Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, was recently honored with the Denver Business Journal’s “Outstanding Woman in Business” award representing nonprofit and public entities. The awards recognize women who have made significant contributions to the Denver community, and winners are selected by a blue ribbon panel of judges assembled by the Denver Business Journal. The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was also recognized this month by the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation, which named the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado “Corporate Supporter of the Year” for the fund’s financial contributions in 2005 and 2006.
At the Denver Business Journal’s 8th Annual Outstanding Women in Business award ceremony held on August 17 in Denver, Makepeace was selected from more than 160 nominations, and was honored with an award along with eleven other accomplished women. The twelve women were recognized for their achievements in the categories of banking and finance, communications, consulting, health care, high technology and telecommunications, Mile High leaders, nonprofits and public entities, professionals, and real estate and construction, along with three awards in conjunction with the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Makepeace was delighted to be recognized by the Denver Business Journal alongside so many esteemed women. “I feel very humbled by this award and to be recognized in the company of other women who have come so far in their careers and personal lives,” she said. In her acceptance speech, Makepeace related a story about the time when she was mayor of Colorado Springs and was approached by a woman who wanted her daughter to meet Makepeace, a woman in a leadership position. “I told her I was more than happy to meet her daughter – but that it was just as important for her son to have women role models, too.”
In addition to the Denver Business Journal award given to Mary Lou Makepeace, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado also received an organizational award this month from the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation. On August 7 in Pueblo, the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation held its 18th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet to introduce the 2006-2007 HORISONS and GRAD scholarship recipients and to provide community awards in five categories: corporate supporter of the year, volunteer of the year; community advocate of the year; outstanding board member of the year; and the president’s award. The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado’s fellow winners in these categories were the Broadcasting Department Staff of Pueblo Community College; Penrose Nonprofit Institute (Southeast Council) of El Pomar Foundation; Juanita Fuentes, manager of Community Education Programs at Pueblo Community College; and the Latino Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation, visit www.phef.net. And for more information about the Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Awards, visit denver.bizjournals.com.
About the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was established in 1996 as a program to financially support nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life in Colorado and promote equality for all people. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $16 million to hundreds of nonprofits whose program areas include arts and culture, civic leadership, healthy families and public broadcasting. In addition to providing financial assistance, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado offers training programs, workshops, technical assistance and public meeting space to strengthen nonprofits’ ability to grow, flourish and succeed. The organization is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information please visit www.gayandlesbianfund.org.
About the Funds
Every year, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado receives a financial allocation from its parent organization, the Gill Foundation, that must be donated in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations that have an IRS 501(c)(3) status and adhere to a nondiscrimination policy inclusive of sexual orientation. These monies, which typically amount to approximately 18 to 20 percent of the Gill Foundation’s earned investments, are not used for private or political purposes, in accordance with IRS regulations.
