ATOD-free Movie Events in Oak Creek

Routt County Advisory Board Member Cody Iacovetto, saw a great need for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-free community nights in his town. As the owner of Shorty’s Restaurant in Oak Creek, Cody regularly hosts “Teen Nights” on Saturdays, which offer South Routt youth a variety of events, including movie nights, dj and dancing, video game playing, and half-price wings. He is always looking for new and innovative ways to connect with the youth in Oak Creek. This summer, Cody saw a new challenge: community movie nights on Friday nights and as such Cody spear-headed this challenge for GFPC. He, along with board member Mark Wertheimer, worked to received permission from the Oak Creek Town Board to host these events.  So far, these movie nights have hosted between 35-50 youth and parents at each movie in the last 3 weeks, totaling approximately 135 South Routt residents.

By utilizing a donated movie screen, sound system, and popcorn maker, GFPC and Shorty’s have been able to offer family movies such as “Horton Hears a Who”, “The Tooth Fairy” and “Sandlot”, along with movie theater popcorn and sodas.  As a result of these efforts, GFPC and Shorty’s have increased public awareness about Grand Futures and our mission, as well as provided alternative events for around 135 residents in Oak Creek. GFPC is in the process of developing a movie night in conjunction with the Steamboat Christian Center for youth in Steamboat Springs before summer’s end.

Grand Futures has recently requested funding from Peabody Energy in order to purchase our own large-scale movie screen and portable sound and projection systems to allow these events to continue and to expand to include youth in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and in Craig. If awarded funding, GFPC hopes to rent the screen and systems out to other non-profit organizations in the area at reduced fees to continue to generate funds to support other alternative events, while at the same time helping other organizations to further GFPC’s important mission of providing substance-free environments.  Movie nights will continue every Friday night at dark through August in Decker Park in Oak Creek.  We hope to see you there!