Douglas County Gives 2012

K O DE LO SI IN

CELEBRATES

COLORADO GIVES DAY DECEMBER 4, 2012

24 HOURS TO GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE

REFERENCE GUIDE WWW.DOUGLASCOUNTYGIVES.ORG

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Colorado Community Media Dear Douglas County residents: Gives Back The season of giving is upon us! As you think about the gifts you will be giving your family and friends, we hope you will also consider your charitable giving choices. This booklet provides information on a wide range of Douglas County based charities. Each listed charity is participating in Colorado Gives Day – 24 Hours to Give Where You Live, and is a member of the Douglas County Non-Profit Coalition (DCNPC).

December 4th is Colorado Gives Day’s third anniversary, and represents the inaugural outreach effort of the DCNPC. For the first time, local charities are working together to help increase awareness about the good work that is occurring or being facilitated right here in your backyard.

Please use this booklet as a resource to learn about the many non-profits located in our community. You will find that Douglas County is home to a wonderful array of charities working in a variety of areas including animal welfare, arts, advocating for those with special needs, education, historic preservation, land and wildlife conservation, youth and adult health and welfare and much more. Also included in this booklet is information on how to give through the giving first website (www.

GivingFirst.org ) as well as how to provide support to local charities throughout the year.

Colorado Gives Day, presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, is an initiative to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. One hundred percent of every donation goes to the charity. FirstBank has created an Incentive Fund to be used to increase the value of every dollar donated. The Douglas County Non-Profit Coalition hopes you will join in helping reach their goal of raising $500,000 for local charities.

We would like to thank Colorado Community Media for agreeing to publish this booklet and for their commitment to giving locally. In addition, we would like to thank FirstBank and Douglas County Community Foundation for their cash donations to assist in our outreach effort.

Finally, we thank GoPixel for designing our logo and website.

We hope you enjoy learning more about your local charities!

With warm regards and much appreciation,

Colorado Community Media is the publisher of five Douglas County newspapers and websites. They are the Highlands Ranch Herald, Lone Tree Voice, Parker Chronicle, Castle Rock News-Press and Douglas County NewsPress. Our mission is to provide hyper-local community news and advertisements across the county. As owners of Colorado Community Media, my wife Ann and I have made Douglas County our home for the last 17 years. Douglas County is a fantastic place to live and raise a family, and we are firsthand examples of that, having raised three children here.

Our goal for the company is to help create connections that build prosperous, engaged communities. We also go out of our way to take care of the people and the planet. As a result, we use Colorado’s first cold-web press to gain Gold Leader status in the Environmental Leadership program and use recycled newsprint and bags.

In our effort to take care of people and build community, we sponsor many community events every year. In addition, our chambers of commerce do a lot of good work in building our economy and they know they can count on us to support them in their endeavors. We also help non-profits in our community. One example is the section you are reading to support Douglas County Gives Day. There are 20 worthy Douglas Countybased non-profits in this guide. Choosing between them will not be easy, but we hope this section will simplify the process.

Colorado Community Media is proud to have donated most of the printing and all of the design and editing to make this section possible. We ask you to open your wallets on Dec. 4 and help make Douglas County an even better place to live by supporting one or more of these fine nonprofits.

Gerard Healey, Owner Colorado Community Media

The Members of the Douglas County Non-Profit Coalition

20 community papers.

21 websites.

400,000 readers.

What is Colorado Gives Day? Colorado Gives Day is an initiative to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving, presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank. Join your friends, family and neighbors in supporting the Colorado nonprofits that enrich all of our lives.

More than 1,000 organizations are participating!

How to Donate

When: 24 hours starting at 12 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2012 How: By donating online through GivingFirst.org to your favorite nonprofits. Just search the website by nonprofit name, keyword, city or zip code. Want to preschedule? Just begin your donation now and select “Schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day.”

OurColoradoNews.com PUBLISHERS OF Arvada Press, Castle Rock News-Press, Centennial Citizen, Douglas County News-Press, Elbert County News, Englewood Herald, Golden Transcript, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lakewood Sentinel, Littleton Independent, Lone Tree Voice, North Jeffco Westsider, Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, Parker Chronicle, Pikes Peak Courier View, Teller County Extra, Tribune Extra, Tri-Lakes Tribune, Westminster Window, Wheat Ridge Transcript

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Why: To inspire and unite Coloradans in supporting hundreds of local nonprofits.

As you navigate this guide, list the Douglas County nonprofits you would like to support, and keep this portion as a reminder to donate at GivingFirst.org on Tuesday, December 4!

