Founded in 1996, the Western Colorado Community Foundation was created to help build charitable funds and provide resources benefiting Western Slope communities. The Conservation, Outdoor, Recreation, Environment (CORE) Fund is managed by the Western Colorado Community Foundation and supports organizations that work to strengthen western Colorado through conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental stewardship. “The funds have different focuses,” Western Colorado Community Foundation Program Officer Sarah Fuller said. “The CORE Giving Circle brings together individuals who are passionate about protecting the landscapes, waterways, and outdoor experiences that make western Colorado home,” a Western Colorado Community Foundation release reads. According to the Western Colorado Community Foundation, the giving circle has awarded over $280,000 to over 40 organizations doing CORE-related work in western Colorado.