We often say that we could not do what we do without the generous support of so many loyal and generous donors who have supported us throughout our 47-year history. Our 2021-22 Annual Report highlights the contributions of over 600 individual donors and we are immensely grateful for all those who choose to support our mission and enable us to provide inclusive outdoor programs for our many participants, which are led by dedicated volunteers, interns, and staff.
At BOEC, we offer a number of ways to give in support of our adaptive programs and this month’s Donor Spotlight shines a light on Brian and Donna Gammenthaler, a couple who have been supporting BOEC since 2009 and have recently become monthly donors.
Meet the Gammenthalers
Brian and Donna are native Texans who raised their three children in The Woodlands just North of Houston. Two of their children now reside and work in Nashville, TN, and their oldest son, who lectures on Philanthropy at Texas A&M University’s Mays School of Business lives in College Station, Texas along with his wife and four children.
The Gammenthaler Family celebrating Christmas together ⎼ you are never too young to be a chef!
After successful careers in computer programming and co-owning a payroll and human resources data processing company, the Gammenthalers retired in May 2020. They are now enjoying their new phase of life, spending time with their adult children and grandchildren, volunteering at their church, cheering on the Houston Astros, ballroom dancing, playing golf and traveling. One of their favorite activities and places to visit is skiing in Breckenridge with their family.
“We have always enjoyed taking family ski vacations to Breckenridge every spring break. Growing up our kids enjoyed their one week in the snow every year on the slopes of Breckenridge, away from the Texas heat!”
Donna and Brian enjoying a blue sky day on the slopes of Breckenridge
The Gammenthalers have witnessed firsthand the direct impact of BOEC’s programs within the adaptive community while skiing at Breckenridge over the years.
“We were so impressed with the variety of people that probably never thought they would be coming down a ski slope, enjoying their time and adventures. It’s nice to see an entire family being able to enjoy the mountain together.”
Seeing families skiing with the assistance of BOEC ski instructors, interns, and volunteers resonated with them, especially since their grandson has a physical disability that affects his mobility. Donna visited the BOEC Adaptive Ski Program Office early in his diagnosis and left with hope that one day, their grandson will also be able to enjoy skiing with his family in Breckenridge, allowing their spring break tradition to continue.
What Your Support Means to BOEC
Our adaptive programs have a profound impact on participants and their families who travel from all over the US and beyond to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and our Wilderness Program at BOEC. We take great pride in the transformative experiences that we offer, and we are grateful for the support of donors like the Gammenthallers and many others. Their monthly contributions enable us to continue to provide life-changing programs to those who need them.
“While giving at any time is great, we think consistency in giving helps to give BOEC the ability to plan and strategize programs for their clients.” Brian and Donna Gammenthaler
BOEC Development Director, Hallie Jaeger, agrees, “The Gammenthalers are correct! BOEC appreciates giving in any way at any time, but we can rely on our monthly donors making the budgeting process more accurate, ultimately allowing us to spend more time delivering the best possible programming to our participants.”
We are pleased to see our monthly donors increasing each year, as fundraising research indicates that monthly donors stay engaged longer and give more over time, and BOEC’s monthly donors are in line with that trend. Becoming a monthly donor can help with personal budgeting as well, for example, by spreading an annual $120 donation into 12 equal payments of just $10 per month.
We encourage everyone to consider setting up monthly giving on our website at BOEC.org/give. It is secure and easy to do by simply clicking on the monthly tab as shown in the image below:
We are immensely grateful for Donna and Brian’s monthly contributions to BOEC and cannot wait to help their entire family ski together with the help of the BOEC in Breckenridge!
We are always available to discuss your giving priorities and hear your story. Please feel free to contact us at 970-453-6422 or email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
You can also check out other monthly donor’s stories here: Nicole Lutz and John Parke!
