Kate Nowak has been chosen as the 2023 Hazie Werner Award Winner. Nowak is the Executive Director of Routt County United Way and has been serving the Steamboat Springs community for 25 years.
In addition to the Hazie Werner Award, Steamboat Ski Resort will present two Snowball Community Grants, one to Routt County United Way Mount Zirkel Legacy Fund to sustain our local chapter’s mission to support community efforts and a second to the Routt County Council on Aging.
The annual Hazie Werner Award & Snowball Grant reception will be at the Ore House at the Pine Grove at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2. The celebration will include previous Hazie Werner Award recipients and the public is invited to attend.
Here is more from the Steamboat Ski Resort; Feb. 13, 2023.
Kate Nowak Announced as 2023 Hazie Werner Award Winner
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-February 13, 2023- Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation is proud to announce the 2023 Hazie Werner Award recipient, Kate Nowak, the Executive Director of Routt County United Way. Nowak has been serving the Steamboat Springs community for 25 years and most recently in the leadership position of United Way for the past decade. Through her leadership and dedication, Nowak has built a strong community among the numerous non-profits in Routt County, while also supporting the growth of new nonprofit organizations. A fine balance between humbleness and tenacity, Kate’s personal and professional attributes are a mirror representation of Hazie’s work in the community and therefore she was a natural fit for the 35th recipient of the Hazie Werner Award.
The Hazie Werner Award recognizes a local female community member who represents Hazie Werner’s legacy through volunteer work, community commitment and support of local organizations. Hazie was known in the Yampa Valley for her inspirational dedication, gracious and caring philosophy of giving, and tireless commitment to making Steamboat Springs the unique, supportive town it is today. “Kate is a quiet force for all things positive in Routt County and embodies the qualities that made Hazie Werner such an icon in our valley,” said previous Hazie Werner Award winner Nancy Mucklow in her nomination of Nowak.
As the Executive Director of Routt County United Way, Nowak has helped guide Women United and unique programs such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and backpacks for school children in need, increased the amount of RCUW dollars raised by approximately 62%, established a joint location with Integrated Community, and spearheaded the Holiday Exchange Market where annually nearly 200 local families can ensure a merry holiday season. Prior to RCUW Nowak was the Executive Director at Yampa Valley Partners, a nonprofit that provided resources and gathered data for local businesses and governments in Routt and Moffat counties to help the local economy diversify and grow. Nowak was with Yampa Valley Partners for nearly five years and during her tenure YVP became a well-known, well-respected organization. Nowak made the transition to RCUW for a desire to focus on human services.
In addition to her work with Routt County United Way, Nowak is a volunteer at the Heart of Steamboat Methodist Church and a member of Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O)
“Kate lives and breathes our community, knowing who can help who, what needs taken care of and if she cannot find someone to help take care of it, she does it herself,” says nominator Todd Hagenbuch. “She does all of this work and expects no accolades- it’s just who she is.”
Nowak joins 34 other recipients who have received the Hazie Werner Award since its inception in 1989. Previous recipients include: Skeeter Werner Walker, Katy Rodolph Wyatt, Eleanor Bliss, Carol Baily, Lucile Bogue, Criss Fetcher, Dorothy Wither (posthumously), Sureva Towler, Rita Valentine (posthumously), Geneva Taylor, Carol Schaffer, Gloria Gossard, Jayne Hill, Elaine Gay, Millie Beall, Arianthe Stettner, Wanda Redmond, Margi Briggs-Casson, Margaret ”Poogie” Dawes (posthumously), Nancy Stahoviak, Carol Booth Fox, Diane Moore, Susan E. Birch, Christine Painter, Marsha Daughenbaugh, Sarah Floyd, Nancy Kramer, Deb Werner, Jane Howell, Betse Grassby, Jan Fritz, Gretchen Van De Carr, Jane Romberg and Nancy Mucklow.
In addition to the Hazie Werner Award, Steamboat Ski Resort will present two Snowball Community Grants, one to Routt County United Way Mount Zirkel Legacy Fund to sustain our local chapter’s mission to support community efforts and a second to the Routt County Council on Aging.
The annual Hazie Werner Award & Snowball Grant reception will be at Ore House on March 2, 2023 at 5:30pm. The celebration will include previous Hazie Werner Award recipients and the public is invited to attend.