SPONSORED BY

Douglas County Gives | 3

3T Ministry

Alyssa Cares Foundation

Do you remember your first bike and what it meant to you? Do you recall the strong desire inside that drove you to get up time and time again, determined to conquer the two wheeled beast that lead to one of the greatest sensations of our lives?…FREEDOM. Not just freedom but the sensation of it. It was the realization that we could go beyond the driveway, the block, or even the neighborhood. That same feeling as any other great explorer must have experienced. Just as the Wright Brothers in their first flight or Armstrong with his first step on the moon. This was FREEDOM and we tasted it.

A bicycle is a simple vehicle that can provide a child with a sense of pride, responsibility and freedom. 3t Ministry’s Project Recycle program reaches out to the community to help provide Colorado’s

The Alyssa Cares Foundation was founded in 2008 by Highlands Ranch residents, Joe and Carole Hemmelgarn after the untimely and tragic death of their 9-year old daughter Alyssa.

The Hemmelgarn family created this foundation to share Alyssa’s love of reading and her strong compassion for others, especially those less fortunate.

During her short life, Alyssa was enlightened and entertained by the numerous books she read. We experienced first-hand how the passion for reading can ignite a child’s imagination and performance in all areas of school achievement, life awareness and overall curiosity.

With the Alyssa Cares Foundation, we aim to share the joy Alyssa received from reading books with children of families facing economic hardships. We are putting reading books into the hands and homes of young children who might not other-

www.3tministry.org

www.alyssacares.org

at-risk youth with a “light” and the opportunities that a bike has to offer.

All year long Coloradoans donate their gently used or new bikes to participating locations. Every Saturday from 9am to 1pm volunteers come out to our location and work on these bikes...and 3t Ministry connects Colorado youth from different agencies around Colorado to a bike and brand new helmet.

As we often find ourselves saying that “this is bigger than me”, we know that none of this could be done without you.

Coloradoans have great hearts for caring and sharing. We thank you for your continued support as we promote wellness to those in need.

To learn more about 3t Ministry (or) how you can help, go to www.3tMinistry. org today!

Audience of One

Joe & Carole Hemmelgarn

Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation

www.AudienceOfOneTheater.org

Audience of One (Ao1) is a 501(c)(3) support organization that offers afterschool acting, singing, dance, media, and theatrical training for children ages 5–18 in your local community.

Ao1 instills confidence and promotes self-esteem in students through the performing arts, while fostering values such as honesty, integrity, teamwork, discipline, cooperation, and outreach. Ao1 offers a broad curriculum of performing arts classes that provide our students a solid foundation of theatrical training. Our children have the opportunity to participate in a full-scale, professionally directed production that provides them the opportunity to gain first-hand-performing experience. These Ao1 productions provide our

wise have access to them in their homes.

Donations go to the purchase and distribution of reading books to under-served and at-risk elementary school children in the Denver metro area.

Along with the gift of a brand new reading book to these children, we provide messages of encouragement and inspiration of the rewards from reading; including furthering their academic, employment and life opportunities.

Currently, we are providing reading books to 2,500 children of low-income families at five elementary schools in the Denver metro area. To date, we have given away over 27,000 reading books. You can find out more about Alyssa and the Foundation that honors her at www.AlyssaCares.org. On Colorado Gives Day, you can find us at www.GivingFirst. org/AlyssaCares. We are grateful for your support.

www.thecalf.org

local communities the opportunity to experience a quality “night at the theater” at an affordable price.

In addition, Ao1 students perform a service to local outreach programs each session. Targeting local and international organization in need, the children and families in the Ao1 program use their gifts and talents to give back to the community through workdays and financial contributions from show revenues. This valuable training will equip these children to be future leaders through these acts of compassion and service.

For more information regarding tickets, productions, or registration please visit www.AudienceOfOneTheater.org

NOW SHOWING: The Little Mermaid

Beauty & The Beast Miracle Miles Fun Run For Petra Anderson: A Miracle inside the Aurora Shooting

Connecting People to Agriculture • Is a cucumber a fruit or vegetable?

• Which is healthier a white egg or a brown egg?

• What agricultural product is never touched by human hands? * Most of us are at least a generation removed from the farm or ranch and have lost touch with how our food is produced.

Many children don’t know what parts of the plant they are eating or where it comes from.

Your donation will help CALF improve our community’s food IQ! CALF, a 501(c)(3) charity, operates the historic 133-acre Lowell Ranch on Plum Creek as a working educational ranch.

CALF provides many opportunities to experience first-hand where our food comes from and the importance of agriculture in everyday life. Throughout the year, people of all ages come to the ranch to learn, participate, serve and just have fun as part of our educational programs, community

projects and special events.

Please help us grow our Connecting Kids to Agriculture programs.

