Global Grant Benefits Rocky Mountain Community
by Michael Wailes, PR Chair, District 5440 - published in he Zones 21-27 Newsletter
“Water can be very gentle,” says Julie Phares, Past District Governor of Rotary District #5440, “it can be soothing and relaxing, but it can also destroy.”
As storm clouds gathered over the Rocky Mountains in early September 2013, no one really thought that much would come from the darkening skies but a late summer’s drizzle. Within days the storm would cast the Colorado Front-Range onto the world stage and would be described with words like “historic”, “epic”, and “biblical”. In just over 24-hours, rainfall amounts totaled over 20 inches in some communities along the Front Range. The flood waters spread across an area of almost 200 miles from north to south, affecting 17 counties, causing an estimated $1-billion worth of damage, and claiming the lives of eight individuals. Hit particularly hard was the small mountain community of Glen Haven, situated between the cities of Loveland and Estes Park, nestled along the Big Thompson River. Phares, a member of the Longs Peak Rotary Club of Estes Park, was traveling in Wyoming, making club visits as District Governor when the flood waters hit. “I started getting text messages from family and friends telling me I need to come home now," she recalls.
On her return trip, she stopped off in Casper and with the help of Past District Governor Dave Scriven (a classmate and friend of PDG Ed Charlesworth and Robin), loaded her car with basic supplies including bottled water and diapers. What would normally be a 3-hour drive to return home took an excruciating 9 hours as many of the highways and roads leading into Estes Park had been closed or destroyed by the flood waters.
No sooner did the waters recede then a flood of support began flowing downstream to Glen Haven, originating in the three Rotary Clubs in Estes Park – the Rotary Club of Estes Park, the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Longs Peak Rotary Club. A committee to prepare a Rotary International Global Grant was formed under Phares’ leadership.
The entire infrastructure of Glen Haven had been destroyed by the flood waters. In addition to the swell from the river, excessive rainfall had washed down the draws and gullies, bringing mud, rocks, and debris. A fire in the preceding year had left the mountainous area with little vegetation, only adding to the devastation. While local, State, and Federal funds were available to repair damage to corresponding infrastructure, the damage to the local residents’ personal property was exempt from any available relief funding.
Because of the myriad of entities involved in the Glen Haven cleanup process, the Rotary project focused on cleaning, servicing, repairing, and/or replacing the water systems that had been damaged in the flood – primarily the fresh water systems and septic systems of the area residents. One of the goals of the project was to ensure each property was safe, livable, and comfortable for the owner.
Rotary International’s Global Grants are intended to support large international projects that have sustainable and measurable outcomes within Rotary’s six areas of focus. Traditionally, Global Grants have supported projects outside of the United States – only 11 Global Grants in Rotary’s history have been used to fund projects within the Continental United States.
Rotary District #5440 from Wyoming and Northern Colorado found two International Districts to partner with for the project: District #5570 in Brazil and District #3108 in India. With matching funds from Rotary International the total grant was funded with $168,055. To date, 29 residents of Glen Haven have submitted applications and 27 have met the criteria with projects on eight properties being completely finished.
“It’s because of you; those of you who give to the Foundation,” Phares says, “that we were able to help those families in Glen Haven.”