Eagle County nonprofits raised more than $1 million on Colorado Gives Day

Colorado Gives Day just keeps growing. That growth helped Eagle County Gives a local group associated with the statewide effort finally crack the $1 million level in online donations this year. Colorado Gives Day a day of online philanthropy was established through the statewide Community First Foundation and FirstBank. A few years ago, Eagle County's nonprofit groups began working together to have better results from Colorado Gives Day. That effort has grown, with nonprofit groups big and small participating. John Weiss is the director of the local Small Champions nonprofit. That group helps introduce snowsports to kids with various disabilities. The group runs mostly with volunteers Weiss and Shannon Thornburg are the only paid staffers. Using slim resources, Small Champions is a big beneficiary of the Eagle County Gives project. Weiss said funding from the one day of giving helps fund services for as many as one-fourth of the roughly 60 kids who participate every year.