OTHS team and BOD are hugely grateful for the community’s support
Not even the torrential rain could stop the Steamboat Springs community from coming out to support the Old Town Hot Springs (OTHS) 4th annual Flip Flop Fete Fundraiser! Thunder and rain filled the valley as folks from Steamboat and beyond joined OTHS for a night of dinner, drinks, entertainment, and a paddle raise all benefiting the It’s in the Water capital campaign. The live event on June 15th, along with a Virtual Paddle Raise, raised a total of $590,050. In addition to the support from attendees and sponsors, a generous anonymous supporter made a matching donation of $250,000 and put OTHS over the halfway mark of the $10 million campaign goal.
“In true Steamboat fashion, our local businesses and attendees stepped up in an unbelievable way to support OTHS. Our team is simply overwhelmed with gratitude as we reflect on the generosity extended to us at this year’s Flip Flop Fete. Thank you for standing by us and showing up in full force on Thursday. The kindness in the room was palpable and the support we received has left us inspired and filled with deep appreciation for our amazing community.” said Executive Director Stephanie Orozco.
A highlight of the evening was the short film Making Memories, which was created for the event. It struck a chord with many OTHS lifetime members in the audience, some of whom learned to swim as children in the pool, rehabbed injuries over the years, and continue to keep fit in the lap pool. The film stresses the need to renovate the lap pool area for future generations to learn to swim, age healthfully, and simply enjoy the water.
Ann Coon, a Steamboat School District English Language Learning Specialist, who is featured in the film, describes the partnership between OTHS and the ACE— Achieving, Collaborating and Exploring — club, where OTHS provides swimming lessons to the children, many of whom had never been in a pool, and didn’t own a bathing suit. “Academics is one thing, but swimming is a life skill you can enjoy forever,” Ann states. “Swimming is not just something that you should learn because it’s fun. It can save your life,” adds Aspen Spiker, a swim teacher at OTHS, also featured in the film.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our 2023 Presenting Sponsors, Alpine Bank and McCreight Progressive Dentistry. Both businesses have supported us from the very beginning and have helped make the event the success that it is today. We would also like to express our deepest thanks to the many businesses and individuals who sponsored this year’s event.” stated Orozco.
While celebrating the success of the fundraiser, OTHS acknowledges that it still has a way to go to reach the 10-million-dollar campaign goal and is accepting donations through the campaign webpage.
Presenting Sponsors
Alpine Bank, McCreight Progressive Dentistry
Platinum Level
The Commons Food Hall
HLCC, Kathy & Brad Iversen
Anita & Jack Trautman
Karen Waeschle & Dave Zink
Elaine & Doug Wilwerding
Gold Level
The Commons
Becky & Larry Lamb
SBT GRVL
Larson Family Fund
Silver Level
BOK Financial Private Wealth
Landmark Consultants Inc
Mountain West Insurance & Financial Services
Native Excavating Inc
Steamboat Radio
UCHealth
Bronze Level
Aspen Tree Service/SavATree
B & K Distributing
Carol & Russ Atha
Counsilman-Hunsaker
Glas Deffryn Ranch
Jane & Bud Romberg
Northwest Data Services
Steamboat Architectural Associates
Storm Peak Brewing
The Green Company
Twin Enviro Services
Wember