November 27, 2014 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 22 | 5 0 ¢
WheatRidgeTranscript.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Foundation seeks to honor vets By Crystal Anderson canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Seven tolls resonate for the fallen. In May, the Honor Bell will ring for the first time, symbolizing honor, dignity and respect for Colorado’s fallen veterans. “Honors are rituals, and military honors that are given is a ritual where they do things in a certain manner,” said Frank Griggs, founder of the Honor Bell Foundation. “What we wanted to do is come up with a way of honoring veterans beyond just taps, beyond just presenting the flag — a final toll, in honor of this individual.” A nonprofit organization, the Honor Bell Foundation seeks
to recognize deceased veterans with a tolling ceremony at their funeral. After the presentation of the flag to the next of kin, the 35-second ceremony will consist of seven tolls, each with their own meaning: response, service, protection, defense, sacrifice, suffering and loss of life. “Honor, respect and dignity are really at the hallmark of what we’re doing,” said Michelle Mallin, the foundation’s director of communications. “This is really honoring our veterans at their final moments.” The bell ceremony, performed upon request by the next of kin, will be available for any veteran’s funeral. Griggs said preference would be given to combat vets killed in action, and first responders.
Founder Frank Griggs stands among fallen veterans at the Fort Logan Cemetery. Courtesy photo Along with the ceremony, the organization is also providing additional opportunities in the classroom for students to see a replica of the bell, and learn about the history, sacrifices and achievements Americans have made through their service in the military. “The education opportunity we have with the bell is really fantastic,” Mallin said. “It gives us
the opportunity to take the bell to different classrooms to show students … it’s just a special way to honor our fallen veterans.” Currently, the organization is seeking volunteer veterans and first responders to be a part of the “Guardians of the Bell,” who guard, protect and sound the bell during ceremonies, as well as benefactors who wish to be a part of the organization.
“To me, you know, I look back and I should have died in Vietnam, I was six inches away from losing my life,” Griggs said. “There’s got to be a reason for whatever we do in life and I feel, at my age now, I’m leaving a legacy that will honor all veterans.” For more information, visit www.honorbell.org or call 720282-9182.
Arts lead the way POSTAL ADDRESS
Study shows gains in economic impact By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)
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P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Arts and cultural organizations do more than teach people about the world around them — they grow the economies of local communities That’s according to a recently released two-year study of 300 arts organizations in a seven-county metro area. The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) released its biennial Economic Activity Study of Metro Denver Culture on Nov. 7, which demonstrates the enormous financial and social impact exhibited by organizations funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. The seven counties that receive those funds are Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. “The numbers are great and confirms what we ‘culturals’ have always known about the impacts the arts have,” said Cheryl McNab, director of Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center. “The SCFD is a great bang for a taxpayer’s buck and produces some amazing things.” The SCFD distributes funds from a one-tenth of 1 percent sales and use tax to cultural facilities throughout the Denver metro area. The funds support cultural organizations whose purpose is to advance and preserve art, culture and science. The study — conducted since
1992 — gives results taken from the 2013 calendar year and represents data gathered from about 300 organizations in the seven counties. The numbers paint a vivid picture of just how much arts contribute to the economy. According to the study, the combination of operating expenses, audience spending and capital expenditures totaled $1.85 billion in 2013 up 5.1 percent from 2011, and new money injected to the economy came to $520.8 million. That number is down only down 1.2 percent from 2011, when the state was still deep in the throes of an economic downturn. “The study results allow us to talk about what we can do as organizations in economic terms,” said Philip Sneed, executive director of the Arvada Center. “It’s easy for some people to think of the arts as a luxury item, but we’re job creators who provide real jobs for real people.” The jobs and payroll numbers showed significant increases with cultural and scientific organizations employing 10,205 people, up 9.1 percent from 2011. The organizations earned $150.7 million in payroll and expenses in 2013, a 4 percent increase. One of the most startling numbers is the number of volunteers who helped out organizations throughout the metro area: 44,438 volunteers contributed 1.77 million hours. That is the equivalent of 851 full-time employees and more than $44 million in donated time. “We have around 300 volunteers at the Arvada Center and they do all kinds of things — the biggest is ushering at our performances, but they also do tours and help with school groups,” Sneed said. “We count on them for
The Arvada Center is one of the organizations included in a recent CBCA study on economic impacts of arts groups. Photo by Clarke Reader
AT A GLANCE The CBCA released its biennial report on the arts and economy — the last report was in 2011: Total economic activity: $1.85 billion in 2013, up 5.1 percent Total economic impact: $520.8 million, down only 1.2 percent Jobs and payroll: 10,205 workers, up 9 percent; $150.7 million in payroll and expenses in up 4 percent Volunteers: 44,438 volunteers contributed 1.77 million hours — the equivalent of 851 full-time employees and more than $44 million in donated time Corporate giving: $10.4 million, up 8.4 percent Cultural tourists: Up 17 percent Projected for 2028 Total economic activity: $3.82 billion Total economic impact: $989 million Jobs and payroll: 16,582 jobs
everything we do.” Colorado saw the number of out-of-state tourists participating in local arts and culture events increase by 17 percent from 2011 an increase doesn’t only benefit arts organizations.
“We have many people who go to restaurants and other businesses while they’re out for us,” said Susan Martin, Lakewood Cultural Center administrator. “And out of town performers stay in local hotels.” McNab, in Littleton, noted downtown Littleton businesses near the Town Hall Arts Center are major benefactors of having a cultural center close by. Looking to the future, the CBCA study forecasts that arts benefits for the economy will only grow — by 2028 the organization projects $3.82 billion in economic activity and $989 million in economic impact. They also project 16,582 jobs by the same year. These numbers give new and rising arts groups a goal to aim for as they continue to grow in their communities. Lakewood’s 40 West Arts District “will qualify for the SCFD next year, and I think the study shows what the arts can do,” said Bill Marino, 40 West chair. “The whole state is seeing the effects of the arts — they elevate the quality of life while improving the economy.”