It is with tremendous gratitude that SPAN sends out many thanks to His Holiness The Dalai Lama, for his generous gift of more than $21,000 to SPAN. The donation was a portion of the proceeds raised at His Holiness’ appearance at CU Boulder in June.
More than 18,000 people attended The Dalai Lama’s event, raising more than $70,000.
The Dalai Lama wanted to donate these proceeds to Boulder-based non-profits supporting homeless and vulnerable women and children, choosing SPAN and Bridge House as beneficiaries.
2016 has also been a great year for SPAN’s grant writing efforts. This year SPAN successfully applied for two major federal funding opportunities. In 2015 the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime announced the availability of funds from the Crime Victims Fund (established by the Victims of Crime Act, and thus known as VOCA funds), for agencies that serve victims of crime to make capital improvements. SPAN successfully applied for this one-time VOCA funding, receiving an award of $72,000. These funds, supported by the “community match” (see Windows & Widgets Campaign), have paid for SPAN to update woefully outdated security, network and telephone hardware, enhancing safety and services for survivors.
SPAN also successfully applied for a 3-year/$350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice/Office on Violence Against Women, that will support some expansions to SPAN’s transitional housing program, at a time when finding affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges survivors of DV face.
SPAN is also proud to be a recipient of the Mary Kay Foundation’s annual Shelter Program grant this year. These very competitive national grants are awarded by the cosmetics company each year, and SPAN received $20,000 in support of the Emergency Shelter Program.
Other grant awards in 2016 include:
– Denver Active 20/30 Foundation: $5,000 for services to children
– Community Foundation Serving Boulder County: $4,500 general operating support
– Boulder Bar Association Foundation: $2,500 for Advocacy Program
– Colorado Bar Association Foundation: $2,000 for Advocacy Program
– AEC Foundation: $10,000 general operating support
– El Pomar Foundation: $2,500 “community match” for VOCA funds
– The April Fund: $2,000 for Emergency Shelter Program
– Colorado Association of Realtors Foundation: $2,500 for transitional housing
– The Louis & Harold Price Foundation: $15,000 general operating support
– Broomfield Community Foundation: $3,500 for Broomfield Outreach Program
– City of Lafayette/One Lafayette: $2,000 for Tri-City Program