Broomfield Community Foundation Focuses on Short and Long-Term COVID-19 Efforts

Focuses on Short- and Long-Term COVID-19 Efforts

By Kristen Beckman

When the COVID-19 crisis hit in mid-March, the Broomfield Community Foundation redirected its efforts to disaster response. Adopting the mantra to ‘Keep Moving Forward,’ the foundation has participated in efforts to fund local nonprofits that have provided food, shelter, hygiene, and healthcare equipment and services to those who need it most.

“Every organization has been impacted negatively and thrown for a loop by COVID-19,” said Marianna Williamson, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Rather than conducting our usual fundraising and hosting events that keep the Foundation up and running, we have focused 100 percent of our efforts on disaster relief.”

Much of the Foundation’s work to support Broomfield citizens during the COVID-19 crisis has been executed through Broomfield’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) initiative, which was created more than 10 years ago to plan for community crises. VOAD is a network collaboration of independent voluntary, community and faith-based organizations, community and business leaders, and government representatives focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery in conjunction with the City and County of Broomfield’s Office of Emergency Management to provide support and resources in times of need. This is the first time in its history the VOAD has been activated, said Williamson.

As of July 1, the Disaster Relief Fund had raised and distributed more than $141,000 via 36 grants to fund local nonprofit organizations that are providing basic needs to the community’s most vulnerable populations. Williamson said she has been heartened by the generosity of Broomfield residents, several of whom donated their stimulus checks to the Foundation’s COVID-19 efforts.

The Foundation is focused on both short- and long-term needs related to COVID19. Short-term initiatives include the Foundation’s Emergency Sheltering Fund and collaboration with the Refuge and FISH to provide safe shelter with local hotel partners for Broomfield’s unhoused population during the stay-at-home order, while long-term

Targeted initiatives include:

• Administration of the Broomfield Small Business Fund, created by the

Broomfield Chamber of Commerce to support the long-term recovery of local small businesses. • Special seminars and COVID-19 resources for nonprofits through facilitation of Broomfield Community Service Network • Encouraging volunteer efforts (www.broomfieldvolunteerhq.org) • Continuing to raise funds for the Foundation’s housing and health and wellness funds

needs are anticipated related to mental health and small business recovery.

Community foundations allow people to make charitable donations aimed at specific community needs, knowing that the recipients have been vetted and their dollars are making the greatest possible impact to populations and groups that need them. The Broomfield Community Foundation was founded more than 25 years ago with a focus on serving five areas: civic projects, human service programs, arts and humanities, senior citizen programs, and educational programs. Since 1993, the Broomfield Community Foundation has invested more than $2.5 million into the Broomfield community and supported more than 100 community nonprofits.

Broomfield Community Foundation operations are funded through two events each year. The Heart of Broomfield Awards was held in early March this year, just days before COVID-19 hit the community. The Dancing with the Broomfield Stars event, normally held in September, has been canceled this year due to the pandemic, but Williamson said the foundation is tentatively planning a smaller Kentucky Derby-themed event, in partnership with Sill-TerHar Motors in September, that would help recoup revenue losses.

Broomfield residents can help the Broomfield Community Foundation and fellow residents by making monetary donations, supporting one or more of its managed funds (https://broomfield. fcsuite.com/erp/donate), or directing financial support to its COVID-19 Disaster Relief and Recovery effort (www. broomfieldfoundation.org/covid).

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