BGV Gives information.

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Breckenridge Grand Vacations Wraps up 2022 with Nearly $1.4 Million in Community Support

Breckenridge Grand Vacations and BGV Gives recently announced $1,393,770 in support for the community in 2022. The grants represent both cash and in-kind support, such as sponsorships, grants, volunteer time, lodging donations and more.

With a strong focus on philanthropy, Breckenridge Grand Vacations celebrates an impactful 2022, including a successful RAM Heart Health Walk, 4,500 hours volunteered by employees, and a personal gift of $1,000,000 from Mike and Anna Dudick towards Family & Intercultural Resource Center’s Sol Center.

Reflecting on his family’s donation to the Sol Center, Breckenridge Grand Vacations Chief Executive Officer Mike Dudick shares, “The Sol Center will be a wonderful and necessary resource in our community.  We feel fortunate to play a small part in making this dream a reality.”

Tara Dew, BGV Gives Program Manager, adds “Philanthropy is a top priority for Breckenridge Grand Vacations. From the company’s executive leadership to our newest hires, every day BGV employees reflect what it means to build community and give back to those around them.”

Rounding out Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ 2022 philanthropic funding was the announcement of its fall and spring grant awards, totaling $537,000 for 61 organizations serving the Summit and Park County communities.

BGV Gives awarded grants addressing six focus areas: health, human services, education, art and culture, environment, and sports and recreation. With a commitment to supporting organizations across the community, the selected grantees provide valuable contributions to the quality of life in Summit County, from sustainability initiatives, to support for preschools, food banks and more.

Jen Schenk, High Country Conservation Center’s Executive Director, remarks, “Grant funding is critical for High Country Conservation Center to further our mission to reduce waste and conserve resources in Summit County. Support from BGV Gives allows HC3 to focus on our core programs and helps us leverage support from other funding partners around the community.”

In addition to program and general operating support, Breckenridge Grand Vacations was pleased to provide a significant capital grant towards construction of the new Silverthorne childcare center.

According to County Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence, “A capacity shortage in local preschools is one of Summit County’s top issues, for families and for our workforce. This new childcare center is a huge step in the right direction, but it will require collaboration across sectors in the community. We are grateful to have Breckenridge Grand Vacations as a partner.”

Grants from Breckenridge Grand Vacations are awarded through BGV Gives, a philanthropic program created to support local nonprofit organizations through fundraising, sponsorships, grants, volunteering, and in-kind donations. Focusing on health, human services and education sectors, BGV Gives funds capital projects, special event sponsorships, programs, equipment, scholarships, educational materials, and general operating support, among other needs.

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SOS Outreach Pairs Mountain Sports with Mentorship for Local Youth

Since 1993, SOS Outreach (SOS) has cultivated a deep sense of belonging in kids and teenagers, unlimiting their future potential and impact on our world. SOS engages local youth from Summit County while operating programs at Keystone and Breckenridge. SOS uses a unique combination of mentorship and winter sports to deliver a progressive curriculum that creates a sense of purpose and belonging for youth, fosters self-regulation through social and emotional learning skill development, and fosters ethical decision-making. In partnership with Summit County schools, youth are recruited for programs in 4th grade and progress through high school to develop critical social and emotional learning skills: relating well to others, understanding and managing feelings, responsible decision-making, and social responsibility. The mountains are the catalyst for creating opportunities on and off the hill. In Summit County, over 20 local community mentors help make SOS programs possible. SOS is a gold badge partner of Mentor Colorado for consistent excellence in the delivery of mentor programming.

 

“All the skills that I obtained during my time in SOS have opened so many doors for me—in the form of leadership skills, networking opportunities, and even a discovered love for volunteer service. I will always hold on to these skills wherever I go. SOS taught me that sticking to your core values can take you a long way in life.” – Andrew Reynolds, recent program graduate

If you’d like to impact youth in your community, please consider donating or volunteering to support SOS!  To get involved in a volunteer or mentor capacity, please reach out to Alison Canavan, Senior Colorado Program Manager, at acanavan@sosoutreach.org or visit https://sosoutreach.org/get-involved/“

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Tara Dew joins Breckenridge Grand Vacations as new BGV Gives Program Manager

Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) is pleased to announce that Tara Dew is joining the newly created Community Impact Department as the next BGV Gives Program Manager. This new department further embraces BGV’s triple bottom line, which encompasses people, planet, and prosperity.

