MONTE VISTA– More than 20 years of “demonstrating excellent leadership and service to the community” has earned Ray and Collette Skeff an “Award for Leadership and Service” through the El Pomar Foundation.
The El Pomar trustees launched the award this year to honor nominated leaders in each of the 11 regions of Colorado where their regional council nominated each honoree. Each nominee will receive $2,500 to give to the organization of his or her choice.
The San Luis Valley Council nominated the Skeffs for their extensive philanthropic services and leadership in the region.
Hoping to inspire others to make the SLV a better place to live, the Skeffs have generously decided to allocate their grant to Monte Vista Community Fund for the Veterans’ Memorial.

Ray and Collette once owned the Skeff Service Center Appliance Store in Monte Vista as well as the Skeff Furniture Showcase. However, the Skeffs weren’t nominated just on the basis of many years of owning and operating the aforementioned businesses, they have been identified as individuals who have demonstrated excellent leadership and service to the community.
The couple have been “movers and shakers” within the SLV for many years. Ray served on the Rio Grande Hospital Board for 15 years providing the vision and leadership to implement the building of a new hospital and clinic in Del Norte.
Ray and Collette were both extremely active in the San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society in Monte Vista. They were instrumental in upgrading and expanding the shelter, and almost single handedly finance and built the pet crematory which today is used to help financially sustain the shelter.
Collette served as treasurer and wrote many grants for the shelter.
For 17 years, Ray and Collette have been providing scholarships to graduating seniors at both the Monte Vista and Center high schools. The couple has supported all youth groups in the Valley in some manner or another.
They have been extremely supportive financially to Monte Vista Kids Connection that serves young children in after-school programs, as well as providing summer programs for underserved families.
Local members of the El Pomar SLV Regional Council are Keith Cerny, Tom Gilmore, Beverlee J. McClure, Kathy Rogers, Karla Shriver and Larry Zaragoza.