Aspen House/Aspen Services — also known as A Safe Place in Pagosa Inc. — welcomed Pattie Copenhaver onto its team as its new executive director in late September.
Ms. Copenhaver brings to Aspen House/Aspen Services over 25 years of marketing and communications background working with large corporations, local governments, a multitude of small businesses and their owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations.
Her goal is to help Aspen House grow by working closely with the board and the community to develop plans for an affordable, safe, permanent home for adults with developmental disabilities where they can live and thrive within the community they love.
Ms. Copenhaver will be focusing her efforts on initiating Aspen House’s upcoming capital campaign, to raise the funds needed to help finally break ground on the home for adults with developmental disabilities. This has been a long-held dream for the founders of the organization, Patty Brown and Carolyn Paschal, along with everyone who has supported Aspen House in so many ways over the years.
Aspen House will be located at 2079 Vista Blvd. The land was acquired in 2019 and the plans for a nine-room group home have been approved by the homeowners’ association. Local contractors have already committed to providing essential elements of the build with significant discounts to support the nonprofit. Now the money needs to be raised, through the capital campaign, to purchase materials and begin construction. This is where our community, friends of Aspen House and PS Froyo, local and statewide organizations, and our community partners come into play. Everyone’s support will be needed to make this dream a reality.
A Safe Place in Pagosa Inc., doing business as Aspen House and Aspen Services, was approved this month as a new Enterprise Zone Contribution Project by the Colorado Economic Development Commission. This designation allows donors of $250 or more to claim a 25 percent state tax credit and a 12.5 percent state tax credit on in-kind donations. This credit is in addition to the federal tax deduction for contributing to any 501(c)(3) organization.
“Currently, there is no housing in this area for adults with developmental disabilities, and it is so critically needed,” said Patty Brown, founder of the organization. “This population of adults need a place where they can live and thrive, and become independent productive contributors of this community.”
The project was extended another five years as fundraising efforts were negatively impacted by the pandemic.
There are currently 32 Enterprise Zone projects designated in Southwest Colorado. A list of eligible Enterprise Zone projects and program information is available at www.region9edd.org/contribution-tax-credits.
For more information about Aspen House or to donate, please contact Pattie Copenhaver at (970) 398-1636.
Additional information will be forthcoming about how to get involved and help build Aspen House. The capital campaign will be launched next year. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to stay on top of the latest information on Aspen House and the capital campaign at www.aspenhousepagosa.org
The Pagosa Daily Post welcomes submissions, photos, letters and videos from people who love Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Call 970-903-2673 or email pagosadailypost@gmail.com