Big hug
Sue's son, Kenneth Petersen,
gives his Mother a big hug.
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Spirit of the Meadowlark 2024
Honors Sue Eversull
June 26, 2024
On Wednesday, June 12, the Sublette Local Board of the Wyoming Community Foundation recognized Sue Eversull with the Spirit of the Meadowlark Award for her numerous contributions to Sublette County. The Lovatt Room of the Sublette County Library in Pinedale was filled close to capacity with well-wishers, and 15 local businesses donated the food and beverages in her honor.
Wyoming Community Foundation President & CEO Samin Dalidali gave a brief overview of the organization. The Wyoming Community Foundation was founded in 1989 and has been making grants for over 30 years. They’ve granted over $100 million to nonprofits across Wyoming, as well as nationally and internationally. They’ve made over 10,000 grants and made grants in all 23 counties of the state. WYCF is the umbrella organization for the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, and the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation.
Aside from grantmaking, the WYCF specializes in working with individuals to achieve their charitable goals through:
• Establishing Donor Advised and Donor Designated Funds;
• Supporting giving in specific geographic areas or to a specific cause
• Accepting and liquidating unique gifts such as mineral rights, gifts of property and appreciated stock
• Helping individuals leave a legacy to their community through estate planning.
• WYCF works directly with nonprofits to establish endowed funds to support their work; local examples include the Museum of the Mountain Man, Pinedale Fine Arts Council and the Pinedale Preschool.
The Wyoming Community Foundation’s mission is connecting people that care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming.
Local Board Chair Mindi Crabb then provided highlights on the Local Board:
The Sublette Local Board of WYCF was established in 2005 with a million-dollar endowment left by Shell Oil to support nonprofits in the county.
o The local board now advises on grants made from 4 different funds that support Sublette County, including the Gayle McMurry Kinnison Fund which Gayle established in 2000 to support charitable purposes in Health & Human Services and Arts & Culture.
o The local board has granted over $1.59 million since inception to over 60 different nonprofits in the area and granted over $89,000 in 2023 alone.
o The local board has been operating for almost 20 years and has been a major sponsor of the Pinedale Half Marathon.
o Local board members include Sam Bixler, Tara Bolgiano, Mindi Crabb, Emily Fixter, Ken Konicek, Greg Legerski, Dean Loftus, Barbara Lozier, Roger McMannis, Fred Palmer, Sherri Redden and Karen Wenz.
This is the Sublette Local Board’s fourth year honoring a recipient of the Spirit of the Meadowlark Award. The award is intended to recognize those in the Sublette area that give of their time, talent, and treasure to make their community stronger - in good times and in bad.
o The Meadowlark was chosen because it arrives as winter is ushering out. This bird is the first to start the work and build their community and they are often the bird that gives many of us a spark of hope for warmer months!
o Meadowlarks are one of the few birds that sing both while perched and while flying, much like those that willingly give both time and financial support in the effort to support the vision of their communities and favorite
organizations.
o John Audubon attributed the scientific name Sturnella Neglecta to Western meadowlarks, which in latin means "overlooked." The Sublette Local Board created the "Spirit of the Meadowlark" award to ensure those who give the most of themselves to their community are not overlooked but recognized for the good they do to build a better Wyoming.
Sue’s son Kenneth Petersen gave a moving tribute to his mom’s dedication to her family as well as her community. He described watching her balance 3 jobs ($3/hour jobs!) and still find time to be there for the kids.
A Tribute video was played which featured clips from several different people who wanted to wish Sue well and thank her for her service to the community.
Local Board Chair Mindi Crabb and Vice Chair Dean Loftus then presented Sue with a beautiful acrylic award and handed her the microphone.
In true Sue fashion, she thanked and gave credit to many community members for their support of her and her family. She stated that she feels blessed to live in such a caring and special place.
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