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November 2015 • gazette.com/nonprofit Seniors
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Endowment receives $5 million gift for Falcon Stadium renovations BY JERMAINE JOHNSON USAFA Endowment
CSFR Education Coordinators Andy Rivas and Luis Quiles pose with the Atlas Preparatory School Food Rescue interns on the day of their first grocery program. Zac Chapman, Colorado Springs Food Rescue
Food rescuers collaborate with community to create new solutions to food insecurity BY ZAC CHAPMAN
Colorado Springs Food Rescue
Every year, 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. ends up in a landfill — enough to fill the Rose Bowl with bruised veggies every day of the week. Colorado Springs Food Rescue (CSFR) seeks to intercept and rescue the unused, edible food that is about to be thrown away and sustainably transport it to Colorado Springs residents who are in need of a good meal. CSFR recruits volunteers, picks up from 18 donor businesses and delivers food to 14 recipient sites around the city each day of the week, rescuing an average of 25,000 pounds of fresh food every month.
Recipient sites include other local hunger relief efforts, but CSFR has recently steered its focus to collaborating directly with low-income communities with the express purpose of increasing access to and knowledge about healthy foods. These five established grocery programs are managed by community members, creating a participatory structure around the way the food is redistributed. When driven by the community, these grocery programs flourish into venues not only for food distribution, but for education, empowerment and community building. The most recent collabora-
tive grocery program is based at Atlas Preparatory, a Harrison District 2 charter school that aims to provide free, high-quality education similar to private preparatory schools. CSFR staff, Atlas Prep staff, Colorado College students, and Atlas Prep high school student interns work together to create and manage a weekly food program that provides fresh produce and pantry items to participating families. In addition to driving the food program, the four Atlas Prep student interns receive school credit for their managerial experience and do coursework that furthers their critical under– CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 –
The USAFA Endowment has received a leadership gift of $5 million from an anonymous donor to support renovations to Falcon Stadium. The $5 million gift will help fund the much-needed renovations for the aging stadium that has seen only minor upgrades since it was built in 1962. The donation marks the first private contribution to the Falcon Stadium renovation initiative, a fundraising partnership between the USAFA Endowment and the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC). “We are extremely grateful and honored by this generous kickoff gift to Falcon Stadium,” said Air Force Head Football Coach Troy Calhoun. The renovations to the stadium are expected to move forward in stages. Early phases of the renovation will include enhancements to seating and the fan experience on the east side of the stands, installation of a new scoreboard and video board, and improvements in the team locker rooms. “We are confident that this generous gift will be a catalyst for future support to the much needed Falcon Stadium renovation project,” said Air Force Athletics Director Jim Knowlton. – CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 –
Support The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund: fillanemptystocking.org
Love Your Lungs No Ifs, Ands or Butts
A Breath of Fresh Air Addressing the Leading Cause of Cancer-Related Deaths with 2015 Colorado Springs Style Magazine Top Doc, Dr. Theolyn Price BY CORTNEY QUINTERO While it is no surprise that smoking causes lung cancer, roughly 45 million people, 24% of the nation’s population, continue to smoke daily. This staggering statistic is what makes creating awareness of this disease so important, which is why November has come to be recognized as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Killing more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. This deadly disease is all too real for Theolyn N. Price, M.D. of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Associates (CTSA). “Ninety percent of lung cancer cases are thought to be related to smoking,” said Dr. Price. “I am passionate about healing these patients and feel it is my responsibility to create awareness and encourage preventative measures that will decrease this statistic one patient at a time.” Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Price serves as a dedicated general thoracic surgeon at Penrose St. Francis Health Services. Dr. Price’s practice includes the treatment of both benign and malignant disorders of the lungs, esophagus, mediastinum and chest wall, with a special focus on thoracic oncology and robotic procedures. “I was fortunate to have robotic training during my residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and I continued building on that experience while I was on staff at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.” As the only surgeon in southern Colorado performing robotic lung surgery, Dr. Price’s experience provides Colorado residents the same traditional surgery, but through a minimally invasive approach. “Robotic procedures are performed with less blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery and an earlier return to everyday life,” explains Dr. Price.
While Dr. Price’s expertise is extremely beneficial to patients already battling lung disease, her goal is to identify asymptomatic patients with unrecognized disease so that she can provide the necessary treatment early on, thus improving survival. “I’ve known since I was eight years old that I was placed on this earth to make a difference through the gift of healing,” said Dr. Price.
“
While I am here to treat patients already affected by lung disease, it is extremely important to provide a strong understanding and encourage screenings among patients before the disease gets out of control.
To learn more about lung cancer screenings and preventative care, visit CTSurgery.com or call 800-204-9896. HEALTHY
Complimentary lunch and gift bags to the first 50 RSVPs during this 1-hour educational lecture. Fri 11/13
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Penrose Hospital 2222 North Nevada Avenue, Suite 5011 800.204.9896 2 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
”
With smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer, Dr. Price emphasizes the importance of quitting smoking and explains that while cessation is beneficial at any age, it has a much greater benefit to those quitting earlier in life. Dr. Price further explains that in addition to smoking cessation, screenings are crucial for successfully detecting and treating the disease at an earlier stage. “Having gone through cancer with my mother, I understand the heartbreak that family members feel when their loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer; which is why I highly encourage patients who have a history of smoking or a predisposition to lung disease to schedule a screening today.”
