Wyoming Tribune Eagle
April 30, 2026

This Mother’s Day, Climb Wyoming celebrates 40 years of working alongside moms to strengthen families, communities, and Wyoming’s workforce.

What started as a bold and new approach to help single moms in Cheyenne four decades ago has now grown into a nationally recognized program with six locations across the state, having impacted 12,000 moms and 25,000 children, a combined population that exceeds Wyoming’s third-largest city.

“Climb hasn’t just addressed poverty in Wyoming, it has completely redefined what’s possible for families that experience the highest rates of poverty in our state—single moms and their children,” says Katie Hogarty, Climb’s CEO. “Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to recognize that when mothers succeed, families and communities thrive, too.”

By focusing on the intersection of mental health and employment, Climb has become a driving force in transforming communities, helping moms build lasting success and meaningful careers in healthcare, commercial driving, construction, technology, banking, and more. In total, Climb graduates have contributed over 60 million hours of work to Wyoming’s economy, partnering with 850 employers statewide.

As part of Climb’s 40th anniversary, the nonprofit is undertaking a longitudinal study that tracks decades of impact: from the immediate life-changing wage increases Climb graduates experience to sustained growth that transforms every part of their families’ lives, including beneficial impacts on housing and food security, education, and access to healthcare. At the start of Climb’s program, less than half of participants are employed, and those who are working make an average of $1,588 per month. The study reports that ten years out, graduates are earning an average of $4,915 per month, along with a significant increase in home ownership.

Diane is one of the many Climb graduates who say the program continues to pay off years after Climb. She completed Climb’s Commercial Driving training 20 years ago and continues to work as a truck driver. “My self-worth was so low before Climb,” she recalls. “Now it’s through the roof because I know I’m good at what I do. Without Climb, I wouldn’t have known the first steps to take. Climb took a chance on me when no one else would, and I’m forever grateful for that.”

Graduates like Diane also demonstrate the generational impact of gaining meaningful employment and financial stability. Two of Diane’s sons now operate trucks and have worked alongside their mom in high-paying construction careers.

“Climb moms are shaping the next generation in profound ways,” says Hogarty. “We’re honored to have been part of their lives and celebrate how their courage, commitment, and resilience have positively impacted families, neighborhoods, communities, and the entire state of Wyoming.”

Climb’s effectiveness and innovative methods to help families move out of poverty have been recognized nationally, with Ascend at the Aspen Institute naming Climb one of the top 15 organizations in the U.S. positively influencing the next generation with greater opportunities for economic prosperity and family well-being.

“Climb’s 40th anniversary is more than a milestone,” says Hogarty. “It’s a testament to the resilience of the women who’ve come through the program, the commitment of our supporters and community partners, and the power of investing in people.”

Climb will host a 40th Anniversary gathering on September 17, 2026, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center in Laramie to honor the women, families, communities, and employers at the heart of Climb—and look ahead to what’s possible for generations to come. To learn more, visit ClimbWyoming.org/40th.