DENVER – The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and its employees donated 16,000 servings of soup purchased from the Women’s Bean Project to four housing shelters throughout Colorado.  The donation was made possible by CHFA employees, who support CHFA in redirecting the monies set-aside for employee holiday gifts to local charities.

This is the fourth year that CHFA will forgo personal holiday gifts in favor of a donation to those in need and the second year of purchasing soup from the Women’s Bean Project. CHFA Executive Director and CEO, Milroy A. Alexander, commented on the donation saying “CHFA’s success is built upon our employees’ commitment to helping others. I am inspired by their spirit of giving everyday.”

CHFA’s 174 employees formed a volunteer committee to identify local nonprofits whose efforts are in harmony with CHFA’s mission to finance the places where people live and work. In addition to organizing the holiday donation, the committee conducts events throughout the year, such as employee blue jean days, to raise funds for local charities.

CHFA identified four shelters located throughout Colo. to receive the soup donation. Each shelter received 4,000 servings. Shipped to the shelters dried, the total 16,000 servings weighed 400 pounds. This year’s CHFA holiday donation beneficiaries included:

• Homeward Bound of the GrandValley (Grand Junction, Colo.);
• The Durango Soup Kitchen (Durango, Colo.);
• Catholic Charities of Northern Colorado for Guadalupe Shelter (Greeley, Colo.); and
• Southeastern Colorado Homeless Shelter (Lamar, Colo.)

CHFA’s purchase of soup adds a fifth beneficiary--the Women’s Bean Project itself, as proceeds from the soup purchase will assist the Denver nonprofit in providing job-training and life-skills to women who have been chronically unemployed and living in poverty.

“I continue to be impressed with how CHFA sets an example of generosity for its employees. Helping the community is truly a part of culture of CHFA and the people who work there. CHFA’s continued support of Women’s Bean Project allows us to employ more women and have a greater impact on the community,” said Tamra Ryan, Women’s Bean Project executive director .

About the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

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