Colorado Gives Day Update

We live in an amazing state. Not only are the mountains beautiful, but apparently so are the hearts of the people! To close my blog for the semester, I thought it would be worthwhile to go over the results of Colorado Gives Day.

First and foremost, $15 MILLION was raised over the course of one day (yesterday)!! That's a new record for the program. You can read more about that here.

I am so proud to live in a state that cares so much about non-profits and their causes. It inspires me to think that so many people are willing to help others, and it gives me confidence that we can truly COmbat poverty. Thanks for following my blog all semester. Best wishes, and remember even the smallest person can make the biggest difference!

Adopt-a-Family Christmas Drive

The Christmas season is upon us, and for many of us that means the full-fledged pursuit of the perfect gift for family members, friends, and lovers. But for the families who live at "Colorado Homeless Families," a non-profit transitional housing organization, Christmas presents are not in the budget....are they in yours?

The Colorado Homeless Families organization helps homeless families get back on their feet by providing them with a free, temporary place to stay and workshops and classes to develop professional skills. The families are able to save their money over time and will hopefully be able to afford a place to live with their savings. Unfortunately, that means that not a cent can be spared to buy their children Christmas presents. That's why the organization is asking the Colorado community to consider "adopting" a family this Christmas season. Those who are interested will receive a list with the names, ages, clothing sizes, etc. of a family in need. Imagine the difference you could make in the life of a homeless child! 

Last year, The Colorado Homeless Families organization campaigned to collect 100 children's bikes for the Christmas season, and this year their hoping to collect enough gifts for every child to have a great Christmas. So if you are fortunate enough to have some extra spending money, consider adopting a family for this Christmas season. I can guarantee that the gifts you buy will be cherished forever. 

Warm the World: Crafts for a Cause

It's December now, which means that we should be expecting snow and cooler temperatures. And for me, that means it's time to whip out my crochet supplies and make blankets, hats, and gloves to give away as gifts and to relieve stress from finals week! But I wondered, is there something better I could be doing with my craft skills? So I looked into it, and found Warm the World, a non-profit organization based out of Canon City, Colorado.

Every year, this organization's volunteers meet up and create beautiful blankets, gloves, hats, mittens, scarves, etc. to send to children without a permanent home. Their main focus is on foster children, so that they can have an item to take with them regardless of where they live. And as we know, Colorado is definitely a state where you need to stay warm! If you are interested in crocheting or knitting, or if you would be willing to donate yarn to this organization, you can find their website here. 

Colorado Gives Day

Colorado Gives Day is an effort by Community First Foundation and 1st Bank to increase philanthropic giving in the state of Colorado. On December 4, for 24 hours, Colorado residents are encouraged to donate to one of 1,000 participating non-profits! Last year, this effort raised $12.8 million in one day! It is an excellent way to give back this holiday season, and you can choose which organization you want to donate to by visiting givingfirst.org. And best of all 100% of your donation goes straight to the organization-- no exceptions! 

Many non-profits have benefitted from this program in the past including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Animal House, and Boulder County AIDS project (just to name a few!). It's one day changing thousands of lives. Check it out here! 

Broncos Charity Builds Fields and Hope

Tomorrow is Sunday. That means I'll be sitting on the couch watching football. And while I love the Broncos for their talent and wins (hello Peyton Manning), I also love them for the way they give back to the Colorado community, specifically through their Community Fields Project. For those of you that don't know, every year the Broncos organization selects a Colorado community in need and provide monetary support so that they can build a new youth football field.

The program, which has been helping Colorado communities since 2007, has donated millions to youth sports teams and high schools. By providing a safe place for kids to play football, the program combats childhood obesity and inspires children to pursue their athletic dreams.

So when you're sitting in front of the tube next Sunday, yelling a bogus calls or incomplete passes remember that in one way, the Denver Broncos always deliver!

For more information on the program, click here. 

Improve your vocab...and feed the hungry

If you're anything like me, you will procrastinate on homework by surfing the web, checking your facebook, etc. Suddenly, you look at the clock and hours have flown by. You think, "wow, I just wasted all that time." Sound familiar?

