Compassionate Community

Last year, the Telluride Education Foundation (TEF) launched the Telluride Compassion Campaign in an effort to raise funds for local schools and promote compassion, kindness, and gratitude during the Covid-19 pandemic. TEF successfully raised nearly $90K to assist the Telluride School District with pandemic-related needs such as additional staffing, PPE, and mental health support, as well as financial assistance to aid staff retention by funding master’s degrees, first-time home buying, childcare and commuting. Businesses got a boost too, with some funds earmarked for staff appreciation in the form of community dinners, faculty luncheons, staff wellness packages, and gift cards for local establishments.

This year the Telluride Compassion Campaign is also focused on “community building”. “It is critical for our community to find ways to reconnect, be social and share the love”, says Toni Nash, TEF President. Please consider donating to the Telluride Compassion Campaign and come together as locals, part-time homeowners and visitors who all share a passion for Telluride. If you live, work, or play in Telluride…you are part of our community!

We are asking you and the entire community to show your Telluride pride and support by making a gift, donating your time, and/or spreading the word about the Telluride Compassion Campaign.

Telluride Compassion Campaign

Fill Our Heart!

Make a Donation!

Tax-deductible donations support:

  • Teacher & faculty appreciation & wellness
  • Mental health support for students & teachers
  • Unique supplies needed at the schools to protect our school community from the Covid-19 pandemic (masks, thermometers, cleaning supplies, etc.)
  • Additional staffing costs
  • Additional technology personnel support costs
  • Local businesses during off-peak times through community dining, teacher/faculty luncheons & wellness packages, donor gift certificates, etc.
  • Financial assistance that encourages teacher and paraprofessional retention, such as master’s degrees, first-time home buying, childcare, and commuting
  • Campaign execution expenses
  • Other initiatives that support the Telluride Education Foundation’s mission
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us.

Thank you all for continuing to support Telluride Schools!

Almost $100k donated so far!

Tax-deductible donations support:

  • Teacher & faculty appreciation & wellness
  • Mental health support for students & teachers
  • Unique supplies needed at the schools to protect our school community from the Covid-19 pandemic (masks, thermometers, cleaning supplies, etc.)
  • Additional staffing costs
  • Additional technology personnel support costs
  • Local businesses during off-peak times through community dining, teacher/faculty luncheons & wellness packages, donor gift certificates, etc.
  • Financial assistance that encourages teacher and paraprofessional retention, such as master’s degrees, first-time home buying, childcare, and commuting
  • Campaign execution expenses
  • Other initiatives that support the Telluride Education Foundation’s mission
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us.

Thank you all for continuing to support Telluride Schools!

Frequently Asked Questions

The Telluride Compassion Campaign’s mission is to raise community awareness and financial support for the unique needs of our schools and to provide support to our business community in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the Compassion Campaign is committed to fostering compassion, kindness, and gratitude throughout our community.

According to the Colorado Sun, Colorado Schools are at a “breaking point” and plead for help as stress of pandemic teaching piles up.In addition to the requirements of a traditional school year, the pandemic is requiring more from our schools.

We see these needs falling under two categories: EDUCATION and HEALTH & WELLNESS

Additional Staffing Costs – The school has hired more staff to address periodic quarantining of our teachers, as well as the need to support in-person and virtual learning. There is a big need for Subs. If you have a High School Degree, you could be a Substitute Teacher and help out when teachers have to stay home to quarantine, etc.

Additional technology personnel support costs

With the school libraries closed, we provided funding to purchase e-books for students to have access to reading materials.

Teacher & faculty appreciation and wellness

Teacher & student mental health support

Covid-19 tests for our teachers and faculty are happening on a consistent basis.

Additional cleaning supplies are required as well as masks, thermometers, etc.

Cafeteria and sanitation workers are doing twice as much work this year to address our health needs and keep us safe.

The Telluride School District received financial assistance from the CARES Act.However, the operation of school during the pandemic is estimated to cost an additional $500,000 more than this CARES Act relief package.In addition, the state of Colorado cut funding to the school this year by almost $1 million dollars.

“The state of Colorado cut our funding by nearly $1 million for the current school year. The CARES Act sent some money to our district for COVID expenses; however we are projecting those expenses to be $500,000 more than what we received.” – Dylan Brooks, Treasurer/Secretary of Telluride’s Board of Education

DONATE
We need your help in order to meet the needs of our community. You can donate here.

IN-KIND DONATIONS
If you are a business and would like to offer teacher/faculty discounts, please contact Ginna Neyens

If you are a restaurant and you would like to support our teacher lunches, please contact Lisa Vila Fischetti.

VOLUNTEER
If you would like to be included in our efforts, please click here to add your contact information to our volunteer directory.