Partner Spotlight: Meeting Community Needs Through Service
- The Friendship Center
- Jul 29
- 6 min read
Staff from Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office with immediate past Exchange Club President Coco Colbert and TFC’s Kim Patterson during Purple Night of the 2025 Last Chance Stampede
Following her term as president of Exchange Club of Helena, Coco Colbert highlights the many ways the service club supports the Helena community.
If you followed our online channels throughout July, you saw us count down the days to Purple Night at this year’s Last Chance Stampede with quiz questions encouraging everyone to test their knowledge about intimate partner/domestic violence (IPV/DV) in our community. Purple Night brings significant attention to the issue. Helena’s Friday night PRCA rodeo attracts a crowd and—as the contributor to this month’s partner spotlight says—it’s a powerful visual to see bleachers full of rodeo-goers wearing purple in a show of solidarity with survivors of IPV.
Thanks in no small part to Exchange Club of Helena, Purple Night also raises some valuable funds for The Friendship Center—all directly supporting our services for survivors in our community, and our education programming designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent abuse. For the third consecutive year, Exchange Club of Helena joined forces with Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and The Friendship Center to bring Purple Night to the Stampede, raising thousands of dollars for victim services and violence prevention efforts in our community between raffle proceeds and donated tips and koozie sales collected by Exchange Club members during the rodeo.
Purple Night is just one of many moments throughout the year when TFC benefits from the Exchange Club’s dedication to rallying the community’s support and directing every dollar they raise back into worthy causes throughout Helena. Moreover, we’re just one of several nonprofits they’re able to provide substantial support to every year. While recognizing the Exchange Club’s service and their deep commitment to helping our community thrive, we also want to recognize their most recent past president, Coco Colbert.
Coco’s term as president just concluded this summer, and we can attest that she and her Exchange Club colleagues take great pride in championing a range of important work in our community. They’ll also be the first to claim that no one has more fun doing it! Check out Coco’s responses to some of our questions to learn more about the Exchange Club, why they support The Friendship Center, what stands out from her term leading the organization, and her advice to anyone looking for ways to serve their community.
For folks who don’t know, what does the Exchange Club do? How did you get involved initially, and how long have you been part of Exchange Club of Helena?
CC: The Exchange Club is a national service organization made up of men and women working together to make our communities better places to live. We focus on four pillars of service: Americanism, Community Service, Youth Programs, and our national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Locally, the Exchange Club of Helena supports our community through grants to nonprofits and individuals in need. I first got involved when I was asked to help with our Coats for Kids fundraiser, the Festival of Wines. Seeing the impact that event had on local kids inspired me to dive deeper—and I’ve been a proud member for over six years now.
With your term as president just concluded, what are you most proud of from your time leading the Exchange Club?
CC: The relationships we’ve built—within our club and across the community—are what I’m most proud of. Whether it's connecting with new and longtime members or partnering with local organizations, it’s incredibly fulfilling to be part of something bigger than yourself. Our club naturally attracts people with a heart for service and leading a team like that has been an honor.
You all support so many different causes in our community, including the work of The Friendship Center. Can you talk about where our work fits into the program areas you all support, and why you all see value in investing in TFC's services and education efforts?
CC: The Friendship Center aligns with two of our core pillars: Community Service and the Prevention of Child Abuse. TFC serves some of the most vulnerable in our area—women, children, and families in crisis. Their education and outreach efforts are vital, and the preventive aspect of their work speaks directly to our mission. Our partnership on initiatives like Man Up Crusade has helped strengthen community ties and raise awareness in meaningful ways. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when organizations collaborate for the greater good.
When you’re in a position to support so many nonprofits, we're sure you get some insight into the highest needs in our community, as well as some of the biggest gaps we have in meeting them. When you think about the requests the club has received and the groups you’ve been able to support, what has stood out?
CC: Absolutely. I joined just before COVID and was on the board during the pandemic, which gave me a unique perspective on how quickly needs can shift. What stood out was the creativity and resilience of nonprofits like The Friendship Center, Florence Crittenton, and the YWCA. Despite restrictions, they found ways to continue serving their clients. The grant requests we saw during that time were more urgent, often from groups navigating challenges no one could have predicted. What I learned is that Helena is a deeply generous community—people step up with time, resources, and heart when it matters most.
When you all staff a beer tent or a concession stand at events around the community, the tip money you receive gets donated to the organizations you support—and that's above and beyond the grants you award. As an organization that's benefited from both forms of support, it's impressive what you all are able to direct back to the community. What are some of the events that folks can find the Exchange Club at every year?
CC: That’s one of our favorite parts of what we do! All the tips we collect—and even the proceeds from koozie sales—go into a special fund that gets divided among our top 10 nonprofits each year. You’ll see us at events like the Last Chance Stampede, September Fest, Fall Fest, and more. With the addition of card readers, we’ve seen an increase in tips, and we always make a point to educate folks about where that money goes. Every dollar we raise goes right back into Helena—and that’s something we’re really proud of.
Folks will be reading this after this year's Last Chance Stampede here in Helena, but you all are one of the partners we join forces with for Purple Night at the Friday night rodeo. With all you do in the community, you could choose to kick back and stay home, or enjoy a summer rodeo as a spectator, but this is another event the Exchange Club has a presence at. Why do you all think it's important to be a part of this effort to raise awareness about domestic violence in our community?
CC: We love Purple Night—it’s such a powerful visual to see everyone in the stands and the arena wearing purple in solidarity. Domestic violence falls squarely within our mission, particularly in the prevention space. Man Up Crusade was brought to our rodeo by Undersheriff Brent Colbert, and once it was approved, we jumped in to help. That first year, we raised over $1,400 in tips, and last year it grew to more than $2,200—all in one night. It’s our way of standing with survivors, showing them they’re seen, heard, and supported.
For folks looking for service opportunities in our community, do you have any general advice for finding the club or cause that’s a good fit for them? And for anyone reading who might be interested in getting involved with the Exchange Club, what makes it unique, and what’s the best way for them to learn more?
CC: There are so many ways to serve, whether it’s through your workplace, a social outlet, or simply a desire to give back. What sets the Exchange Club apart is the variety of causes we support—and how much fun we have doing it! We’re a group of like-minded people who care deeply about making Helena better. It’s a place to connect, grow, and make a real impact—personally and professionally. If you’re curious, join us for a lunch or a happy hour. Meet the members, learn about our programs, and see if it’s a fit. We’re always eager to welcome new faces, and you can easily find us on social media or our website.
The Friendship Center is just one of many organizations in our community working to ensure everyone is supported with care and dignity. Each month, we highlight some of the fantastic people and organizations that we partner and collaborate with in our email newsletter. Sign up to make sure you don't miss a partner spotlight and learn more about some of the services available in our community.
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