Home

Basket Themes

Basket Contents

Basket Sponsors

Colorado Connection

Order Form

Colorado Connection

The Spencer Family and many of the Carson J Spencer Foundation board members are originally from the East Coast, but we all share a love for Colorado.  In 1990, Carson’s older sister Sally moved to Colorado to go to graduate school at the University of Denver.  In 1997,Carson and his fiancé Heather moved out to our beautiful state, and he quickly established himself as a fast-rising entrepreneur seeking, among many things, to solve the problems of the uninsured. In 2001, the Spencer siblings were joined in Colorado by their parents and grandfather. 

The basket project is a tribute to the love this family feels for Colorado, to  Carson’s entrepreneurial spirit, and to his desire to contribute to the common good.  The hope is that the basket will generate the passion we have about our great state by highlighting outstanding Colorado businesses.

Why Colorado Should Care

According to the “Suicide in Colorado” report published by the Colorado Trust (2001, www.coloradotrust.org), Colorado has a great deal to be concerned about:

The Rocky Mountain Region has the highest suicide rate in the country. 

· An estimated 9,600 Coloradoans seriously contemplate suicide each year and approximately one-half to two-thirds of these individuals are not being treated for their suicidal symptoms

· Both suicide deaths and attempts are costly to Colorado – an estimated $59 million in direct costs and $571.3 million in indirect costs in 2000

· Roughly 3,000 Coloradans are hospitalized each year because of suicide attempts and about 600 die by their own hand.

· Colorado’s suicide rate is often one of the 10 highest states in the country.  The Colorado rate is about 36% higher than the national average.

Because of these high rates, there is a strong possibility that you or someone who is close to you has been touched by the issue of suicide.  We hope that you will help us make a difference here in Colorado as well as elsewhere.

Help is Available

The good news is that Colorado does care and in many ways Colorado leads the nation in prevention and intervention efforts. Below are some of the many agencies in Colorado trying to make a difference by preventing suicide and supporting suicide survivors.
For a complete listing, click here.