About Awards for Excellence
In 1989, El Pomar created our first program, Awards for Excellence, to celebrate outstanding nonprofit organizations and individuals in Colorado for their contributions. These awards are presented at our Night of Excellence ceremony, where honorees are spotlighted for their work and receive grant dollars to support the extraordinary impact they make across the state.
Honorees are nominated. Nominations are not open to the public. We are pleased to recognize and celebrate excellent nonprofit organizations and leaders in our Colorado community.
Explore our Awards
At our Night of Excellence ceremony we honor organizations and individuals with the following awards:
Metro/Pikes Peak Award for Excellence
This award honors an organization headquartered in either the Metro or Pikes Peak regions of Colorado.
Rural Award for Excellence
This award honors an organization of excellence headquartered in one of our nine rural regions: Central Peaks, High Country, North, Northeast, Northwest, San Juan, San Luis Valley, Southeast, and Southwest.
Wendelken Award for Excellence
This award honors an organization of excellence working within one of El Pomar’s funding areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community, Education, Health, and Human Services. Nominations rotate between the Foundation’s five focus areas.
*Previously known as the Spotlight Award for Excellence
Ben Wendelken was known as “one of the sharpest legal minds in the West.” Before graduating from Colorado College and receiving a law degree from the University of Michigan, he labored as a construction worker for the Broadmoor Hotel and served in World War I. In 1925, Wendelken was admitted to the Colorado Bar, starting a sixty-year career as a trial lawyer.
In 1933, Wendelken successfully won an acquittal for his client in a case in which the opposing party was Spencer Penrose. Not accustomed to losing, Penrose recognized Wendelken’s enormous talent and integrity and greatly respected him. This marked the beginning of a lasting professional relationship, and Wendelken went on to serve as general counsel and a Trustee for El Pomar.
This award recognizes an organization that demonstrates Mr. Wendelken’s exceptional character, business ethics, and commitment to service, integrity, and leadership.
Julie Penrose Award
This award honors a woman who, like Julie Penrose, is making significant contributions to her community through dedicated leadership, engagement, and service.
An astute community leader, dedicated philanthropist, and patron of the arts, Julie Penrose was one of the most influential women in the growth and development of Colorado and Colorado Springs.
In the 56 years Julie lived in Colorado Springs, she made diverse contributions across a wide range of sectors. Julie was instrumental in founding several institutions and her commitment and leadership, particularly to arts and cultural organizations, led many institutions to invite Julie to serve on their respective boards. Her tireless advocacy and compassion inspire others to follow in her footsteps, leaving a lasting legacy of transformative change.
Learn more about the contributions of Julie Penrose.
Russell T. Tutt Leadership and Service Award
This award pays tribute to El Pomar’s former board chair, Russell T. Tutt, and honors a nonprofit leader serving in an executive or board position who has demonstrated excellence in their work. Nominations rotate between the Pikes Peak and Metro Regions and our nine rural regions.
Russell T. Tutt’s legacy and impact in the Colorado Springs region can be described as transformative and profound. As a notable business leader and philanthropist, Tutt played a crucial role in shaping the development and growth of the community. Tutt served as chair of El Pomar’s board for many years. He played a key role in bringing the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Air Force Academy, including its visitor center and stadium, to Colorado Springs. Tutt also made significant contributions to Colorado College, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, First National Bank, and Fountain Valley School through his dedicated board service.
In the words of local leaders, Tutt has influenced the growth of Colorado Springs as much as the city’s founder, Gen. William Palmer and El Pomar Foundation’s founders, Spencer and Julie Penrose. Tutt’s philanthropic endeavors were extensive and wide-ranging.
Spencer Penrose Award
This award honors an individual who has made significant strides in addressing social and/or economic challenges through innovative solutions.
Spencer Penrose’s legacy is one of visionary leadership, innovation, and profound community impact. A trailblazer in business, philanthropy, and civic affairs, Penrose saw potential in others and sought out the best talent to drive change. His ability to identify opportunities, take calculated risks, and secure resources led to the development of transformative ventures that addressed both social and economic challenges. Penrose’s commitment to creating sustainable solutions and fostering collaboration across organizations and communities continues to inspire future generations.
Learn more about the contributions of Spencer Penrose.
Ben S. Wendelken Trustee Award
*Award retired in 2024
This award, named for El Pomar Trustee Emeritus Ben S. Wendelken, honored an individual or individuals who embody the spirit of service and giving by going above and beyond to make an unprecedented impact through philanthropy.
Ben Wendelken was known as “one of the sharpest legal minds in the West.” Before graduating from Colorado College and receiving a law degree from the University of Michigan, he labored as a construction worker for the Broadmoor Hotel and served in World War I. In 1925, Wendelken was admitted to the Colorado Bar, starting a sixty-year career as a trial lawyer.
In 1933, Wendelken successfully won an acquittal for his client in a case in which the opposing party was Spencer Penrose. Not accustomed to losing, Penrose recognized Wendelken’s enormous talent and integrity and greatly respected him. This marked the beginning of a lasting professional relationship, and Wendelken went on to serve as general counsel and a Trustee for El Pomar.
Celebrated not only for his legal expertise but also for his exceptional character and business ethics, Wendelken’s commitment to service, integrity, and leadership are the principles this award sought to honor in individuals.