“Best Field Trip Ever!” Over 6,500 students from area schools served since 2009!

CALF makes agriculture real through hands-on, learning in the field educational programs that are continually reviewed to ensure consistency with state and local education requirements.

Our community projects help others meet their mission through agriculture.

Whether it’s a gardener craving a quiet haven in CALF’s Community Garden, a 4-H or FFA member without a ranch who wishes to raise livestock, or those committed to service, CALF provides many opportunities to learn a bit about agriculture.

WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER DONATING TO CALF on DECEMBER 4 as part of COLORADO GIVES DAY. The FirstBank incentive fund increases the value of every dollar donated!

* To find the answers to the questions above and more about CALF, visit www.thecalf. org or call 303-688-1026.

4 | Douglas County Gives

Castle Rock Historical Society www.castlerockhistoricalsociety.org

By Tiffany Grizzle Anyone in any town anywhere knows their community has a history.

Settlements that originated years ago, once connected by wagon trails and railroad tracks, are now neighboring mile markers on the interstate. Whether it’s a historical building, a monument honoring a pioneer of the community or a street name affiliated with a town’s origin, history lives all around us.

Castle Rock’s history is kept alive by many, most notably by the Castle Rock Historical Society. Working to bring the town’s history to life in ways it’s never done before, the CRHS recently launched their historical marker program called “Then and Now - Holding History in Your Hand.”

This program connects Castle Rock’s history with today’s technology. Using Quick Response (QR) codes, you can discover historical information on buildings in your own backyard. These codes, like barcodes, can be downloaded to your smart phone and link you directly to websites which allow you to discover past lives of historic buildings in town. It also allows you to take advantage of specials by the present day inhabitants such as restaurants, hotels

and local shops located in historic buildings.

CRHS also offers monthly walking and biking tours of Castle Rock and the annual Trolley Tour sponsored by the Town. The Castle Rock Museum also offers permanent and traveling exhibits, lectures, and concerts throughout the year.

This holiday season the Society released “A Castle Rock Christmas,” a collaborative album of Christmas music created by Castle Rock nonprofit musical groups. A fundraiser for CRHS and its musical partner organizations, this album includes enduring classics, new humorous songs, and original Christmas song, “The Star of Castle Rock,” based upon the beloved poem

by Helen Lowrie Marshall. Musicians will perform “The Star of Castle Rock,” at the 2012 Starlighting. The album is dedicated to the People of Castle Rock and available at the Castle Rock Museum, select retailers in Castle Rock, from participant musicians, and sites such as iTunes.

You don’t have to be a history lover to appreciate the cultural richness and community built around you and how that came to be. The members of the Castle Rock Historical Society invite you to get to know Castle Rock better, whether you visit the Museum, enjoy a tour, take advantage of “Then and Now - Holding History in your Hand” or enjoying the Christmas album. Go out and get to know your town. www.castlerockhistoricalsociety.org or Facebook.com/crhistoricalsociety 420 Elbert St, Castle Rock CO 80104 (303) 814-3164 president@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org

Douglas County Community Foundation www.dccf.org

Our Mission The Douglas County Community Foundation is committed to promoting the highest quality of community life by developing philanthropic resources to meet the needs of the Douglas County community. The Foundation serves as a responsible steward for permanent endowments and creates partnerships in philanthropy.

Our Vision Donors create the vision for this organization. Since we welcome gifts of any size from contributions of diverse backgrounds and means, this vision is a broad one. Then, with the highest standards of stewardship, we make sure that gifts remain optimally invested and carefully administered to honor the intentions of donors.

To fulfill our mission and vision of helping meet the diverse social service needs of Douglas County, the Douglas County Community Foundation is built to offer these advantages to charitable contributors: Awareness One of our biggest jobs is simply staying up to date. We work diligently to know which vehicles provide the best investment opportunities for funds under our care. And of course, we keep in close touch with the non-profit organizations that provide the most good for the Douglas County Community.

Preservation So much about this place is worth protecting: our history, culture and land. And as we grow (as healthy communities do), the need to nurture things like open space and the arts will increase. The Foundation is a way to shelter and strengthen the things that give Douglas County its unique identity.

Simplicity We are able to provide services to philanthropists that simplify the challenges of charitable giving. Many people have great ideas for how their community could be strengthened, but they are unsure how to get that idea off the ground. We provide everything you may need - guidance, ongoing management and administration - to turn your idea into a community success.

Accountability The most beneficial sort of philanthropy not only turns good intentions into actions, but then conscientiously measures those actions. We perform due diligence on every grant and evaluate the impact these grants have made.

Permanence Perhaps even more eloquently than a well-written memoir, an endowed fund speaks of your concerns and hopes.