Well, you're welcome Colorado residents because I have come across a fabulous website that helps you procrastinate in a charitable way...and you may actually be SMARTER when you're done.

freerice.com is a wonderful website that gives you a word, and a list of synonyms. For example:

Quiet Means:
       1. bad
       2. chubby
       3. silent
       4. not good

You choose "silent" and BAM! 10 grains of rice get donated to a starving country. The words get more difficult as you go on, too. So next time you're looking for a way to waste time, consider wasting it in a way that feeds the hungry!

Fort Collins Habitat-Long Post

It’s taking some serious elbow grease for the local chapters of Habitat for Humanity to combat the ailing economy this year. Fortunately, they specialize in getting the job done.

Candace Mayo, Executive Director of the Fort Collins chapter, says that all non-profit organizations have taken a hit from the poor economy.

“While donations aren’t down too much, we know that our sponsored families are starting to have problems making house payments.”

This poses a problem because the money received from those payments funnels directly into sponsoring construction of the next local house.

Since it’s inception in 1993, the Fort Collins chapter has built 43 homes in the area. And for every home built locally, the sector builds another home overseas. So in reality, the chapter is losing funds for two houses at a time.

“[The economy] also makes it hard for applying families to qualify for a home,” Mayo said.

In order to be eligible for a Habitat for Humanity house, the family must have good credit, be able to make a $1000 down payment, and must contribute 300 hours of sweat equity into their home. 

“Lower income families are, understandably, getting deeper into debt so they become ineligible for a home,” Mayo said.

Even though the economy is not on their side, the Fort Collins chapter is still working hard to raise money.

“We’re hosting a gala on April 10 at the Embassy Suites, that’s the big thing. We also send out direct mail to the community, and we get regular donations that way,” Mayo said.

The Fort Collins chapter also gets help from the Habitat Home Supply Store located at 4001 S. Taft Hill Road.  Profits made from sales at the store go towards the organization’s cause and also to help pay the employee’s salaries.

“The store is really great because it works as sort of an advertisement, it let’s people know we’re here,” Mayo said.

With awareness comes sponsors, and Mayo says that often times people are excited about the houses that their donations of money and time have helped to build.

“Many of our homeowners tell us that cars will drive by and the people inside are smiling and pointing at the house. Ours is a great non-profit because you can see where your money is going.”

The Colorado State University chapter is hoping to help build a house of their own. At the beginning of the year, the club set a goal to raise enough money to co-sponsor one house build this year.

“It costs anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to co-sponsor a house. We still need to raise about $5,000 to reach our goal,” Laura Bowman, President of CSU Habitat, said.

The club has hosted a benefit concert along with smaller functions such as gift-wrapping sessions and RamRide to raise money in the past. Recently, with the economy taking its toll, they have decided to put together a community yard sale instead.

“This year is a new beginning for our club and we decided our annual fundraiser needed to be redone as well.  We wanted something that would have a connection to Habitat and the homes we build.  The club thought there is nothing better than home furnishings to help fill your house,” Bowman said.

The CSU chapter is currently working with churches and the campus parking services to try and reserve an empty parking lot to hold the sale. Additionally, the club members will design advertisements, pitch the sale to local neighborhoods, and provide pick up of donated goods before the event in early May.

“It is a great cause, and while it takes a lot of effort to pull something like this off, I think in the end we will be very proud of what we accomplished and excited to put the money directly towards building someone's new home,” Ashley Johnson, secretary of CSU Habitat, said.

Founded in 1976, the International Habitat for Humanity organization has built over 350,000 houses around the world in over 3,000 countries.  Those homes have provided 1.75 million people with affordable housing. With this kind of reputation, local affiliates remain optimistic.

“We will bounce back, we’ll be ok,” Candace Mayo, Fort Collins Executive Director said.  “This is a good cause.  Our homeowners remember how their house was built and the people that helped build it, and that makes them cherish it even more.”

