NEWS RELEASE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOULDER COUNTY
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The Boulder County Crisis Fund will grant $500,000 to support the families of the 10 people killed in the Boulder supermarket shooting, Community Foundation Boulder County announced Tuesday. The funds will be granted to the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, with instructions that the funds be divided evenly to each of the 10 victims’ families.
“After the shooting, members of our community, true to form, wrapped their arms around each other. We hope this direct support to families will help ease their unimaginable loss,” said Tatiana Hernandez, CEO of Community Foundation Boulder County.
Community Foundation Boulder County established the Boulder County Crisis Fund in the wake of the shooting, to support the victims, their families, and our entire community in dealing with and processing the heartbreaking event.
More than 11K individuals have donated nearly $1.6 million to the fund.
The Community Foundation constituted an advisory committee to provide guidance on the use of funds and to provide grant recommendations to its board. The committee recommended this initial grant, and the Community Foundation’s board has approved the recommendation.
The advisory committee is composed of the following community leaders:
Kathleen Collins (KC) Becker, former Speaker, CO House of Representatives
Violeta Chapin, Professor of Law, University of Colorado Boulder
Dana Derichsweiler, Co-Owner, Walnut Cafe
Nancy Feldman, Victims Advocate
Richard Garcia, Member, Board of Education, Boulder Valley School District
Elizabeth (Betsy) Hall, Associate Dean & Professor, Regis University
Annett James, President, NAACP of Boulder County
Robert (Bob) Lawhead, Policy Advisor, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council
Pedro Silva, Associate Minister, First Congregational UCC Boulder
Marc Soloway, Rabbi, Bonai Shalom
Gwyneth Whalen, former Judge, 20th Judicial District of Colorado
To respond effectively and holistically to this crisis, the Community Foundation is dedicated to ensuring support reaches the following three concentric circles of proximity:
Circle 1 – Victims & families: Colorado Organization for Victim's Assistance (COVA) is meeting the needs of those in this circle via direct support to individuals. Colorado Healing Fund and the Boulder County Crisis Fund will send support to COVA for these efforts. Community Foundation Boulder County will not provide direct assistance to individuals.
Circle 2 – Those directly affected: COVA is also meeting the needs of those in this circle via direct support to individuals. Colorado Healing Fund and the Boulder County Crisis Fund will send support to COVA for these efforts. The definition of who is eligible for such assistance is determined based on needs assessed by COVA. Boulder County Crisis Fund will also assist people in this circle by way of grants to local entities providing direct services. We will continue to work together to clarify these supports as the response continues.
Circle 3 – Broader community: Our community has immediate and long-term needs to heal from this event. Boulder County Crisis Fund will support the community’s healing via grants and open funding opportunities to and for local nonprofits and government entities. Please note that all donations received after May 31, 2021 will support this third circle of need.
The Community Foundation is committed to distributing the remainder of the Boulder County Crisis Fund with transparency and accountability to the community, in keeping with the approach outlined above, and in continued consultation with the Advisory Committee and its funding partners.
About Community Foundation Boulder County
For 30 years, Community Foundation Boulder County has been a community catalyst, responding to immediate needs and anticipating future challenges. Through informed decision-making, we inspire ideas, ignite action, and mobilize resources to improve the quality of life for all.
Advancing inclusivity and providing leadership and on key issues, the foundation collaborates with community-minded individuals and organizations that want to make a difference, accomplishing more together than we do alone. Since its founding in 1991, the foundation has granted more than $100M to nonprofits focused on health and human services, education, civic engagement, arts and culture, and animals and the environment. https://www.
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