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Southeast Regional Council

Focus Area

The Southeast Regional Council focuses its funding on youth mental health and emergent needs. Recently, the Council recommended funding to organizations that provide preventative mental health programming for youth. Additionally, the Council supported organizations focused on increasing the number of mental health providers and counseling services throughout the region. The Council’s emergent funding recommendations have often targeted organizations in need of additional support to stabilize operations.
Serving Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo Counties

Click to enlarge the map.

Region Facts
Population
236,856
Major Cities
La Junta, Lamar, Pueblo, Trinidad, Walsenburg
Median Household Income
$59,910
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
High School Graduation Rate
82.4%
Industries
Agriculture, farming, ranching, energy (including oil, natural gas, and wind), and construction

Data is sourced from the KidsCount! Database and the US Census Bureau.

Meet Our Regional Council Members

Along with council members, regional councils are supported by El Pomar Trustees, staff, and Fellows

William J. Hybl Chair Emeritus, El Pomar Foundation
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William J. Hybl is Chair Emeritus and charter member of the board of Trustees of El Pomar Foundation, after serving 30 years as Chairman and CEO. In 2008 Hybl was confirmed by the United States Senate as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Public Diplomacy, a position he was appointed to by President George W. Bush. He was reappointed by President Barack Obama on June 2, 2011 and currently serves as Vice Chairman.

He serves as Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Endowment and is President Emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). He served twice as President, when he led the U.S. Olympic Team Delegations at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. In 1998, he again led the U.S. Team at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and, in 2000, at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2000-2002. He has also been engaged in a variety of public service activities. Hybl is Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (Senior).

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Hybl as U.S. Representative to the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations. He serves as vice chair for the Fund for American Studies. In addition, Hybl was Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) from 2003-2009 and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. He was named Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show of Denver in 2003. He is vice chair of the Colorado State Fair Foundation.

Hybl is a graduate of Colorado College and earned his juris doctor at the University of Colorado School of Law. He was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1972 and was Special Counsel to President Ronald Reagan in 1981. He was married to Kathleen Horrigan for 56 years until her recent passing. They have two sons, B.J. and Kyle, and six grandchildren.

Melanie Bravo Vice President of Philanthropy, Caring for Colorado Foundation
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Melanie Bravo is the Vice President of Philanthropy at Caring for Colorado Foundation, where she leads the foundation’s grantmaking and nonprofit capacity building efforts in Pueblo and manages statewide initiatives directed to adolescent populations. Before joining the Foundation, Melanie spent 10 years in the Boys & Girls Club movement—first as the President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County and then as the Director of Organizational Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Early in her career, Melanie served as a Fellow and then Director of Programs at El Pomar Foundation. In this role, she worked on the Foundation’s regional grant making and leadership development programs. Melanie was born and raised in Pueblo, Colo., and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

Mike Cafasso Chief Executive Officer, St. Mary-Corwin
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Mike Cafasso has served as Chief Executive Office at St. Mary-Corwin since January 2018, after serving as the Vice President of Operations since March 2011. Mike is a strong supporter of the Pueblo community, having been named the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2018.
Prior to joining St. Mary-Corwin, Mike served as Colorado President for the American Bank of Commerce. He also led Pueblo Bank and Trust as President and CEO with their expansion into several Colorado markets. Mike has an extensive background in customer service programming and developing innovative practices. He has completed programs at the Disney Institute, Ritz Carlton, Nordstrom, Lands’ End, and the Center for Creative Leadership. He is a current board member for the Association for Managers of Innovation.
As an active supporter of Colorado communities, Mike has served on the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board, co-chaired Access Denver, Girl Scouts of Colorado, and Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado Boards. He currently serves as an elected member of the Board of Water Works of Pueblo and recently served as a Colorado State Fair Commissioner.
A Massachusetts native, Mike originally relocated to Colorado to attend Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Gina Cimino President, Mt. Carmel Health, Wellness & Community Center
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Gina M. Cimino serves as President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Mt. Carmel of Colorado, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which operates two campuses – Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center in Trinidad and Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs. She also serves as President and Broker for Kip Hampden, LLLP and as Vice Chair of the Phil Long Dealerships Board. Gina spent 18 years in the advertising industry starting as an administrative assistant while still in college and advancing through media buyer to account executive to Vice President with Graham Advertising, a Colorado based company. In 2009, Gina obtained her real estate license, where she specialized in business properties by joining Kip Hampden as a property manager and broker. Her responsibilities in this capacity include real estate owned by the Phil Long Dealership Group.
Being part of a philanthropic family has always inspired Gina to give back to her community. She has participated and volunteered in varied activities including those by The National Charity League, Newborn Hope, Boys and Girls Club, Care and Share, National Cancer Society, and a multitude of fundraising and support activities for St. Paul Catholic Church, Pauline Memorial Catholic School and St. Mary’s High School. Gina, a Colorado native, graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She has three daughters and loves outdoor activities.

