AFM Cultivates Healthier Communities Through Fort Collins Farm Weekend
At Associates in Family Medicine, we’ve always known that healthy communities don’t just happen. They require planning, support, and action. Which is why AFM works hard to cultivate healthier Northern Colorado communities – and why we were thrilled to get involved with Fortified Collaborations. By assisting during the activities planned for the 2017 Farm Weekend, an event that celebrates local farmers and showcases fresh, savory foods, we were able to spread the wealth among a number of deserving nonprofits.
Featuring a farm open house, Tour de Farms bike ride, and the 3 Forks Progressive Farm Dinner, plus entry into the Fort Collins Peach Festival, Farm Weekend offered a little something for everyone. Attendees enjoyed a scenic bike ride on Saturday morning, savored local fare and peaches during the festival, and combined great food with exercise for the Sunday evening progressive dinner.
At our booth during the Peach Festival, we showcased 3 local charities and donated to each organization on behalf of everyone who stopped by:
- Bike Fort Collins – which encourages active transportation and supports safer streets and neighborhoods
- The Growing Project – which promotes community access to food grown locally
- The Family Center La Familia – which fosters healthy development of children, youth, and adult family members
“Supporting the community through an event that includes exercise and healthy, local food is a great fit for our goals at AFM. We were impressed with the variety of activities included in Farm Weekend 2017 and were so grateful to be able to raise funds for three nonprofits that help ensure safe, healthy communities.”
Gavin Kaszynski, AFM’s Chief Financial Officer, was thrilled with the turnout: “Supporting the community through an event that includes exercise and healthy, local food is a great fit for our goals at AFM. We were impressed with the variety of activities included in Farm Weekend 2017 and were so grateful to be able to raise funds for three nonprofits that help ensure safe, healthy communities.”
That event synergy was acknowledged by Bike Fort Collins Executive Director Chris Johnson, who said, “Bikes and local agriculture go hand in hand as solutions to many of Northern Colorado’s sustainability challenges.
They’re healthy, environmentally sustainable, and affordable alternatives to transportation and food systems that are inefficient, costly, and unsustainable.”
“And they’re two of the most fun ways to get dirty in the sun! So working with Fortified Collaborations and their other great partners on the Farm Weekend is a perfect fit with our visions of more active transportation, safer, healthier neighborhoods, and a more inclusive and sustainable future for the region.”
Johnson’s not the only fan of cycling and local agriculture. Dana Guber, executive director of The Growing Project, echoed his sentiment. “This weekend was a wonderful way to enjoy two of my favorite things in Fort Collins: farms and bikes,” she said. “We were super appreciative to have so many people riding their bikes to our farm to learn about The Growing Project. It was a great way to showcase what our nonprofit does in the community while getting to meet a diverse group of food lovers and biking enthusiasts!”
In total, AFM raised $3,150 during the festival, which we’re proud to pay forward to Bike Fort Collins, The Growing Project, and The Family Center La Familia – and be part of “the village” required to cultivate a stronger, healthier Northern Colorado.