Weekly Email 4/20/26
- Anja Sophia Crooks
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
 Colorado National Monument Dear Restore the Balance Community, We talk a lot about adherence to the Rule of Law being paramount to maintaining a civil society and preserving our democracy. In fact, the Rule of Law is an esoteric concept with origins dating to Ancient Greece, Rome, and English Common Law. In the US, the law appears more like a web of interconnected, hierarchical documents and decisions that change over time. The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, is the thread that binds this chaos together and provides structure to our democracy. American democracy has been stress-tested repeatedly, often in moments of deep division, fear, or rapid change. Not always successfully in the moment, but often with course correction over time. This week, we'd like to introduce one of our major underwriters for the Spring Gathering and their efforts to do exactly that. |
Topic of the Week: The Thiry-O'Leary Foundation — Investing in the Conditions That Make Democracy Work The Thiry-O'Leary Foundation is a Colorado-based family foundation with a focused, systems-level approach to strengthening society, and, critically, democracy. Founded in 2012, the foundation deploys its assets toward a set of tightly aligned priorities: education, economic mobility, environmental sustainability, and government reform. At first glance, these may seem like distinct issue areas. In practice, they converge on a single idea: A healthy democracy depends on capable people, fair systems, and real opportunity. The Democracy Thread The foundation's work in government and leadership reform sits at the center, supporting efforts that improve how government functions, investing in civic leadership and accountability, and strengthening the systems that make democracy effective, not just theoretical. But the strategy goes deeper. Education builds informed citizens. Economic mobility expands participation and agency. Environmental sustainability ensures long-term public stewardship. Each is a pillar of a functioning democracy. The People Behind the Work The foundation reflects the values and experiences of its founders: Kent Thiry — a leader known for building high-performance organizations, with a focus on accountability, culture, and measurable impact. Denise O'Leary — whose early life was shaped by access to education, informing a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for others. Together, they approach philanthropy like system builders: Invest where it compounds. Support what lasts. Fix what matters. Real-World Impact The foundation's grantmaking, more than $2 million annually, translates strategy into action across civic reform, education, and opportunity. A clear example on the democracy front: support for structural reforms like open primaries — efforts aimed at increasing voter choice, reducing polarization, and encouraging broader participation. In Colorado, a high-profile ballot initiative proposing an open primary narrowly failed in 2024. Still, it reflected the kind of system-level investment the foundation engages in, backing ideas designed to strengthen how democracy functions over the long term. Why It Stands Out In a moment marked by polarization and declining trust, the Thiry-O'Leary Foundation takes a different approach: nonpartisan and systems-focused, long-term rather than reactive, quiet but high-leverage. It doesn't just engage with democracy at the surface level; it invests in the conditions that make democracy work. Why the Thiry-O'Leary Foundation Supports RTBThe Thiry-O’Leary Foundation is proud to support Restore the Balance and their call upon all of us, whether we be conservatives, moderates, or liberals, Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, to return to civility, cooperation, and functional government. "Democracy is not a spectator sport." — Kent Thiry We are grateful for the Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's partnership and proud to share their work with our community. Their investment in RTB reflects a shared belief: that strengthening democracy requires more than good intentions, it requires principled people, honest dialogue, and sustained civic engagement. We hope you'll join us on May 21 to hear from David French and continue this important conversation together. |
Join Us — Two Ways to Attend Grand Junction Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6:30–9:00 p.m. | CMU | Get Your Tickets Here Durango — RTB La Plata Watch Party Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO | Get Your Durango Tickets Here Space is limited at both locations. Reserve your spot early! |
Upcoming Events April 21 — RTB Roundtable on Healthcare | 7:00–9:00 p.m. Redlands Community Center, 2463 Broadway, Grand Junction.Sold out! Join the Waitlist here. May 21: RTB Annual Spring Gathering | 6:30–9:00 p.m. Guest speaker: NYT columnist David French. |
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Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming! Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter? Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update. You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you;Â it's your choice. Submit your recommendations here Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together. Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general. |