Buena Vista, CO – On Tuesday, January 14th, the Chaffee County Women Who Care (CCWWC) came together to hear presentations from three local nonprofits, each sharing their vision for utilizing a $15,400 award. In the end, Full Circle Restorative Justice (FCRJ) won the hearts and minds of the group, and will use the funding to support their Restorative Justice Diversion Program.
During the meeting, the three presenting organizations, GARNA, Full Circle Restorative Justice, and the Alpine Achievers Initiative, described their organizations, programs and services, as well as how they serve the residents of Chaffee County. Each presenter then answered questions from the audience, most of which pertained to their organizational structure and funding streams. Once each nonprofit gave a pitch, the CCWWC members voted.
“It was an amazing evening with the inspiring women of Chaffee County Women Who Care,” said Sandy Visnack, a member of the CCWWC Steering Committee. “We are delighted to support Full Circle Restorative Justice. Their dedication to advancing social change and embracing peaceful approaches to harm, problem-solving, and addressing violations of legal and human rights really spoke to our members. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will make.”
Eric Lee, Executive Director of FCRJ, was also delighted with the award. “We are deeply honored and grateful to Chaffee County Women Who Care for awarding Full Circle Restorative Justice a $15,400 grant. This generous support affirms the importance of our work and allows us to continue empowering youth, families, and community members through restorative
practices. These funds will have a profound impact on our ability to help participants successfully complete the restorative justice process by providing essential resources such as tutoring, fishing poles, hiking boots, food for family meals, and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) books to aid youth in regulating their emotions. Additionally, the grant will support our dedicated staff, whose passion and expertise form the backbone of our programs and organization. Without them, none of this transformative work would be possible.”
Lee shared that some of the funding will support GARNA and the Alpine Achievers Initiative. “A portion of this funding will also be directed to support our fellow community partners who presented alongside us today,” Lee said. “Together, we form a strong and interconnected network of care, working collaboratively to create a safer, more inclusive, and resilient community. Thank you, Chaffee County Women Who Care, for believing in the power of restorative justice and for helping us strengthen the tapestry of support that uplifts our entire community.”
The next meeting of Chaffee County Women Who Care will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Grace Church in Salida. The group will hear presentations from SOIL Sangre de Cristo, Salida Aspen Concerts, and Elizabeth Anne’s Haven.
Call for members! Chaffee County Women Who Care encourages women across Chaffee County to join the organization. “Collectively, we make a huge impact and welcome new members any time of the year,” says Visnack. “If you would like to attend the next meeting as a guest, just come on out to our April 8th meeting in Salida. We would love to have you.” To join Chaffee County Women Who Care, to volunteer, or for more information, visit this link or find us on Instagram or Facebook. For more information about Full Circle Restorative Justice, visit https://fullcirclerj.org.
About Chaffee County Women Who Care: Since 2018, Chaffee County Women Who Care has provided a means by which women in our county can combine their giving to allow for more sizable impact gifts to non-profit organizations working to meet needs and enhance the quality of life for all in Chaffee County.
###
