OUR MISSION: To provide swift financial assistance to Eagle County residents for living and personal expenses during times of crisis or hardship. OUR PHILOSOPHY: Our common ground is friendship and a love of the valley in which we live. We believe in community giving back to community; friends taking care of friends and in the power of individuals to help one another. We are a 100% volunteer organization and 100% of what we raise goes directly to people in need (less just a tiny bit for stamps and insurance). We do not doubt that a small group of people can make a difference. With your help we know we can. THE ORGIN OF SWIFT EAGLE: DAVID'S DREAM Swift Eagle was founded in 2004 by nineteen longtime Eagle County friends. It began in response to a dream of David Haakenson's, directing him, along with his friends, to give back to their community by starting a charitable foundation called Swift Eagle. Its purpose would be to swiftly help those with critical needs in Eagle County. Initially overwhelmed, David discussed it only with his wife, Pat. But the dream and the idea remained so vivid that he finally shared it with their close group of friends. There was no hesitancy from anyone and all nineteen immediately decided they would contribute annual dues which would be the seed money for the Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation. They felt if they helped just one person, it would be worth it. For David, the dream had an amazing connection to his childhood friend, Phil Jackson, NBA Coach of the L.A. Lakers. While a player in the NBA for the New York Knicks, Phil gave basketball clinics in South Dakota on the Lakota Indian Reservation. Because of the unique wing-like spread of his arms when guarding his opponents, he was given the name Ounacho Wambli, which means Swift Eagle in Lakota. David shared the story with Phil, and he, a believer in the karma of dreams, agreed to be Swift Eagle's figurehead and honorary chairman. Since its inception, the number of people Swift Eagle has helped has more than quadrupled and its budget has grown far beyond the initial dues its founders continue to contribute. It has left the field of dreams to become a reality, an integral and respected arm of the county's service nonprofits. As a grass roots organization, it appeals to and is strongly supported by those who live and work here. As a group founded by locals for locals, we subscribe to the wisdom of anthropologist Margaret Mead's words when she said, "Never doubt that a small group of very ordinary people can make a difference in its community, whether by helping just one or many."     FOUNDERS   David Haakenson and Pat Hamilton John and Chris Boles Cathy and Ralph Dockery Stewart and Susan Eves Jean and Hawkeye Flaherty Fred and Lorraine Haslee Debby McClenahan Jody Talbot Doug Talbot Ginny and Craig Snowdon Valerie and Darell Wegert Phil Jackson