Colorado philanthropist Tim Gill and the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado today announced a $1 million matching grant to the American Red Cross that will bring a total of $2 million in aid from Coloradoans to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts.
The grant will match individual donations from Coloradoans up to $250 – dollar for dollar – thus doubling the effect of every donation. And participating in the challenge grant is simple. Citizens can visit www.coloradohelps.org or call 1-877-213-0015. The website and phone line went live this morning.
The challenge grant will be available thru Sunday, September 25, unless the $1 million match is met prior to that date.
“Our fellow Americans are hurting. They’ve faced an unimaginable natural disaster. We’re proud to match our fellow Coloradoans’ donations to help the Red Cross get direct aid to victims throughout the Gulf Coast,” said Gill, the Fund’s founder.
The grant was announced this morning at a State Capitol news conference featuring Gov. Bill Owens, state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, state Sen. Norma Anderson, Peter Groff and state Rep. Diane Hoppe.
“When Americans face disaster, Coloradoans come together,” the Governor said. “This generous donation to the Red Cross will save lives and help our fellow citizens recover from this catastrophe. I urge all Coloradoans to seize this opportunity to double the effect of their donations.”
“I want to thank Tim Gill for his leadership in helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Sen. Fitz-Gerald said. “His generosity of spirit should help to spur all Coloradoans to contribute to the Red Cross to enable our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast to rebuild their lives.”
“Tim Gill’s leadership is one-of-a-kind,” said Rep. Romanoff. “I applaud the Gay and Lesbian Fund for standing up and supporting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now let’s all stand with them.”
Christine Benero, CEO of the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross said that the Fund’s challenge grant is one of the largest non-corporate donations to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
“We’re so grateful to the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado and to Tim Gill for this generous donation which will truly save lives,” she said. “We’re doubly proud that one of the largest single donations in the country is coming from our home state of Colorado.”
The Red Cross relies on donations and grants and is not a government agency. Locally, 81 cents of every dollar raised supports services and programs offered by the Red Cross, including health and safety courses, disaster response and planning, youth services, transportation for the elderly, and international and social services including support for the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. More than 3,000 volunteers support the Mile High Chapter alone in providing services to more than 420,000 people and responding to nearly 300 disasters each year.
To encourage donations, the Fund will place radio and newspaper ads throughout Colorado.