Whether or not you remain an active advisor, your fund continues to benefit your community with your vision and devotion.

Serving Douglas County and the communities of Castle Pines, Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Franktown, Highlands Ranch, Larkspur, Lone Tree, Louviers, Parker, Perry Park, Roxborough and Sedalia. www.dccf.org | 720-733-2656

Chelsea Hutchison Foundation www.chelseahutchisonfoundation.org

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation (“CHF”) is a Colorado non-profit corporation formed to help individuals, particularly children and young adults, who live every day with epilepsy. The main focus is to raise funds to provide grants for trained seizure-response dogs who may be able to detect an oncoming seizure and provide warnings and/or respond after the onset. The Foundation also provides movement monitors for those in need.

Movement monitors are the latest technology for monitoring an individual who may experience seizures that a caregiver or family member should be alerted to.

CHF is named for Chelsea, who died in her sleep during a seizure in April of 2009, called SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected/Unexplained Death in Epilepsy). During the 6 years that Chelsea had seizures, no one ever told her family that a seizure could take her life, other than through an accidental fall or drowning. As a result of that omission, CHF raises SUDEP awareness so other families are not blindsided.

With the diagnosis of epilepsy or a seizure disorder, it is common to hear from the medical community and the media

that there are certain cautions/risks to be aware of, such as: watch for photosensitivity (movies or video games), consistently take your medication, never swim alone, or avoid stress. Chelsea’s family constantly kept watch over her in those areas of which they were informed. CHF believes that people living with epilepsy and their families need to understand the risks and be fully informed. Knowledge is power!

There are ways to monitor individuals with epilepsy as a means of keeping them safe and reduce the risk of seizure-related deaths.

Epilepsy affects over 3 million American’s of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease, combined. Over 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day and 50,000 American’s die from seizures and seizure-related causes every year in the United States, although most don’t even know they are at risk.

CHF tells Chelsea’s story to be a reminder that it is necessary to inform and support all individuals with epilepsy, and their friends and families, through education and resources.

Douglas Land Conservancy www.douglaslandconservancy.org

The Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) is a non-partisan, non-profit land trust dedicated to the protection and conservation of the natural character, habitat, and open space of the central front range region of Colorado, including Douglas County and

surrounding areas.

Based in Castle Rock since 1987, DLC serves primarily Douglas County. Recognizing the importance of a regional approach in land conservation, DLC has recently broadened its focus to include surrounding counties including Jefferson and Elbert.

In the last year, DLC added 3,600 acres to the lands currently protected by conservation easements. Today, we are actively preserving over 21,000 acres in Douglas, Jefferson and Elbert Counties. To learn more about Douglas Land Conservancy and how you can help to protect the natural character of our region, visit our web site at www.douglaslandconservancy.org Dawson Butte photo by Pam Schulz

Douglas County Gives | 5

Front Range Theatre Company www.frontrangetheatre.org

Theatre of the people, by the people and for the people, Front Range Theatre Company brings the transformative power of live performance to our community.

Productions that delight and inspire offer a welcome escape from the “same-old, same-old” of daily life. And… this magic comes entirely from the hands, hearts, hard work and financial support of volunteers from the Castle Rock community.

Committed to its role as ambassador for the arts since its beginnings in 1997, FRTC has consistently offered 3-5 high-quality theatrical productions yearly, along with a rich theatre education program for all ages.

As the only theatre company in the area, to date, we serve greater Castle Rock—population 50,000-plus and growing!

Main stage Productions: 3-5 “main stage” productions each year include those for youth (Jungle Book, Honk!

Best Christmas Pageant Ever!) and adult audiences(Andersonville Trials, Dracula, Of Mice and Men, Crimes of the Heart) as well as innovative new work by local area playwrights.

Educational Programs: On-going theatre education programs for youth (ages

8-18) include our popular “Triple Threat Summer Camp”.

And, we encourage youth with disabilities to participate fully, supporting them as they explore their potential for self-expression, leadership and teamwork.

Outreach Programs: In collaboration with Douglas County Library, we offer summer theatre education classes at their various locations, while the Page to Stage program performs classics such as Treasure Island throughout the Douglas County School System. This year 68 shows at 57 elementary schools and 4 library locations will bring live theatre to an estimated 22,000+ school children—at no cost to them.

The Wisdom Within These Walls: In a move to create truly original community art, we involve our local population in a series of groundbreaking productions: The Wisdom Within These Walls. Based on the oral histories of local residents, stories are composed into vignettes and presented in an innovative multi-media “reader’s theatre” format. Authentic and affecting, this is a proven audience favorite.