Dew comes to this position with a wealth of experience, having served for five years at The Summit Foundation (TSF) as a Program Coordinator initially, then Program Manager and most recently as Program Director. Previously, Dew spent three years at St. Anthony Hospital in the role of Community Health Advocate followed by a promotion to Senior Community Health Advocate after her first year. Her professional career also includes a summer with AmeriCorps in Austin, Texas and two summers with Rustic Pathways in Costa Rica and various countries in Southeast Asia. Dew’s departure from TSF is “bittersweet,” said TSF Executive Director Jeanne Bistranin. “We are so happy for Tara and this new opportunity, while also sad to see her leave. The good news is that we will continue to work very closely with Tara, especially regarding our golf tournament and the BGV Gives Program. We wish Tara all the best and thank her for her excellent work at The Summit Foundation!”

Dew will begin her new role with BGV in early December, at which time job training will commence with retiring BGV Gives Program Manager, Deb Edwards. “I could not have wished for a better opportunity or better company to work for to end my 43-year career in Summit County. No day is ever the same at BGV Gives,” said Edwards. For a brief time, Edwards will continue to be available to support Dew and BGV Gives, as needed.

Edwards started as a part-time clerk typist at Colorado Mountain College in 1979 and worked her way up through almost every position available to become the Director of Community Education in Summit County. In 1985, she became the first Executive Director of The Summit Foundation, a role she held for 21 years, followed by the first Chief Development Officer for the Summit Medical Center Health Foundation.

“BGV Gives was my dream job. I am grateful to Mike (Millisor) and Mike (Dudick) for allowing me the privilege of taking this legacy to Rob (Millisor) and the Breckenridge Grand Vacations philanthropy program to new heights. I am confident that Tara will successfully continue this important and unique work,” Edwards continued. “I have always said that I never worked a day in my life. Being involved in these four community organizations has never felt like work, but rather pure joy. I am grateful to every colleague, donor, volunteer, community, and board member who I had the pleasure of ‘working’ with along the way. I am looking forward to spending more time with friends and family, travelling, volunteering and simply enjoying Colorado. But most of all, having more time with my only grandchild, Harper. And of course, visiting Summit County now and again to enjoy all this community has to offer.”

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Join BGV as we do our part for World Cleanup Day!

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

World Cleanup Schedule

9:00 a.m.
Meet at the Blue River Plaza

9:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
World Cleanup Happening 

11:30 a.m.
Make your way to The Boot at Grand Timber Lodge for a cookout and prizes

EMAIL EKIMMEL@BRECKGV.COM TO RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

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Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) has been recognized with the Denver Posts’ 2022 Top Workplaces again this year

This year, more than 50,000 employees from hundreds of companies across the state answered the survey, which is anonymous and measures several aspects of workplace culture and employee satisfaction. Companies are grouped by size: large (500 plus employees), mid-size (150-499 employees) and small (under 150 employees). BGV was #1 in 2018 and continues to rank high amongst its peers in the large company category. For the past eight years running,  Breckenridge Grand Vacations has been recognized as a Top Workplace, ranking above well-known past nominees such as Edward Jones, USAA, Progressive Insurance, T-Mobile US and others. And in 2021, for the very first time ever, BGV also received national recognition in the area of Culture and Innovation as one of the best workplaces in the United States! That’s the result of our commitment to “kaizen”, always looking to make improvements in everything we do.

“BGV has always strived to be the best place to work in Summit County,” said Breckenridge Grand Vacations developer and CEO, Mike Dudick. “We feel so fortunate to be recognized as a Top Workplace in the state and it gives us a tremendous feeling of accomplishment that we’re providing a meaningful and rewarding work environment while putting smiles on the faces of our owners, guests, employees and community. As part of our Triple Bottom Line approach which focuses on people, planet and prosperity, we’re proud that we’ve developed a culture of bottom-up leadership that develops and supports our employees and that they truly feel this support.”.

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$185,000 raised at the Annual Heart Health Walk in June

It was a Colorado bluebird day as more than 500 participants, volunteers, vendor festival representatives, employees, friends and family members walked, ran and enjoyed live entertainment and healthy food during The 7th Annual Rob Millisor Heart Health Walk (RAM Walk) on June 11th at Carter Park in Breckenridge. The event is organized by Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ (BGV) philanthropic program, BGV Gives, in honor of the late BGV owner/developer Rob Millisor. A committed philanthropist and community supporter, Rob passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest in 2015 while on a humanitarian trip to Nepal following a devastating earthquake there that year.

