Nonprofits that make a difference in the Longmont community are being celebrated through the Unity Funds the Community grant.
This year, three organizations were chosen to receive the grant, which is run by the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce and the Longmont Community Foundation. The winners were recognized at the Unity in the Community street festival in downtown Longmont.
A base prize of $1,500 was awarded to El Comité de Longmont, Longmont Public Media and Voices for Children, CASA of Boulder County. On top of the $1,500, each group will get a portion of the drink token sales from Unity in the Community.
El Comité de Longmont helps immigrants and Latino community members connect with critical resources. Executive director Lisa Moreno said the nonprofit was thrilled to be selected as a grant recipient.
“Every gift is good news,” Moreno said.
El Comité is working on a pilot project that provides affordable access to virtual immigration consultations. The nonprofit is hiring its own immigration attorney.
“We could not be doing what we’re doing right now, stabilizing the organization, without community support,” Moreno said.
Longmont Public Media is a community hub where people can make and share videos, music and podcasts. Executive director Sergio Angeles said he was “blown away” by the news that the nonprofit would get at least $1,500 through the grant.
Angeles said the grant money likely will be used to fund the nonprofit’s Tiny Deck Concert Series, which features live music performances on Longmont Public Media’s outdoor deck.
“Public-access media and media in general has been under attack across the U.S., so I think having funds that go to support public media is incredibly important right now,” Angeles said.
Voices for Children, CASA of Boulder County trains court-appointed special advocates for kids who have experienced abuse or neglect. Although the nonprofit’s office is in Gunbarrel, the organization serves children throughout Colorado’s 20th Judicial District, which includes Longmont.
This year Voice for Children was named Nonprofit Of The Year by the Longmont Chamber. CASA volunteers worked with about 150 children in Longmont in 2024.
“Especially as funding may be uncertain in the future, having these additional opportunities to raise funds is so beneficial for us,” said Olivia Temple, outreach manager at Voices for Children.
The Unity Funds the Community grant program has awarded nearly $50,000 to local nonprofits since it began in 2019, according to the Longmont Chamber.
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