Jakob Rodgers from The Gazette
Rarely has the holiday spirit been so evident.
The latest Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund raised $1,206,371 — the third-highest total in the campaign’s 35-year history, and the most raised in nearly 10 years, said Deb Mahan, the fund’s director.
The most recent campaign brings the total since 1984 to $21 million. And it brings to 12 the number of years it has topped $1 million.
Every penny went to 20 nonprofits spanning much of the Pikes Peak region’s safety net, including children in preschool, homeless families, domestic violence survivors and hospice patients. All administrative costs were covered by Wells Fargo, ADD STAFF, El Pomar Foundation, The Anschutz Foundation and The Gazette.
On Thursday, nonprofit leaders said the money would be critical to meeting the needs of thousands of people across the Pikes Peak region. Recipient organizations are granted flexibility in how to spend the money — a blessing, considering that most other grants can be used only for specific programs.
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