Club. He has Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. With his fellowship, he plans to attend an executive education program, shadow leaders who are successful in the areas in which he feels he needs to grow, and explore initiatives that draw out ingenuity and creativity in others.
Gretchen Van De Carr is the founding Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Established in Steamboat Springs in 1999, this organization links youth and young adults to community, education and the environment through meaningful service experiences. Gretchen’s prior work includes serving as a consultant for Youth Corps, directing a teen center, supervising a youth program in Argentina, and working as an environmental engineer. She has a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. Gretchen’s fellowship plans include advancing her leadership skills with an executive coach and learning from futurists who have engaged stakeholders to change their communities. Through site visits and interviews with other leaders, she plans to expand her understanding of best practices and gain skills related to building youth-serving coalitions.
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The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation created to enhance the quality of life for residents of Colorado. The mission of the Foundation is to advance excellence in the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Service, and Science and Medicine through strategic investments resulting in significant and unique contributions in these fields and across the nonprofit sector. More information is available at www.bonfils-stanton.org