By Carin R. Kirkegaard

One important factor in what makes Castle Pines North (CPN) a community where people want to live is the people, and more specifically those who give freely of themselves and their time. Stacie Sneider is one of those people who tirelessly gives back to CPN.

A Colorado native, Sneider grew up in Colorado Springs and began working her way north to CPN. She attended high school in Monument and attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. There she met her husband Dan, and they traveled around the country with the Air Force. The Sneider family returned to Colorado the first chance they had. Sneider’s parents moved to Charter Oaks and Sneider was able to watch CPN develop during her visits home. In 2000, the Sneiders moved into their home in HOA1. “I fell in love with the small town atmosphere of CPN. Neighbors wave when you drive by and say hello at the grocery store. It’s a wonderful feeling of home and community,” said Sneider.

A mother of three boys, Sneider had plenty to keep her busy when she left her job in Multi-Family Property Management. Her love of the community and her desire to spend time on projects that benefit her three boys allows Sneider to utilize skills she learned in the corporate world.

As a member of the parent-teacher organization, Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA), Sneider found the avenue for giving back to the community. When the student population at Buffalo Ridge spilt and half went to Timber Trail, Sneider looked for a way to raise funds for both schools and provide a chance for the kids to reconnect with friends. Organizing the Buffalo Stampede, a community fun run sponsored by local businesses and benefiting the schools, was the answer.

In 2005 the race expanded to include seven of the schools from the Rock Canyon High School area and changed the name to the Rock Slide. This year’s race has all eight schools participating.

“The Rock Slide is a fun family event focused on the benefits of healthy living for our children, and at the same time gives our local businesses the opportunity to put its advertising dollars to use helping the schools. It’s a triple win for the community – the families have fun, the businesses get the chance to advertise, and the schools benefit,” said Sneider.

What makes a mother busy with three boys decide to take on the task of organizing a major community event? Sneider would be the first to say that it was not done single handedly. “There is an untapped pool of talent in the mothers of CPN. These moms are the ones who helped to make the Rock Slide a reality. These women could move mountains.”

In addition to her work with the Rock Slide, Sneider is one of the founding members of the CPN swim team, the Castle Crocs. The Crocs are a member of the Mountain High Swim League which is run solely through parent volunteers. She also spends countless hours on the BREA organizing events for the school throughout the year.