Breathing Made Easy: All About Lung Disease Colorado Springs Senior Center 1514 N Hancock Avenue
To RSVP, email or call us: RSVP@ctsurgery.com or 800.204.9896
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NOVEMBER 4, 2015
EDITOR, NONPROFIT NEWS Hannah Blick hannah.blick@gazette.com
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LOCAL SALES MANAGER Erik Carlson erik.carlson@gazette.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Gina Pietramale TO ADVERTISE: 719-636-0130
VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR
Ensuring accessibility during emergencies The Independence Center hosted an emergency preparedness training this fall for Colorado Red Cross chapters emphasizing accessibility for people with disabilities, the first of its kind in Colorado. The 2012 Waldo Canyon and 2013 Black Forest fires brought to the forefront the need for an understanding of accessibility for those with disabilities during emergency and evacuation situations. A grant from the Disability-Benefit Support Contract Committee funded the production of a training video and a grant from The
Daniels Fund paid for the creation of Emergency Preparedness Disability Kits to be given to all the Colorado Red Cross chapters. The kits contain $1,200 worth of accessibility items that may be needed at shelters holding evacuees. Red Cross leaders and consultants pose with kit items. Download a “Personal Emergency Preparedness Workbook” from The Independence Center free of charge at http://bit.ly/ emergencyprepworkbook. – Jessica TenBrink, The Independence Center
Chancel Choir, Orchestra, & Soloists: Penny Hogan, Soprano; Valerie Nicolosi Niemerg, Mezzo-Soprano Daniel Fosha, Tenor; and George Hogan, Bass-Baritone
James Steven Harter, Conductor
George Frideric Handel
November 13, 2015
First United Methodist Church
7:00 pm
December 6, 2015 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
420 N Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO
719-471-4361
- 3:00 pm
TICKETS: General Admission: $10 Students: $5 (21 and under) Tickets are available online at www.fumc-cs.org and in the Church Music Office.
420 N Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-471-8522
www.fumc-cs.org
ONLINE TICKETS NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 3
USAFA Endowment: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
EVERY DAY, The Salvation Army FEEDS 400 meals, SHELTERS 350 homeless & RESTORES hundreds of lives in El Paso County.
The USAFA Endowment receives a $5 million anonymous gift to support renovations to Falcon Stadium. (L – R) Jim Knowlton, athletic director; Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, superintendent; Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz ’73, president and CEO of the USAFA Endowment. Courtesy photo
The USAFA Endowment provides private philanthropic support to the Academy by working closely with graduates, families and friends of the Academy for initiatives that are not otherwise supported through government funding. Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said the generosity of the Academy’s alumni and supporters plays a pivotal role in the Colorado
Springs community and economy. “Much of our mission to provide a world-class education and to inspire future leaders is made possible by the ‘margin of excellence’ initiatives that enhance the Academy experience not only for our cadets, but also for the nearly half-million tourists that visit the Air Force’s Academy each year,” said. Through its strategic fundraising
partnership, the Endowment and AFAAC hope to raise $30 million in private donations to the stadium renovation project. “This gift is the first step to ensuring Air Force Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy a stadium worthy of the Academy’s rich heritage, outstanding cadets and extraordinary athletes,” said Jennifer Bateman, vice president for development at Endowment.
Colorado Springs Food Rescue: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Get involved
Want to donate, volunteer or start your own food rescue? Visit coloradospringsfoodrescue.org or call 719-470-2737 to find out how.
standing of the food system and food injustice in Colorado Springs. They are mentored by two Colorado College student coordinators on a weekly basis, providing a productive curriculum and peer support. “We do not want the students to just retain the knowledge they are gaining through the program, we want them to take it further and find ways in which they can become integral members of progress and change in their own communities,” said education coordinators Andy Rivas and Luis Quiles. These food programs begin when community members devise their own structure for food distribution, but the bigger vision is achieved when each becomes a diverse venue for nutrition education, cooking classes, canning demonstrations and community events.
4 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
Third graders at Sand Creek Elementary exercise with a parachute during physical education (PE) class. The school will receive funding from the Thriving Schools grant this year to help improve PE. Courtesy photo
Kaiser Permanente awards 6 SoCo districts funding to get kids active BY NICK ROPER
Kaiser Permanente
David Carter loves his English class — the reading, writing, and discussing his favorite authors — but his favorite part of the school day is when he gets to exercise. Thanks to a Thriving Schools grant from Kaiser Permanente, Carter and his classmates in North Arvada Middle School are able to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines before the bell even rings. “I love that it wakes us up and gets us stretched out for the day,” Carter said about the SPARK Initiative, which is designed to help get kids active before classes begin. “It gives you more energy, gets your mind going and makes you more alert in class.” Now in its second year, Thriving Schools engages school communities to champion change by incorporating evidence-based, community health improvement practices. Kaiser Permanente Colorado is the state’s largest nonprofit health plan and has been working to improve the lives and health of Colorado residents for more than 45 years. Sixteen Colorado school districts along the Front Range — including six in southern Colorado — will receive a combined $968,080 in Thriving Schools grant funding. Grant amounts vary depending on district size, population served, and free-andreduced-lunch rates. The districts receiving grants represent 531 schools and more than 300,000 students across Colorado, including those at
SoCo districts to receive Thriving Schools grants: • Academy School District 20 • Cañon City Schools • Cripple Creek-Victor School District RE-1 • Harrison School District 2 • School District 49 • Woodland Park School District Re-2
Sand Creek Elementary in Harrison School District 2. “The biggest impact on our physical education (PE) has been having the iPad and projector,” said Kent Coyle, PE teacher at Sand Creek. “It has allowed us to have “brain breaks” where we can connect our students to professionals outside our walls. We follow along to apps on Yoga and different workouts to add variety to the daily curriculum and get kids moving.” Research continues to demonstrate the link between academic achievement and physical activity. Children who are physically active have higher test scores and improved attention in class, decreased absenteeism and improved behavior, decreased stress and improved mood. “We know when students are healthy, they’re better learners and more likely to succeed academically,” said Donna Lynne, DrPH , executive vice president of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Inc. and president of Kaiser Permanente Colorado.
Since launching nationally in February 2013, Kaiser Permanente has committed more than $3 million in Thriving Schools grants. For more information on Thriving
Schools, visit kp.org/thrivingschools or follow @thrivingschools on Twitter. Visit kp.org/communitybenefit to learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s community benefit programs.
The Mezzanine is a social enterprise of The Colorado Springs Conservatory. Attending performances at The Mezzanine supports programming for young performing artists at The Colorado Springs Conservatory.
