Colorado Gives Day on Dec. 6 is a chance to support various non-profit organizations in La Plata County or around the state with on-line donations to chosen groups.
On Oct. 24, Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center in Ignacio was accepted to Coloradogives.org - an online statewide fundraising platform. One of 20 organizations based in La Plata County with a profile on the site, Dancing Spirit is the smallest independent non-profit in the county to be included, and one of the first in Ignacio.
"It is a huge milestone for our organization, and a wonderful acknowledgment of our vital work with kids and families," said Kasey Correia, president of Dancing Spirit's board of directors.
Dancing Spirit provides various classes for community members, including healing through art. Organizers say that to continue this transformative work in 2017, they need to raise $6,000 in the next 30 days to provide 600 scholarships to low-income kids and their families.
All money raised between now and Dec. 6 will be multiplied significantly through incentive funds from Coloradogives and an anonymous donor.
Supporters may drop off cash or checks at Dancing Spirit in the ELHI Center, at ?115 Ute Street or mail to PO Box 414, Ignacio, CO 81137., or online at https://www.coloradogives.org/Dancingspiritkidsart or www.dancingspiritgallery.org.
Every dollar donated will bring in more money from other sources; $10 provides a child with a scholarship for one to three hours of yoga, clay, mixed media and snacks; $25 provides an entire family a scholarship; $50 provides a child with a month's scholarship and $100 provides a scholarship to a family for a month.
Dancing Spirit's annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser will be 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, along with other Ignacio community Christmas events at the ELHI. For $15, supporters can choose a handmade pottery bowl and fill it with homemade soups, or for $10, get the soups in a paper bowl.
"The donations we receive on Colorado Gives Day help us do more to support the community and empower area kids and families through creative expression," Correia said. "Our goal is to raise $6,000 this year, which will support 600 scholarships for kids and families. We also want to get a share of the $1 Million Incentive Fund."
The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency is another area non-profit seeking support. They need at least 30 commitments for $10 a month.
Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy through online giving. The event is powered by ColoradoGives.org, a year-round, online giving website.
It is presented by the Community First Foundation and FirstBank. They each contributed $500,000 to create the $1 million Incentive Fund, one of the largest gives-day incentive funds in the country. Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated. If a group were to receive 10 percent of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, that group also receives 10 percent of the incentive fund.
