Donate Now and Triple the Value of Your Alumni Gift

620449_3396621368990_999839045_oIf you’ve ever given thought to making a donation to the Eagle Rock School Alumni Association but weren’t sure if that donation would actually make a difference, we now offer an opportunity to you to do so and triple the value of your contribution.

How is that possible, you ask? It’s all due to the remarkable generosity of Dick and Carol Herb, the former who was our long-time director of operations before retiring about five years ago. What this remarkable couple has done is establish a challenge grant that is now in place through July 31 for the funding of the school’s Alumni Association. It’s a cut-and-dry formula:

  • For every dollar you donate, Dick and Carol will contribute two more dollars, up to a maximum of $5,000.

So let’s say, for example, we scramble up $2,500 in contributions by the July 31 deadline. That means Dick and Carol will add another $5,000 to the pot.

Stands to reason that if all Eagle Rock alumni were to donate $25, $50 or $100, we would surpass our goal. And by Eagle Rock alumni, we include graduates, former interns and Fellows, former students, former staff members, ERS parents and sponsors, guests of the Professional Development Center and other friends.

We’re going to take a brief moment here to ask you to reflect back on the impact Eagle Rock has had on your life, and give accordingly. Remember, every tax-deductible dollar you donate will triple in value, thanks to Dick and Carol.

Please write a check today, and make it out to Eagle Rock School Alumni Association. Send it to:

Eagle Rock School
Attn: Alumni Association
2750 Notaiah Road
Estes Park, Colorado 80517

You can also donate through our secure online donation form by following these five simple steps: Continue reading…

Meet The Team: Eagle Rock’s Director of Students, Philbert Smith

For today’s spotlight, we’re going to take a closer look at Philbert Smith, our director of students, a man who arrived at Eagle Rock straight off the streets. To be more specific, Philbert came to us following a stint as the director of Covenant House Texas — a 24-hour shelter for street kids in Houston. He is married and has a pair of daughters and has been a part of Eagle Rock as long as Eagle Rock’s been a part of the larger education community.

Philbert-Smith-Eagle-Rock-SchoolMeet Philbert…

Eagle Rock: What attracted you to Eagle Rock?

Philbert: I think it was the values of Eagle Rock School and Honda — right there at the intersection of public interest and private interest. It was also an opportunity to work with adolescents in both a residential and educational environment.

Eagle Rock: When you’re not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Philbert: And when would that be? Actually, I enjoy being around my family, cooking, reading, taking a walk, sometimes watching real trashy television and going to the movies.

Eagle Rock: Speaking of television, what reality TV should you be on and why would you win or be kicked off?

Philbert: I’d be a chef on Chopped. And I think with a little coaching I could win because I enjoy cooking and enjoy combining flavors in food.

Eagle Rock: What’s your all-time favorite Eagle Rock success story?

Philbert: That success story would be Loula Tesfi. Her journey with her family from Continue reading…

Showing Support For What We’ve Helped To Create

While we happily accept donations for the Graduate Higher Education Fund at any time, there are several times during the year when Eagle Rock staff and students really go all out and “work” for it.

Take, for example, the start of the summer and fall trimesters when we set time aside for Graduate Work Day. During the first week of these trimesters, our students and staff members devote a day to serving the Estes Park community through yard work and other chores.

photo 1These folks charge an hourly rate — but instead of pocketing the money, they turn the proceeds over to administrators of the Graduate Fund. This year our community earned $1,500 sprucing up areas of the town on May 15. Charging a flat $12 per hour per worker, 10 staff members and about 40 students divided themselves among 16 projects around town. One group headed off to the historic Stanley Hotel to weed and perform other gardening tasks on the resort hotel’s expansive 55-acre grounds. Other groups headed to private homes to rake leaves, clean windows, stack firewood, shovel snow and complete other chores.

The funding program had its origins in 1997 when Eagle Rock staff realized that they had a lot of grads that wanted to go to college and had the grades to get into college, but lacked the money to do so.

The Graduate Higher Education Fund award was gradually increased over the years and now stands at Continue reading…