The Colorado Trust Grants Five Southwest Colorado Nonprofits via Rural Philanthropy Days

Media contact: Julian Kesner, The Colorado Trust, 303-539-3147

DENVER, COLO. (Nov. 28, 2018)—The Colorado Trust, a foundation dedicated to creating fair and equal opportunities for Coloradans to lead healthy lives, announced it has granted $5,000 each to five rural nonprofit organizations in southwest Colorado in conjunction with the September 2018 Rural Philanthropy Days.

Rural Philanthropy Days connects funders with nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve rural Colorado. The biannual 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 Colorado communities.

The September 2018 Rural Philanthropy Days, which took place in Cortez, Colo., convened nonprofit representatives from Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties. Grants of $5,000 were awarded by The Trust to each of the following organizations:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado (Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County): This mentoring program supports youth ages 6-18 at schools in Archuleta and La Plata counties. Funds will help provide mentor training and matching.
• Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center (Durango, La Plata County): This organization offers programs for LGBTQ youth, including suicide prevention, mentoring, parent support groups, community outreach and education. Funds will support expansion of after-school programs in Durango.
• Montelores Early Childhood Council (Cortez, Montezuma County): The council works to assure high-quality early childhood education and care for families in Dolores and Montezuma counties. Funds will support food and community projects for up to 20 local parent participants in the Family Leadership Training Institute.
• Rise Above Violence (Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County): The program creates a safe space for those suffering from domestic violence; it also runs youth bullying and dating violence prevention programs. Funds will support general operations.
• Southwest Center for Independence (Cortez, Montezuma County; and Durango, La Plata County): This organization advocates for people living with disabilities, and provides transportation for people with disabilities, aging adults and veterans in La Plata County via its Southwest Rides program. Funds will go towards keeping the ride program free for those who qualify.

Since 2009, The Trust has provided $541,500 in grants to rural Colorado nonprofit organizations via Rural Philanthropy Days, and to CRC to support the statewide Rural Philanthropy Days program. For more information about Rural Philanthropy Days, visit the CRC website.

About The Colorado Trust
The Colorado Trust is a foundation dedicated to achieving health equity—ending inequalities that affect racial, ethnic, low-income and other vulnerable populations, so that everyone can achieve good health. 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.