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May 13, 2021 – Durango, CO – The Payroll Department announces this year’s grant recipients for the Meet Your Match grant:  Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, and Veterans of Foreign Wars #4031.

The Payroll Department designates $21,000 in corporate giving to three La Plata County nonprofits with $7,000 matching grants. They partner with the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado to manage the grant application and review process, with Payroll Department staff making the final grant selections. Each grant requires a 100% match of funds awarded. The dollar-to-dollar match is an incentive by the Payroll Department to double the impact of awarded funds by motivating nonprofits to seek new funding sources to develop sustainable, long-term relationships. All three organizations will launch local fundraising efforts immediately to raise the matching funds.

“The Payroll Department is honored to have the opportunity to support the nonprofits that do so much for our community,” says Eric Malone of the Payroll Department. “This year’s recipients truly represent organizations that make our community so wonderful.”

The Boys and Girls Club is awarded a $7,000 matching grant to launch their new peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, Camp for Kids.  Participant campers (individuals, couples, and families) will register and encourage friends and family to sponsor them on their Camp for Kids adventure, raising a minimum of $100 for each outing. The fundraising goal is to raise at least $36,000 for their Club-On-The-Go weekly summer pop-up sites, to bring free Club activities to neighborhoods where kids live and play.

“The Club is thrilled to celebrate the Payroll Department’s Meet your Match grant as a point of inspiration to encourage Camp for Kids sponsorship investment from business leaders and individuals, especially those who further the outdoor culture that is at the heart of our community,” says Vaughn Morris, Club CEO. “In alignment with the Club’s healthy lifestyle goal, our ‘camping with a purpose’ fundraising events will assist the Club in providing fun and engaging summer activities beyond our Main Avenue Club site.”

The Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, which supports LGB2TQIA+ youth in the four corners region, is awarded a $7,000 matching grant to increase access to the Center by providing free transportation to youth and families.

“Transportation has been voiced to be a significant barrier to accessing services and programs in our rural area,” says Jennifer Stucka-Benally, executive director. “By providing free transportation to youth and families, we have the opportunity to expand our reach of support. We will be able to provide gas cards to families in need, stipends for volunteer drivers, bus tokens or any other needs that are voiced to access Rainbow Youth Center’s services and programs.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars #4031 is awarded a $7,000 matching grant to assist with renovation of a meeting room at the VFW to provide space for veteran services organizations to meet with and assist struggling veterans and their families in our community.

Residents can learn more about the VFW at their Veterans Breakfasts, which are held on the first and third Sunday of each month, with proceeds going to their Veterans Relief Fund. Anyone can attend the breakfasts from 9-11 AM. There is seating both inside and outside.

“We are so grateful to the Community Foundation and to the employees of the Payroll Department for this grant,” says Meg Vanasse of the VFW #4031. “We welcome the opportunity to match funds and continue our efforts to support all Veterans and their families in our community.”

The Payroll Department provides payroll and timekeeping services for more than 800 businesses and organizations in La Plata County and beyond. You do not have to be a client of the Payroll Department to be considered for the grant.

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