20 N. Tejon (alley entrance) 719-577-4556
415 S. Sahwatch St. 719-577-4556 NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 5
All Colorado Beer Festival to benefit Empty Stocking Fund, area nonprofits On November 7, 72 of the top brewers from around the state will descend on the Mortgage Solutions Financial Expo Center, 3650 N. Nevada Avenue for the 9th Annual All Colorado Festival (ACBF) — all benefiting Colorado Springs nonprofits. Last year, ACBF donated $18,000 to The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund, which supports 20 local health and human service agencies. Visit fillanemptystocking.org to donate to the 2015 campaign. Ticket purchases also support donations to nonprofits Theatreworks, a professional theatre company lo-
cated at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS), and The Home Front Cares, which provides support for Colorado’s military service members, veterans and families of all services who have been impacted by deployment in harm’s way. The All Colorado Beer Festival has also contributed more than $5,000 to UCCS Financial Aid, enabling the school to help students who need emergency assistance when all other financial aid has been exhausted. Purchase ACBF tickets in support of these nonprofits at allcoloradobeerfestival.com. – Hannah Blick, Nonprofit News
9th Annual All Colorado Beer Festival
November 7 at Mortgage Solutions Financial Expo Center, 3650 N. Nevada Avenue Afternoon session: 1– 4:30 p.m. Evening session: 6:30–10 p.m. Purchase tickets at allcoloradobeerfestival.com.
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YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SOLDIER TO EAT LIKE ONE. MRE Lunch Day is Tuesday, November 10th. Order your company’s MREs now at TheHomeFrontCares.org/MRE. When you order MREs for MRE Lunch Day from The Home Front Cares, you’ll help us help Colorado service members, veterans and military families pay essential life expenses like rent and utilities. These special MREs are just $11 each, or 10 IRU 2UGHU ÀYH RU PRUH DQG ZH·OO HYHQ GHOLYHU WKHP WR \RXU ZRUNSODFH on Tuesday, November 10th. After all, anyone can put a bumper sticker on their car. But it takes a real American to put an MRE in your mouth.
A FINANCIAL BRIDGE FOR OUR COLORADO MILITARY
ORDER YOUR MREs ONLINE TODAY! TheHomeFrontCares.org/MRE or call (719) 434-1407 NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 7 THFC-MRE Vet-Day 2015_ Ad_Gaz-NP_8.75x11.25_R3.indd 1
10/21/15 4:55 PM
Westside CARES reaches out to neighbors in need from Old Colorado City base BY MARYANN STADJUHAR
Need assistance in an emergency? Westside CARES can help
Westside CARES
In 1984, the El Paso County Poor Farm closed its doors after serving local citizens with mental and physical disabilities for 84 years, The closure created an obvious need for services and programs to continue the tradition of caring for neighbors in need. Several churches joined together to help resettle individuals and families who became homeless upon the abrupt closure. Out of the shared work and communion came the idea to create a more formal and permanent relationship. Westside CARES was established as an interfaith, nonprofit organization providing crisis human services to its west-side neighbors. From 1984 –1993, Westside CARES partnered with the Billie Speilman Center, and when the organizations separated, Bethany Baptist Church offered Westside CARES 4,200 square feet of space in its basement at modest rental costs. Over the years, Westside CARES has become the significant distribu-
Hours of operation: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Monday–Thursday (doors open at 8:30) 4:30– 6:30 p.m., Thursdays
Join Westside CARES Volunteers Bill Edmondson, Carmelita Herazo, Ani Rose Whaleswan and Linda Mooney pose at Westside CARES in Old Colorado City. Courtesy photo
tion agency for emergency services in western El Paso County. Its team serves neighbors from Fort Carson to the Air Force Academy and 1-25 west to the county border. Westside CARES has grown from serving several hundred households a year in 1984 to over 20,000 households in 2014, through its Caring Services Programs, six food pantries and a Sunday meal. By 2012, the organization had outgrown its basement space and
began a search for a more adequate facility. In 2013, the team moved into its current location, 2808 W. Colorado Avenue, which doubled its available floor space and provided better parking and general accessibility. Westside CARES is currently engaged in a capital campaign to purchase and remodel the newer facility in order to provide services for even more neighbors. Westside CARES staff and volunteers continue to live their mission
Do you have a heart for serving our Westside neighbors? Contact Deb Mitguard at 719-389-0759 ext. 108 or debra.mitguard@westsidecares.org to find out how you can volunteer with Westside CARES or donate.
of providing care and compassion to neighbors in need, today, tomorrow and beyond. They invite members of the community to donate needed items and time or stop in to receive services. Visit westsidecares.org or call 719-389-0759 for more information or to donate.
Support World-Class Cinema in Colorado Springs NOVEMBER 13-15, 2015
RMWFILMFEST.ORG 8 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
The Life Without Lupus Foundation In cooperation with The Downtown Colorado Springs Partnership Presents…
Peak Holiday Emporium Gift Shoppe & Marketplace
Saturday – December 5th 11:00 am – 4:30pm Ninety-two-year-old Lois Giles has logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours at Memorial Hospital since 1985. She continues to show up at 5 a.m. to greet employees and guests at the front desk. Courtesy photo
VOLUNTEER PROFILE:
More than 38,000 hours later, Lois Giles is still ‘working’ BY MICHELLE MOY Memorial Hospital
Lois Giles, 92, rises at 3:45 each morning to arrive on time for her 5 a.m. front desk shift at the north entrance of Memorial Hospital Central. She’ll stay 10 hours — not bad for someone who isn’t technically working. Dressed in the recognizable blue top and white pants worn by Memorial volunteers, she greets visitors and employees as they come into the hospital from the parking garage. In the 24 years she has volunteered, Lois has logged over 38,000 hours, more than any volunteer. “Hi, trouble,” employees say as they pass the front desk at the north entrance. Lois grins, and her green eyes dance. She delights in the camaraderie she has built in more than two decades helping Memorial. “I like the atmosphere and the people who work here,’’ she said. “I’m a person who doesn’t sleep much, so I like to get up and get going. Otherwise, I’d have to wait until 8 to come to work.” “She’s been around for a long time,” said Bonnie Nixon, manager of volunteer services. Lois’s first job at Memorial was delivering books and magazines to patients, and she has worked in the business office, on patient floors and in the emergency room. She’s been
at the front desk for several years. “I like to say good morning to people, I don’t like to see the employees just walk by.” Lois had a humble upbringing. She married Howard Giles, a Navy man who served in World War II and the Korean War. Early in their 66-year marriage, the couple purchased a creamery in East Haddam, Conn., a building they would eventually convert to their home. While Howard was away with the Navy, Lois would go to the edge of their property to pump water from a well, haul it upstairs, and heat it on an oil stove for baths, cooking and cleaning. There was no running water in the house and no toilets. Lois washed diapers and hung them to dry in the cold New England winter for her four children. Lois and Howard moved to Colorado Springs in 1985. Soon after, both she and Howard, who died five years ago, started volunteering at Memorial. Occasionally, Lois’s fellow volunteers tease her about working so much. “I lost my husband five years ago and I had to do something, so I stayed on and I asked for more hours. People say, ‘You’d better go home, but you’ll lose some hours.’’’ Giles tells them: “I’m not here for the hours, I’m here to help.”
