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.