LPEA Round Up Foundation contributes to emergency fund
Donation of $4,000 to assist community members impacted by Animas River contamination
Durango, CO – The La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Round Up Foundation has granted $4,000 to the Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) organized by the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) and the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado to assist those employees facing economic hardship directly related to the Animas River contamination and closure.
“As an organization that exists to support our community members, the Round Up board felt it was important to take a leadership role in helping those impacted by the river situation by contributing to the emergency fund,” said Robin Duffy-Wirth, president Round Up Foundation board president. “Other long term assistance will likely be available, but Round Up doesn’t have the red tape of other institutions or agencies. We could move quickly to help people who are in need.”
The LPEA Round Up Foundation is an independent foundation that provides grants to non-profit organizations throughout La Plata and Archuleta counties. It is funded when co-op members round-up their LPEA electric bills to the next higher dollar, “Pocket Change for Positive Change.”
“We want to sincerely thank the LPEA Round Up Foundation for taking the initiative to make such a generous donation,” said Tim Walsworth, BID executive director. “It is truly an example of leadership by example. It is a great organization, and we encourage everyone to round-up their electric bill. It’s a few pennies a month that benefits so many in our communities.”
The CERF has been organized to provide impacted employees with short term financial assistance. Preliminary estimates from rafting companies and those businesses who rely on the Animas River are that several hundred employees have either lost their jobs, or had hours cut virtually with no warning.
The relief fund is housed with the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity designed to serve the local community through various endowment funds and grants. Working with the Community Foundation preserves the integrity of the process of fund distribution and provides contributors with a tax deduction.
To donate directly to the CERF, checks may be made payable to “Community Foundation-Community Emergency Relief Fund” and mailed to the Foundation at P.O. Box 1673, Durango, Colo. 81302. Deposits may also be made directly at the Bank of the San Juans, and credit card donations made via the Community Foundation web site, www.swcommunityfoundation.org.
Those individuals impacted by the river contamination/closure who need assistance are asked to fill out a simple, one-page application, now available on the Community Foundation and the BID web sites (www.swcommunityfoundation.org and www.downtowndurango.org), and at the BID office, 850 ½ Main Ave. Suite 2. Completed applications should be submitted to the BID.
For further information on the CERF, contact the Business Improvement District at 970.375.5067, or the Community Foundation at 970.375.5807. Further information on the LPEA Round Up Foundation is available at www.lpea.coop/programs/roundup.
