We rally resources within our community to improve the quality of life for all Westminster citizens. Through philanthropy, integrity, leadership and collaboration, we identify and connect community resources to ensure that every Westminster citizen has the potential to thrive.
Human Services
Homeless
Unemployed, Underemployed
In partnership with the City of Westminster at Irving Street Library, we provide funding for mobile shower and laundry trucks to those experiencing homelessness in our community.
Now in its second year, the mobile shower and laundry truck program has expanded to offer wrap-around services like resume development and job searching tips at the library at the same time. One beneficiary of the program applied for a job and became employed. The reason he tried? "Because I felt like I could go in for a job interview because I was clean and I had clean clothes."
Animal-Related
Aging, Elderly, Senior Citizens
At-Risk Populations
Children (4-12 years)
Homeless
Poor, Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent
Since March of 2020, the WLF has supported the impacts that Covid-19 has had on our community in a variety of ways. The WLF has:
- supported local food pantries to help address food insecurity
- partnered with the City of Westminster's homelessness navigator to provide temporary housing and emergency supplies to those experiencing homelessness
- supported local restaurants by purchasing to go meals and donating these meals to food pantries
- helping childcare centers get the PPE the need through a partnership with the Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County
Evidence of program successes include:
- two homeless individuals found permanent housing after their temporary housing stays
- the continued ability of the food pantries serving Westminster to meet the needs of the community
Youth Development
Children (4-12 years)
Infants/Young Children (birth - 3 years)
The Westminster Legacy Foundation partnered with the City of Westminster to create an innovative new playground for children in Westminster. Located at the dazzling Westminster Station Park, which connects Westminster to Union Station in Denver, the nature playground will help our community's children develop essential skills for a successful life.
A nature playground is an innovative idea that is only happening in forward-thinking communities. The playgrounds are made of natural elements including trees, boulders, water, sand, chirping birds, blue sky and - most importantly - plenty of imagination. The nature playground at Westminster Station Park will include a "mountain" with boulders, ropes and timbers for children to climb. There will also be a series of treehouses connected by bridges (all accessible).
The average American child spends more than 7 hours in front of a screen every day, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. A number of troubling studies connect delayed cognitive development in kids with extended exposure to electronic media. Nature playgrounds help connect kids with nature, and develop gross motor function, fine motor skills, imagination, and social skills, all at the same time. Additional research indicates that, when children go to traditional playgrounds, they can get bored quickly: you climb the stairs, you use the monkey bars - it's fairly prescriptive. A nature playground has boulders that can be traversed a variety of ways, timbers that inspire a different game with every visit, and kids come back to these playgrounds more often and stay longer during visits. Nature playgrounds have also been proven to encourage children to consider their safety; in traditional playgrounds, most risks of injuries have been removed.
After the Westminster Legacy Foundation raised $200,000 and worked closely with the city, the Nature Playground opened to the public on November 6, 2021!
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Veterans
Working with the community, the Westminster Legacy Foundation contributed $178,000 to the City of Westminster for the Armed Forces Tribute Garden, dedicated to those who serve our country in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. The Tribute Garden is an enduring place of respect that pays tribute to the commitment and patriotism of members of the armed forces, past, present, and future. Engraved bricks honor those who have served in the past or who currently serve.
The Armed Forces Tribute garden was dedicated in 2008. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families visit the garden to honor loved ones and view newly-installed bricks.
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Children and Youth (infants - 19 years.)
Homeless
At-Risk Populations
A large portion of the funds raised by the WLF come from events. The WLF welcomes the opportunity to organize and implement community events that raise funds and awareness of the WLF and its mission. Several have become annual events and are anticipated by community supporters. The annual Community Awards event recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations in our community that make a different in seven different categories. Proceeds from this event help sustain the operating expenses of the WLF, which are kept to a minimum through partnerships with local organizations for in-kind services such as office space and printing needs.
The annual J and Nancy Heil Memorial Invitational Golf Tournament honors the contributions of Nancy the former mayor of Westminster and J's involvement in various local service organizations. Sponsors of this event have included , Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, Community Reach, City of Westminster, Coet2 CPA's, Lombard and Clayton, Inc., Getsch Group-ReMax Alliance, Inland Pacific, Kelly Electrical, KG cleaning, National Research Center, Sherman & Howard, Spectra Flooring, Stifel Nicolaus, Total Beverage, Trimble Ltd, LL Johnson, Triple M. Recreation, Vetra Bank, Walmart, The Wave Car Care Center, Wishbone Family Restaurant,A. moot Point Construction, 1st Band, B Fitness, Byrne Realty, Benders Grill, Ciancio's at Hyland Hills, City of Westminster, Covenant Village, Donelson, Ciancio & Grant, Etkin Johnson, Fence Consulting, Fit Physical Therapy, Frittje Bros.Printing, Front Range Community College, Garland Roofing, Heil Dental Arts, Hillyard Cleaning Resource, and Horizon Distributors.
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Crime/Abuse Victims
Families
Mentally/Emotionally Disabled
Poor/Economically Disadvantaged
Since 2003 WLF has invested over $500,000 into the community through grant funding to worthy organizations. Applications are due each year in March. Grants are awarded in the following target areas: youth programs, senior programs, open space and parks, education and library services, public safety, cultural arts, social services, community relations, and historical legacy. The overall goal is to distribute funds which will ultimately touch and improve the lives of Westminster residents.
The Foundation uses the Colorado Common Grant Application form
Grant applications should be sent to:
The Westminster Legacy Foundation
4800 W. 92nd Avenue
Westminster, CO 80031
Through the report summaries provided by grant recipients we see the variety of services and program areas our grant program reaches and the number of Westmisnter residents receiving benefits of our efforts. Some of the smaller non-profit services we fund would not exist without our support.
