Recognition of Colorado Nonprofit Week

RECOGNITION OF COLORADO NONPROFIT WEEK-HON. DIANA DeGETTE (Extensions of Remarks - March 04, 2004)

HON. DIANA DeGETTE
OF COLORADO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2004

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Colorado Nonprofit Week, an annual event organized by the Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations (CANPO) and volunteer committees around the state. The purpose is to recognize and celebrate the vital impact Colorado's nonprofits have on our economy and quality of life.

In Colorado, there are over 16,000 nonprofits and nationwide there are over 850,000 charitable nonprofits. One-third of charitable nonprofits work in the area of human services, helping to meet the needs of all of our citizens through food banks, job counseling, shelters, domestic violence just to mention a few essential areas.

The other two-thirds of the nonprofit sector serve an even broader constituency-all of those who attend cultural performances, view exhibitions, visit galleries, take their children to museums, provide educational programming, work with animals and protect the environment, and many other vital, day-today parts of our lives.

The Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations has worked hard to make Colorado Nonprofit Week a success. Their goals have been to increase the visibility of nonprofits and their important contributions throughout the state; to strengthen relationships between nonprofit leaders and public officials; and to encourage individual nonprofit leaders to see themselves as part of the greater nonprofit sector.

In 2001 (the last year data was analyzed) nonprofit expenditures totaled more than $9 billion in Colorado for the 5,400 largest nonprofits and $822 billion in the United States for the nearly 267,000 largest nonprofits.

The Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations represents organizations across the state that provide hope for thousands of Coloradoans. They educate youth, help the disabled, protect children, provide needed services to adults and promote culture and the arts. From bettering the lives of individuals to improving the overall economy of our entire state, there is almost no aspect of society that nonprofits do not touch. One thing is for sure; our state would not be the incredible place it is today if these crucial organizations did not exist.

Mr. Speaker, nonprofits in Colorado and across the country are an essential piece of the fabric of this country. I am pleased and proud to have this opportunity to salute them today.