El Pomar/Boettcher Announce Colorado Gives Day Prizes

News From El Pomar: $25K includes Diamond Anniversary Dollars

COLORADO SPRINGS and ARVADA, Colo. (Nov. 28, 2012) – Colorado Gives Day, an initiative created in 2010 by Community First Foundation to increase philanthropy in the state through online giving, is back and new this year is $25,000 in cash prizes for participating nonprofits outside the seven-county Metro Denver area sponsored by Boettcher Foundation, based in Denver, and El Pomar Foundation, based in Colorado Springs. The prizes are part of a new grant that both foundations made to Community First Foundation to help expand Colorado Gives Day in honor of their 75th anniversaries.

“We are delighted that El Pomar Foundation and Boettcher Foundation are celebrating through Colorado Gives Day,” said Marla J. Williams, president and CEO of Community First Foundation. “They have long championed nonprofits throughout the state, so encouraging donors to support nonprofits outside the Metro Denver area and earn cash prizes for their worthwhile causes makes Colorado Gives Day a perfect fit.”

The $25,000 in Boettcher Foundation and El Pomar Foundation prizes will be awarded to non-Metro organizations and includes $1,000 "Diamond Dollars" cash prizes. During specific times throughout Colorado Gives Day, 20 donors will be randomly chosen and the nonprofit associated with their donations will receive a $1,000 Diamond Dollars cash prize. In addition, one $2,500 prize will go to the non-Metro organization that receives the most donations on Colorado Gives Day and one $2,500 prize will go to the non-Metro organization that raises the most money.

"By coming together to celebrate 75 years of giving in the state of Colorado, El Pomar Foundation and Boettcher Foundation wanted to find a way to inspire others to give at the same time," said William J. Hybl, chairman and CEO of El Pomar Foundation. "We hope these prizes will generate excitement among the participating nonprofits and that donors will be motivated to help their favorite organizations have the chance to raise even more money on this one day when we show the whole country how powerful the spirit of giving is in our state."

El Pomar Foundation and the Boettcher Foundation share a similar mission—to give within the state of Colorado and to encourage and promote the well-being of Coloradans. Both foundations were established within five days of each other in December 1937.

"We are impressed that in a short time Colorado Gives Day has grown to include organizations and donors from every corner of the state," said Tim Schultz, executive director of the Boettcher Foundation. "We hope these prizes that are available exclusively to those organizations outside Metro Denver will encourage new donors to take part in Colorado Gives Day."

This year, more than 1,200 nonprofits across the state will participate in Colorado Gives Day on December 4. This includes 242 nonprofits from outside the seven-county Metro Denver area. The non-Metro nonprofits represent 30 different counties, including 62 nonprofits in Larimer County, 49 nonprofits in El Paso County, 24 nonprofits in Weld County, 17 nonprofits in Eagle County, 15 nonprofits in Summit County and 9 nonprofits in Pueblo County.

Colorado Gives Day 2011 raised $12.4 million for 928 nonprofits across the state. Non-Metro Denver nonprofits accounted for more than $1 million of the 2011 total.

For more information about Colorado Gives Day and/or El Pomar and Boettcher Foundation prizes, please review the Colorado Gives Day prize page.