Telluride Foundation: Citizen of the Year, Susan Rice

01 Oct Telluride Foundation: Citizen of the Year, Susan Rice

The Telluride Foundation selects its 2018 Citizen of the Year: Susan Rice. Community celebration planned for Thursday, October 4, 4- 6 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Nucla. The public is invited.

At the Telluride Foundation’s summer Board of Directors summer meeting, long-time Nucla resident Susan Rice was selected as the 2018 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The Telluride Foundation created its Citizen of the Year award to honor individuals who unselfishly make extraordinary contributions to the region’s quality of life. Susan was one of five individuals nominated by their peers for exemplary service and volunteerism to the community. A celebration to honor Rice is scheduled for Thursday, October 4,  4- 6 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Nucla.

Susan is the Library Coordinator at the Naturita Public Library, one of only two libraries in the state to receive the prestigious “Best Small Library in America” award from Library Journal in 2011. But Susan’s dedication to her job at the library is not why she was chosen to be Citizen of the Year: it was her commitment to her community and all the youth in Naturita and Nucla, outside of her work at the library, that is so impressive and won her the honor.

From serving on the board of the Just for Kids Foundation to volunteering every year for the Mountains to the Desert fundraising bike ride, Susan works tirelessly to raise money and support all of the programs available to youth in her community. Susan has also been known to find homes for the homeless and food for the hungry. In addition, Susan was a founding member of the West End Pay it Forward Trust, a local organization that raises money for an endowment fund, the interest from which will be used for grants to support West End organizations and projects.

Cheryl Miller, who nominated Susan for this award, stated: “I have known Susan for many years as we served together on the Just for Kids (JFK) board. During that time Susan worked tirelessly to help the JFK board understand the unique needs of the children, families and educators in the West End. She is a fierce advocate for children. Her service has been unselfish, complete and sincere. Susan could be the Citizen of the Decade if there were such a thing.”

As the 2018 Citizen of the Year, Susan Rice will receive a commemorative plaque and a grant of $5,000 to be given in her name to the local nonprofit of her choice. She has chosen to support the Pinhead Institute ($1,000); San Miguel Resource Center ($1,000); Paradox School Library ($500 for books); Naturita Elementary School Library ($500 for books) and the Naturita Public Library ($2,000).

Susan Rice shares this honor with Terry Tice (2003), Lissa Margetts (2004), John Micetic (2005), Bill Carstens (2006), John Pryor and Jane Hickcox (2007), Kathy Green (2008), Marilyn Branch (2009), Dan and Greer Garner and Andrea Benda (2010) and Billy “Senior” Mahoney (2011), Anne Brady (2012), Dean Rolley (2013), Kristin Holbrook (2014), Gary Freedman (2015) Elaine Fischer (2016) and Wendy Brooks (2017).

Telluride Foundation, More:

The Telluride Foundation is committed to enriching the quality of life of the residents and workforce of the Telluride region. It is a nonprofit, apolitical public community foundation that makes grants and runs programs in arts, education, health and human services, community development, and social enterprise. The Foundation strives to achieve excellence for the community through its mission and core values, including promoting inclusion and maximizing benefit to all. Our work is funded through the generous support of hundreds of donors as well as grants from state and national foundations. Pease visit www.telluridefoundation.org.