HawkQuest

www.hawkquest.org

“If the Bald Eagle becomes extinct, will it still be our national symbol?” – 4th grade student Eagles, owls, hawks, falcons and a Turkey Vulture – we rely on each of these Feathered Ambassadors to provide HawkQuest’s mission of environmental education.

By the time these magnificent raptors come to live at HawkQuest, they have already been deemed non-releasable. Their physical injuries and/or the impact humans have had on them are permanent and not reversible. These birds will never get better and would never be able to survive in the wild. HawkQuest is the last stop in their lives, and we are committed to providing the best possible life for the birds, always respecting their role in the environment, their beauty and their wild nature.

Caring for our 36 birds of prey is a longterm commitment requiring food, shelter and medical care. A Bald Eagle can live over 50 years; a Great Horned Owl can live 25. We feed the birds what they would eat in the wild, and it costs about $ 82.00 to feed our birds on a daily basis. The government trusts us to provide for these raptors, but we receive no government funds. We

Lone Tree Cultural Arts Foundation

Mesa Verde Foundation

The Lone Tree Arts Center provides a place for audiences from the South Denver Metro area to experience live performances of theater, dance, vocal music and visual arts. Children and adults can participate in the Center’s educational programs.

Cultural understanding and knowledge is expanded when a young child learns to interpret music through motion and delights in the imaginary world of theater.

Live productions provide the context for us to learn the historical context and evolution of musical compositions; enjoy the unfolding of a story told through dance, theater or song; or we laugh at the absurdity of the human condition. If you were a part of the 45,000 participants during the inaugural season and the beginning of the Center’s second season, you know that the variety and quality of the performances and the experiences have been exceptional.

The Lone Tree Cultural Arts Foundation is pleased to celebrate the start of the Lone Tree Arts Center’s second season. With this second season, the Foundation is ex-

Mesa Verde Foundation, established in 1997, is a philanthropic partner of Mesa Verde National Park and provides financial resources to support the park in protecting its cultural, natural and wilderness values. The foundation seeks funding for preservation and other projects within the park in order to promote an understanding and appreciation for this unique national treasure, right here in Colorado.

Located in the Four Corners area of southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde is best known for its spectacular and remarkably well-preserved cliff dwellings. With over 4,000 archeological sites, including pueblos, kivas and 600 cliff dwellings, the park offers an incredible view into the lives of Ancestral Puebloan Indians who inhabited the area for more than 700 years, beginning about 550 A.D. Mesa Verde is the largest and most significant archeological preserve in the United States, and is one of the 12 original World Heritage Sites named

by UNESCO in 1978.

Mesa Verde is a significant link between the ancient and present way of life of the Puebloan People. Twenty-four Native American tribes and pueblos have cultural, ancestral or geographic affiliation with Mesa Verde. The park was established in 1906 when President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Mesa Verde would be the first national park to “preserve the works of man.”

www.lonetreearts.org

cited to focus on collaborative efforts to bring diverse programs to the Center. Our first effort is to fund the Theatrical Series.

This series presents six productions: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in partnership with the Arvada Center; Harry the Great, a Creede Repertory Theatre Production; John Denver Holiday Concert; and three Starkey Productions, Home for the Holidays, Noises Off, and Hank Williams: Host Highway.

Ticket sales only cover approximately 47 percent of the cost of theater productions.

The Foundation hopes that you will support our effort to raise funds for this effort and to help us to identify additional projects and potential sponsorships that are important to you. You are encouraged to come to the Center to enjoy the productions, meet your neighbors and just to have fun.

This is our first year to participate with Colorado Gives Day. We have set a goal of $5,000 and hope that you will help us make that goal. Your support will make a difference.

support the birds with a dedicated volunteer base and through the generous contributions of individuals, money raised at public and private events, and some grants.

In 2011, HawkQuest presented at over 500 events, bringing the public close-up views of the birds, educating about the species, the environment and the interaction of raptors with all living things. We especially work to keep costs low for students by bringing the birds directly into the schools so student travel is not required. Our interactive approach makes the HawkQuest educational programs memorable, meaningful and fun while also conveying the importance of respect for our land and encouraging the stewardship of all living things.

Please consider donating to HawkQuest on Colorado Gives Day to help us support these non-releasable raptors and so we can continue to make them accessible to the public, fostering understanding and providing ongoing environmental education.

www.mesaverdefoundation.org

Mesa Verde Foundation has been instrumental in the development of the new Visitor and Research Center at the park’s entrance, slated to open late in 2012. The foundation purchased the land on which the building has been constructed. Before construction could begin, Congressional action was required to expand the park boundaries to include this land, which the foundation donated to the National Park.

Foundation board members worked to secure that legislative approval, funded architectural planning for the project, and also played a major role in the National Park Service securing 2010 Federal stimulus dollars for the project.

