Nonprofits Receive Funding DURANGO, CO (ksut) - HOST LEAD: The El Pomar Foundation distributed almost $200,000 to 16 non-profit organizations throughout Southwest Colorado last night.
KSUT's Sarah Baumgartner reports.
DIANE BUZA: THIS IS JUST A GIFT. THIS IS JUST A TREAT. THIS IS LIKE GETTING CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN.
SARAH: Diana Buza is the executive director of the Pinon Project in Cortez. The Pinon project serves Montezuma and Dolores counties. They serve over 2,000 families in the area each year. The El Pomar Foundation awarded the Pinon project over $16,000. Buza explains how the money will be distributed throughout the organization.
BUZA: 10,000 OF THAT GOES TO THE MAC COUNCIL, THE MONELORES EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL. 1500 OF THAT GOES TO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COALITION THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY SERVICES TO FAMILIES. THE OTHER 5,000 WAS ALSO A GRANT TO THE PINON PROJECT FOR OUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COALITION TO PROVIDE AGAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE OF FAMILIES IN TERMS OF RENT AND ENERGY AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHATEVER FAMILIES NEED.
Throughout the five counties in Southwest Colorado the El Pomar Foundation awarded 190,000 to 16 non-profit organizations. In 2008 El Pomar distributed over $25 million dollars to non-profits all over Colorado. This year's focus for grants were geared toward organizations that assisted in early child care and substance abuse.
As with most businesses and non-profit organizations, President of the El Pomar Foundation Thayer Tutt says the economy has taken a hit on the foundation as well.
THAYER TUTT: 2008 WE WENT DOWN 22%. THAT'S TERRIBLE BUT ON A RELATIVE BASIS I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BETTER THAN A LOT. AND SO HOW WE'VE ADDRESSED IT IS WE'RE TO NOT CUT A LOT OF OUR GRANT MAKING AREAS. SO WE'VE CUT BACK OUR STAFF, WE'VE REORGANIZED SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AND CONSOLIDATED THEM. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE'VE SUSPENDED OUR LARGE CAPITOL GRANTS THAT WE MIGHT DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
Susan Lander is the executive director of Music in the Mountains and serves on the Southwest Regional Council for the foundation. She says in such a tough economic year, it's rewarding to give back to those in need.
SUSAN LANDER: WHEN YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE FUNDRAISING AND ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FUNDRAISE AND WRITE GRANTS IT'S JUST SO FUN TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND GIVE MONEY AWAY TO VERY WELL DESERVING NONPROFITS.
Along with the Pinon Project in Montezuma County four other nonprofits that received funding were the Community Radio Project, Crowe Canyon Archeological Center, Southwest Open School and Montezuma County Partners, Inc.
Nine La Plata County non-profits received more than half of the grant money given in the area. Those organizations include the Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, the Durango Film Institute, La Plata Youth Services and the Bayfield Early Education Center. Receiving the biggest grant in the area is the Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Program or RSAPP. RSAPP fights against substance abuse throughout Southwest Colorado. They received a $75,000 grant per year for three years.
In its third year, Lander says she can see how the grant money for RSAPP has made a difference in the community.
LANDER: NOW IT'S IN ITS THIRD YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES. THEY'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND WATCHING IT CHANGE.
Chuck Mcafee also serves on the Southwest Regional Council for El Pomar. Living Montezuma County Mcafee says he too has witnessed those changes.
CHUCK MCAFEE: I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES SO YEAH YOU SEE IT AT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
The Dolores County School District's music department was the only organization in the county to receive an award.
The Archuleta County Education Center accepted a $20,000 grant for their literacy, education, vocation and life skills program.
From KSUT Four Corners Public Radio, I'm Sarah Baumgartner.
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