Sunday December 6th 11:00am – 3:30pm
Historic City Auditorium | 221 East Kiowa (Kiowa & Weber)
This year’s event will showcase Colorado’s premiere businesses & merchants selling unique holiday gift giving ideas. FEATURING… COURTESY GIFT WRAP STATION GREAT CHRISTMAS IDEAS FROM PREMIERE VENDORS & MERCHANTS AWESOME FOOD & CURBSIDE CUISINE OUR ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION CLASSIC CAR SHOW BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY MUSIC Various Performers & Choirs
KID ZONE PUPPETS & THINGS ON STRINGS FUN VENDORS AND OF COURSE… SANTA CLAUS!
PO Box 76221 | Colorado Springs, CO 80970 719-380-8330 | 719-380-5029 fax | www.lifewithoutlupusproject.org
Admission is FREE, but a $5 contribution to The LIFE Without Lupus Foundation is greatly appreciated. Call for more information
719-380-8330.
no known cause…no known cure… YET! NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 9
Nonprofit Events To submit an event for the Nonprofit News calendar, please send details and contact information to nonprofitnews@gazette.com.
November 4
CPCD Community Giving Breakfast 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. Benef iting CPCD giving children a head start. Info: cpcdheadstart.org.
November 5
225 North Gate Blvd. RSVP: 719488-0880, rsvp@wmmi.org. Info: wmmi.org.
November 6 Mission Pawsible Benefit Gala
6 p.m. at The Pinery at Black Forest, 12375 Black Forest Road. Benefiting National Mill Dog Rescue. Info: milldogrescue.com.
Nature Adventures: Let’s Talk Turkey
UPROAR: A First Friday cultural event
9 –10:30 a.m. at Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain. $3/family. Info: 719-520-6745.
6– 9 p.m. at 103 S. Wahsatch Avenue. Hosted by Dream Catchers. Info: 719-505-5476, dreamcatherscos.com.
Active Adults Club: Hiking Kilimanjaro Presentation 6– 7 p.m. at Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road. $2/member; $3/non-member. Adults only. Info: 719-520-6388.
Heritage Lecture: Colorado Mining Today Doors open at 6 p.m., lecture at 7 at The Pinery at Western Museum of Mining and Industry,
November 7
Nature Program for Veterans and Families 10– 11:30 a.m. at Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain. Service dogs OK. Info: 719-520-6745.
Sustainability Series: Keeping Backyard Goats 10 a.m.– noon at Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Rd.
$5/member; $6/non-member. Info: 719-520-6388.
Pikes Peak Neighbors Club of Colorado Springs Annual Luncheon
21st Annual Gingerbread & Jazz Gala
Live and silent auctions at 10 a.m., lunch at noon at The Academy Hotel, 8110 N. Academy Blvd. Benefiting Silver Key Senior Services and Pikes Peak Hospice Palliative Care. $20 per plate, RSVP by November 6 by mailing a check made out to Pikes Peak Neighbors Club to 115 Dolomite Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. Info: 719-634-1476.
6 –10 p.m. at the Historic Day Center, 104 E. Rio Grande. Benefiting Early Connections Learning Centers. Info: earlyconnections.org.
November 9
Holistic Moms Monthly Meeting: Midwives panel
9– 10:15 a.m. at Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain. $3/family. Info: 719-520-6745.
November 11
November 13
5 p.m. social, 5:30 meeting at 309 S. Cascade Ave. Hosted by Council of Neighbors and Organizations. Info: info@cscono.org, cscono.org.
6:30 p.m. at the Norris-Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road. Benefiting Colorado Springs Teen Court and the El Pomar Foundation. Info: springsteencourt.org.
Monthly Neighborhood meeting
Your #1 source for arts, culture & fun! 10 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
November 12
7 p.m. at Pikes Peak Library District East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd. Hosted by Holistic Moms Network: Front Range, CO Chapter. Info: frontrangehmn@ gmail.com, facebook.com/ HMNFrontRangeCO.
Twos and Threes Outdoors: Snow Bunnies
A Jewel of a Wine Tasting
November 25 Little Wonders
Terrific Turkey Time: 9-10:15 a.m. at Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Rd. $3/family. Info: 719-520-6387.
November 28
Thanksgiving Wetland Wildlife Walk 9:30 –11:30 a.m. at Fountain Creek Regional Park, Fountain. Coffee provided. $3/member; $4/ non-member. Info: 719-520-6745.
“The Gnomist,” a film by Sharon Liese, will be featured in the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. Courtesy photo
November 13-15 Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
6:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 through 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Colorado College, 14 E. Cache Le Poudre Street and Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale Street. Benefiting Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Institute. Schedule and tickets: rmwfilmfest.org.
November 14
Bear Creek’s Bear Run 3K Fun Run Fundraiser 11 a.m.– noon at Bear Creek Regional Park. Benefiting Bear Creek Nature Center. $30/child, $60/adult. Info: 719-520-6387.
November 17 Soap Making
10 a.m.– noon at Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain. $3/member, $10 material fee. Info: 719-520-6745.
Panel: Why Do Neighborhoods Matter? Noon–1 p.m. at 309 S. Cascade Ave. Hosted by Council of Neighbors and Organizations. Info: info@cscono.org, cscono.org.
