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 southeast Colorado in conjunction with the June 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 June 2018 Rural Philanthropy Days, which took place in Lamar, Colo., convened nonprofit representatives from Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero and Prowers counties. Grants of $5,000 were awarded by The Trust to each of the following organizations:

Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center (Trinidad, Las Animas County): Funds will support youth programs aimed at civic engagement and leadership training.

Prairie Pines(Eads, Kiowa County): Funds will support purchasing a vehicle for transporting residents of this assisted-living facility to health care appointments, local events, shopping and more.

SafeCare Colorado (Based at High Plains Community Health Center in Lamar, serving Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers counties): This is a free, voluntary parent support program for families with children under age 5. Funds will help purchase diapers and wipes for 45 families with lower incomes.  

Southeast Colorado Hospital District( Springfield, Baca County): Funds will go towards replacing an emergency power generator for their medical and long-term care center, helping to assure continuity of services.

Tri-County Family Care Center (Rocky Ford, serving Bent, Crowley and Otero counties): Funds will help enable family support services, including financial planning and training, and expansion of program services to new clients.

Since 2009, The Trust has provided $516,500 in grants to rural Colorado nonprofit organizations via Rural Philanthropy Days, and to CRC to support the statewide Rural Philanthropy Days program.