Stocking fund raises $873,132 for charities

The numbers reflect the generosity.

This 21st-annual The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund campaign raised $873,132, exceeding the goal of $750,000. Nick Horras, El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund program director, has a simple explanation for the success.

"People care," he said. "This community really cares."

The fund aids 13 socialvice agencies that help people in the Pikes Peak region with assistance ranging from bus tokens and prescriptions to housing and jobs.

"One hundred percent of it goes directly to the charities involved," Horras said.

The global impact of the tsunami disaster didn't restrict the effort to help local citizens in need.

"It was the opposite," Horras said. "People gave more. People wanted to help. People want to do something that benefits others."

The community donated $544,849. That amount grew -- by more than $328,000 -- with matching funds by El Pomar, Bruni Foundation and Gazette Charities.

Bruni Foundation donated $60,000, or $12,000 for each $100,000 raised. Gazette Charities, pledging $10,000 per $100,000, donated $50,000. El Pomar, which matches total contributions at the rate of $1 for every $3, gave $218,283.

Community donations came from many sources, including companies, clubs, kids and estates.

Colorado Springs triplets Kim, Robert and Brittany Beard, 13, sent in $28.75 in allowance money.

"We decided to take the money out and donate it," Brittany said. "We decided to use the money to help out people who need it more than us."

One donation came from a Pennsylvania nurse. Eraeda Popoff died last year at age 92 and designated that her money go to charity.

Her niece, Colorado Springs resident Robin Duffy, on Monday presented Empty Stocking with a $10,000 check from Popoff's estate.

"She would very much approve of the Empty Stocking Fund," Duffy said. "It summarized her philosophy."

Empty Stocking Funds are distributed to American Red Cross, Pikes Peak Chapter; Care & Share Food Bank; CHINS UP, a division of Griffith Centers for Children; Peak Vista Community Health Centers; Ecumenical Social Ministries; Marian House, Catholic Charities; Northern Churches Care; Pikes Peak Community Action Agency; The Salvation Army; Silver Key Senior Services; Southeast Family Center Armed Services YMCA; Tri-Lakes Cares; and Urban Peak.

The 2003-04 campaign raised $672,681. More then $5.3 million has been raised since the fund started in 1984.

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