The Community Foundation Boulder County announced on Tuesday a fund has been created to aid those impacted by the CalWood and Lefthand Canyon fires.
The 2020 Fires Relief Fund, established in partnership with Boulder County, is launching with initial gifts totaling $75,000, the foundation stated in a news release. An anonymous donor provided $50,000, Mile High United Way provided $10,000 and the Community Foundation Boulder County committed $15,000 to seed the fund.
Donations will benefit those impacted by the CalWood and the Lefthand Canyon fires, which ignited over the weekend, along with any additional fires that may occur in Boulder County this year, according to the release.
“This year has been relentlessly challenging. It is critical we coordinate our efforts to support our neighbors through this added crisis in Boulder County. Partnering with the county and others, we hope will help ease the burden on individuals, families, and organizations,” Tatiana Hernandez, CEO of Community Foundation Boulder County, stated in the release.
Grants from the fund will be made to nonprofit organizations and municipal and county entities to support immediate relief and longer-term recovery needs for individuals and organizations, according to the release. Boulder County staff will work with individuals to identify needs and deploy financial help.
“We are extremely fortunate to have such a caring community come together, especially in times of disaster. We’re pleased to partner with the Community Foundation to provide this emergency relief opportunity for anyone who can to lend a hand to our neighbors in need. We know how generous our Boulder County community can be and we cannot thank our residents enough for all you do,” Boulder County Commissioner Matt Jones stated in the release.
The 2020 Fires Fund also will make grants directly to nonprofit organizations affected by the fires or are providing additional services to the community because of the fires. An advisory committee to Community Foundation Boulder County will advise decision making, according to the release.
If money raised exceeds needs, the excess will be placed in Community Foundation Boulder County’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Tax-deductible donations can be made online or by mail to Community Foundation Boulder County, 1123 Spruce St., Boulder, 80302. Include “2020 Fires Relief Fund” in the memo line of checks.
For information about making gifts of stock or other options, call Lynda Ricketson at 720-667-3557
Individuals interested in volunteering or donating goods or services can click here.
For more information about the 2020 Fires Relief Fund or the COVID-19 Response Fund Boulder County, call Gretchen Minekime at 720-565-3909 or visit commfound.org.