Operation Christmas Child Denver

While Operation Christmas Child is not exclusive to the Colorado area, it is the LARGEST Christmas project in the world. The idea is simple: a shoebox filled with toys, snacks, clothing and other items is sent to children around the world living in impoverished conditions. While it is a Christian-based organization, anyone can sponsor a box regardless of their beliefs. 'Tis the season to give back. If you are interested in sponsoring a shoe box, you may contact the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Denver. Find their information here.

Or, if you are interested in learning more about the program as a whole; such as where the Christmas boxes go, check out the organization's website here.

Denver Homeless Stats

Did you know that the state of Colorado has one of the highest homeless populations in the nation? With the economy continuing to decline, more and more people are facing homelessness in our state. While this blog's main purpose is to highlight organizations that are helping to fight poverty in the state of Colorado, I feel it is important that I share some facts about where our state stands right now. The information I will share is from The Gathering Place in Denver.

At a Glance:

• As of January 2012, 12,605 people were homeless in the Metro Denver Area
• 25.7% were "newly homeless," meaning they lost their homes within the past year
• 1 in 4 Homeless individuals have a full or part-time job
• 27% of the homeless population are children
• The fastest growing homeless population in families with children
• 44% of the homeless population are single mothers

Some stats are surprising, right? Did you know that many homeless individuals have at least a high school diploma? Some even have undergraduate or post-graduate degrees! I think it's a good reminder that we may not know the whole story, and we shouldn't make assumptions or generalizations. 

Child Homelessness- Long Post

Homelessness and Children

On the outside, Nicholas looks like your typical 9-year-old. He wears a bright orange Hot Wheels shirt, and proudly displays the fading temporary tattoo of a motorcycle on his left arm. But ask him about his childhood, and the bubbly personality is lost to silence. Until recently, Nicholas lived on the streets of Denver with his mother. Life consisted of dumpster diving and looking for aluminum cans to turn in for nickels. And while this seems bad, in many ways Nicholas is lucky. His story is much brighter than that of the average homeless child, and with the American economy still in a deep recession, more and more children must face the hardships of a life on the street.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy priorities, the number of Americans in “deep poverty” has risen by 4.5 percent (approximately 6.3 million people) since 2009. This means that approximately 1.1 million families were at risk of becoming homeless, and the numbers continue to rise.

“Currently, about 1 in 50 children are homeless,” Christina Murphy, Director of the Campaign to End Child Homelessness said. “That’s almost 2 million kids who are at risk of mental and physical health problems.”

The effects of homelessness begin in infancy. Children born into homelessness are more likely to have lower birth rates, and are four times as likely to be born with heart and respiratory defects. Additionally, 40 percent of homeless mothers are substance abusers. This means their babies may be born addicted to cocaine or other drugs, and may have physical and mental disabilities due to exposure to alcohol. Since drugs remain in the circulation system of an infant much longer than an adult, the addicted babies will suffer through withdrawals more intense than an adult addict’s, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

“I have had babies come to our shelter that must be immediately transferred to a hospital because they have things like severe muscle spasms, diarrhea, and even seizure –like withdrawals,” Amber Callender, Executive Director of The Denver Road House, a 90-day shelter, said. “It’s terrible to think about the babies who don’t have access to hospital care, and must go it alone.”

If a homeless child survives infancy, every year it spends on the streets can lead to more psychological and physical hardships. The state of Colorado is ranked 35^th in the nation for child homelessness, with 38 percent of children living on the street. Colorado’s homeless children face additional hardships because of the harsh weather conditions in the winter.

“When it’s snowing outside the Denver homeless shelters see a surplus of people and since it’s first come first serve, many must be turned back to the streets even if we surpass shelter capacity,” Jamie Glennon, Public Relations Specialist at The Denver Road House, said.