Kim MacDonnell County Commissioner, Bent County
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Kim MacDonnell is a Bent County Commissioner, serving her second term. Kim is a fifth generation Bent County resident and is dedicated to serving Bent County and the region. Her experience in economic development as manager of a sole-practitioner law firm, and her love for her community have equipped her to be attuned to needs and to identify resources to help meet them. Kim is passionate about supporting children and youth, helping people out of poverty and homelessness, and about business development and job creation and retention in Southeast Colorado. In addition to involvement in local boards and initiatives, Kim serves on the Advisory Board for the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community, is a member of the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium, and was appointed in January 2021 to the State Board of Human Services. Kim enjoys long walks, hiking and climbing, and being creative in the kitchen. She enjoys travelling and loves being at home with her husband, Mark, and their Silver Lab, Hazel.

The Honorable Dennis Maes Former Chief Judge, 10th Judicial District
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Dennis Maes sits on the District 60 Board of Education and is the former Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial District. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was Director of the Pueblo County Legal Services and a Deputy State Public Defender. He was a past member of the Pueblo Regional Planning Commission and the Board of Directors for Eastside Child Care Center.

Dennis received his undergraduate degree from Southern Colorado State College and his law degree from the University of Colorado.

Chris Sohn Vice President and Board Liason, El Pomar Foundation
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Chris Sohn began working at El Pomar in 2015 and currently serves as Vice President of Foundation Support and Board Liaison. She also directs the Foundation’s Awards for Excellence program. Chris is the senior staff member for the Southeast Regional Council.

Chris serves on the Board of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado and is the Executive Deputy Director of The Hundred Club of Colorado Springs.

An Air Force veteran, Chris served as an information management specialist during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Ben Garfield Senior Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation
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Ben Garfield joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the Internship class of 2021 and returned to the Foundation in as a member of the Fellowship class of 2022. As a 2nd Year Fellow, Ben serves as a Senior Program Associate for American Council for Young Political Leaders, Communications, the Internship and Fellowship Round Up. In addition, Ben supports the San Luis Valley and Southeast regions.

Ben was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Wesleyan University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Social Studies. At Wesleyan, Ben served four terms as a senator on the Wesleyan Student Assembly, including two terms as the chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, where he advocated for increased academic resources and new policies to support students in their academic journeys. Prior to attending Wesleyan, Ben was a member of the first graduating class of the Denver School of Science and Technology: Cole, where his leadership within the campus community helped inspire his interest in community service, civic engagement, and leadership development. Ben currently serves as a board members at Tri-Lakes Cares. In his free time, Ben enjoys watching hockey, enjoying Colorado’s outdoors, and spending time with family.

Amy Weisensee Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation
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Amy Weisensee joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the Fellowship class of 2023. As a 1st Year Fellow, Amy serves as a Program Associate for Communications, Fellowship Recruiting, Penrose Organizational and Professional Leadership Experience, and Julie Penrose Award. She also supports the San Juan and Southeast Regions.

Amy is from Limon, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and minors in Psychology, American Sign Language, and Special Education. During college, Amy was a Student Ambassador in the Office of Admissions, leading guests on tours, assisting during campus event days, and creating team bonding events. Amy was a representative for the JED Foundation Campus Committee that strategically developed a plan to provide mental health resources for college students. During the summer of 2022, Amy worked in Washington D.C. for National FFA as a facilitator for the Washington Leadership Conference. Amy continued facilitating with National FFA during her last year of college for the Membership Leadership Series. Amy enjoys reading, being active, game nights, and trying new coffee shops in her free time.

More on grant making

Grant Making

Beyond Regional Partnerships, El Pomar contributes over $25 million to nonprofits and government equivalents across Colorado through our grant making efforts each year. 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.

Regional Partnerships

More than 70 leaders from across Colorado serve on El Pomar’s 11 regional councils, which identify and address local needs in their communities. Since 2003, the councils have recommended grants totaling more than $25 million.