The Ballantine Family Fund awarded more than $300,000 in traditional and Core Value grants during 2017 to nonprofits that provide services that continue to benefit the Southwest Colorado community.
In 2017, trustees of the Ballantine Family Fund distributed $247,060 to 114 nonprofit organizations in Southwest Colorado, which includes Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties. Grants can be used by nonprofit recipients to fund services and programs, or to support operations, such as rent payments, utilities, staff, equipment, repairs, etc. The average grant size was $2,167.
“For 60 years, Southwest Colorado has benefited from the generosity of the Ballantine Family Fund. Our community has been uplifted and supported in countless ways through the Ballantine Trustees with financial gifts to help nonprofits truly succeed in serving the region,” said Briggen Wrinkle, grants manager for the Ballantine Family Fund.
By sector, the Ballantine Family Fund awarded: $2,000 to animal protection; $68,500 to arts and culture; $54,060 to education; $27,000 to environment; $64,000 to human services; $17,500 to youth; and $14,000 to other sectors.
By county, the Ballantine Family Fund awarded: $18,500 to Archuleta County, $6,000 to Dolores County, $139,060 to La Plata County, $61,500 to Montezuma County and $7,500 to San Juan County.
Sexual Assault Services Organization, as an example of what grant funding is used for, received $3,000 from the Family Fund last year. In the community, the organization offers a 24-hour confidential hotline, sexual assault prevention programs for kindergarten- to college-age students, outreach initiatives for vulnerable populations and support groups for victims of sexual assault. SASO Executive Director Maura Doherty Demko said she plans to use the funding to help supplement operation costs, such as the hotline service, and pay for programs, including, the child assault prevention education program, bystander intervention program, and the family living and sexual health program.
Some of the nonprofits in La Plata County that received funding include Durango Arts Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado, Music in the Mountains, Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, San Juan Symphony, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, Manna, New Face Productions, Be Frank Foundation and Community Health Action Coalition.
Another $15,000 was provided to other counties outside the region that support services in Southwest Colorado.
In addition to the totals above, the Ballantine Family Trustees awarded an unsolicited $54,000 in Core Value grants to four nonprofits in Montezuma County. The traditional grants and Core Value grants exceed a $300,000 investment in regional nonprofits.
The Ballantine Family Fund was established in 1957 by Morley C. Ballantine and Arthur A. Ballantine Jr. to provide financial assistance to nonprofits that benefit the human condition in Southwest Colorado.
For more information, visit www.ballantinefamilyfund.com.
fstone@durangoherald.com