November 19 Nature Explorers: Horns & Antlers
9–10:30 a.m. at Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Rd. $3/family. Info: 719-5206387.
ONGOING
Living Well With a Disability 10:30 a.m.– noon every Monday at The Independence Center, 729 S. Tejon St. Info: 719-4718181, theindependencecenter. org/calendars.
Family and Caregiver Encouragement Group 5:30 – 7 p.m., 1st & 3rd Thursday monthly at The Independence Center, 729 S. Tejon St. Info: 719-471-8181, theindependencecenter.org/calendars.
Employee Retention & Being Successful at a Job 10 a.m.–noon every Thursday at The Independence Center, 729 S. Tejon St. Info: 719-471-8181, theindependencecenter.org/calendars.
Doors of Colorado Springs Poster Sale, benefiting The Resource Exchange
December 5–6, Hosted by The LiFE WithOut Lupus Foundation and Downtown Partnership. Booth info: 719-380-8330, lifewithoutlupusproject@yahoo.com.
seeking assistance. Visit aarp. org/giving-back or contact Kathy Martz, 303-683-9524, for more information.
Lucky Dog Rescue is in need of administrators, dog holders/ walkers and foster homes. Info: luckydogvolunteer@gmail.com, bealuckydog.com/rescue.
The American Red Cross will make a major push to save lives through the Home Fire Campaign that strives to reduce fatalities caused by home fires. Volunteers, along with 600 cadets from the Air Force Academy, will be out testing smoke alarms and installing free smoke alarms in homes throughout El Paso, Teller and Pueblo Counties. Volunteers from the community are needed to help with this effort. Red Cross is also looking for people to loan small ladders and portable drills to help with the installations. Please contact 303607-4753 if you are interested in volunteering or want more information.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service is seeking volunteers across the state to help Colorado taxpayers who are seeking assistance preparing and filing their 2015 tax returns. Volunteers do not need to be an AARP member or retiree to participate. Tax-Aide is particularly in need of volunteers who are bilingual in English/Spanish to support the increasing number of Spanish-speaking taxpayers
The Youth Transformation Center is looking for volunteers to help throughout this academic year to facilitate restorative justice circles in some D-11 schools. After an 8-hour training, the time commitments include up to three hours/week. Ideal volunteers include people who live in D-11, are interested in learning about restorative justice and are committed to youth reaching their highest potential. Info: 719440-1983 and youthtransformationcenter.org.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Leading with Love, a Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raising group, is seeking volunteer puppy raisers to open their homes to raise and socialize puppies who will become Guide Dogs. For more information, contact Holly, haluta4@hotmail. com, or visit the Leading With Love Facebook page.
Posters available for purchase at TRE, 418 S. Weber St. and Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS, 430 N. Tejon St. Info: tre.org. Leadership Pikes Peak is accepting applications for the Women’s Community Leadership Initiative (WCLI) Class of 2016 through November 13. WCLI is tuition free, childcare stipends are available and dinner is provided. To apply, visit leadershippikespeak.org or call 719-6322618 for more info.
CALL FOR VENDORS & PARTNERS 5th Annual Peak Holiday Emporium Gift Shoppe & Marketplace
The Gazette Employee Volunteer Program is looking for nonprofit partners in need of volunteers. Send volunteer requests to ivy.morris@gazette.com or rhonda. vonluhrte@gazette.com. Please include an event or service project description, number of volunteers needed, and contact information. For more information, call Ivy Morris, 719-636-0308, or Rhonda von Luhrte, 719-636-0209.
NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 11
The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival November 13–15 at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale Street and various locations on the Colorado College campus. Day passes are $40 for Saturday, $35 for Sunday and $130 for the full Festival, including the Friday night gala. More options, including individual program block tickets, will be available. Visit rmwfilmfest.org or call 719-226-0450 for more information. “The Story of Percival Pilts,” a film by Janette Goodey and John Lewis, will be featured in the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. Courtesy photo
Local film fest an antidote to bad entertainment BY WARREN EPSTEIN Blakely + Company
I once had the best job ever: The Gazette paid me to watch movies. Getting a paycheck for doing something you’d do anyway for free is hard to beat. As the paper’s film critic, one of my favorite annual gigs was covering the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. The shorts would make me laugh until I dropped my popcorn. The documentaries would take me around the world. They introduced me to people and issues I might have read about in the New York Times or heard about on NPR, but these films made them somehow more real, tangible, impossible to ignore. These films became antidotes or counterbalances to every bad Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Sea-
gal movie I had to review and they demonstrated that substance could be profoundly entertaining. I also appreciated that the festival was more than a passive exercise in film consumption. It was an engaging social experience. You met your friends. You immersed yourselves together in the ideas and issues, hashing them out as you would at a book group. And you actually got to meet the filmmakers. Unlike the snooty film festivals I attended, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival brought filmmakers down to earth, and the forums and receptions became vehicles for much more personal connections with the people who create these great films. I no longer review films for a living, but I find myself blessed with
another awesome job. As an account manager at Blakely + Company, I get to work behind the scenes to support the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. I can’t wait for this year’s festival! Executive Director Linda Broker and her crew have assembled more films than ever, representing a staggering diversity of themes, styles and filmmakers. A few I’m looking forward to: “How to Dance in Ohio,” about young people on the autism spectrum facing their first spring formal, “Iris,” a funny and poignant look at fashion maven Iris Apfel, and “Mavis!” a tribute to gospel legend Mavis Staples of The Staple Singers. I hope to see you at the Red Carpet Opening Night Gala at the Colorado
“Tyke Elephant Outlaw,” by Susan Lambert and Stefan Moore. Courtesy photo
Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale Street, the after party at The Mining Exchange, 8 S. Nevada Avenue, the filmmaker roundtable and forum and the individual film programs. I expect another legendary five-star movie experience.
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Dream Catchers connects students to local arts scene
Mural unveiling 6:30 p.m. on November 6 103 S. Wahsatch Avenue In conjunction with Dream Catchers’ First Friday art opening. Visit dreamcatcherscos.com for more information.
