Hope is a Possibility

In recognition of Bright Future’s efforts, El Pomar honored the organization on October 6, 2015 during the annual Awards for Excellence ceremony. Bright Future Foundation received a $25,000 grant and a video highlighting its dedication and passion to serving the state of Colorado.

Rocky Mountain PBS: Lifelong Learning for All

A journey into outer space. A front row concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. A lesson in empathy taught by a giant, yellow bird. These opportunities are not only unique and transformative, but accessible for all Coloradans due to the efforts of Rocky Mountain PBS.

Highlighting the Proby Cultural Heritage Room’s Hispanic Inductees

Frames line the walls of the Milton E. Proby Cultural heritage room; they hold within them the pictures and stories of individuals who shaped their communities in Southern Colorado through leadership, advocacy, vision, insight, and hard work. Today, in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the three Hispanic Inductees: Senator Casimiro Barela, Eva Raigoza Baca, and LTC Thomas H. Martinez, who were inducted into the room with photograph and frame in 2006, 2010, and 2014, respectively.

Lost in Translation

Imagine beginning school in a classroom where the language spoken is different than your own. Imagine having to learn math, history, and science–subjects that are difficult enough without the added burden of a new language. This is the plight many students in the Denver area face. Through a dual language K-5 program, Escuela de Guadalupe is beginning to level the playing field for both native Spanish and native English speaking students.

I Wish I Was From Colorado

As part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program, I have been fortunate to work at El Pomar, a “Foundation for Colorado,” as it is proudly called here.

What Do You Want Most?

Thousands of years ago, a great warrior sent his armies against a powerful foe whose men vastly outnumbered his own. The chances of success looked slim but the warrior loaded his soldiers into boats and sailed to the enemy’s country. After everyone disembarked, he gave the order to burn the ships, the soldiers’ only escape from the island. Addressing his men before the first battle, the warrior said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. We cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice; we win or we perish!” The army went on to win the battle.

Turning Anxiety into Strength

We woke up at 4:00 AM, and my first thought was, “I can’t believe they’re making us do this.”

Pine River Library Like a Phoenix Rising

Like a phoenix rising from internet-induced public library ashes, the Pine River Public Library is proving itself far from obsolete –in fact, it’s thriving.

Connecting Rural Communities with a Click of Button

Can you imagine being a resident of rural Colorado, driving hundreds of miles to the next nearest community in order to meet with people, attend job interviews, or gain employable skills through training unavailable in your community?

A Path Toward Home

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 220,000 people in families were homeless in 2014 on a given night, making up 37% of the total homeless population counted in the United States that year.

Stories of Impact: Prospect Home and Hospice Care Inc.

In the twilight of life, many people hope to meet death with dignity, to rage in elegance against the dying of the light. Yet, greeting death with such poise is no modest task.

A Local Fight Against Hunger

It is sobering to think, despite Colorado’s high standard of living in an industrialized and modernized world, a startling number of people continue to wake up hungry.

Voices of the Fellowship: Home is Never Far Away

“Where we love is home –home that our feet may leave but never our hearts” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Voices of the Fellowship: The Season of the Fellowship

Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work; a company work; a society work; a civilization work.” While Lombardi was probably trying to motivate one of his NFL Championship-winning, Packers squads, he could just as well have been talking to a group of El Pomar Fellows about what would be expected of them over the course of their tenure at the Foundation.

Voices of the Fellowship: Rural Philanthropy Days 2015

Rural Philanthropy Days provides a unique opportunity for statewide funders, government agencies, and local grant seekers to strengthen partnerships and discover ways to work together on rural projects that improve community life.

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