Press Release

History Colorado announces matching-grant from The Trinchera Blanca Foundation for educator position at Fort Garland Museum

Fort Garland, Colo. – We are pleased to announce exciting news.  The Trinchera Blanca Foundation, the local affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation founded by Louis Bacon, has pledged a generous matching grant of up to $15,000 to History Colorado’s Fort Garland Museum. We are depending upon Coloradans' willingness to pledge support by August 31st, 2014. Every dollar will help Fort Garland Museum fulfill its mission of engaging and connecting local students, visitors and community partners to the local history. With The Trinchera Blanca Foundation’s challenge, and the community’s support, we will continue our tradition of bringing quality programming to the youth of the San Luis Valley.

“This generous grant will provide us with a much-needed resource to match additional raised funds so that we can provide a museum educator for our community and school programs,” said Anita McDaniel, Fort Garland Museum director. “The support of The Trinchera Blanca Foundation has been vital for the success and growth of Fort Garland’s programs in order to better serve our public.”

Once the funds are raised, the position will extend Fort Garland Museum’s educational programming that addresses local area student needs and interests, and develop programs to expand school field trips to introduce students to the unique cultures, history and places of the San Luis Valley. The position also assists with sustaining partnerships, such as with the Great Sand Dunes National Park Service and the Rio Grande Forest Service, and currently integrated programming that shares the collective commitment to teach preservation and conservation ethics in the San Luis Valley.  

“We are proud to support the Fort Garland Museum and help bolster its role as a historical and educational resource in the San Luis Valley,” said Ann Colley, Executive Director of The Moore Charitable Foundation and its Colorado affiliate, The Trinchera Blanca Foundation. “Our hope is that by highlighting this matching-grant we can encourage additional support to secure this worthwhile educational resource.”

Please help History Colorado achieve our goal. History Colorado offers many giving levels to choose from. Please consider making a gift today. Matching donations can be sent to History Colorado via Fort Garland Museum, 29477 Highway 159, Fort Garland, CO 81133 or call 303-HISTORY.

We thank you in advance for your support.

Support received since 2008 from The Trinchera Blanca Foundation has enabled History Colorado to improve Fort Garland Museum’s facilities and resources, establish relationships with schools and organizations in the community, and develop programs to meet their needs. As a result of these efforts, community interest in the Fort Garland Museum continues to grow.

Established in 1858, Fort Garland served to protect the earliest settlers of the San Luis Valley.  Today this historic site serves as a museum and community center that offers programs for adults and youth. For more information about the Fort Garland Museum, visitwww.HistoryColorado.org/museums.

About The Trinchera Blanca Foundation
The Trinchera Blanca Foundation is the Colorado affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation, founded by Louis Bacon in 1992. The Trinchera Blanca Foundation is committed to protecting and improving the land, habitat and quality of life in Colorado’s San Luis Valley and the surrounding region. These issues and this area hold a special place in the heart of lifelong conservationist and founder Louis Bacon.

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History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. Find History Colorado on all major social media platforms. Visit HistoryColorado.org or call (303) HISTORY for more information.

Media Contact:
Shannon Haltiwanger, Preservation Communications Manager
(303) 866-2049, shannon.haltiwanger@state.co.us
Released issued March 11, 2014
Photos: Little Church of the Pines before and after.