2026 Awards for Excellence Honorees
Third Way Center is dedicated to offering truth and hope to adolescents and their families facing complex mental health challenges across Colorado. Founded in 1970, the organization was created in response to a critical community need: an alternative to homelessness, institutionalization, and incarceration for youth experiencing trauma, instability, and untreated mental illness. Central to Third Way Center’s work is an individualized, trauma-focused approach that addresses the root cause of behaviors while restoring safety and trust. Its programs include trauma-informed residential treatment, individual and family therapy, accredited alternative education, vocational and life-skills training, and transitional and aftercare services.
Shirley Martinez is a community leader whose career spans military service, public utilities, cultural programming, disability inclusion, and civic engagement. A proud veteran with more than 20 years of military service, Shirley served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army in roles ranging from Telecommunications Petty Officer and Journeyman Welder to Court Reporter and Chief Legal Non‑Commissioned Officer. Her distinguished military career laid a strong foundation for a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and equity.
Today, Shirley is the founder of SAJM Bridging Connections LLC, a consulting firm focused on people services, ADA and disability guidance, organizational culture, and strategic project management. A devoted mother of four and proud grandmother of fourteen, Shirley Martinez continues to build bridges across communities and champion belonging, equity, and opportunity throughout Colorado.
Children’s Advocacy Center, also known as Safe Passage, is a trusted, mission‑driven nonprofit dedicated to giving abused children a voice and supporting their healing journey with compassion and dignity. Founded in 1994, Safe Passage was created in response to a critical community need: a single, child‑focused place where victims of physical or sexual abuse, or those who witness violent crime, could receive support without being retraumatized by the systems designed to protect them.
As Colorado’s only fully co‑located Children’s Advocacy Center, Safe Passage brings together law enforcement, child protection, specialized medical providers, mental health professionals, prosecutors, and victim advocates in one welcoming, child‑friendly location. Each year, Safe Passage serves more than 1,400 children and caregivers across the Pikes Peak region. Accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, Safe Passage is nationally recognized as a model for best‑practice response to child abuse.
Valley Settlement is dedicated to working alongside Latina/o families in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley to create opportunities for learning, connection, and long‑term stability. Using a two‑generation (2Gen) approach, Valley Settlement supports both children and adults through a network of six community‑designed programs focused on early childhood education, adult learning, family engagement, and access to essential resources. These programs recognize parents as their children’s first and most important teachers while strengthening the skills, confidence, and leadership of the entire household.
Central to Valley Settlement’s work are innovative initiatives such as El Busesito Preschool, a free, bilingual early‑learning program delivered directly to neighborhoods. Through strong community partnerships and sustained relationship‑building, Valley Settlement helps families access vital services, strengthen social networks, and build confidence to advocate for themselves and their children.
Gina Solazzi is a nonprofit leader whose career reflects a deep belief in education as the foundation for lifelong opportunity. Raised in Hardin, Montana, Gina Solazzi developed an early commitment to education and service, later earning a liberal arts degree from Carleton College and a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oregon. After moving to Colorado Springs with her husband, Gregg Braha, she co-founded Pasta di Solazzi, a family-owned restaurant that served as a community gathering place for more than two decades as they raised their three daughters. During 23 years as Executive Director of the Children’s Literacy Center, Gina has transformed the organization from a single site into a statewide network of 15 locations, providing free, research-based, one-to-one tutoring to more than 600 students annually and reporting a 96 percent success rate. She continues to lead with compassion and consistency, building partnerships among schools, families, donors, and volunteers to help children reading below grade level gain skills, confidence, and a foundation for lifelong success.
Bob Chastain is a visionary zoological leader whose career blended animal welfare, conservation leadership, and community engagement. He served nearly three decades at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, including 21 years as President and CEO from 2005 to 2026. Beginning his career at the Zoo as a horticulturist, Bob’s deep understanding of both the natural world and organizational leadership shaped a period of unprecedented growth and national recognition. Under Bob’s leadership, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo evolved from a respected regional attraction into one of the most celebrated zoos in North America. Annual attendance more than doubled during his tenure, and the Zoo became consistently ranked among the top five zoos on the continent. Beyond Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Bob contributed his expertise through leadership roles with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and service on Association of Zoos and Aquariums committees and boards. Bob Chastain’s legacy is defined by visionary growth, financial stability, innovative conservation funding, and a mission‑driven culture dedicated to connecting people with wildlife and inspiring stewardship of the natural world.
Learn more about El Pomar's work
Over thirty years ago, El Pomar’s Trustees realized we could contribute more than grant dollars to support the success and vitality of communities and nonprofits throughout Colorado. Discover more of El Pomar’s grant making process and programs.
Grant Making
Rooting into our deep legacy in Colorado, we make grants all over the state and invest in organizations, people, and partnerships that help people live better lives. Following in the footsteps of our founders, Spencer and Julie Penrose, we have a broad grant making scope with greatest focus in the areas of arts & culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services.
Community Engagement Programs
When grant dollars alone can’t solve the issues facing the people of Colorado, sometimes bringing people together to learn and dialogue about them can unlock possibility. Our community engagement programming convenes Coloradans to learn about, connect and tackle each community’s challenges head-on.
Convening & Connecting
As a manifestation of El Pomar’s commitment to convening people for learning and dialogue, El Pomar operates properties such as Penrose House to serve as a nonprofit conference and education center. We welcome Colorado nonprofits and government equivalents to use the space at no charge for meetings, retreats, and trainings.