Largest gift in TEF history preserves critical student mental and behavioral health support.

TELLURIDE, CO — August 15, 2025 — Great River Road, a Carter Family Foundation led by trauma-informed education advocate Bevin Carter, has made the largest donation in Telluride Education Foundation (TEF) history to safeguard mental and behavioral health positions in the Telluride School District.

Made through TEF’s Fund-a-Need program, the gift prevents deep cuts to student support, ensuring trained staff remain in place to address growing mental and behavioral health needs.

Hannah Richman, TEF board president, said:

“Bevin Carter has been both generous and deeply hands-on—donating through Great River Road, a Carter Family Foundation, and working at the grassroots level to secure grant funding and bring additional trauma-informed education resources to our district. Her leadership and commitment are making a measurable difference in our schools.”

John Pandolfo, Telluride School District superintendent, said:

“Mental and behavioral health services in our district were facing significant cuts, reducing positions from full-time to part-time. Support from foundations like Great River Road, through TEF, made it possible to increase that staffing and keep essential student support in place.”

Through Great River Road and the Colorado-based Trauma Advocacy Foundation, Carter’s team is exploring a potential collaboration with the Kempe Center, currently implementing a fully funded five-year School Mental Health Support Program. The Telluride School District is already being considered for targeted support, with resources planned for all grade levels.

Dr. Heather Linder’s expertise has been instrumental in advancing conversations around this potential collaboration, ensuring alignment with best practices in trauma-informed education and maximizing impacts across local and statewide efforts.

“This gift is more than a donation—it’s momentum for healing-centered education,” Carter said. “Healing isn’t a soft skill. It’s the core of resilience.”

About Great River Road, a Carter Family Foundation

Publicly operating as Great River Road, we are dedicated to a world where truth, justice, and human dignity prevail. Our efforts focus on safeguarding vulnerable populations, preserving history, championing integrity in media, fostering inclusion, and empowering innovation. Founded on principles of justice and equality, the foundation was born from a desire to leave the world better than we found it. By addressing critical societal issues, we aim to create lasting, positive change. Learn more at grrfoundation.com.

About Telluride Education Foundation

Telluride Education Foundation is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that raises money to invest in the enrichment of K–12 education in the Telluride School District. Since its inception, TEF has invested over $1.1 million to support experiential learning, teacher and paraeducator grants, professional development, and social-emotional education for students and staff. Learn more at tellurideeducation.org.