Volunteers of America receives $20,000 grant

Zachary Kinder
Volunteers of America
Denver, CO 80205
720-264-3323

March 17, 2017
Media Release

Denver — Volunteers of America Colorado again received a $20,000 grant through the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. The Grant will support two volunteer programs focused on improving children's literacy: the Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

"We are so grateful to the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund for their continued support and commitment to our community, Volunteers of America and the Foster Grandparent and Retired Senior Volunteer Programs and their volunteers," said RSVP Project Manager Cathy Law. "It is with such gratitude that we thank them for their generosity and ongoing commitment."

The Foster Grandparent Program matches seniors on a fixed income with at-risk children and youth in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, offering students more individualized attention and helping them improve literacy and numeracy skills. Volunteers receive a stipend and other benefits in return for their time.

Volunteers of America's RSVP in the Denver and Fort Collins regions also places volunteers at a number of literacy-focused volunteer stations, including elementary schools and Reading Partners Colorado.

"Up until third grade students are learning to read; from third grade on students read to learn," Law said. "Without the extra help some children would get left behind, and their ability to graduate from high school dramatically declines."

A total of $240,000 was distributed to 10 nonprofit organizations across Denver through the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund in this grant cycle.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including the frail elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, women in need, and veterans and their families. For more information about Volunteers of America, visit www.voacolorado.org

About the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund
Established in 1993, through the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, local nonprofit organizations with programs that focus on child abuse prevention & treatment, child & youth education and health & wellness are supported. Grants are made possible with the generosity of Rockies fans, the general public and corporate donations. All donations are matched at 50 cents on the dollar by the Robert R. McCormick Foundations, based in Chicago, Illinois. The Colorado Rockies and McCormick Foundation pay all expenses, ensuring 100 percent of donations, plus the match, goes directly to local nonprofit organizations making an impact. Since inception, more than $24 million has been distributed improving the lives of those in need across the Denver metropolitan region. To learn more about the Colorado Rockies Charity Fund visit http://donate.mccormickfoundation.org/rockies.

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The McCormick Foundation is one of the nation's largest foundations, with more than $1.5 billion in assets.

The McCormick Foundation's Communities Program continues Col. McCormick's legacy by partnering with sports teams, such as the Colorado Rockies, media outlets and philanthropic organizations across the country, to raise money and provide matching dollars which increase the impact of charitable giving. To learn more about the McCormick Foundation visit www.McCormickFoundation.org.