The Evergreen Luxury Group of Liv Sotheby's International Realty is made up of Lee Merreot, Alissa Skildheim, and Caroline Wagner. All three realtors pride themselves on getting to know their clients and making sure the client's needs are met 100%. They are also involved in many philanthropic endeavors, with Bootstraps at the too of the list. Evergreen Luxury Group has been a Bootstraps Winefest sponsor. Lee Merreot is the treasurer of the board of directors for Bootstraps.

For the remainder of 2015, I'm going to introduce you to the businesses in Evergreen that are proud supporters of Bootstraps. Without them, we would not be able to achieve our mission of helping mountain area students reach their educational dreams.

Regan Orthodontics (reganortho.com/home) have been Bootstraps scholarship donors since 2003, when Marge Regan was a Bootstraps board member. She discovered first-hand the need for higher education assistance in our community through reading scholarship applications of students hoping to receive an award from Bootstraps.

Chances are pretty good you've met Dr. Paul Regan since he is the most popular orthodontist in our community. Of course I'm partial because he is responsible for the beautiful smiles of my two grown sons. Dr. Regan has been practicing in Evergreen since 1990 when he, Marge, and their three daughters moved to Evergreen.

Not only is Dr. Regan a great orthodontist, he is a supporter of the local sports teams and other organizations that support the youth in the mountain community. I think he's probably a great employer, too, as I recognize all but two faces on the staff page of his website from the last I was in his office seven years ago.

Thank you Dr. Paul and Marge Regan for all you do to help our local community. We couldn't do it without you!

Colorado’s largest one-day online giving event, presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank,
is coming up and we need your support. Bootstraps is honored to be a SIX year participant in Colorado Gives Day!

Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in
Colorado through online giving. For the sixth year, Community First Foundation and FirstBank are
partnering to present Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Donations are accepted
through ColoradoGives.org.

Can’t wait until Colorado Gives Day?  Starting November 1, 2015, donations can be scheduled ahead of time. Click here to schedule your donation now.

Here's some valuable information regarding when and how to apply to colleges from the CollegeBoard. Click here to download a pdf version.

We know that college isn't for everybody, but many students don't realize that Bootstraps scholarships can be used for higher education other than four-year degrees. Students can apply for scholarships to be used for two-year community colleges and for programs at trade and technical schools. Bootstraps has scholarships especially for specific careers such as precision machining, carpentry, drafting, and many other specialties.

Let's say you're considering a construction-related trade, such as plumbing. When you go to a trade school, they're going to teach you how to be a plumber. But they will also teach you how to do bids for jobs, how you should dress when meeting with a client for the first time, how to read a blue print for when you're installing in new construction, and many other skills essential for being a top-notch plumber. You will also earn a lot more money that if you didn't get professional training. As a first-year plumber with trade school training, you can make around $33,000 a year compared to someone with no trade school of about $20,000.

The cost of these programs vary, but a two-year plumbing program at Red Rocks Community College will cost less than $10,000. Since you'll earn $13,000 more in your first year than with just a high school diploma, it's well worth the investment.

If you're lucky enough to receive a Bootstraps scholarship and/or interest-free loan, you'll be well on your way to funding your career.

Did you know that proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Literary Festival will provide scholarships for local students? This is a great event being held at Mt Vernon Country Club on October 17th featuring five diverse Colorado authors, drawing 180 avid readers, and promising stimulating conversation in a beautiful mountain setting. Your support of the event and of the scholarships it will provide through Bootstraps is deeply appreciated.

Tickets are $75 and include a continental breakfast and elegant lunch, as well as a chance to meet Francine Mathews, Thomas Hornbein, Mark Stevens, Jeff Miller, and Maura Weiler, featuring Greg Dobbs as the moderator.


Purchase tickets today at http://www.rockymountainliteraryfestival.org/

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation seeks high-achieving high school seniors with financial need for its College Scholarship Program, the largest undergraduate scholarship in the nation. Selected students receive college planning support, ongoing advising, and up to $40,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate institution. If you know students who stand out for their exceptional academic abilities and achievements, persistence, leadership, and desire to help others, please encourage them to visit the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s website to learn more. The application closes on November 3. http://bit.ly/1KqbogY

Bootstraps is able to award scholarships and loans solely through the generosity of our donors. One of our donors, a small foundation from Denver, made it possible for us to award a $3,000 continuing scholarship to an Evergreen High School graduate from 2012. I called her today to tell her she was the recipient of the award. Her response: "Oh my gosh! You made my day!" And best of all, because she was fortunate to receive assistance from Bootstraps throughout college, she will be graduating a semester early!

I love my job because I get to give great news to young people and let them know that a complete stranger cares enough about them to give them a hand up!