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The Denver-based Salazar Family Foundation, founded by Rob and Lola Salazar in 1999, has extended a generous gift of $250,000 to establish a named endowment for the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at 91���.

The Salazar Family Foundation’s core mission, to encourage students to achieve their educational goals by supporting organizations that are committed to improving the quality of education and students’ access to it, led to the donation.

The Salazar Family Foundation’s generous support helps secure the future of the Salazar Center, which works to help Adams State students and the San Luis Valley community meet challenges and develop new opportunities to conserve the land, water, history and culture at the headwaters of the Rio Grande.

Ken Salazar and his family founded the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State in honor of their parents in 2015.

“Here at the Salazar Center, we work to grow the next generation of conservation leaders and to deepen the engagement between Adams State and the valley’s active network of partners and caring community members,” said Salazar Center Director Rio de la Vista. “Through our Water Education and Rio Grande Natural Area initiatives, we promote solutions that build upon the thriving spirit of collaboration in the San Luis Valley. This substantial gift from the Salazar Family Foundation will make a world of difference in our ability to build and sustain these programs far into the future.”

The Adams State Salazar Center actively offers programs such as the new water studies minor, with courses open for community members to audit; the annual Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium, scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022; an on-going series of community water talks; and special programs such as the “Rio Grande Aerial School” with partner EcoFlight, which gives students chances to see the valley from the air and learn about the way water works in the environment, agriculture, and towns.

The Adams State Salazar Center also works with partners to develop projects to protect and restore habitat, educate about cultural resources, and develop interpretive signage and recreation opportunities for the Rio Grande Natural Area, which encompasses 32 miles along the river south of Alamosa to the New Mexico state line.

“We’re extremely grateful the Salazar Family Foundation’s mission aligns so well with Adams State,” said President Cheryl D. Lovell. “With this major boost, we will work to build upon their contribution to secure the full support needed to sustain and grow the important work of our Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center. We hope this generous gift inspires others to likewise contribute to the center’s unique and timely programs for students and community alike.”

Visit o the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, or contact salazarriograndecenter@adams.edu. For information on how you can support the Center’s important work, contact Karen A. Wibrew, philanthropy officer, at 719-587-7165 or kwibrew@adams.edu.