The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, which went into overdrive to raise funds in the wake of the 416 Fire, reports it has raised and spent a symbolically appropriate $416,000 as of Sept. 30 to help those hit by the blaze.
Briggen Wrinkle, executive director of the foundation, said the Community Emergency Relief Fund, administered by the foundation, was at about $30,000 when the 416 Fire broke out June 1.
“The Community Foundation board and staff dropped everything to make sure we could facilitate the community’s outpouring of support,” she said. “We are blessed to see the community react in such a generous and proactive way. I was thrilled we were able to raise so much. We’ve never done anything this big and this fast.”
A steady stream of workers furloughed by the 416 Fire streamed into the Bank of Colorado in July to receive gift cards that paid for necessities and for job-interruption bridge funding to cover utility bills, rents and other budgetary needs.
Wrinkle said 201 job-interruption applicants were processed and the average aid to furloughed workers was $417. CERF gave out a total of more than $83,000 in job-interruption assistance to workers.
In addition, the fund provided $20,000 to the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition, a collaborative of many agencies that provides funds and financial counseling to individuals and families facing financial crises. The average aid to individuals helped by CEAC during the 416 Fire ranged from $200 to $500, Wrinkle said.
Besides helping furloughed workers and helping bolster CEAC assistance, CERF also provided:
$58,590 to aid 171 evacuees.$100,000 in donations to other nonprofits assisting people dealing with the fire.$75,000 to help with environmental restoration efforts after the fire.$43,072 to bolster CERF for future emergencies.$35,420 to pay for additional administrative costs incurred by the foundation and other nonprofits in the wake of the fire.
Angie Beach, executive director of Music in the Mountains, said her nonprofit group dedicated 4.16 percent of all ticket sales to bolster CERF after Music in the Mountains itself received aid from CERF for its upcoming July events.
“When the fire broke out on June 1, we didn’t even know if we’d be able to hold our event. Purgatory (where most Music in the Mountain events are held) was threatened by the fire,” she said. “We came up with alternative plans if we couldn’t be at Purgatory.”
When CERF provided aid to cover unanticipated costs created by the fire, Music in the Mountains decided to dedicate 4.16 percent of all ticket sales back to CERF. The music festival raised $2,400 for the fund.
Eventually, Music in the Mountains was able to hold its planned events at Purgatory, and only one event, a chamber concert in Durango, was canceled when performers at Purgatory couldn’t get to town because of a mudslide.
Donations to CERF included:
$115,916.65 from 391 individual donations.$149,892 from 50 corporations.$18,850 from four religious organizations.$66,072.52 from 15 family foundations.$20,500 from four foundations.$44,768.15 from special project fundraising.Wrinkle said individual donations ranged from $5 to $10,000, and 30 individuals gave more than $1,000.
The Community Foundation is still raising money for CERF, and donations can be made via its website or through checks. People who wish to donate can contact the Community Foundation at 375-5807.
Wrinkle said in the wake of the fire, it was important to update the community on fundraising and expenditures.
“When you raise this much money from the community, they really want to know where it went so they’ll be confident to donate,” she said.
By the end of the year, Wrinkle anticipates $500,000 will have been raised for Community Emergency Relief Fund.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
