COLORADO SPRINGS—El Pomar Trustees approved $145,000 allocated to eight nonprofit organizations benefiting the San Luis Valley at the Foundation’s December Trustees meeting. Through the Foundation’s grant making process, the following organizations were awarded grants:

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley, Inc. (Alamosa) — $18,000 for bathroom and kitchen remodel; regional council
• Colorado Professional Golfers Association Foundation, Inc. (Larkspur) — $12,000 for PGA REACH Colorado Golf in schools; competitive (a portion of this is going to four schools in the SLV)
• GripTape, Inc. (Alamosa) — $15,000 in general operating support; competitive
• High Valley Community Center, Inc. (Del Norte) — $2,500 for sports programs; Hybl Fund
• Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center (Colorado Springs) — $60,000 in San Luis Valley general operating support; competitive
• Rio Grande Child Development Center & Family Services (Del Norte) — $20,000 for facility renovations; competitive
• San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group, Inc. (Alamosa) — $15,000 for co-pay program; regional council
• Woman’s Citizenship Club of Alamosa — $2,500 for “Into Thin Air” monument; competitive

Erin Hannan, vice president of communications at El Pomar said four SLV elementary schools will receive around $3,000 each for the PGA REACH program; Alamosa, Manassa, Centennial (San Luis) and Bill Metz (Monte Vista). The purpose is to introduce children to the game of golf and the life skills it teaches.

Founded by Spencer and Julie Penrose in 1937, El Pomar Foundation has an established legacy of general-purpose grant making. The competitive process remains the Foundation’s primary vehicle for organizations to receive funding. Additionally, over the last 85 years, El Pomar has either developed or been entrusted with the stewardship of a number of other funds, as well as presenting merit grants in each region recommended by Trustees and regional council members. Competitive applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

To increase impact and establish connections across the entire state, the Regional Partnerships program was established in 2003. Each of the Foundation’s 11 regional councils advises El Pomar Trustees and recommends grants to help support its communities.

The San Luis Valley Regional Council recommends grants in Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. Council members are regional leaders in the business, nonprofit, and public sectors and provide first-hand information about current needs in their own communities.

The William J. Hybl Fund supports Olympic, Paralympic and youth sports. Bill Hybl, a lifetime public servant, has long been dedicated to amateur sport. Currently chairman of the United State Olympic Endowment, he believes the ideals of excellence, fair play and hard work are important for athletes as well as children.

To view a full listing of El Pomar’s funds and grant making areas, please visit our website at www.elpomar.org/grant-making/.

El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in Colorado. El Pomar contributes approximately $25 million annually through grants in the areas of arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health and human services, as well as community stewardship and leadership development programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations. Spencer and Julie Penrose founded El Pomar in 1937 with the mission to enhance, encourage and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.