The foundation presently is working with the park to help fund a number of projects, including: • A preservation and stabilization project at the park’s iconic Cliff Palace. This is one of just 11 National Park Foundation “Legacy” projects nationwide.

• The re-establishment of the park’s historic mounted horse patrol program in order to allow greater visitor access in the more remote areas of the park.

• Initiating a Native American Internship Program to provide relevant training and experience for members of the 24 affiliated tribes.

• Producing an updated interpretive film for viewing in the Visitors Center and Museum.

6 | Douglas County Gives

Outreach Uganda

Saddle Up! Foundation

Outreach Uganda is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Highlands Ranch and dedicated to helping empower impoverished Ugandans, especially women and children, to overcome poverty. Since 2007 we have been working with village groups in Uganda to bring hope and improve lives through education, income-generation, women’s empowerment, and other holistic endeavors.

Outreach Uganda provides the foundation for long-term growth and success in northern Ugandan communities/groups that previously had no resources beyond subsistence living. Currently, we work with over 200 women and their families, support a special Girls’ Education Initiative to keep over 50 pre-teen and teen girls in school, help run a Nursery and Primary School which has over 300 students, and have over 160 students sponsored from first grade through university.

Our motto is “Changing lives. Overcoming Poverty Together.” To do this, we need your help. It is only through the collective efforts of many people, many of whom reside here in Colorado, that we can help bring change to people’s lives. Please join our team of passionate volunteers and

Once horseback, individuals with special needs are able to “Take Life by the Reins.”

“When she was 6 years old, I had pretty much lost hope that Maddie would ever be able to communicate verbally. She lacked the ability to hold up her head and her core and trunk strength were so poor that her lungs were unable to develop and support both breathing and speaking at the same time. You can imagine the goose-bumps that were formed and tears that filled my eyes when she pointed at the horse she had been riding for the past few months and spoke her first word, the horse’s name, “Salsa.” Thank you SaddleUp!, for not giving up on Maddie, for looking outside the box and providing this amazing therapy, for being our salvation, and for helping Maddie find her voice.”

The SaddleUp! Foundation is dedicated to empowering individuals with special needs through equine assisted activities and therapies provided at a familyfriendly ranch. SaddleUp! is the region’s premiere facility providing integrated therapeutic activities and evidence-based learning programs; it distinguishes itself from other programs by “treating the entire family.” The facility accommodates all participants, family members, and caregivers with a heated barn, indoor arena, comfortable viewing lounge, kitchen, indoor play area, outdoor playground, and

www.outreachuganda.org

www.saddleupfoundation.org

donors to provide real help to real people who want to change their lives.

Our Ugandan women and their families, and our dedicated students are not looking for handouts. They’re looking for you to give them a chance to work for a better life.

You can help make this happen in many ways. Here are just a few ideas: • Volunteer in Colorado or in Uganda • Host a bead party event at your home or workplace • Donate to build a school block for more Nursery students (we had turn many students away this year for lack of space) • Sponsor a child, especially a girl in danger of dropping out of school • LIKE us on Facebook and keep updated on our current news Call, email us or visit our web site to find out more: Phone: 303-683-8450 Email: carol@outreachuganda.org Web site: www.outreachuganda.org “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

SkyView Academy Foundation www.skyviewacademy.k12.co.us

SkyView Academy is a preschool through 12th-grade public charter school in Highlands Ranch. The school offers a research-based, content-rich liberal arts program with a commitment to foreign language studies, character education and community service. Since its inception in 2010, SkyView has quickly built a solid reputation as an award-winning school with a waitlist of over 1,800 students from Douglas County and the surrounding areas. SkyView Academy currently serves 917 students from preschool - 7th and 9th and 10th grades. The school will continue to add additional grades and students until it reaches capacity serving 1,400 students annually.

As a result of our rapid growth and influx of students the SkyView Academy Founda-

tion is raising funds to assist the school in meeting the academic and infrastructure needs of our students. Unlike a traditional neighborhood school, which pays for its facility from taxpayer approved bonds, SVA operates 100 percent of the school from per-pupil revenue, which includes facility payments. The SkyView Foundation hopes that you as a potential donor recognizes the value we provide to our community and others. The outstanding education provided to our students based on, our mission and vision will continue to thrive with your support. We encourage you to learn more about our school at www.skyviewacademy.k12.co.us.

SkyView prepares students to be lifelong learners and honorable leaders.

wi-fi throughout the property.

