“[A grant from the Reiter Family Foundation] will support the expansion of our Colorado programs and outreach initiatives, aimed at making our fly fishing-based educational and conservation programs more accessible to diverse youth populations. Specifically, these funds will help cover transportation costs, logistics, and program accessibility, ultimately allowing us to offer additional scholarships to underrepresented students and extend our reach to communities in need. By expanding our programs in Colorado, we will provide immersive outdoor education that fosters leadership, environmental stewardship, and cross-cultural understanding. Students will have the opportunity to engage in conservation projects, connect with local communities, and learn about fly fishing as a tool for environmental advocacy.”

The mission of Fish for Change is to create positive change through fly fishing by uniting diverse young people in pristine natural settings. Through our programs, students engage in education, cultural exchange, conservation, and community-building, all while forming a deeper bond with nature and each other.

“Support [from the Reiter Family Foundation] towards our internal operations means that we can continue to fund the staff time and work that goes into completing conservation easements, stewarding the 690,000 acres already under easement, and identifying new restoration projects to improve the land for people and wildlife.”

The mission of Colorado Open Lands is to preserve the significant open lands and natural heritage of Colorado through private and public partnerships , innovative land conservation techniques, and strategic leadership.

“Funds will be utilized for our programs Elevate Villages and Noble Villages. We Fortify’s Elevate Villages programming is built on four foundational pillars: safe and dignified housing, centralized trauma-informed therapies and care, life skills education, and training for and placement in living-wage career positions. With a mission to transform the lives of young adults facing poverty, these programmed communities foster economic and emotional stability while promoting social connectedness. Residents receive individualized trauma-responsive therapies, live in a supportive small-community environment, and participate in weekly support meetings to set, track, and achieve their goals. A 1:9 team member-to-resident ratio ensures personalized care and guidance, enabling residents to thrive in a nurturing environment. Complementing Elevate Villages, Noble Villages provides dignified, affordable housing for public service professionals, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and nurses. By offering a stable and supportive community, these professionals can focus on their vital work serving others. Noble Villages also generates modest income, which helps sustain the core programming of Elevate Villages, moving the organization closer to financial sustainability and amplifying its impact. Each community features amenities such as a community center for events, raised bed gardens, walking and running paths, and pet-friendly spaces. With intentionally lower housing density, these villages provide an environment that prioritizes connection, well-being, and dignity for all residents.”

“Valor on the Fax, which provides permanent housing and supportive services to unhoused individuals with brain injury disabilities and their families, follows the housing first philosophy, is unique in our state, and meets an essential community need. Despite the significant overlap between brain injury and homelessness, there has historically been a gap in incorporating brain injury into research and mitigation strategies related to homelessness. Valor on the Fax directly addresses this gap by providing a targeted Permanent Supportive Housing solution for individuals at this intersection, acknowledging the critical need for housing stability as a foundation for health and well-being.

[Funding from the Reiter Family Foundation will] support the salaries of our specialized and experienced team in order to continue our success in serving our community. In the last year we have grown our team to include more professionals with lived experience by adding clinical staff, increased front desk attendants, and expanded our peer support program. Valor on the Fax goes beyond mere accommodation by offering comprehensive support services such as on-site mental health services, resource navigation, and community classes. These services are designed to empower residents, eliminate barriers to wellness, and promote long-term health improvements.”

“FestivalBlitz: Plastic-Free Festivals will aim to reduce the dependence on single-use plastic products at music festivals, concerts, and events. Music festivals create an atmosphere where large groups of people concentrate for a brief period of time to enjoy live performances. However, in the short span of time of a festival, consumption and waste production can be extreme. In Colorado, music festivals take place from the spring to the fall, and present an excellent opportunity to not only protect the mountains and plains from further plastic pollution, but also to educate large masses of people on how they can reduce waste both in and outside of a festival setting. In bringing awareness of the lifecycle of plastics and alternatives to single-use plastics, FestivalBlitz: Plastic-Free Festivals can have a ripple effect in the Colorado community. Exposing the public to alternatives to single-use plastics, and collecting post-festival plastic litter data using the TrashBlitz mobile app, IOC can both inform the festival-going public on plastic pollution impacts and hold corporations accountable for plastic pollution and litter in the Colorado environment.”

“Restoration Outreach Programs aligns well with the Reiter Family Foundation's mission to support meaningful work in Colorado communities, particularly in the areas of education, and community enrichment. ROP creates equal access to food, resources, and opportunities in the diverse and struggling community along Aurora's East Colfax corridor, which faces significant challenges due to high poverty rates, limited economic opportunities, and a growing population of refugees and unhoused individuals. ROP provides ESL classes and workforce development programs, which contribute to education by equipping individuals, particularly immigrants and BIPOC communities, with skills to improve their economic opportunities and integrate into society. ROP’s Food Bank, Hospitality Center and Community Garden not only meet basic needs while honoring the area’s rich cultural diversity but also centers community building. Furthermore, ROP programming is multi-generational and benefits whole families as well as individuals. ROP strives to break the cycle of generational poverty by empowering parents and other adults, while simultaneously equipping disadvantaged teens and children with the skills needed to launch into a successful future. ROP currently provides academic support, character building, and leadership training to impoverished, immigrant, and other at-risk children and teens through its Youth Ministries programs.”

