The Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation had something to celebrate this month, thanks to the generosity of the public. A retired ski gondola from Steamboat Resort left its temporary home at the Colorado Group Realty office in downtown Steamboat Springs and has been relocated to its new home in Wisconsin.

The gondola car was originally won in an auction by CGR to raise funds for the Routt County Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Rather than save it as an eyepiece at the office on Lincoln Avenue, the Foundation opted to auction it off and raise money in the fight against COVID-19.

Jay Warner, along with almost 50 other hopeful bidders, battled for the right to own the collector piece. After two weeks, the final bid of $22,000 came in from the Warners. An additional $10,000 donation was also made to the cause from a generous family, taking the incredible total to $32,000. “The Silver Bullet will spend her retirement in a barn dedicated to a beer bottle collection that started in 1993 as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. She will remind us of our home away from home when we aren’t able to be in Steamboat,” said the winning bidder.

Four local non-profit organizations will receive the funds raised from the auction: Routt County United Way, Advocates of Routt County, Integrated Community and Routt County Council on Aging. The latter struck a chord with the Warners, as Jay’s parents were involved in the Meals on Wheels program while they were alive.

The donated money will go to:

The Meals on Wheels program, which serves 300 hot and frozen meals per week to Routt County seniors. 

Support for victims of domestic and sexual violence during a particularly stressful time, along with providing additional services to youth primary and secondary victims.

The mask project through United Way, which collects and distributes face masks throughout the county to help public health remain safe. 

Translation and interpretation program at Integrated Community, the only nonprofit in the community to work directly with the limited English speaking population.