Congratulations to the six Honorees of the Ordinary Extraordinary People Award.
The Northern Colorado Community Foundation is excited to announce the three women and three men honorees of the Ordinary Extraordinary People Award.
After more than 215 votes on Survey Monkey and narrowing down from over 40 nominations here are the six honorees:
Women Honorees:
1. Karen Fournier
2. Phyllis Minch
3. Roxy Tines
Men Honorees:
1. Diggs Brown
2. Clay Caldwell
3. Mike Walker
Women Honorees
Karen Fournier owns Starstream Productions. She has been very supportive of several nonprofit and advocacy organizations. Karen supported initiatives that promote arts, civic engagement, education and justice. Karen is passionate about educating and encouraging families dealing with suicide. She wrote a book, started a podcast, and website on this topic. She will have a scholarship for suicidal teens to get tested and proven help. Karen encourages families to keep positive throughout the trauma of dealing with depression or even suicide of loved ones. She did crowdfunding but is mostly financing the expenses herself in getting the education and word out there about suicide prevention.
Phyllis Minch is very involved with the Loveland Chapter of the ESA-Gamma Chi3668, a local nonprofit. This nonprofit holds numerous fundraisers and donates countless hours to help support local organizations such as Project Self-Sufficiency, House of Neighborly Services, WINGS, and single parents. Strong supporters of St. Jude Children’s Research and provides generous donations. Works with military veterans making sure they are recognized and they are not forgotten. Helps with fundraising for the Honor Flights for WWII Veterans. Holds birthday card showers for the Veterans so they are remembered. Gives countless hours volunteering her time and resources.
Roxy Tines leads and established the Safe Families for Children Colorado in Northern Colorado. She was the person introducing SFCC herein Larimer and Weld County and organized the launch, roll out partnerships with many nonprofit organizations. What SFCC does is surround families in crisis with caring, compassionate communities. Safe Families provide a critical, viable alternative for children that could end up in the state system by providing respite for parents while the children are taken in by a family for a designated amount of time usually six weeks or less. Then the children are reunited with their parents. Roxy’s tireless intervention and endless compassion to help those in crisis or critical circumstances is heroic.
Men Honorees
Diggs Brown is a decorated military veteran, an author, a Green Beret and the driving force behind the Veterans Memorial at Spring Garden Park. Major Brown served in Afghanistan and Africa. He was a Fort Collins councilman. He was the Fort Collins Board of Realtors Citizen of the Year. He received Safeco’s Community Hero award. Also, Daughters of the American Revolution Veteran Volunteer of the year. Diggs gives many volunteer hours for veterans.
Mike Walker started Serve 6.8 which partners with many local churches in Northern Colorado to serve those in need locally as well as nationally. He was the director of the Fort Collins’ Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center serving the homeless before he began Serve 6.8.
Clay Caldwell owns ‘Betta Gumbo restaurant in Loveland. During COVID he helped fundraise and feed hundreds of people for free over several months. Last Thanksgiving he fed many people a complete Thanksgiving dinner. He served on the Downtown Development Authority. He also spearheaded bringing live music to the Foundary in downtown Loveland helping bring in customers to that area. He has donated food for many nonprofit fundraisers and events. Recognized by the Colorado Restaurant Association for the Regional Outstanding Professional.
The banquet is on Monday, October 4th from 5:30-8 p.m. at Sunrise Ranch, 100 Sunrise Ranch Road, Loveland, Colorado. The attire is semi-formal. The inspiring banquet will include drinks, appetizers, main entree and dessert. Find ticket information here.
