Shawn and Kristi O’Neal donate $500,000 to Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative

Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative has been working hard to raise funds for a new child care facility in Holyoke, and it recently got a big push in the right direction when a couple with local ties — Shawn and Kristi O’Neal of Steamboat Springs — donated $500,000.

Trisha Herman, project coordinator/executive director of HCCI and director of Phillips County Economic Development, announced the good news at the PCED annual meeting Wednesday, June 16, in Paoli.

“We’re putting all the pieces together, and we’re super excited,” said Herman.

Shawn was raised in Holyoke and is a 1981 graduate of Holyoke High School. The O’Neal donation will be added to $600,000 that was already raised locally, demonstrating substantial community support when HCCI asks for a $1 million Energy Impact Grant from the Department of Local Affairs under the umbrella of the city of Holyoke this fall.

HCCI is also waiting to hear back on thousands of dollars in additional grant funds for the $2.4 million child care facility that will be built north of Melissa Memorial Hospital in the southeast part of Holyoke.

Herman has also received notice that the HCCI fundraising project qualifies for a tax credit program. Taxpayers who make a qualifying contribution to promote child care in Colorado may claim an income tax credit of 50% of the total qualifying contribution. The credit a taxpayer can claim during a tax year is limited to $100,000, and in-kind contributions of services or property do not qualify for the credit.

Individuals, organizations or companies can make donations or pledges to the local child care facility fundraising effort at any time. They can be sent to Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative, P.O. Box 241, Holyoke, CO 80734. For more information, call 970-218-4037 or email holyokechildcare@gmail.com.