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Colorado Public Radio membership drive helped to feed 4400 Colorado families during COVID-19 crisis

Centennial, Colorado, May 21, 2020 – Colorado Public Radio's just-concluded Spring Membership Drive will help feed 4400 families for a week. The drive raised over $550,000 from more than 4400 donors, supporting CPR's important news and cultural programming. Each gift prompted a match from The Colorado Health Foundation to feed a family for a week through a collaboration with the state's five regional food banks and Feeding Colorado.

As the number of unemployment claims hit all-time highs, demand for services for Colorado food banks began reflecting that reality. “While all non-profits are working to maintain revenue at this time, working together, we wanted to show our support for our community’s most needy,” explains CPR’s Senior Vice President of Development, Jim East, “while helping to provide the factual information and companionship that is needed to act responsibly, remain calm, stay healthy and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

East adds, “When we began this effort, we knew it would be a different type of campaign for Colorado Public Radio. We had never partnered to raise awareness and resources for another organization as part of our own fundraising efforts. Every non-profit is facing uncertainty and the collaboration clearly resonated with our audiences.”

The Colorado Health Foundation, President and CEO Karen McNeil-Miller stated, “Before the COVID-19 crisis, hunger was already a reality for far too many Coloradans. Given the economic impact of the pandemic, the need for food assistance is growing. By supporting CPR, you helped feed fellow Coloradans and ensured we continue to have a trusted news resource in this state.”

On average, it costs $22.50 to feed a single parent and two children for a week. For the first 4,444 donors to CPR during this drive, the Colorado Health Foundation contributed $22.50 to Feeding Colorado, up to $100,000.

Feeding Colorado is the connecting organization that supports five regional food banks.

  • Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado
  • Community Food Share
  • Weld Food Bank
  • Food Bank of the Rockies
  • Food Bank for Larimer County

During this tremendous time of need, Colorado food banks are distributing enough food for more than 300,000 meals per day and more than 10 million meals per month.

About Colorado Public Radio

Colorado Public Radio is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that produces and curates in-depth and meaningful news and music, establishing thoughtful connections to Colorado for listeners seeking to be informed, enlightened and entertained. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.

  • CPR News delivers in-depth, insightful and impartial news and information from around the world, across the nation and throughout Colorado, examining its relevance to our state and connecting it to our community.
  • CPR Classical takes listeners on an in-depth exploration of thoughtfully curated music – with an emphasis on Colorado’s classical community – providing context to a broad range of meaningful and compelling works from past to present.
  • Indie 102.3 takes listeners inside the world of new and independent music – exposing them to up-and-coming artists and highlighting Colorado’s local music scene.
  • Denverite is an online news source dedicated to Denver's curious and concerned.
  • KRCC is a public radio station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving Southeastern Colorado including Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, Pueblo and La Junta. Mountain communities via translator are Buena Vista, Salida, Westcliffe, Gardner, Villa Grove, Trinidad and Raton, NM. LRCC is operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with Colorado College.

About the Colorado Health Foundation

The Colorado Health Foundation is bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, policy advocacy, learning and capacity building. For more information, please visit www.coloradohealth.org.

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Media inquiries:

Jodi Gersh, CPR Senior VP for Marketing and Engagement (303) 871-9191 or [email protected]