Two forums to be held during Nonprofit Week to encourage communication and provide an open platform for informed discussion.

PRESS RELEASE
March 5, 2008

(Aspen, CO) Aspen Community Foundation on March 10 and March 12 will continue dialogue with nonprofits about the state of the valley and the state of nonprofits which provide essential services and cultural programming to the extended Roaring Fork Valley.

Tuesday, March 10, 10-11:30 a.m. Aspen Community Foundation, 801 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs. This meeting will be facilitated by Community Foundation Board Chair, Jake Mascotte and Board members Keith Lambert and Bill Wallace. Access Roaring Fork will record this event for broadcast.

Thursday, March 12, 10-11:30 a.m. Red Brick Center for the Arts Conference Room, 110 E. Hallam, Aspen. This meeting will be facilitated by Community Foundation Board Chair, Jake Mascotte and Board member, Laurie Michaels. GrassRoots TV Channel 12 will record this event for broadcast.

Early signs indicate that the current economic climate is having a transformative effect on Colorado's nonprofit community, with both meaningful challenges and opportunities emerging. Many human service organizations, for example, are experiencing steep increases in demand for services while simultaneously seeing their funding streams decline. On the contrary, some arts and culture organizations are struggling to maintain programs as consumers change their spending priorities. In response to such challenges, many organizations are using this crisis as an opportunity to embrace proven best practices and retool their activities for increased impact and effectiveness.

Media are encouraged to join these events which promise to provide insight to the economic impact on our communities.

Aspen Community Foundation, established in 1980, is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. The Foundation is singularly positioned to assess needs and to deliver necessary grants to sustain the valley. The Foundation has been nourished by its donors, whose visionary generosity ensures the community will remain vibrant.

Aspen Community Foundation directs a collection of funds created by individuals, families and nonprofits for charitable purposes. Each year the Foundation and its donor advised fund holders award millions of dollars in grants to nonprofits from these funds. Community Foundation operations are covered entirely by fees from funds and by its Endowment Fund. All contributions to Aspen Community Foundation support grantmaking except those designated for its Endowment.

For additional information, please contact Alison Friedman, 970.925.9300 or alison@aspencommunityfoundation.org

Aspen Community Foundation
Contact: Alison Friedman, Program Assistant
Phone: 970.925.9300
Email: alison@aspencommunityfoundation.org