No shelter means no food in many circumstances, and more than one-third of homeless children are forced to skip at least one meal a day, according to the Campaign to End Child Homelessness.  Since 2008, as a response to the recession, the demand for food aid has risen from 20 percent to 40 percent, forcing many shelters to turn away hungry children. Additionally, the child population receives little to no education, and as a result the proficiency rates for homeless children in reading and math fall 16 percent lower than other students. This is a problem because homeless children who do not receive a high school diploma are more likely to continue living in poverty when they themselves have children. 82 percent of homeless children come from families where neither parent has a high school diploma, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness.

“It’s this vicious cycle,” Murphy said. “A child grows up on the streets, and then they have children who grow up on the streets, and this pattern means that gradually the homeless population will increase in size and affect their access to shelters and resources.”

In order to combat this cycle, many organizations in Colorado and nationwide are developing programs that offer housing options and financial aid to homeless families. Obama’s 2009 approval of the FY12 budget proposal has been a huge step forward in the campaign to end child homelessness, because it will allot $1 billion to the National Housing Trust Fund. This funding will support a two-year plan to build rental homes for low-income households using environmentally conscious building materials.

If passed, the Emergency Shelter Grant, which is currently being reviewed by congress, would provide $2 billion to prevent low-income households from losing their homes. Funds would also “re-house” those that have lost their homes as a result of the economic recession.  Approximately 400,000 households would benefit from this grant, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness.

In 2003, The Denver Road House collaborated with homeless individuals, city council, local businesses, nonprofits and neighborhood organizations to address homelessness in the Denver metro area. The goal was to create a ten-year plan that would provide financial and legal assistance so that local homelessness would no longer exist. So far, the organization has developed almost 2,000 new housing developments for the homeless population, and has employed 5,253 homeless individuals.

“It’s not enough to just give them jobs though, we really wanted to make sure they were prepared to financially support their children in the long run,” Callender said.

Therefore the Denver Road House offers a free financial counseling course, which teaches homeless families how to manage their money and budget for the needs of their children.  Similar programs have been launched in New Mexico and Kansas at their local shelters. While these types of programs benefit children in the long run, there are other organizations that cater specifically to the emotional well being of the homeless children.

One example is Birthday Smiles, a local non-profit organization that throws birthday parties once a month for the children who live at The Samaritan House in Denver. 

“I thought about how important birthday parties were to my children and wanted to make sure every child that we could reach felt as special for a day,” Risë Justice, founder of Birthday Smiles, said.

Birthday Smiles began hosting parties in July of 2009, and has since hosted a birthday party every month, plus a Halloween party. Local donations, combined with money Justice takes out of pocket, provide each birthday boy or girl with $50 worth of presents, plus cupcakes and ice cream. The families of the children receive “points” which they can eventually exchange for things like diapers and school supplies.

Justice originally got the idea from the Massachusetts-based Birthday Wishes, a large-scale birthday program that has branches in New York, California, and Maryland. They also recently opened up a branch in Kentucky, ranked 42^nd in the nation with almost half of the entire child population labeled as homeless. 

“The reaction has been what keeps us inspired,” Lisa Kutner, Fundraising Coordinator for Birthday Smiles, said. “Parents have come up to me constantly to thank us for helping to give their children something they were not able to afford at this time.”

Nicholas is one of two children who celebrated his birthday at the Samaritan House this month. With wide eyes he tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a bright red, remote controlled monster truck (his favorite color), and six different Lego sets. He is quick to share his new toys with the other children in the room “so everyone can have fun,” he says.  With the help of the Samaritan House, Nicholas attends the local public school every weekday, and the financial classes have helped his mother learn how to start a college savings account for his future.

“I can't think of one night that I have not been able to pull up the memory of a special child that puts a smile on my face before I fall asleep each and every night,” Justice said. “Maybe when those children grow up, they will look back at this experience, smile, and give back.”

