The Colorado Trust Grants $25,000 to Southeast Colorado Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Julian Kesner, Director of Communications
303-539-3147; [email protected]
DENVER, COLO.—The Colorado Trust, a foundation dedicated to creating fair and equal opportunities for Coloradans to lead healthy lives, announced it has made $25,000 in grants to benefit five nonprofit organizations working to advance the health and well-being of communities in southeastern Colorado. The Trust made the grants after meeting with nonprofit organizations at Rural Philanthropy Days in September in Trinidad, Colo.
Rural Philanthropy Days (RPD) connects funders with nonprofit organizations and government officials that serve rural Colorado. This biannual three-day event was created in 1991 by the Community Resource Center (CRC) and the Anschutz Family Foundation to strengthen nonprofit-funder relations and address critical needs in rural communities across Colorado. September’s RPD brought together representatives from Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero and Prowers counties.
“Having grown up in Colorado’s southeastern region, I understand the isolation sometimes felt in those communities,” said Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, president and CEO of The Colorado Trust. “RPD is an important bridge connecting metroarea funders to nonprofit organizations to help improve the health and well-being of rural residents.”
Grants of $5,000 were awarded to each of the following organizations:
- Bent County/Las Animas Community Center: providing an after-school program for youth ages five to 18 in Las Animas. They will use the funding for new equipment and programming for the children.
- Crowley County Substance Abuse Coalition: addressing drug and alcohol abuse in Crowley County. The coalition will use the funding to make presentations at schools and hire counselors to continue educating youth on substance abuse.
- Fishers Peak Soup Kitchen: providing weekday meals, food baskets and meal delivery to area residents. They will use the funding for vehicle maintenance and operating costs.
- Trinidad Community Farmers Market: providing access to affordable, healthy food options for people living in and near Trinidad. They will use the funding to expand the market beyond summer months, and for outreach and education around fresh food.
- Two Peaks Fitness: assisting individuals of all levels achieve fitness goals. They will use the funds to subsidize memberships for low-income members.
Since 2010, The Trust has provided more than $285,000 in grants to rural Colorado nonprofit organizations through RPD. In addition, The Trust also provides general operating support to CRC to help make RPD possible.
For additional information about RPD, visit CRC online.
About The Colorado Trust
The Colorado Trust is a health foundation dedicated to achieving health equity. The Trust believes all Coloradans should have fair and equal opportunities to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where we live. The Trust focuses on policies and information related to advancing health equity, as well as projects that address health equity in partnership with communities throughout Colorado. For more information, visit www.coloradotrust.org.
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