Corporate Advisory Board

There is an old adage that is “takes a village to raise a child” but the question bears asking, “What does it take to make a village?” Sandra Smyser, Superintendent of the ECSD believes that it takes partnerships.

Two years ago The Youth Foundation formed the Corporate Advisory Board whose members are managers and CEO’s of businesses in the Vail Valley employing the greatest number of people. Conceptually the Advisory Board was formed to build better relationships with these companies and to engage them in sharing any known concerns they have for the families and children of their employees.

Not surprisingly, there was a unanimous desire from each of these individuals and organizations to see that children are provided the best access to education, good health and a safe environment. They already have their own unique ways of giving back by engaging their employees in volunteer work or in offering incentives for workers to give back or to spend time with their families. Nevertheless they all expressed a sincere desire to support the work of The Youth Foundation and find additional ways to be involved. The tables were turned on us when they asked: “how can we help you?”, rather than our original intent which was to find out how we could better serve them.

These partnerships hold the promise to building a strong village where we can, and will, raise good children. Thank you to the following members of the Corporate Advisory Board for your generosity and spirit of volunteerism: Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Costco, City Market, Vail Resorts, Slifer Smith & Frampton, Alpine Bank, the Vail Valley Medical Center, the Town of Vail, Eagle County, Eagle County School District and to our Board of Directors.