SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING SEASON FOR WEST END PAY IT FORWARD TRUST

Thanks to an anonymous donor and TellurideGives, the WEPIFT raised $16,000 in the past month.

 NATURITA, Colo. – (December , 2017) Thanks to an anonymous donor, the West End Pay It Forward Trust (WEPIFT) has received a generous $15,000  last month, and raised an additional $1,000 through TellurideGives Day. These generous donations have saved WEPIFT years in fundraising efforts and brought WEPIFT’s fund total to over $60,000!

WEPIFT’s anonymous donation of $15,000 is the largest the Trust has received since its inception in 2013. In large part due to this gift, WEPIFT anticipates that in 2018 it will be able to start fulfilling its goal of creating and awarding grants to various West End endeavors.

In the past year, WEPIFT has grown it account from $40,000 in the beginning of 2017 to over $60,000 at the end of this year. This has been the outcome of loyal and generous supporters, successful fundraising events, a partnership with Citizens State Bank to set up donations as automatic withdraws, increasing community awareness, and the tireless work of WEPIFT board members and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers.

In addition to participating in TellurideGives’ annual online campaign, donors have the opportunity to make their giving a monthly recurring process by signing up for automatic withdrawals into the WEPIFT bank account. No donation amount is too small; $5 or $10 a month can make a world of difference for the Trust in the long-term. WEPIFT is currently receiving monthly donations from six local community members who make automatic withdraws from their Citizens State Bank (CSB)accounts to WEPIFT’s account.Anyone interested in making a monthly donation from their account with an account at CSB, is encouraged to call or visit the bank. If anyone needs help setting up recurring monthly donations from another banking institution, feel free to contact any of WEPIFT’s board members for help.

Additionally, WEPIFT encourages the community to consider the organization in their long-term planning; estate bequests are an essential part of creating a successful endowment fund. Adding a specific bequest WEPIFT  to your will or trust allows community members to make a difference in the West End by paying it forward and helping the community now and for generations to come.

Launched in late 2013, the West End Pay It Forward Trust  partnered with the Paradox Community Trust to create and grow a permanent, locally controlled endowment that can support current and future community betterment projects. The Paradox Community Trust is a vehicle to receive, hold, and invest charitable dollars raised by local PCT communities: including the West End, Norwood, and Rico.

Interest generated from WEPIFT’s endowment fund will help support community and economic development, and support for local nonprofits, emerging entrepreneurs, education, and other charitable causes in the West End.  All money raised will be used in the West End to support and develop local organizations and the community.

The WEPIFT’s board includes: Jane Thompson, Paul Koski, Sara Bachman, and Susan Rice. The board meets monthly with AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers Marisa Marshalka and Kevin Zappia.  If you are interested in learning more about WEPIFT or joining the Board, please contact us at westendWEPIFT@gmail.com or visit our website, westendpayitforward.org, or Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/WestEndWEPIFT/. If you are interested in joining the board, please attend our meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at the Naturita Library at 5:00 pm.