When the pandemic reached Ouray County back in March, two Ridgway couples couldn’t stop thinking about how hard the impacts would hit their neighbors.

Would they have enough to eat? Would they have enough for rent? Would they financially survive this ongoing emergency that had upended their lives? How could they help keep people afloat during this crisis, not knowing when it would end?

Concerned about the community and the long-lasting effects the pandemic would have on the economy and their livelihoods, they put their heads together and decided to do something to help. Neighbors helping neighbors in need – that was the vision.

And so the Ouray County Response Fund was born.

Now, Marti and Patrick O’Leary and Cat and Barthold Lichtenbelt have been recognized for that innovative idea and for establishing the fund which helped their neighbors survive this pandemic.

The couples received the 2020 Citizen of the Year award from the Telluride Foundation. The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to honor those who unselfishly make extraordinary contributions to the region’s quality of life. Past recipients of the award screen all the nominations and select two finalists, and the Telluride Foundation board chooses the ultimate recipients. This year, there were nine nominees.

Since they formed the fund, about ioo donations have been received, and about 126 families and individuals have received help from the fund for everything from rent payments to other needs.

The fund received $450,214 last year, $263,848 of which has been distributed to Ouray County citizens, according to April Montgomery, Telluride Foundation vice president of programs. Over half of those donations were received in the first month of the program, based on information provided at the end of April from Carol Friedrich, Ouray County social services director.

The idea for the fund came first from the Lichtenbelts early in the pandemic when they foresaw a coming need. They quickly shared the idea to the O’Learys, who they knew were active in charity work in the county.

“We were very concerned about food insecurities and how people were really going to be impacted,” Cat Lichtenbelt said.

They initially attempted to set up a fund through the county, but the Lichtenbelts said they discovered the process would be too slow. They reached out to the O’Learys and discovered the couple’s connection through Weehawken Creative Arts and the Ridgway Chautauqua Society to the Telluride Foundation.

They were assisted by the Sherbino’s Executive Director Ashley King-Grambley and Programs Director Trisha Oakland, who used their backgrounds securing grants with the foundation. Cat Lichtenbelt credited the Sherbino staff for helping them initially negotiate the formation and promotion of the fund.

The Telluride Foundation worked with Tri-County Health to administer the grants, and had the structure and organization to the fund.

Marti O’Leary said the Telluride Foundation was “unbelievably great” to workwith. “I had no idea they had all of these things in place,” she said.

O’Leary also said she appreciated the way the foundation and Friedrich help with the application process, providing oversight and ensuring that money goes directly to where it needs to go such as to a landlord for rent, rather than just cash in the pocket. There’s accountability for the funds being used for their intended purpose and a detailed application process.

Though the fund was born of necessity during COVID-19, they anticipate the fund will live on after the pandemic ends. The Lichtenbelts and O’Learys have no plans to discontinue the fund.

As long as both the community feels like it’s a worthy investment and the need continues, then we are happy to be part of our community that way and help see the fund continue,” Lichtenbelt said.

As part of being the recipients of the award, the Telluride Foundation will donate $5,000 to the charity of their choice. The Lichtenbelts and O’Learys have yet to discuss what they will do with the funds and whether or not they are eligible to put them directly back into the Good Neighbor Fund.

“We just really care about our community,” O’Leary said. “We are just pretty thrilled that we’ve got to help so many people.”

The Citizen of the Year recognition from the Telluride Foundation was given to two recipients for 2020 due to last year’s extraordinary circumstances. San Miguel Search and Rescue was the other recipient.

For more information on the fund or to donate, visit telluridefoundation.org.