Kristin Holbrook, owner of Two Skirts boutique on Main Street, was inspired how the Telluride community united to help one another as COVID-19 broke out, and she was craving to give back.
Kate Wadley, the director of philanthropy for the Telluride Medical Center, knew how Holbrook could help. Wadley started the medical center’s nonprofit in 2008 and launched the COVID-19 Response Fund in the beginning of March to help support the center’s fight in the pandemic.
So when Holbrook offered to contribute, Wadley was ecstatic. She says the medical center has had an extremely positive support system from locals and second homeowners alike.
Holbrook had the idea to sell “Telluride” sweaters as a fundraiser for the Telluride Medical Center COVID-19 fund. Two Skirts pledged to give 10 percent of all Telluride-themed sales to the center. It was not just a way for her to generate sales as a small business owner, but to help fight against the virus in her town.
The support was overwhelming. Wadley says she ordered a grey sweater because the blue color sold out so fast.
“I knew people loved Telluride, but this reaction was amazing,” Holbrook shares. She was in the store at the crack of dawn every day shipping out orders.
In April, a former Telluride resident named Liza Thornton approached Holbrook about her fundraiser — she wanted to match Two Skirts’ donation. Together the two women each wrote a check to the Telluride Medical Center. Holbrook had one more anonymous community member match it the same month as well.
In addition, one of Holbrook’s sales reps in California, Peter Russel, reached out about donating with his brand Moussy Jeans. Holbrook added his jeans to her fundraiser at the 10 percent donation rate on top of Peter matching the 10 percent. Together they collected close to $1,000.
Holbrook’s final number: $7,600.
“Our respect and appreciation for Kristin to lead the charge, think outside the box and raise awareness — plus the customers who matched the gift — was amazing,” says Wadley.
The Telluride Medical Center is small but mighty, offering ample amounts of accessible testing for the coronavirus to the tightknit Telluride community.
“If there is a second wave this summer and the medical center needs additional funds, I would be willing to bring the swearer fundraiser back to life,” Holbrook notes. “I’m always open to new ideas to help.”
