We are in the full swing of the holiday season — the time for giving and helping others. Instead of getting, Colorado residents can make a difference by giving during this holiday season through the annual statewide program known as Colorado Gives Day.
Since moving here, I have been impressed with the coordinated program to get more funding to our local nonprofit organizations, encouraging residents to give to their favorite causes and having a great website to find the programs to give to.
What is Colorado Gives Day? According to the coloradogives.org website, Colorado Gives Day is a statewide movement to increase online giving. This year marks the 13th anniversary that Community First Foundation and FirstBank have partnered to present Colorado Gives Day. The date is Dec. 6. Donations are accepted at ColoradoGives.org, which features more than 2,300 nonprofits.
The website is easy to maneuver because the nonprofits you are able to donate to are separated by category. If you’re interested in the arts, there are plenty of options. Interested in helping organizations who help the disadvantaged — they are categorized.
The nonprofits out there are endless and their need for public funding support are tremendous. This year, with inflation, supply costs and everything being higher — all nonprofit organizations could use the extra support.
Now, for a bit of shameless campaigning for where some dollars can also be applied. As a local news organization that focuses on school boards, city councils and great breaking news and local, happy features — we own 24 newspapers along the Front Range and have a ton of hard-working journalists who bring that news both online and in print.
We are not exactly nonprofit, but we do take community donations and, like many, are in need of constant financial support. To see where to support your local news provider, visit the website at Coloradocommunitymedia.com/ReadersCare.
Like many newspapers across the nation, we struggle to pay continually rising print costs and keep up with the amount of news that needs to be told. Through donations in Colorado Gives Day — we can do a lot more to penetrate the local communities and tell more stories and keep the presses rolling.
According to Northwestern University journalism school, the U.S. continues to lose newspapers at a rate of two per week, dividing the nation into wealthier, faster growing communities vs. those struggling in communities without news.
Since just before the pandemic started, the U.S. has lost an estimated 360 newspapers. Since 2005, more than 2,500 newspapers have closed.
Once a newspaper closes, there is rarely a digital replacement, which creates a news desert – a crisis for democracy.
With limited access to local news, the checks and balances between government and residents get out of balance — and the misinformation streaming on social-media platforms will not help.
While trust in media is at its lowest for the national networks and major news organizations, similar statistics show the local newspapers are the most trusted. Colorado Community Media works hard to keep and maintain that trust. While we may not be perfect, we certainly push to do the right thing for all residents and readers.
Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.
