Buddy Mentors Program recognizes and celebrates its supporters

The Buddy Mentors Program has inspired and fostered many Eagle County youth within the past 33 years. A celebration was hosted on Thursday, June 29 at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa to honor three supporters who have contributed to the program’s long-term success.

The party was also a chance for the community to learn how to become a senior buddy to a local child in need of a positive role model. Buddy Mentors is a program of local organization Bright Future Foundation, and it presents an opportunity for community members to make a difference in the lives of local youth.

Honored this year were Cheryl Jensen as Friend of the Buddy Mentors Program, Yvonne Jacobs as Exemplary Senior Buddy, and Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate as Outstanding Corporate Supporter. Read more about these three key supporters here.

Junior buddies are referred to the program through counselors, schools, teachers, or anyone who thinks the buddy will benefit from a little extra attention and guidance. Senior buddies offer encouragement and guidance to their junior buddies, and they also help these children find time to just be kids.

Learn more about the Buddy Mentors Program by contacting the program’s manager, Janet Casson at 970-763-7212, or visit mybrightfuture.org.

: Left to right: Holly Kasper-Blank, Bright Future’s program sustainability manager, Senior Buddy Melissa Dombroski, and Marilyn Smith Heaney from Slifer Designs.

: Cheryl Jensen accepting her award for Friend of the Buddy Mentors Program. Cheryl founded and organized the Buddy Mentors holiday party at Adventure Ridge, which is still an annual (and much anticipated) event.

: Buddy Mentors Program Manager Janet Casson, Bright Future’s Executive Director Sheri Mintz, and 2017 Friend of the Buddy Mentors Program Cheryl Jensen.

: 2017 Outstanding Corporate Supporter, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate. Shawna Topor and Lissa Tyler accepted the award.

: 2017 Exemplary Senior Buddy, Yvonne Jacobs, accepts her award.

: Left to right: Mike Santambrogio, Bright Future’s EmpowerMENt and EmpowHERment Program Manager, Holly Kasper-Blank of Bright Future and husband Matt Blank.

: 2017 Exemplary Senior Buddy, Yvonne Jacobs (right).

: Bright Future staff and board members. Left to right: Janet Casson, Hope Flores, Claudia Hurtado-Myers, Lissa Tyler, Mike Santambrogio, Casey Wolfington and daughter.