For 45 years, Mark Goldrich has been a dedicated volunteer with the Fort Collins Foothills Rotary Club, a local service organization focused on improving the lives of people both near and far. Over the years, Mark has played a key role in various projects, working alongside fellow Rotarians to make a lasting impact on the community.

 

The Fort Collins Foothills Rotary, with a membership of around 90 men and women, is committed to addressing local and global needs through service and collaboration. Members attend weekly meetings to learn about community issues and develop strategies for addressing them. The club’s mission is to improve the lives of others through financial support, community projects, or hands-on volunteer work. 

 

Mark states, “Our club has had a longtime affiliation with Project Self-Sufficiency of Northern Colorado (PSS), providing scholarships to single-parent families who often need a little help while working hard to improve their educational and career goals. Often these PSS families are trying to get kids to school, themselves to work and school, go shopping, after school activities and more. We realize that this is very difficult without reliable transportation. PSS has a program to acquire used but reliable autos, have them serviced, and then gift these cars to carefully selected families. Last year, we learned that there were far more PSS families in need than cars available. We decided to hold a pickleball tournament fundraiser to provide more cars, and in the past two years, we have provided at least 13 vehicles.”  

 

The third pickleball tournament will take place this fall. The event has been held at The Picklr in Loveland for the past two years. More details will be available as the planning committee begins organizing the event. Mark says, “Our success has been due to the generous support of our Rotary Club members, a hardworking and dedicated fundraising committee, community members who sponsor our event, and players who come out for a fun day of pickleball and community.

 

The impact of this initiative is far-reaching. For Mark, the benefit of volunteering is clear: “For every family that PSS helps become more self-sufficient, we have one more family contributing positively in our communities.” It’s a powerful reminder that by supporting those in need, the entire community becomes stronger.

 

Highland Meadows residents Teres Lambert and her husband moved to the area 12 years ago, and since then, they have found meaningful ways to give back to their community. One of the non-profits they chose to support is PSS. Teres was particularly drawn to PSS because of its approach to helping families—emphasizing a "hand up" rather than a "hand out." The organization empowers single parents by assisting them in building careers that matter and taking accountability for their futures. This mission resonated deeply with Teres, who admires PSS clients' determination to improve their lives and become self-sufficient.

 

Teres says, “Like many, I don't have the bandwidth to volunteer my time beyond what I already give. But I can support a lot of non-profits by donating.  In addition to giving cash, we donated a car to PSS. While we could have sold the car, it made us feel good to be able to provide reliable transportation to a single parent who is taking steps to become economically independent--free from community and government assistance.”

 

PSS’s “Cars for Families” always needs reliable vehicles. The program has a consistent waitlist, and Teres encourages others to contribute. “If you don’t have a car to donate, give cash and earmark it for the ‘Cars for Families’ program,” she said. By doing so, community members can help provide the vital support families need to reach their goals and achieve lasting independence.

 

Tracy Mead, CEO of Project Self-Sufficiency, stated, "We are deeply grateful for the steadfast support of community champions like Mark, Teres, and the Foothills Rotary Club. Their dedication creates lasting positive change that ripples through generations, empowering single parents and their children to thrive. Join us at our annual fundraising event on March 27 at Embassy Suites Loveland to learn more about our impact and how you can be part of this transformative work." 

For event details or to learn more about Project Self-Sufficiency's mission, please call 970-635-5912 or visit www.bringthepower.org.