Award Recipients
At the Board of Commissioners Meeting, we recognized the following partners for going above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of BHP residents and the Boulder community.
March 10, 2026
Award Recipient: Fran Chavez
Presented by: Roberto Rivero
Fran Chavez began her journey with the Golden West community in 2013, bringing with her more than 30 years of professional experience. Over the past 13 years, Fran has provided far more than hair care—she has offered connection, compassion, and a welcoming space where residents felt heard, valued, and renewed. Each visit to the salon left residents not only looking stylish, but feeling genuinely cared for.
Under her leadership, the salon quickly became a warm and trusted community asset. Residents grew accustomed to her soft, gentle approach and her friendly, reassuring conversations. Fran had a special ability to listen carefully and accommodate the unique preferences of older adults who knew exactly how they wanted to look and would not settle for less than a style they loved.
As demand grew, Fran expanded services to include color, permanents, blow-dries, curling iron styles, and roller sets—always ensuring that every individual walked out feeling confident, satisfied, and proud of their appearance.
The salon’s popularity grew steadily, with Fran providing between two and five haircuts per day, Monday through Friday—approximately 50 to 60 haircuts per month. Beyond her professional services, Fran demonstrated extraordinary kindness. When residents shared that they had skipped breakfast, Fran began bringing fruit and snacks every Tuesday, turning a simple gesture into a cherished routine.
Fran fondly recalls the meaningful conversations shared during haircuts, describing those moments as her favorite—listening to residents reflect on their life journeys and stories. In one particularly touching example of her compassion, Fran continued to provide haircuts to a resident who struggled financially, accepting checks she never intended to cash—eventually accumulating 15 to 20 uncashed checks—because she believed everyone deserved to feel good and dignified.
Throughout her tenure, Fran recognized that the most important part of her role was not just hairstyling, but the social interaction, trust, and sense of belonging she provided. She became a confidant, a familiar presence, and a valued connection for many residents. She also recalls men coming in to negotiate prices, trim mustaches and beards, and leave feeling refreshed and respected.
When asked what she would miss most about Golden West, Fran simply said, “I will miss the residents—they are like family.” She also expressed gratitude for the positive changes at Golden West, noting that BHP has done an excellent job in creating a wonderful living community.
Fran Chavez’s dedication, generosity, and heartfelt service have left a lasting legacy at Golden West. She is truly deserving of this nomination and recognition.
Award Recipient: PLAYBoulder Foundation
Presented by: Jamillah Richmond
The PLAYBoulder Foundation values of supporting accessibility, health & wellness, sustainability, collaboration, connection, and fiscal stewardship are seen throughout their overwhelming support of BHP families within the Tantra Lake community and beyond. They are known by many in the community for helping median to low-income families access enrichment through $250 scholarships via a lottery; however, they are investing in programs for BHP kids through a 6-week Art Camp and soon a 6-week Soccer camp, both hosted on site at Tantra Lake.
With the support of The PLAYBoulder Foundation Tree Trust, the Tantra Lake property was able to install 35 trees, of which 33 are fruit-bearing, along with more than 200 pollinator plants. This turned what was once an unused lot into a food forest that will help to build community resilience, skills, address food insecurity, and reduce isolation. The Tantra Lake community has become closer and more engaged/community oriented, in part due to the direct and indirect support of all of the PLAYBoulder Foundation staff.
They are also invested in supporting the ongoing care of the food forest through community outreach by managing another innovative program in which 6 Resident Stewards, who are residents of Tantra Lake, will be paid $3,600 each, funded by the Arbor Day Grant and Climate Equity Fund. Resident Stewards will care for the food forest and assist with outreach; this will not only create opportunities but help to provide supplemental income which can positively impact housing security for those six households.
Prior Award Recipients
December 10, 2025
Street Wise Arts
Timber Ridge Apartments
Expedited Service Partners (ESP)
Imagine!