BY STEPHANIE VON FANGE Dream Catchers
Local nonprofit organization Dream Catchers in downtown Colorado Springs is collaborating with University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) students to create a wheat paste mural on its building. Dream Catchers is as a vocational program for adults with intellectual disabilities and at risk youth. Its mission is to integrate participants into the larger community through UCCS students wheat pasting on the Dream Catchers building. Courtesy photo cultural arts and events. The partnership between Dream Catchers and Visual and Perform- Nikki Pike’s Art and Democracy forming Arts Department, led by ing Arts Department (VAPA) is the course and Dream Catchers. The professor Nikki Pike, came together beginning of a continuing relation- project’s funding has come togeth- to realize the project on a large scale. ship between the two entities to er from Daisy McGowan’s Galleries Ian Alexandrowicz, Rachel Carpenconnect art students to the larger of Contemporary Arts (GOCA), the ter, Sara Cofield, Alisan Harano, Miarts community. The opportunity UCCS Visual and Performing Arts chael Teske and Antonio Castaneda was offered to students as a project Department and Dream Catchers. are the students on the project. built into a current VAPA course. “I have found students respond Once the wheat-paste design was The project will continue as an an- finalized, students of Art and De- strongest and gain more in their Make a $50 donation and save up to on mocracy in $400 nual production between Professor UCCS’ Visual and Per- education when their classroom ex-
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THE ROAD TO FOUNDING A NONPROFIT:
Springs woman walks journey from personal pain to empathetic education BY CARIN E. WILLIS Bridge for Pelvic Pain
Most of life’s decisions can be whittled down to Robert Frost’s poem about the road not taken — a road filled with tree roots, scree and all kinds of twists and turns. As a child who spent many happy summers reading and writing stories and plays in my bedroom, I always imagined myself as an award-winning journalist, a happy slave to sentence structure, storytelling and deadlines. Countless choices and chance encounters instead lead me to a career in the technology industry. Though I found my niche writing reports, client notes and excelling in work with spreadsheets and databases, the work was stressful, and I never experienced any heartfelt connection to either the industry or companies in which I worked. I dedicated over a decade of my life working within the technology industry and experienced numerous devastating layoffs. Who knows if I would still be working there today if events that unfolded had not shaken me to my core? At the age of 27, I was diagnosed with several chronic pain diseases. The word “incurable” numbed my soul, and I could barely hear the doctor’s advice to learn to live with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and chronic pelvic pain (CPP). The diagnosis ended my social life, forced me to drop out of graduate school and severely impacted my relationships. Faced with extreme chronic pain and a complete stripping away of my identity at such a young age forced me to question the purpose of my existence. This question lead me on a seven-year journey to uncover ways
to overcome the pain, fear and isolation that come with any traumatic health condition. I learned that an integrative approach to treating chronic pain involves the mind, body and spirit. I found hope in spite of my pain by learning to advocate for my health care, surrounding myself with family and friends I could speak with openly and celebrating each milestone. As my health slowly returned and the pain lessened, I was consumed with the desire to reach out to others suffering with a message of hope, treatment options, and an empathetic ear. I created a website and blog and soon discovered that in the sharing of my own darkness and road to wellness, people around the world responded by sharing similar feelings of isolation and pain. The road I was now walking down was very different than the one I first started on as a scared chronic pain patient: instead of an isolated patient I became an advocate for chronic pelvic pain patients around the world. My love of writing was renewed with each of my blog entries, research of the newest treatment protocols, and writing poetry as both a creative and a healing outlet. Answering patient emails and speaking with integrative care healers and doctors lead me to being introduced to a medical doctor treating some of these chronic pelvic pain conditions in his office. One medical expert interview lead to four other interviews and I was grateful for the chance to pair my experiences with information from highly respected healthcare providers from across the U.S. I longed for
Ready to start a nonprofit? If you’re interested in founding a nonprofit, contact the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at info@ cnecoloradosprings.org for resources and information. Take the nonprofit startup assessment at cnecoloradosprings.com/resources/ nonprofitstartup.
Carin E. Willis, Bridge for Pelvic Pain, courtesy photo
a way to further connect chronic pelvic pain patients with the integrative care resources I’d discovered. At the age of 35, I left the road of comfort and familiarity, with its well-trodden paths and I started down a new road starting a nonprofit, Bridge for Pelvic Pain. It was there, where both roads diverged, that I understood the difference between working towards a paycheck and working towards something bigger than myself — a path comprised of equal parts hard work and passion. My tribe has been with me every step of the way offering support, advice and an unwavering belief that together we can make a difference in the lives of people living with chronic pelvic pain. Where else in this country could I have found such a plethora of nonprofit resources, consultants and a collaborative community that em-
braces nonprofits, outside of Colorado Springs? The Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh explains the art of transforming suffering in his book “No Mud, No Lotus” with this beautiful analogy: “The mud doesn’t smell so good, but the lotus smells very good. Without mud, there can be no lotus.” No one wants to speak of the muddy darkness, the hard work or the pain that each of us endures in one way or another on this path of life. But, how beautiful is the star-shaped lotus flower with its roots reaching deeply into the mud. I never thought that I would one day have the chance to transform my experience into such a profound resource for others, yet now, a life of service in the nonprofit world is the lotus on my journey, and I treasure it more than any other flower on Earth.
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Tuition-free women’s leadership project recruiting for 2016 program BY MUNDI ROSS
Leadership Pikes Peak
Leadership Pikes Peak (LLP) is now recruiting for the Women’s Community Leadership Initiative ( WCLI) class of 2016. WCLI is a leadership program in which women of all ages and diverse backgrounds come together to cultivate their leadership skills. The program also provides participants with a greater understanding of the key issues facing our community and affords them the opportunity to meet community leaders and be mentored by women who have graduated from the WCLI program. Participants are also encouraged to discover and pursue their passions, utilizing them to make a difference in the Colorado Springs community. WCLI will meet from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. every other Wednesday from January – June 2016 at various key locations around Colorado Springs. Each session focuses on two themes: developing leader-
ship skills, like communication styles and project management, and knowledge of community sectors, like health care and education. The WCLI program culminates in a community project that participants complete with fellow team members. The WCLI program often has a life-changing effect on its participants. Graduates have reported a higher level of self-conf idence and more developed interpersonal skills in their careers and at home. Many have gone on to pursue higher education and have worked to make a positive difference in the community, from volunteering in their children’s schools to joining nonprof it boards. WCLI is tuition free, childcare stipends are available and dinner is provided for each participant. The application deadline for the class of 2016 is November 13. For more information or to apply, visit leadershippikespeak.org.
