SPONSOR A PORTRAIT
View the Portraits and Learn More About "Living Her Legary" Honorees 17-24.
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Jerri Schmitz
Advocate for At-Risk Youth & Families
Jerri’s unconditional love and desire to advocate for and empower at risk youth and families in our community lead to the founding of the Matthews House. Jerri is an open-minded leader willing to make change in her own programs to improve outcomes for her clients and community partners.
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Jovita Lobato
Enterprising Hispanic Woman/Psychology Masters
(Born on January 3, 1908. She died on July 14, 2005 at 97 years of age)
Jovita broke racial and discriminatory barriers in the face of considerable obstacles and opposition. She was born into a Fort Collins migrant family and worked in the sugar beet fields. Jovita was the first Hispanic graduate from Fort Collins High School, and also the first Hispanic graduate of CSU in 1936 in Economics and Sociology. Jovita went on to earn a masters’ degree in Psychology.
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Kim Jordan
Enterprising Business Woman-New Belgium Brewery
Co-founder of New Belgium Brewery, began her passion in the basement of her home, is now CEO and executive board chair. New Belgium has become the country’s fourth-largest craft brewery, with its flagship ale, Fat Tire, on tap nationwide. Kim created a stock ownership program for her employees, and in January 2013 she invited all 456 co-workers to participate as co-owners of New Belgium. She has cultivated her passion for social work, the environment, and community to create one of the most successful breweries in America. Her lifelong commitment to developing healthy communities has formed New Belgium’s culture through progressive policies like employee ownership, open-book management, and philanthropic giving. Kim sold New Belgium in 2019.
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Lydia Dody
Enterprising Business Woman/Advocate for Women with Breast Cancer
Lydia is a businesswoman who supports women through Hope Lives, a nonprofit she initiated. The Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Center was founded in 2001 to support and strengthen those touched by breast cancer by providing care, guidance and education. She also founded Style Magazine and was the publisher for many years.
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Nancy Gray
Community Advocate (women’s issues)/ City Government
Deceased-(Died of cancer June 18, 2001, at her home. She was born Feb. 22, 1932, and grew up in Oshkosh, Wisc)
Nancy was an outstanding activist in government and politics with an extensive list of service in areas such as women’s issues, mentoring young women, and services that provide for the well- being of our community. She helped to establish Crossroads Safehouse, served on state boards and city council and was Fort Collins Mayor. The street by the Fort Collins Police Department is named after Nancy.
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Sue Ferguson
Advocate for Immigrant & Poor Population
Sue is a leader serving immigrant and poor populations in organizations such as United Way and Faith Family Hospitality which is a Fort Collins nonprofit. She has provided extensive leadership assistance to enhance their mission to provide temporary housing and meals to homeless families in a network of church facilities. She is a role model for women and girls having served as Executive Director of The Women’s Shelter and United Way of Fort Collins and has worked locally and nationally in Japan for the Girl Scouts of America. Sue has worked to cross boundaries of faith, culture, class and community to make Fort Collins better for everyone.
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Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick
Government/First Directly Elected Mayor of Fort Collins
Susan was the first directly elected Mayor of Fort Collins in 1990. She led the effort to stop cruising downtown and to create the natural areas policy plan and championed environmental issues. As the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs under Governor Bill Ritter, Susan worked supporting regional cooperation and strategic partnerships among state agencies, to improve the lives of all Coloradoans. Susan is the owner of Savory Spice Shop.
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Theodosia Ammons
College Dean/Suffragist
(Born in North Carolina, circa 1862 Deceased -death in Denver on July 17, 1907)
Theodosia arrived in Fort Collins in 1885 and co-founded the Department of Domestic Economy at Colorado Agricultural College (CAC) in 1895, now CSU. She was the first faculty member of this department and the first female dean at the school. She was said to have definitely influenced the kind of education that emerged for young women at the college. Theodosia also worked extensively throughout her life to advance the cause of women's suffrage.
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