The Board unanimously approved three Special Initiative Grants. Special Initiative Grants provide capital and multi-year funding for larger, highly-leveraged, board-sponsored projects that will produce alasting and significant impact in the region. To date, the Board has funded 14 Special Initiative Grants since the Initiative's inception in 2006, bringing the total awarded in Special Initiative Grants to over $1.1 million. Grants awarded this cycle include: $75,000 to the Second Chance Humane Society for the construction of a dog facility at its Angel Ridge Ranch; $20,000 to the Paradox Valley School for construction of its new school, community library and stage coupled with a Colorado State new school construction grant, and $10,000 to Palm Arts (part of the Palm Theater) for remodel of its new studio space for dance, music and theater groups.

Second Chance Humane Society is a no-kill facility and the only animal resource center serving San Miguel, and Ouray counties, where abandoned, abused, neglected or lost pets can be cared for, treated and placed into loving homes. Second Chance received $75,000 toward building a new dog facility, which it is leveraging with an additional $180,000 in new donations and an additional $350,000 in previously raised support. The new 52-acre Angel Ridge Ranch, along with a dog facility that doubles the amount of dogs the shelter can hold, will strengthen Second Chance's ability to deliver existing core programs as well as develop new opportunities for underserved animal needs within its service region.

Paradox Valley School received $20,000 to address current health, safety and overcrowding concerns in the public/community and after-school program areas of the school. Specifically, the school will be adding a new area to the front of the school that will provide 855s.f. for the new library in combination with a new area for the main school office. This will create a new secured entry area and public entry to the library. The library is both a school and a branch of the Montrose County Library system. Also, an additional 5,500 sq. ft. multipurpose wing is being added to the school to replace the current gym, which is failing structurally and must be replaced. This area will provide a stage, music room, restrooms and have an accessible ramp. These additions are part of a larger $2.7 million remodel project, of which almost $2.5 million is being funded by the Colorado Department of Education.

The Palm Arts Theatre was awarded $10,000 to provide a properly equipped, permanent studio for the Palm Arts dance program and rehearsal space. After the local dance school became defunct, the Palm Arts Board voted to expand operations to include a dance program to keep dance education alive in Telluride. Expectations for the school were far exceeded and the Palm has over 126 dancers serving children, adults and dance audiences. The new studio, which leverages the SI grant with over $50,000 in additional funding, provides an opportunity for Palm Arts to expand its offerings to include adult classes and makes it possible to bring professional dance companies to Telluride.

TELLURIDE FOUNDATION INITATES LOCAL NONPROFIT TEXT-TO-GIVE CONTEST

Local Nonprofit Organizations Compete for Text Donations to be Matched by Telluride Foundation