HISTORY OF SUNSHINE

In 1991, Sunshine Taxi—now known as Sunshine Rides—was founded in Grand Junction by Elizabeth “Willy” Williams and Richard Carlisle. The early years were far from easy, but this determined duo refused to give up. Living on credit cards, they never missed a payroll, never left a bill unpaid, and never once closed their doors.Willy, often seen with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, ran dispatch the old-fashioned way—using only a map and her uncanny sense of where every driver was, where they were headed, and which pick-up came next. Every driver had a number; Richard’s, fittingly, was #1. If something needed doing, he did it. Their grit and loyalty built a business rooted in reliability and community spirit. When they retired, their son Kelly Milan took the wheel, growing the small local company into the statewide operation it is today. Through every change, the family’s dedication to serving the Grand Junction community has never wavered. 

Today, the little building that once housed Sunshine Taxi is home to Sunshine Community Co., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. Sunshine Community Co. is not organized for private gain; its property and earnings are irrevocably dedicated to its mission of service. Contributions to Sunshine Community Co. are tax-deductible, helping continue a legacy of service that began over 30 years ago—with a map, a dream, and two people who refused to quit.