The Women’s Community Leadership Initiative class of 2015 poses at the Glen Eyrie Castle. Mundi Ross, Leadership Pikes Peak
Attention, Colorado Springs women Apply for the Women’s Community Leadership Initiative class of 2016 by November 13. For more information or to apply, visit leadershippikespeak.org. With questions, contact Mundi Ross at 719-632-2618.
Providing support for Individuals with I/DD & their Families for 60 years. Protection Inclusion Advocacy Guardianship Education Social Opportunities “Self-advocacy is important, because it lets people know that individuals with I/DD have rights, and that they contribute to the world.”
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-Mitch Routon, self-advocate & Include USA member (Include USA is The Arc Pikes Peak Region’s Self-Advocacy group, pictured above)
www.thearcppr.org | 719-471-4800 NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 15
Soldier support group provides familial foundation for wounded warriors BY TAMMY DAVIS
G.I. Grannies/Gramps for Soldier Support
After noticing the positive effect an elderly Italian interpreter had on the wounded soldiers he was interacting with, Dell Harlow-Curtis founded G.I. Grannies/Gramps for Soldier Support (GIGSS) in 2011. The Colorado Springs group serves local military men and women with the love only a grandparent can give, seeking to provide hope and compassion in the midst of tragedy for local wounded warriors at the Fort Carson Warrior Transition Battalion and beyond. “We aren’t your average grandparents,” said Pat Dikeman, GIGSS treasurer. “Our young troops need grandparents when they're so far from home.” Some GIGSS members are Gold Star mothers and fathers who have lost a child to war efforts; others are Blue Star parents who have a child on active duty or are retired military. There are even some caring members who have no military affiliation at all. The one thing all members have in common: they love soldiers and care
Retired volunteers needed G.I. Grannies/Gramps for Soldier Support is recruiting retirees to join its efforts in supporting wounded service men and women and their families. Whether you can bake, sew, serve or hug — you are needed! Visit gigss.webs.com for more information.
Members of G.I. Grannies/Gramps for Soldier Support (GIGSS) pose at the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Carson, where they provide wounded soldiers and their families with familial support. Kris Machalski, GIGSS
about their families. GIGSS members adopt soldiers from all military branches and their families to support them in a variety of ways: phone calls, personal letters, birthday cakes, hugs, and words of encouragement from a grandparent’s heart. Members also repurpose old
military uniforms by sewing aprons, baby bags, and creating special wreaths for families. They also build “Dang-it Dolls,” a stress relief tool for soldiers, and provide therapy dogs for patients at Fort Carson’s Evans Army Community Hospital and military children who attend behavioral
health summer camps. The Grannies and Gramps show military support by attending unit functions and cooking and serving lunch once a week at the Fort Carson Soldier Family Assistance Center. This allows them to build long-term relationships with soldiers, serving as a constant and consistent presence in their lives. GIGSS members can also provide the types of personal support the military cannot — including hosting baby showers, memorial services and outreach events through involved churches, all with the goal of shining light in the darkness for wounded, ill, or injured soldiers and their families in our community.
Nonprofit News Your Community Connection
iSpace @ The Citadel A free, creative community center. What IF…Festival of Imagination and Innovation A day of wow’s for all ages. Over the Moon Family Theater Literacy-based theatrical performances. Dragon Theatre Productions Inclusive community theater for all abilities.
Volunteer opportunities, nonprofit community updates, fundraisers and events sent to your inbox each week.
FREE: gazette.com/newsletters 16 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
Kaleidoscope Dance Dance / Musical theater for ages 3 to adult.
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Conservatory boasts world-class instructors for young musicians BY MADELEINE MELLINI
Colorado Springs Conservatory
More than four dozen mentors and guest artists grace the halls of the Colorado Springs Conservatory, leading instruction, workshops, master classes and private lessons for students ages 4 –19. From the White House and Carnegie Hall to capitol cities throughout the world, dimly lit jazz clubs to the lights on Broadway, these mentors have shared their passion for the arts of students who have attended the Conservatory during its 21-year history. THOMAS DAWSON is an accomplished recording engineer, musician, producer and composer. His experience as a musician combined with his knowledge of computer technology has made him one of the most sought after studio engineers in the business working with music greats including Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Lopez. In his words: “I’m from a family of educators. My high school was named after my grandfather where my dad was the principal, and my mom, aunt and uncle were teachers. It was a family business; like the bonds we share as family at the Conservatory. I love giving back to the students. Seeing their reaction when first exposed to music, is the same way I felt as a young musician.” DR. ANGELINA GADELIYA is on the faculty at UCCS and a core member of the Decoda Ensemble in New York City, which was recently named the first-ever affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall. Angelina received her Master’s from The Juilliard School and her Doctorate from Stony Brook University.