SaddleUp! offers Outpatient Therapy (physical, occupational and speech therapy) and Equine Assisted Activities. These programs are available for individuals that have been diagnosed with cognitive, emotional and physical challenges, including, but not limited to autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, ADD/ADHD, paralysis, spinal cord and brain injuries, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, multiple sclerosis, as well as many others. Although the focus at SaddleUp! is to provide services to individuals with special needs, we also offer traditional and recreational riding, both English and Western disciplines. All of our programs and services are available for children and adults. Contact SaddleUp! for more information regarding which program might be appropriate for you and/or your children.

To Volunteer: Volunteering at SaddleUp! is a rewarding and fun way to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs. Volunteers are given the opportunity to work directly with students, horses and therapists.

Please contact SaddleUp! and inquire about volunteering.

SaddleUp! Foundation Adam Daurio, Executive Director 11152 E Daley Circle, Parker, CO 80134 (303) 788-1666 office | (303) 788-1886 fax info@saddleupfoundation.org www.SaddleUpFoundation.org www.facebook.com/saddleupfoundation

Teen with a Dream www.teenwithadream.org

Teen with a Dream has been providing aid and comfort to children with cancer for the past 10 years.

Teen with a Dream is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Teen with a Dream was started by 14 year old Douglas County resident, Spencer Harrison during his own treatment for cancer. Today, Spencer continues to design and run programs to combat the educational challenges, social isolation and loneliness and the emotional trauma of the cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Our signature programs are designed to surround the child with support letting the patient concentrate on healing.

Teen with a Dream is dedicated to enriching the lives of pediatric cancer patients, until there is a cure!

To learn more or help visit www.teenwithadream.org

CHEMO DAY BAG DROP Our volunteer gives out Chemo Day Care Bags which are filled with items designed to help pass the long hours spent in treatment and to exercise fine motor skills and stimulate learning with fun items.

Douglas County Gives | 7

The Wildlife Experience

Wellspring Community

www.thewildlifeexperience.org

The Wildlife Experience is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that inspires an appreciation and respect for wildlife and the outdoors through adventure, experiences and education. We pursue this mission through a unique blend of both permanent and traveling exhibits, community education and outreach, large format film, fine art, natural history, outdoor education and ongoing events.

The doors to The Wildlife Experience opened in August of 2002 and today it is the largest cultural institution in Douglas County.

Our key programs include: Exhibits: The core of our museum lies in our exhibits. Ranging from fine art to science, we strive to engage the public in a thoughtful and entertaining discourse about wildlife, natural history, and art. Our motto is “See, Learn, Do” – and our overarching goal is to provide exhibits that engage audiences in a dynamic, interactive way.

Outdoor Education: Through outdoor adventure, children and adults alike learn to build courage, confidence and leadership skills; develop stronger social bonds and relationships and improve health through increased physical activity. We offer programming specifically geared towards helping people of all ages experience the great outdoors. Classes include archery, hiking, fly fishing, ice fishing, snow showing, camping and so much

www.wellspringcommunityonline.org

more.

Events: The museum offers a variety of activities throughout the year such as family-friendly events like Trick or Treat Off the Street and Iditarod Day as well as adultthemed events like Movie and a Martini and Art & Ale. Classroom Education: Since the beginning of our organization, education of all children has been central to our mission.

Many schools take fieldtrips to participate in on-site programming at the museum.

We also send classroom educators to visit schools and provide lesson plans and activities to teachers. With our education program, we strive to provide access for children of all ages to learn and embrace the importance of wildlife, science, and environmental education.

Volunteers: The Wildlife Experience is supported by a robust group of volunteers, ranging from high school students to retirees. Each volunteer has the opportunity to customize a service program based on their skills and interests.

As a special “thanks for giving”, donors who make a contribution of $25 or more to The Wildlife Experience on Colorado Gives Day will receive free admission to Nature Nights: Birds in Art on Tuesday, December 4th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Just bring your Colorado Gives day receipt with you to the Nature Nights Program on Dec. 4th. For more information, visit www.thewildlifeexperience.org or call 720-488-3300.

Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center www.thewomenscrisiscenter.org

The Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center (WCFOC) is concerned about families affected by violence. Since its inception in 1985, this agency has provided programs and services to any domestic violence victim requesting those services and to the region at-large.

All services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We serve persons from all ethnic, cultural and economic groups, of all ages and lifestyles.

Today, the WCFOC has a staff of over 30 and a volunteer base exceeding 300 individuals to carry out our mission. We provide violence prevention and intervention, safety and hope, education and awareness to more than 20,000 individuals annually.

The WCFOC opposes the use of violence as a means of control over others and supports equality in relationships. We strive to assist victims of domestic violence in assuming power over their lives and choosing options that afford them and their family a life free from violence. We recog-

nize that violence affects the entire family, with each member requiring support and education in order to stop the cycle of violence. It is our ultimate vision to assist in ending violence in the lives of all people.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence happens when one person believes they are entitled to control another.

