$21,907 raised by 121 donors
44% complete
$50,000 Goal
AAI supports schools, families, and youth in rural Southern Colorado. Your donation to AAI helps expand out-of-school and nature activities, educational interventions, social and emotional learning programs, staff training, and youth development initiatives in under-resourced schools and communities.
"Alpine Achievers Initiative's OST programs make a difference for parents and teachers! We appreciate the food provided, activities, and the ability for parents to complete a work day!"
"If AAI disappeared we would lose a lot of valuable support for our at-risk student population in our school."
"AAI support is vital to our school. We have an over burdened SPED department and many students needing individual instruction and help. AAI helps bridge that gap and provide extra intervention time. Without AAI members, our students would be missing opportunities to receive one to one support and continual improvement and growth would suffer."
"The BGC (Boys and Girls Club) relies heavily on AAI Volunteers for our after school and full day programming. We wouldn't be able to support the number of members we have each day without them."
"Many schools depend on AAI; Valley schools are understaffed and AmeriCorps help to provide better ratios for kids here, as well as infuse the schools with new energy and passion for young people."
Alpine Achievers Initiative (AAI) inspires, connects, and nurtures youth, families, and communities in rural Colorado.
Founded in the fall of 2012 by a dedicated math teacher in the Mountain Valley School District, Saguache, Colorado, the initiative began in response to a significant number of students struggling academically without adequate support due to limited financial resources and a lack of structured out-of-school activities.
Initially offering pro-bono services during after-school hours, this teacher collaborated with other passionate educators and local service providers. Through local county government grants, she envisioned transforming these grassroots efforts into a sustainable, grant-funded program to support all children and families in the MVSD community.
The vision quickly expanded to include academic interventions during the school day, a formalized after-school program, increased staffing, and comprehensive support to reduce students' engagement in high-risk activities. This led to AAI receiving an AmeriCorps grant to broaden its reach, a grant which was renewed for further expansion under the MVSD umbrella.
In 2016, AAI achieved nonprofit status and secured sufficient funding to further develop its academic, after-school, and outdoor programs. Over the following years, these services extended to more communities in the San Luis and Arkansas Valleys, including programs for homeschoolers and enhanced collaborations with local organizations for outdoor programming.
Organization name
Alpine Achievers Initiative
other names
AAI
2012
Tax id (EIN)
81-1469355
Category
Youth Development, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Employment, Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
404 13th StreetMailing
404 13th StSaguache County, CO, US
Fremont County, CO, US
Mineral County, CO, US
Rio Grande County, CO, US
Alamosa County, CO, US