November 12, 2025
Rita Galloway
Energy Outreach Colorado
July 9, 2025
Center for Resilience + Well-being
Legacy HealthCare Services
City of Boulder Fire-Rescue – Community Risk Reduction Division
March 12, 2025
Avani G. Dilger
Eliana Colunga
Irene Hillson
February 12, 2025
Ellen Orleans, Sustainability Programs Manager, City of Boulder
Boulder Public Library District
Thorne Nature Kids – Lil’ Explorers Program
October 9, 2024
Erik Johnson, Northwest Builders LLC
March 13, 2024
Chris Jenkins, The Tantra Condominiums Association
Frasier Meadows – Seniors for Seniors
September 2023
Clutter Trucker
Boulder Food Rescue
May 2023
Quinsigh, LLC
Matt Gazdik, City of Boulder Parks & Recreation
Francisco Mejias, “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County
March 2023
Boulder County Housing Helpline
Eviction Protection and Rental Assistance Services Program
September 2022
Anonymous Broadway East Resident
Thom Krueger & Sheila Goetz
chfareach
June 2021
Mayra Zavala
March 2021
Boulder Rotary Club
Philanthropiece
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)
September 2019
Volunteer Victor Aguilar and Paola Barron
Impact on Education
City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department
Volunteer Parvinder Wahla
TRU PACE
June 2019
Realities for Children Boulder County, Eric Schulz
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Juanita Echeverri and David Sutherland
Volunteer Paulette Foss
September 2018
Volunteer Mark Willard
Via
June 2018
Boulder Public Library – Book Rich Environments Initiative
Harvest of Hope, Pop-Up Pantry
Senior Services, City of Boulder Human Services Department
October 2017
Clinica – Homeless Outreach Team
CU Environmental Center “FLOWS”
Division of Housing – City of Boulder, Kurt Firnhaber and Kristin Hyser
Volunteer Erica Meyer
June 2017
Dr. Ron Cabrera
City of Boulder Department of Transportation – “Go Boulder”
Volunteer Ana Karina Casas
St. Paul’s Methodist Church – “STEM Rev”
Boulder County Housing and Human Services: Healthy Kids and Adults Eligibility Technicians
Boulder Building Blocks Fund
March 2017
Lyn Young
David Kennedy – Catluck
Boulder Police Department – Homeless Outreach Team – Officer Jenny Paddock and Office Abel Ramos
Gail Promboin
Amy Tremper
October 2016
St. Benedict Health and Healing Ministry
Ingrid Castro-Campos
Nan Jenner Bryant
June 2016
Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA)
Engaged Latino Parents Advancing School Outcomes through the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County
Claudia Sanchez
Luisa Silva De Murillo
March 2016
Housing First Team for the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
Oracle
Sue Percifield
October 2015
ReSchool Colorado – Donnell-Kay Foundation
Harvest of Hope Pantry
Caren Phillips from Intercambio
June 2015
CLEAResult
Boulder Area Ram Network-Colorado State University Alumni Association
CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE) Program
Donated Dental Services, a program of Dental Lifeline Network – Colorado
March 2015
eGo CarShare
“I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County
Stephanie Iannone – Housing Helpers
Greg Harms – Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
November 2014
First Presbyterian Church
AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer Program
Ken Wilson
Danica Powell, Mo Rait and Antonia Gaona – NOBO Library
June 2014
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
Mercedes Garcia – Resident of Kalmia
Christine Bettel – Family Self Sufficiency program graduate
Steven Lane from Kephart Architects and JV DeSousa
April 2014
Margie Rotkin – The Special Needs Organization
Mark Saprony (facility manager) and Residents – Presbyterian Manor
Andrew Moore – Chief Information Officer of Boulder Valley School District
Fran Ryan – Impact on Education
October 2013
Kyle McDaniel, Cornerstone Housing Alliance LLC and Lou Della Cava from LJD Enterprises, Inc.
Dave Maloney, Moving Connection
Linda Peth, Walnut Place Resident Council president
Kurt Wunnicke, Walnut Place Community Gardens
June 2013
Nick Kaminsky, Center for People with Disabilities
Hanna Dansky, Boulder Food Rescue
Joel Hayes, Boulder County Legal Services
March 2013
Richard Garcia and Valerie Gonzalez – Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition
Maria del Rosario Alvarado Gonzalez, Gabina Silva, Cristina Sanchez, and Mayra Zavala – Resident Partners
Brian Larson and Nicole Mansour – First Bank
Darcey Borzileri – Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
October 2012
Wanda Pelegrina Caldas, Sue Prant, and Rich Points – Community Cycles
Olga Jacoby – Community Programs Specialist, Boulder County Area Agency on Aging
David Shurman and Residents of Presbyterian Manor – Presbyterian Manor
June 2012
Barb and Joe Eberle – Volunteers (Thanksgiving Meals)
Alex Zinga – Youth Services Initiative (YSI) City of Boulder
Janet Fulton – City of Boulder Housing and Human Services
March 2012
Peggy Fernandez – Colorado Housing & Finance Authority (CHFA)
June Bianchi – Mental Health Partners of Boulder County
Dave Wyatt & John Wyatt – Wyatt Construction
Care Connect of Boulder County