Colorado Weather= Scary Situations for Homeless

With the temperature steadily dropping, we are all ready to crank up our thermostats. But while the cold weather means cozy fireplaces and heaters for us, it may mean life-threatening conditions for the homeless. Colorado based non-profit "A Place to Call Home" works to provide cold care packages for the homeless people who must survive Colorado winters without shelter. Each package includes a warm blanket, food, a first aid kit and other survival necessities. They are a small non-profit and could use the help! If you have any extra winter gear lying around the house, consider donating to this great, local organization. Visit their website here. 

Relationship Workshop Lessens Poverty

Did you know that if a child grows up in an unstable household, they are seven times more likely to turn to drugs, alcohol, crime, or domestic violence as an adult? It is easy to assume that poverty is always tied to lack of money or finances, but in fact lifestyle can greatly determine whether or not an individual will be capable of maintaining a safe family home.

That's where the Aurora Mental Health Center comes in. While they cannot prevent violence or abuse in a home (that is a police matter and MUST be reported), they do offer lifestyle and community classes that educate families about the proper ways to manage stress, anger, and relationships. I had the privilege of attending a relationship class this past summer that focused on how to work with families with a history of domestic violence. It was extremely eye opening to see how much violence could have been prevented if only the family knew a few key coping skills to solve arguments and conflict.

You do not have to be in an unstable relationship to attend these classes. They even offer community classes so that you can get an entire neighborhood involved! I would definitely recommend checking out their services. Relationships can drastically impact poverty rates, wouldn't it be nice to know how to keep yours healthy?

For more information about AMHC check out their website here.

BOO rito donation to charity

Chipotle is a Colorado-based mexican food restaurant that prides themselves on natural ingredients and local farm suppliers. And, on Halloween, they have an amazing offer. If you show up in costume at any Chipotle location on Halloween night, you can get a Chipotle burrito of your choice for only $2! So you get to look silly and get delicious food for super cheap. What could be better? How about the fact that Chipotle will donate the first million dollars of Halloween sales to the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, a non-profit that works to provide sustainable, healthy farm practices.

Many people are upset at having to pay $2, because just a few year ago the burritos were free. But I think that nutrition and health are causes worth supporting. So if you're not busy this Halloween, consider stopping by your nearest Chipotle to snag an awesome burrito AND help out a worthy non-profit!

For more information on Chipotle's Boorito event click here.

Local Habitat Affiliate Celebrates Milestone, First Volunteer Shares Lessons Learned

By Alex Statham

Clive Rainey, Habitat's "First Volunteer" speaks to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver staff and supporters on Wednesday. Photo by Alex Statham

When Clive Rainey first got involved with Habitat for Humanity International in 1977, he figured he would only serve as a temporary volunteer. 33 years later, he has contributed thousands of hours of manual labor, held directory roles both in the United States and overseas, and is globally known as Habitat’s first volunteer. On Wednesday, he shared some of those experiences at Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s (HFHMD) 500^th Home Celebration.

“I can’t help myself, I want to promote what [Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver] is doing, and tell the world what [they] are doing and keep people excited about this because we still have a long way to go,” Rainey said.

Since it was founded in 1979, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has housed nearly 2,00 individuals in the state of Colorado, and will soon finish construction on their 500^th home in the Denver metro area. Rainey said that, in addition to providing a safe, affordable place to live, each home built created new opportunities for the family that would live there, “When you believe in someone, it’s like you put them on your shoulders. Suddenly they can see farther than they ever could before, and can achieve goals they never thought possible.”

Stephanie Booth, a single-mom with three children, will move into the 500^th home at the end of next month. The small basement room she shares with her three kids is cramped, and often times sewage from the upstairs complex floods their space. For her, this home will represent a new start, “I wanted to show my kids that I would always be there for them, and we cannot wait to start our new life and leave the past behind us.”

The 500^th home celebration kicks off HFHMD’s ambitious 5-year plan to build another 500 homes by 2017. In addition to constructing homes from the ground up, the Denver affiliate will also renovate apartments and homes that become available in the local housing market, and provide emergency repairs to surrounding neighborhoods.

“It’s an ambitious goal, but with the combined efforts of our volunteers, partners, donors and community members I know we can get there,” Heather Lafferty, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, said. 

