December 2023 Newsletter

Featured in this Newsletter

  • $550K in Grants Awarded to Statewide Policy and Advocacy Organizations to Advance Reproductive Health and Rights
  • $175k in Grants Awarded in Pueblo for Community Impact
  • Welcome Alexis Ellis and Juan Diosdado, Our Newest Pueblo Advisory Board Members
  • We’re Hiring a Controller!

$550K in Grants Awarded to Statewide Policy and Advocacy Organizations to Advance Reproductive Health and Rights

Caring for Colorado’s multi-year initiative, ReproCollab, recently awarded $550,000 in grants to 11 organizations working to improve public policies for reproductive health and rights. Funding also was awarded to build and grow grass-roots leadership in reproductive justice in Colorado.

Funding was prioritized to support advocacy efforts for the effective implementation of existing state laws designed to expand access to reproductive health care. This work will ensure that Colorado’s law and policies work for people who need and use reproductive health care. Read more about the Lead and Advocate for Reproductive Equity grantees and their work.

ReproCollab collaborates with funders, clinicians, researchers, community organizations, and grassroots leaders to improve reproductive health care, strengthen advocacy efforts, and develop leadership for reproductive health equity in Colorado. ReproCollab is supported by a collaboration of funders, including Caring for Colorado, The Colorado Health Foundation, the Colorado Trust, and the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation.


$175k in Grants Awarded in Pueblo for Community Impact

Caring for Colorado’s place-based program in Pueblo recently awarded $175,000 in grants with funding from the Sperry S. and Ella Graber Packard Fund for Pueblo. The Fund’s community-based advisory board recommended grants to 13 nonprofits to respond to changing community needs with awards going to organizations prioritizing education, human services, arts and culture, history, and senior services. Read more about the 2023 Community Impact grantees and their work.


Welcome Alexis Ellis and Juan Diosdado, Our Newest Pueblo Advisory Board Members

The Caring for Colorado Centennial Fund Board of Directors appoints a local Advisory Board to develop the strategic direction for the Sperry S. and Ella Graber Packard Fund for Pueblo and guide grantmaking. Members live in Pueblo and are responsible for making grant recommendations to the Centennial Fund Board of Directors. Under the current strategic plan, funding is prioritized to organizations and programs that are guided by community voice, culturally responsive, focus on equity, and demonstrate impact.

Welcome to our new members: Alexis Ellis and Juan Diosdado.

Alexis “Lexie” Ellis is the Housing Program Administrator at Pueblo County Department of Human Services. She moved to Pueblo in 2017 and has worked in the government and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on housing. “It’s important for Advisory Board members to really understand the need in our community. It’s helpful if they have knowledge of what type of interventions are most successful,” said Lexie. “I understand the needs that Pueblo’s people have, and the programs that are most impactful for improving lives. I know how valuable Packard is to so many of our nonprofits that are working hard for our community.”

Juan Diosdado is an Employment Specialist at Top Notch Personnel, LLC, a local staffing agency. He was born in Lamar Colorado and is involved with the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation and the Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee. “As a young professional in Pueblo, I firmly believe that my awareness of emerging trends, coupled with my unwavering commitment to driving social change, enables me to offer a unique perspective that complements the wealth of experience held by the current Advisory Board members,” said Juan. “This is an opportunity to contribute and facilitate in a reciprocal learning environment with established leaders, fostering a dynamic and inclusive approach to effectively tackle challenges.”

Special thanks to Daneya Esgar who left the board this fall.  We thank her for her service.


More News

December 2024 Newsletter

Featured in this Newsletter
– Celebrating Board Leadership
– Our $1M Gift will Help Fund a New Health Clinic
– Expressing Hope through Student-led Murals
– Donor Support Raised Critical Funds for Choose When
– Welcoming New Team Members

read more

Announcing Funding for Pueblo’s Children, Youth, and Families

The Children, Youth, and Families funding opportunity is made possible by the Sperry S. and Ella Graber’s Packard Fund for Pueblo endowment. This funding opportunity is designed to be flexible, leverage community assets, and support grantee partners as they work to improve conditions for children, youth, and their families.

read more