The 2024 Yampa Valley Community Foundation Philanthropist of the year awards have been announced across three categories.

Mountain Tap Brewery is the YVCF’s Business Philanthropist of the Year, a nod to the establishment’s ability to thrive while also supporting the community.

Since opening in 2016, Mountain Tap has hosted “Token Tuesdays,” a program that allows patrons to support local nonprofits with their beer purchases. For every beer sold, the brewery donates $1 to a selected nonprofit organization, an effort that has raised approximately $62,000 for almost 90 local groups.

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Mountain Tap’s community support is also reflected in its support for its employees. As a certified “apprentice employer,” the company provides valuable training and career advancement opportunities through the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

The business also encourages and compensates staff members for their time to volunteer with nonprofits and aims to establish a formal volunteerism program in the coming years, according to YVCF.

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“In the end, Mountain Tap Brewery isn’t just a place to enjoy a great beer; it’s a symbol of what can be achieved when businesses and communities work hand in hand, nurturing each other’s growth and well-being,” the YVCF noted in announcing the award.

Madison Mohn received the 2024 Youth Philanthropist of the Year award for her dedication to improving mental health among youth in the Yampa Valley, particularly in the Steamboat Springs School District.

The Madison Foundation Fund has supported a private therapist to provide family therapy in local schools, along with supporting a universal social and emotional screening tool for middle and high school students and helping to create a local initiative aimed at involving students in suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

“The most rewarding aspect of my philanthropy has been bringing mental health to the forefront in our schools,” Mohn said in a statement. “I am most proud of funding a therapist in the public high school for two years to provide students and their families with free, trained therapists.”

Mohn said she hopes to expand her Madison Foundation Fund with the aim of creating an even greater impact.

“My goal is to grow The Madison Foundation and enhance our support for mental health in the Yampa Valley,” she said. “The work we’ve done so far is just the beginning. I’m committed to continuing this journey and finding new ways to support our community.”

Paul and Chresta Brinkman share the designation as the YVCF Individual Philanthropist of the year.

Chresta has made an impact in the community through her work with the Steamboat Springs Board of Education and Junior Achievement and as a volunteer with the Historic Hayden Granary and strong support for Yampatika. She has also shown a passion for supporting children in need through her roles with the Colorado Hands & Voices O.U.R. Children’s Safety Project.

Paul’s volunteerism has seen him take major roles with the University of Colorado Engineering Advisory Council and the Steamboat youth and high school girls lacrosse teams.

As a developer, he has contributed his knowledge to a number of nonprofit building projects including those spearheaded by the United Way and Integrated Community.

He was also instrumental in the creation of Yampa Valley Community Foundation’s new home for philanthropy, offering his pro-bono time, expertise and insights were invaluable to the establishment of the Foundation’s forever home.

In honoring the Brinkmans, the YVCF said, “we celebrate their unwavering commitment to embodying the true spirit of philanthropy. Their legacy is one of hope, community, and selfless giving, woven into the very fabric of their personal and family lives and this community they cherish so dearly.”