Community Report

Dear Friends and Donors:

On behalf of the board of directors and our staff, we are proud to present this report as we assess long-term objectives and explore the tremendous potential before Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation (CRCF). We are grateful to you, our community stakeholders who make it all possible. As you share this historic landmark with friends, attend programs and give generous financial support, personally or through your business, your meaningful contributions are positioning CRCF for a sustainable future.

This is an important threshold year. We acknowledge significant successes in stewarding the remarkable legacy left to us twenty years ago with the passing of Mildred Montague Genevieve “Tweet” Kimball, our benefactor, in early 1999. Her beloved Cherokee Ranch & Castle is a legacy that continues to serve the public. Her influence is felt daily through exceptional cultural, scientific, and educational programing surrounded by native wildlife habitats across the ranch. The Ranch of 3400 acres truly embodies our western heritage and Tweet Kimball’s legacy.

Highlights of Accomplishments:

• Ever-improving multi-generational educational programs. Whether by mentoring 4H youth or serving children-in-need through art, science, environmental and heritage enrichment sessions or by welcoming Native American teens to build cross-cultural understanding, we are deeply impacting youth. With many offerings for adults as well, Cherokee Ranch is proud to serve all life-long learners.
• A banner year for Cherokee Ranch Science Institute and Cherokee Ranch Heritage Committee. The Science Institute continued rigorous geological and archaeological research and sharing its findings. Their work received a prestigious invitation to address a national conference and has engaged non-profit and corporate partners. Among the Heritage Committee’s many endeavors to secure and maintain historic assets, was the art conservation and frame restoration of the prominent portrait of “Elizabeth of Bohemia” which returned the work to its earlier splendor.
• Exciting and diverse cultural programs continued to provide the public with high-profile local, national and international performers, authors and scholars (often with iconic cultural partners) while the Castle continued to serve as an exceptional, intimate, house museum containing art and antiques. The Castle was again recognized as a premier venue where guests create personal, life-long memories in a majestic setting.
• CRCF leaders continued investments in infrastructure including water, land, and restoration of historic structures.
• CRCF continues to be a leader in genetics as a seed stock cattle breeder in the SGBI.

I’m pleased to share a few plans for the future:

• After extensive preparation, CRCF is approved to implement the USDA Prescribed Grazing Plan to regenerate the soil while conserving precious water resources.
• We will continue delivering the remarkable cultural performances you have come to expect; tours, workshops, teas, hikes, elk bugling events and more. The expanding focus of youth programs will continue with field trips, workshops and a multi-cultural Youth Leadership Summit.
• The Science Institute will soon publish a peer review paper, “More Paleocene Woods of the Denver Basin, Cherokee Ranch, Colorado” in a preeminent periodical; and another portrait will be professionally conserved for the public’s long-term appreciation of the Castle’s art collection.
• CRCF will continue to explore fundraising strategies to support fiscal operations and our ambitious long-range goals.

You have our continued commitment to treasure this important community resource. While we have earned prestigious local and national funding, it, along with earned income from admissions, covers only a portion of operating costs. Please, take a minute now to join our family of donors. Click here to make a fast and secure donation.

In remembering Tweet, we associate aspects of the Code of the West which also helps guide our staff culture (having courage, being fair, taking pride in our work, riding for the brand... to name a few). We know she would be proud of the services we provide, and she’d also be grateful, as we are, for your support. Tweet was a prolific writer, if you have original memorabilia from her, please consider gifting it to the CRCF archives. Just make a note when you send in your gift and we will contact you.

Thank you for your consideration and ongoing support,

James A. Holmes, Executive Director

P.S. Please mark your calendar to hold Saturday evening, June 8th for Waterloo 2019, the gala celebration of the anniversary of Tweet Kimball’s 105th birthday. Table reservations and a full range of sponsorship options are available, please inquire at 720-627-7173. Thank you!