The success of the event can be seen and felt in the outpouring of support from community partners such as The Summit Foundation, Breckenridge Restaurant Association, the Town of Breckenridge, BreckCreate and the Red, White and Blue Fire Department who come together to make this event fun for the entire family. Children’s activities, live entertainment, a 5K trail run and hike and a 1-mile walk around town not only provide the opportunity for some morning exercise, but also the chance to support the Rob Millisor Heart Health Fund at The Summit Foundation. One hundred percent of every dollar raised at the event goes to the Heart Health Fund because Mike Millisor and Mike Dudick, owner/developers of Breckenridge Grand Vacations, cover all the expenses every year.

In 2021, just the sixth year of the event, a landmark $1 million in total funds raised was achieved. The 2022 event added another $185,000 to the fund, the second largest amount generated since 2016 and the event’s inaugural year following Rob’s tragic death just eight months earlier. This year, 33 sponsors contributed $165,750 to the Walk. An additional four sponsors provided $7,000 in trade and in-kind services. Registration fees and donations from participants and supporters added to the final tally.

Grants and sponsorships awarded from the Heart Health Fund are used to support heart health programs, projects, research and equipment as well as nonprofit organizations who provide critical programs and services at the heart of our community. Grant funding is as unique and varied as the organizations that are supported. From purchasing and locating AED units throughout the community through Starting Hearts to supporting the Keystone Science School CATCH Afterschool Program to CPR/DEFIB education to start-up funding for the High Altitude Research Center, funds awarded and programs supported make a difference and save lives. To date, more than $900,000 has been distributed to these and other important community programs.

Minimizing our environmental impact is also important at BGV. The company strives to eliminate as much waste as possible going to our landfill. At this year’s RAM Walk, of the 1,198 pounds of waste generated at the event, only 250 pounds was taken to the landfill representing a 79% diversion rate.

Mark your calendars now and save the date for the 2023 Rob Millisor Heart Health Walk on Saturday, June 10. Donations to this year’s RAM Walk can still be made online at The Rob Millisor Heart Health Walk | BGV Gives.

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Pivot Energy Signs Major New Solar Agreement with Breckenridge Grand Vacations

In April, Pivot Energy announced the signing of a 4.9-megawatt community solar subscription with Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV). The contract is one of the largest community solar subscriptions in the history of the hospitality sector and a vital component of BGV’s sustainability initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

For BGV, community solar offers a range of benefits. It boosts our bottom line by providing cost savings and hedging against rising electricity costs. Furthermore, participating in community solar represents meaningful action to address threats to normal operation posed by climate change. The impact of climate change at BGV particularly hits home as shorter snow seasons threaten to deter snow sports enthusiasts who flock to Breckenridge each winter for the legendary snow-capped mountains.

Emily Kimmel, Recycling and Sustainability Manager for Breckenridge Grand Vacations said, “Pivot Energy has been an ideal partner in our efforts to obtain a community solar subscription, both because of their extensive footprint in Colorado and for their commitment to shared values of community wellbeing and environmentalism. Sustainability is of the utmost importance to Breckenridge Grand Vacations, and we are very excited for the opportunity this community solar subscription presents to help us reach our sustainability goals. We look forward to working with Pivot in the months ahead to bring these endeavors to fruition.”

For Pivot, helping clients like BGV traverse their own sustainability journey, and thus bringing the benefits of solar to more communities, is an integral part of meeting their ambitious environment, social and governance (ESG) goals.

Matthew Brenn, Director of Business Development for Pivot Energy, said, “Pivot Energy is proud to be working with a partner like Breckenridge Grand Vacations that is so committed to renewable energy and sustainability. As a Colorado-based company, we have a deep appreciation for the beautiful environment here in our state and take seriously our role to combat climate change and preserve clean air and clean water. We are excited to facilitate a key part of BGV’s sustainability journey and are eager to see what the future holds for our partnership.”

The solar gardens associated with BGV’s subscription are currently under construction, with the first round of projects expected to come online in 2022 and the remaining capacity expected online by late 2023.

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