Graphic by Alex Statham

You'll find the full event video below:

Video by Alex Statham and Habitat Staff

Craving Pizza?

If you're anything like me, at least one night of the week the last thing you want to do is slave over the stove to make dinner. Also, if you're anything like me, pizza sounds good regardless of the day, time, or weather. So why not order a pizza this week and help a good cause while you're at it.

Pizza Fusion, located off of East Colfax in Denver, has some of the most stellar pizza I have ever tasted. They only use natural ingredients, and their stores and business practices are eco-friendly. But perhaps the most amazing thing about Pizza Fusion is that their staff is comprised almost entirely of individuals from The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. That means that in addition to making hot, cheesy goodness they are also providing valuable work experience and training for the homeless. These are skills that can help them obtain future jobs and careers. Plus, a portion of their proceeds channel back to supporting the Coalition and their mission. So if you're hungry and in the Dever Metro area, consider ordering from Pizza Fusion. It's just as delicious, but so much better for our community.

Order Here!

http://pizzafusion.com/denver026/

CSU Students Give Back

Every fall, Colorado State University sponsors "Cans Around the Oval," an event that combines students and the surrounding Fort Collins community to provide food for those in need. Throughout the month of October, CSU students canvass nearby neighborhoods and collect non-perishable donations from the homes. Students raise awareness on campus by hosting "CANstruction" where students construct impressive sculptures from the cans they have collected. By the end of the event, CSU collects around 64,000 pounds of food and raises over $30,000 for local food banks. For more information about the event, or to see how you can get involved next year, visit:

http://www.slice.colostate.edu/cans-around-the-oval.aspx 

5K Run Benefits Homeless

Looking to burn off some extra calories before the big Thanksgiving feast? Consider running in the 4th Annual "Home for the Holidays 5K and Family Fun Run," hosted by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Pets are welcome to join, and all ages and ability levels are invited to run, jog or walk in the event. Proceeds from the event help local homeless families throughout the harsh winter months.

Race Information:
When: November 3, 2012
Where: Denver's City Park
Cost: $25-$35 depending on when you sign up
    - Includes t-shirt, goody bags, and admission into a post-race event with fun activities for all ages. 

To Register:
http://www.coloradocoalition.org/events/srd-annual-5k/5k-race-registration.aspx

Keeping Kids Warm

Since 1982, local news station ABC 7 has partnered with Dependable Cleaners to host "Coats for Colorado," a statewide event that provides warm winter coats to individuals and families in need. Since its creation, Coats for Colorado has donated almost 2 million coats, and last year alone they collected 77,000 coats. This year's event kicked off on October 1st, but you can bring gently used winter coats to a drop off location near you through the end of November.

You may have seen previews on TLC for a new series called "High School Moms," which highlights the highs and lows of teen parenthood. Florence Crittenton is the Denver-based school featured in the series--in addition to providing academic and child care support, the school helps young moms prepare for careers by offering career services and advice. 

The high school boasts an enormous success rate: 80% of students who attended Florence Crittenton graduated with a high school diploma—no small task for a young (often single) mom. Also, 100% of women who graduated either attended college or was hired for full-time positions. These are just some of the amazing accomplishments achieved in the last five years. It’s an organization worth checking out, and you can get a first-hand look at how the school impacts lives just by turning on your television!

Since it is the first Friday of the month, I thought it would be appropriate to feature an awesome program that benefits the Denver homeless population through art. The Denver Homeless Art Exhibit is an event sponsored by 5 local non-profit organizations. Homeless men, women, and children are given access to art supplies such as canvas, paints, and clay so that they can create unique works of art. These pieces are then shown at the First Friday Art Walk in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe.   Attendees are then able to purchase the art pieces, and 100% of the profit goes back to the homeless artist so that they can financially support themselves and their families!

I am a firm believer that art and music can change the world. If you're going to be in the Denver area tonight, consider stopping by to look at some truly amazing art!

I am so excited to continue my Journalism studies. Check out more about the program here.