Domestic violence affects not just victims, but neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and friends. It crosses all ages and both genders, all ethnic groups, and all socioeconomic levels. The incidence and consequences of domestic violence know no boundaries.

As a volunteer or financial contributor, you are our most valuable resource. Find a way to make a difference in the lives of families who are affected by domestic violence. Please consider supporting our organization on Colorado Gives Day.

Unless you have a friend or loved one with developmental disabilities you may not be aware that Colorado ranks 46th in the nation in funding services for these individuals. Adults with special needs are among the most marginalized and vulnerable in our community. There are thousands of people on the waiting list for services in our state, sitting at home bored, lonely and depressed. Their parents are fraught with anxiety wondering who will care for their disabled adult child when they no longer can. Wellspring Community was created in response to this need.

Our faith-based organization offers adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to live full, productive and satisfying lives. In our Work & Enrichment Program participants are engaged in a very structured and stimulating environment. They experience meaningful work in our Best Buddies Bakery where they learn baking, packaging and marketing skills. They enjoy the satisfaction of selling products to local retail outlets, such as area Tony’s Markets.

Each weekday morning participants are offered a variety of educational and enrichment classes, such as gardening, technology, self defense, dance, pottery, sign language and much more. The cor-

nerstone of our program is education. We believe that every person, regardless of ability, when provided the necessary support and guidance, can learn and make a valuable contribution to our community.

We also offer our participants the unique opportunity to make music together. Under the direction of a professional vocal coach, piano accompanist and experienced choir assistants, our Wellspring Wonders Choir members learn voice, breathing and rhythm exercises and enjoy the thrill of performing before audiences.

And…Club 21, our social and recreation program, gives adults with special needs a chance to enjoy a sense of independence and a weekend evening out with their peers in a safe and supervised setting.

Trained staff and volunteers provide participants structured yet fun evening activities such as game nights, hobby nights, skits, karaoke and much more.

Your financial support will enable us to provide tuition assistance to needy families and help to expand our life-giving programs!

For more information, check out our website: www.wellspringcommunityonline.org or call 303-660-1935.

Douglas/Elbert Task Force www.detaskforce.org

In 1984, local parishioners of several Castle Rock churches joined forces to create a centralized location to send people in need. The founders also wanted to encourage volunteerism by providing opportunities for the members of their congregations to become directly involved with the needs of their neighbors.

People who are in crisis operate under incredible stress. Having a calm, warm, quiet place to come, and being greeted and made welcome by a smiling volunteer immediately diffuses some of that stress.

For the kids, we provide an airy, quiet space with room for them to play safely.

Having the opportunity to be listened to and to be heard by staff who not only understand but who can often make a difference is an incredible relief, particularly for clients with children. We go through many, many boxes of tissues, and hugs are given liberally at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force.

We concentrate on the causes of hunger by actively working on issues that affect the newly unemployed, the unemployed and those on fixed incomes, disabled and the elderly. Today, we meet these challenges with over 180 volunteers.

Each client receives one-on-one counseling. We provide quality screening and

meaningful referrals for clients.

This past fiscal year (January – December 2011), we served 16,233 people, 9% more than 2010. Over half the people who receive our services are children.

We take our mission statement to heart: to meet the immediate needs of residents of Douglas and Elbert counties who are in financial distress and at risk of becoming homeless, to help them work through troublesome times with dignity.

We are a 501(c) non-profit organization.

For more information about our services, our “Treasures” store and our hours of operation, please go to www.detaskforce.org or call 303-688-1114.

8 | Douglas County Gives

When it comes to painting the perfect picture of health for you and your family, take a look at Sky Ridge Medical Center. We’ve combined some of the best physicians and medical professionals with the most sophisticated technology around. So, for emergencies to surgery, or anything in between, Sky Ridge Medical Center is close to you. And, all of this in a healing environment designed to make you feel comfortable and at ease. Sky Ridge Medical Center. Truly a medical masterpiece.

Our state-of-the-art medical center includes: Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

ED/Trauma Department with Specialists on call 24/7

Spine & Total Joint Center

Accredited Cancer Center

Medical Office/Imaging in Castle Rock

Surgical Services

Accredited Breast Center Cardiac Care Center Diagnostic & Imaging Services

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Sky Ridge Sleep Disorders Center

Stroke Center The Birth Place Urology Center Women’s Services

A Proud Supporter of Colorado Gives Day!

To find a physician: 720-225-5DOC www.skyridgemedcenter.com I-25 at Lincoln Ave • Lone Tree 720-225-1000