GREAT RIVER ROAD MAKES LARGEST PRIVATE FOUNDATION GIFT TO FUND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POSITIONS IN TELLURIDE SCHOOLS
TELLURIDE, Colo., Sept. 4, 2025 — Great River Road, a Carter Family Foundation led by trauma-informed education advocate Bevin Carter, has made the most significant private foundation gift in the Telluride Education Foundation’s (TEF) history to support mental and behavioral health positions in the Telluride School District. The gift, made through TEF’s Fund-a-Need program, prevents deep cuts to student support and keeps trained staff in place amid growing mental and behavioral health needs.
“Bevin has been both generous and deeply hands-on — donating through Great River Road and working at the grassroots level to bring additional trauma-informed education resources to our district,” said TEF Board President Hannah Richman. “Her leadership is making a measurable difference in our schools. This grant was part of the largest-ever donation from TEF to the schools, and we hope it inspires others.”
TEF is the only organization that raises funds to support Telluride’s public schools directly. It continues strengthening schools and students with high-impact grants.
Great River Road and the Colorado-based Trauma Advocacy Foundation, both led by Carter, are expanding support by exploring partnerships with Second Wind Fund, the Kempe Center, the University of Denver’s Butler Institute for Families, and University of Colorado programs focused on rural school health and education. “This gift is more than a donation — it’s momentum for healing-centered education,” Carter added. “These steps are about building durable capacity. Healing isn’t a soft skill. It’s the core of resilience.”
Quick facts:
- Great River Road has earmarked $1 million in multi‑year funding to support mental and behavioral health positions in the Telluride School District.
- Literacy coordinator position preserved
- Two behavioral health roles expanded from half-time to 0.75 positions each
- Hundreds of K-12 students are directly impacted
- Multi-year support secured through 2030
About Great River Road, A Carter Family Foundation
Great River Road advances trauma-informed education and community well-being through philanthropy, partnerships, and advocacy. Learn more at grrfoundation.com.
About Telluride Education Foundation
TEF is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization investing in enrichment of K-12 education in the Telluride School District. Learn more at tellurideeducation.org.
About The Trauma Advocacy Foundation
Founded by Bevin Carter, the Trauma Advocacy Foundation works to dismantle systems that perpetuate harm and deliver trauma-informed education and accountability in places where children live, learn, and grow. Guided by the belief that silence is complicity, it ensures no child is left unseen, unheard, or unprotected. Learn more at traumaadvocacy.org.
Media Contact:
Shacha Lad
720-613-2112
press@grrfoundation.com
grrfoundation.com | traumaadvocacy.org