Whiz Kids offers one-to-one tutoring, positive mentoring relationships, and spiritual nurture to students below the literacy and poverty lines. Grant funding will go toward serving 500+ students in the Denver area, training volunteers on trauma awareness, improving students' reading levels, and recruiting more tutors from Latinx and Black communities.

Colorado Water Trust’s mission is to restore water to Colorado’s rivers.

Colorado Water Trust is receiving funding toward their efforts to restore flows in the Cache la Poudre River during dry periods through a temporary Streamflow Augmentation Plan, which will improve ecological conditions, support recreational industries, and protect fish and wildlife. Similarly, the Fraser River project, in partnership with the Grand County Irrigated Land Company, boosts flows in the Upper Fraser River, benefiting the ecosystem and supporting trout populations during critical migration periods.

“The [Reiter Family Foundation] grant funds will support Museo de las Americas' 2025 Summer Arts + Culture Camp, an annual three-week program designed to mitigate summer learning loss and foster creativity, self-esteem, and cultural pride among primarily Latinx youth (ages 4-11) from Denver’s underserved Lincoln Park neighborhood. This year’s camp will focus on the vibrant culture of El Salvador, integrating daily lessons in dance, theater, music, and visual arts with core academic subjects such as science, social studies, and language arts, all aligned with Colorado state standards. Participants will engage with culturally responsive, hands-on activities led by licensed educators and Salvadoran experts, culminating in a community performance showcasing their learning and creativity. The anticipated outcomes include: • Mitigating summer learning loss, with 80% of participants demonstrating improved academic skills in end-of-program assessments. • Building social-emotional skills, with 85% of participants reporting increased confidence and teamwork abilities. • Enhancing cultural understanding, with 90% of participants creating projects reflecting pride in their heritage.”

“[Support] from the Reiter Family Foundation to help fund this year’s annual Starry Night Prom, in May 2025. This event serves adults with disabilities who are registered as All-Stars with our organization. Our work with individuals with disabilities in the community has an impact beyond the walls of our host sites, promoting inclusion and belonging in the community, allowing our All-Stars to express themselves and find their passions, and giving parents and caregivers much-needed respite.”

The mission of the All-Stars Club is to provide free and first-class events centered on fun, friends, and faith for individuals with special needs, and respite for their caregivers.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Reiter Family Foundation for this grant and their belief in Elevated Denver. Developing new ways to address entrenched social challenges requires partners, like the Reiter Family Foundation, who understand that innovative approaches must address challenges at the systemic level and involve those most impacted. Your support and funding allows us to move toward implementing a pilot of a Neighborhood Resource Hub that will provide support to Denver residents who are newly homeless, or on the cusp of it, at a time when they most need it. Together we will ensure that fewer residents become homeless or are able to stabilize more quickly."

-Johnna Flood, CEO, Elevated Denver

“Thanks to the generous grant provided, Education Through Music-Colorado has been able to bring equitable and sustainable music education to students in under-resourced schools. This support has empowered teachers, uplifted entire school communities, and given thousands of children access to the transformative power of music. With your investment, we are not only fostering creativity and confidence in students but also ensuring that music remains an essential part of their education for years to come.”

-Mallory Bernstein, Executive Director, Education Through Music Colorado

Education Through Music-Colorado (ETM Colorado) partners with under-resourced schools to provide music as a core subject for all children, and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school and self-confidence.

“Contributions from the Reiter Foundation to Tall Tales Ranch have had a transformative impact on the individuals with developmental disabilities we support. With their generous contributions, we are able to expand our programming and create more inclusive and engaging community for individuals to work, live and thrive.”

- Laura McKenna, Executive Director, Tall Tales Ranch

Tall Tales Ranch actively partners with adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in their pursuit of full and enriched lives by creating and sustaining radically inclusive communities and opportunities

"When we received our daughter's diagnosis, we were told we live in a day where gene therapy is becoming a reality, but it's extremely expensive - a cost most families can't bear. The Reiter Family Foundation is helping us do the unthinkable and create a gene therapy treatment for Elly and other kids who suffer from this terrible disease. We are so grateful for their support and couldn't do this without them." -Michelle, Mom and Founder of Elly's Foundation

In February of 2024, Elly was diagnosed with a mutation leading to an early truncation in the IRF2BPL gene, known to cause a neurodevelopmental disease called NEDAMSS (Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Regression, Abnormal Movements, Loss of Speech, and Seizures). This is an ultra-rare condition with less than 150 diagnosed cases worldwide. There is currently no cure or readily available treatment for this disease, and resources for advancing research and medical efforts to find such treatments are limited.

“The Bart Appleton Scholarship means a lot to me. I was a first generation college graduate. My parents weren’t able to set aside funds for me to go to college. There were moments throughout my college years where I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to pay for school. I am very grateful for the Appleton family and the Reiter Family Foundation for their generosity through their personal hardship. I truly believe that this scholarship was the reason I was able to graduate.”

-Cheyenne, Bart Appleton Endowed Scholarship Recipient. 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher

The Bart Appleton Endowed Scholarship, in honor of a wonderful father, father-in-law, grandpa, and life-long educator, is awarded to education majors at Waldorf College during their student teaching semester to help off-set the costs of their schooling and encourage them on their journey to become future educators.