December 12, 2013 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 90, Issue 18 A publication of
lakewoodsentinel.com
Lakewood High roars for Red Cross School donates more than $9,000 By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com Lakewood High School students capped off a year of national recognition by donating a check for more than $9,000 to the Red Cross. The funds came from sales of the school’s “One World, One Roar” T-shirt. On Dec. 3 representatives of the Red Cross of Colorado were on hand to receive the check from the school’s Student Senate. Student Body President Courtney Coddington spearheaded the school’s project and “Roar” video, which brought Katy Perry to Lakewood. “This has all been a big whirlwind, especially with the success of this program” Principal Ron Castagna said. Gino Greco, CEO of Red Cross of Colorado, received the check and told the students that he and the other Red Cross members were there because of the students’ talents. “You guys nailed this thing, but you didn’t stop there,” he said of the “Roar” video. “You challenged high schools around the country to raise money for charities.” The challenge to other schools and Lakewood’s efforts to raise money for the Red Cross came in response to the flooding Colorado faced in September, but Greco told the students that the Red Cross responds to about 400 disasters a year, and thanks to the school’s efforts, the organization will be able to keep it up. “I’m always amazed by this generation of Coloradans, especially when you have teens who have a video like they did and turn it into something good. I think it speaks volumes about the school,” Greco
Above, members of the Lakewood High School Student Senate present the Red Cross of Colorado with a check for $9,000. The money was raised through selling the school’s “One World, One Roar” T-shirts. At left, the Red Cross of Colorado thanked Lakewood High School’s seniors for the money raised by the sale of the “One World, One Roar” T-shirts. The presentation took place Dec. 3. Photos by Clarke Reader
said. “This is a great opportunity to start a relationship with the youth, and we hope to see more fundraising and volunteering.” According to Gabriella Visani, student body vice president, this is just the start of what the school hopes to accomplish. “We’re promoting the message of giving back to the community,” she said. “We’re having ‘Roar-Out’ basketball games to raise money for typhoon victims.” Visani said the spirit of altruism has really spread all over the school, and that students see people wearing “One World, One Roar” shirts all over.
A great big day of giving in state Colorado Gives Day encourages philanthropic online giving By Crystal Anderson
canderson@ourcoloradonews.com
Lakewood resident Ray Huff, who is a member of the Ralston House board of directors, sat down at a computer at the Arvada Beer Company on Colorado Gives Day, supporting area nonprofits. Photo by Crystal Anderson
The Christmas holiday is a time when people are encouraged to help others, and this holiday season more than 30,000 people are giving back — in a big way. Residents across the state participated Dec. 10 in the fourth annual Colorado Gives Day, a statewide, philanthropic effort to promote charitable giving through online resources. “It’s really great to see our supporters being a part of this event locally as well as be a part of a much bigger picture with nonprofits across the state,” said Rebecca Hansen, development director at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. The event, founded in 2010 by Arvadabased Community First Foundation, has raised more than $36 million for Colorado nonprofits, and organizers predict it will continue to grow. “It’s crazy and exciting,” said Dana Rinderknecht, director of online giving at Community First Foundation. “Nonprofits have always embraced it, and they take it and run with it the way that best fits them. It’s really the nonprofits that have made it a success, and the donors? Can’t go anywhere without them.” This year, more than 1,400 nonprofits statewide participated in the event, including 18 Arvada nonprofits. Around Arvada, businesses including the Arvada Beer
Company and Braun Taphaus and Grille hosted events for Colorado Gives Day. They offered discounts and promoted making contributions to area nonprofits, including the Ralston House and the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. “I believe it’s the responsibility as a business owner to add value to your community and really extend yourself out there,” said Kelly Floyd, owner and general manager of the Arvada Beer Company. “Colorado Gives Day gives a visibility into these nonprofits and makes you aware there are people out there willing to help you.” To be a registered in the nonprofit database for the event, organizations must be serving or headquartered in Colorado. Donations are still being accepted through cogives.org.
EDITORS NOTE Following the resignation of Senate District 19 representative Evie Hudak, a Democratic Party vacancy committee met the evening of Dec. 10 to choose her replacement. Due to publishing deadlines, coverage and reaction of the outcome of that meeting will appear in the Dec. 19 edition of the paper. Coverage of the SD 19 replacement can be found online at www.ourcoloradonews.com.
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