History

The Bloom and Strait families were among some of the earliest Jewish settlers in Colorado. Pizer Bloom immigrated from Poland in 1899 and worked first on a farm and then at a bakery.

At age 25 he married Ida Strait who along with her family came to Denver from New York City. Her parents had also immigrated from Poland. Ida worked in the Brown Palace laundry where she met Pizer during his deliveries. Pizer had a livery service that included the delivery of coal, feed and seed, and transportation of travelers to the train station.

Once they married, the couple saved until they were able to open a store at 33rd and Downing Street in Denver where they sold coal and feed. Ida was essential to the management of the business and did the accounting.

Their son Sam S. Bloom was born in Denver in 1911 and helped his parents run the Downing’s Coal and Hardware Store at 33rd  and Downing. He earned extra money by peddling ice and hauling cement for the construction of Fitzsimons Army Hospital. Major appliances were added to the store in 1945 and by the 1960’s the store was the largest appliance store in Colorado for a time.

Sam married Lillian Gersh in 1937 and together they had three children Alan, Barbara, and Marshall. Thanks to the success of the family businesses, the Bloom family was able to create a charitable foundation in 1983.

The foundation was approved by the IRS in 1984. The resulting Sam S. Bloom Foundation continues to be managed by family members who serve on the Board of Directors along with community members from around the State of Colorado and staffed by Connie Crowley as Foundation Manager.

Sam and Lillian’s daughter Barbara A. Bloom was very active with the foundation for many years, serving as Board Chair and developing the mission of the foundation. Barbara’s focus was the self-sufficiency of individuals from at-risk populations. An enhanced version of this mission continues today and includes employment and job readiness, early childhood development and education, as well as parent education.

The Sam S. Bloom Foundation is currently headquartered in Littleton, CO.