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Christmas comes early for several nonprofits in Steamboat

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Christmas morning came early for several nonprofits in Steamboat Springs this week as the Colorado Trust announced $5,000 awards to four different organizations.

“We were very appreciative and honored that we were chosen,” said Diane Moore, executive director of Advocates Building Peaceful Communities. “We will use the money for overhead for various programs that are not fully funded.”

The $5,000 grant came from the Colorado Trust, a foundation dedicated to creating fair and equal opportunities for Coloradans to lead healthy lives. The Colorado Trust discovered  the local organizations as part of Rural Philanthropy Days, which connects funders with nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve rural Colorado.



The biannual event was created in 1991 by the community Resource Center and the Anschutz Family Foundation to strengthen nonprofit-funder relations and address critical needs in Colorado communities. The latest Rural Philanthropy Days took place in Craig and drew organizations from Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties.

“They kind of rotate in different parts of the state,” said Julian Kesner, vice president of communications for the Colorado Trust. “So the one this fall was an opportunity for nonprofits in the northwest part of the state to meet with funders. It was a great opportunity for smaller, rural nonprofits to meet with funders who are often based in the metropolitan area.”



In addition to Advocates, Colorado Trust also awarded $5,000 grants to Choose When, Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation and Northwest Colorado Center for Independence. The Moffat County United Way was also recognized.

“It’s a really positive thing for us educationally, learning that we are going in the right direction, and that other people think that this is a great idea,” said Kathleen Wasserman, who, along with Adrienne Southworth, serves as co-chair of Choose When, an organization that provides long-acting reversible contraceptives to women. “This grant in particular will help us with expansion into Craig. We are already there, but this money will allow use to have a broader reach … to let people know that we are there.”

The Northwest Colorado Center for Independence plans to use its $5,000 in grant money to assess the offices of physicians and other health care providers and offer guidance on how to help make them more inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundations will use the funds to provide three iPads that act as mobile interpreters with access to 35 languages, as well as devices for patients with poor eyesight and who are hard of hearing.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966.


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