You have heard the phrase “the buck stops here” and it may cause you to wonder, “what does that mean?” The basic meaning for the buck stops here is taking responsibility for something and not trying to pass the responsibility on to someone else.

Although, this was not the first thought on my mind. Was it yours? I immediately thought of a buck, or money. Maybe you thought of money or the deer crossing in your backyard. Either way, a buck will make the world a better place in relation to money, taking responsibility and providing food when presented with an opportunity.

I have managed the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Memorial Park as SOAR since 2020. The event always happens on July 4 and it provides a few bucks for the planning committee, which is comprised of three nonprofits. The return on investment (sweat equity) is not a comparison any of the core committee members would make. The activities mean much more to each and every one of them.

Zach Walker, Sara and Mike Demuth and Peggy Strobel deserve an enormous hand (applause) as they pass the buck to the community now. It truly is about community support through engagement at the event. The nonprofits have taken the responsibility to make the event happen and now it is up to us to take the buck, pass the buck and make this the best event possible in honor of their efforts. Everything begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., followed by the Symphony Above the Clouds at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

The nonprofits involved have added so many cool things to the daytime event this year. Line-dancing, karaoke, a pie eating contest, dunk tank, and a tug of war join the previous year’s events: early morning yoga, 3-on-3 basketball (14 years +), watermelon eating contest, Mountain Eire Dancers, fishing derby, sack races, gold panning and face painting.

Zach, Sara, Mike, and Peggy do not even live in Woodland Park. The buck first stopped for SOAR to take over planning the event in 2020. Then, the buck was presented to three Teller County nonprofits as a collaborative fundraiser this year. The groups picked up the buck and have done a fabulous job coordinating. Now, they pass the buck to you and ask you to carry the buck to everyone you know and let them pass it on too.

You can learn more about the 4th of July event by visiting the Facebook page — Tellerevents.com or by calling 719-687-2148. The email is 4thofjulywp@gmail.com if you want to reach out that way. Volunteers area always needed that day if you’d like to sign up, let us know.

Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or 719-233-9902 if you want your nonprofit to be part of this column or to be part of the Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Gayle Gross has worked with nonprofits in the community since 1998. Now, she facilitates SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45. The group meets at Reserve Our Gallery or at a nonprofit’s location. Join the group on March 12 at the gallery.