Freeport-McMoRan and Climax Molybdenum are pleased to announce the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation has awarded $310,000 in Lake, Summit and Chaffee Counties as part of just over $3 million awarded to 55 projects in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Texas through its Community and Social Investment Fund process.
Recipient organizations will receive their monetary awards and be recognized by members of the Community Investment Committee during presentations in the coming months.
“The success of our community investments relies on partnering with communities to think through opportunities to address potential risks to resilience and well-being, and actively working to identify projects and programs that will strengthen communities over time,” said Tracy Bame, President, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. “We are grateful for relationships with community partners that allow the kind of collaboration needed to deliver projects and programs that will yield the most meaningful social benefit and continue to build the foundation needed to ensure resilience in a post-mining scenario.”
The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation works with a range of committed partners throughout the investment process. The Foundation has an ongoing partnership with True Impact, allowing organizations to forecast the impact of their project in the community.
Community Investment Funds are led by seven to nine local leaders representing diverse organizations, and along with two to three Freeport-McMoRan representatives, they decide how funds are awarded. These community leaders are selected by members of the local Community Partnership Panel, a stakeholder engagement process established by Freeport-McMoRan more than 18 years ago to foster open and ongoing dialogue with the community. The process allows the company and the community to work together to develop thoughtful solutions that address community needs.
Since 2012, more than $4.5 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Community Investment Fund in Lake, Summit, Chaffee and Eagle Counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that help foster sustainability and reduce dependency on any single industry. In 2023, $310,000 was awarded to the following grant recipients:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County, Building Great Futures Buena Vista – $50,000: Funds will support the campaign to establish a modern, sustainable youth development facility/community resource in Buena Vista to serve youth, teens and working families.
Chaffee County Community Foundation, Nonprofit Leadership Program – $20,000: This project will advance the skills and knowledge of community leaders and foster a network of support through a comprehensive leadership program.
Colorado Firecamp, Inc. Chainsaw & Pile Burn Crews – $30,000: Funding will be used to protect land and improve forest health by implementing 300 acres of wildfire mitigation treatments annually.
Keystone Science School, Inc., Summit Day Camp Program – $30,000: Summit Day Camp summer programming will provide affordable, high-quality, science-based education for youth to advance their academic success, develop healthy habits and provide quality out-of-school time care, allowing parents and caregivers to remain in the workforce.
Lake County Community Fund, Lake County Early Care and Education Fund – $35,000: Funding will help establish the Lake County Early Care and Education Fund to dedicate resources to make quality childcare more accessible in Lake County through direct support to parents as well as providing development opportunities to providers.
Lideres Latinx, Leader for the Lideres – $50,000: Lideres Latinx will support education and civic engagement opportunities in their efforts to increase inclusion, success and well-being within the Latinx population of Lake County, thereby increasing the overall leadership capacity within the community.
St. George Episcopal Mission, Community Meal and Food Pantry – $50,000: Building community through food, funds will assist in providing nutritious and culturally appropriate food to residents in need, improving food security for those served.
St. Vincent General Hospital District, Ambulance Equipment – $15,000: Funding will equip St. Vincent Health’s new ambulance with essential trauma response equipment to better protect and save lives.
Summit Community Care Clinic Care Clinic Expansion to Lake County Public Health – $30,000: Summit Community Care Clinic will increase access to primary care and behavioral health services by offering these services at the Lake County Public Health Office, ultimately leading to improved health and decreasing barriers to care.
In addition to dollars invested through the Foundation, the Climax mine supported three additional applicants to the Community Investment Fund:
Our Community Foundation, The Community Market – $20,000: The Community Market provides communities with access to free, healthy food and implements food rescue programs to reduce the amount of edible food sent to landfill.
Smart Bellies, Weekend Food Program – $20,000: Funding will bridge the weekend food gap for school-aged children in Lake and Summit Counties.
YouthPower365, Family Engagement in Career Pathways – $10,000: The Family Engagement in Career Pathways project will create a robust toolkit and offer workshops to raise family awareness of Career Technical Education opportunities to maximize participation in existing workforce development efforts, leading to secured and improved employment for local youth.
For more information about Freeport-McMoRan community investments and programs, please contact Tammy Paz-Combs at tpazcomb@fmi.com or visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com.