Colorado Springs Conservatory instructor Wayne Wilkinson has performed for presidents and dignitaries at Carnegie Hall, the White House, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy photo
In her words: “I teach at the Conservatory because of the high quality and incredible dedication of our students, the vibrant and vital role CSC plays in the Colorado Springs community, and because I’m so inspired by my fabulous fellow faculty members.” LEWIS KELLER has a Bachelor’s in music from Colorado College and a Master’s in composition from California Institute of the Arts. He has been interviewed by NPR and California PBS and performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as performed on Sony/Colombia records. In his words: “I really resonate with and appreciate the Conservatory’s mission of helping students to reach for their potential, not just as artists but as human beings. Every time I teach at the Conservatory I feel a great sense of
gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the community where I have my roots. CAREN TACKETT has been a Broadway actor, appearing in “Rent” and the revival of “Hair,” as well as performing extensively in New York and across the country. She is the creator and performer in the acclaimed theatrical work “Born Blue” that played in New York and will be at The Mezzanine through November 24. In her words: “It’s hard to imagine, but sometimes after a decade in show business, the hustle and grind can be very stifling. I needed space, air and quality of life. We had been talking about where to lay down our roots. My husband Jeremy was raised in Colorado Springs and he took me to Manitou. That was all I needed. I literally felt like I was home.” “Artists of all kinds have had a deep impact on world culture, and we need
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that artistic expression now more than ever. Conservatory students develop tools to guide them through all aspects of life, like creative problem solving. Cultivating these fantastic children with artistic tools is my passion, responsibility and honor.” WAYNE WILKINSON was instrumental in establishing the current jazz program at the Conservatory and is an adjunct professor for non-classical guitar at Colorado State University–Pueblo. A nationally acclaimed guitarist, Wayne has toured coast-tocoast for 38 years. He is a former guitarist of the Air Force jazz ensemble “The Airmen of Note” based in Washington, D.C. and the “Falconaires” based in Colorado Springs. In his words: “I teach at the conservatory because it’s my way of giving back and watching the students become wonderful musicians is the most rewarding part.”
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Ronald McDonald House calls for volunteers to aid local preemies, families BY SAM RUSH-WALTON
COOKING AND BAKING
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado
Keoki is a smiling and curious 2-year-old who loves nature and collecting rocks. Most never suspect he weighed just one pound and ten ounces at birth and needed to be hospitalized for nearly the first 100 days of his little life. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado (RMHCSC) helped keep Keoki and his family together while he was in the hospital, enabling him to grow into a happy, healthy baby and now toddler, who loves to explore everything form squirmy bugs to playground slides.
WISH LIST:
On your next grocery run, please consider picking up a few items for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado families. The wish list can be found at rmhcsoutherncolorado. org/wish_list.asp. Call 719-471-1814 to schedule a tour or learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Do you love to cook or bake? If so, families love to eat! Each night, RMHCSC families are appreciative for a nutritious meal, prepared and waiting for them promptly at 6. Bring your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers to make a meal at the facility for a family to enjoy.
HOUSE SUPPORT Volunteers assist daily in the RMHCSC office, on the grounds
Two-year-old Keoki is happy and healthy, thanks to the care he and his family received from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado when he was born prematurely. Julie Anne Vinson, Julie’s Creations in Photography
RMHCSC’s mission is to lift chil-
dren and families in need to a better tomorrow, and volunteers help make this happen for Keoki and the more than 4,250 local children who pass through its cornerstone programs annually. The RMHCSC family is looking for volunteers to serve in the following programs:
Early connections. Lifelong results. The achievement gap begins early. For lower-income children, high quality early care and education can be the key to success in school. School success has life-long benefits for individuals: • higher educational achievement • higher lifetime earnings • improved health outcomes and our community: • a better-prepared workforce • lower crime rates • less reliance on public assistance Monetary donations to Early Connections made by individuals and businesses are eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.
To donate or learn more visit earlyconnections.org 18 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS
FAMILY ROOMS Located in local hospitals, family rooms provide a comfortable, home-like place for parents and caregivers with critically ill children. Volunteering to monitor the room for a four-hour shift ensures the rooms stay open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
and around the House. If you love helping provide a safe, comfortable space for those in need, this is the place for you.
BUNDLES OF JOY For those who love the tiniest of babies, the Bundles of Joy group hosts baby showers for parents who give birth much sooner than expected. Donations of baby items, the gift of your time or resources are appreciated by families who often find they are unprepared to bring such a tiny one home.
Springs hotel employees initiate Local businesses cleanup, volunteer, donation efforts for nonprofits Are you a small, medium or large company that supports nonprofit efforts in our community? Send your donation and volunteer stories and photos to nonprofitnews@gazette.com for print consideration.
Before & After:
Employees of Embassy Suites by Hilton Colorado Springs initiated a monthly, volunteer cleanup day in its neighborhood, including restoring the welcome sign to the Monument Creek Commerce Center. Jeff Zelkin, Embassy Suites
BY MELISSA OLSTER
The Mayfield Group Public Relations
A proponent of corporate social responsibility, Embassy Suites by Hilton Colorado Springs has made efforts to give back to its community in the recent and upcoming months. Embassy Suites has supported local and national causes by working with organizations like Adopt a Park, Children’s Miracle Network, Neighborhood Cleanup, Clean the
World and Operation Opportunity. Embassy Suites spearheaded the Neighborhood Cleanup project with other local hotels and restaurants along Commerce Center Drive in an attempt to beautify the street and encourage the community to maintain a safer, cleaner environment. Participants picked up trash, pulled weeds and repainted dilapidated signs. The group plans to
repeat its efforts each month. Continuing with the trend of green initiatives, Embassy Suites also participated in Clean the World’s hotel recycling program. The Colorado Springs team collects used soap and bottled amenities from the hotel suites once guests check out and sends them off to a company that reprocesses and distributes the items to people around the globe who do not
have access to these basic necessities. The entire hotel team has also sponsored events in conjunction with the nonprofit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, like Miracle Jeans Day, which occurs weekly at Embassy Suites. Staff can wear blue jeans to work on Fridays if they donate $5 for one week or $8 for two weeks towards making Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
SAVE THE DATE
Complimentary one day workshop
for Professional Caregivers
The Springs Funeral Services presents: Noted Author, Educatro & Grief Counselor
Center for Loss & Life Transition “Mourning in our culture isn’t always easy. Normal thoughts and feelings
Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt Death, Grief & Mouring Essential Principles & Practices
connected to loss are typically seen
9:00am – 3:30pm
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Instead of encouraging mourners to express themselves, our culture’s unstated rules would have them avoid their hurt and be strong.” – Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Marriott Hotel in Rockrimmon 5580 Tech Center Dr. • Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Seating is Limited
To register, please contact Robin Patterson 328-1793 or communityrelations@www.tsfs.co NONPROFIT NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 19
20 NOVEMBER 2015 NONPROFIT NEWS