More Good News
Here are some stories to brighten your day!
Heather Dearman, CEO of the 7/20 Memorial Foundation, our 2022 National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Volunteer, was featured in an amazing article about the Foundation's work towards blessing those impacted by mass shootings.
“While most Coloradans are putting their holiday decorations like Christmas tree wreaths into storage, one organization is bringing people together to send out a different type of wreath across the country.
The 7/20 Memorial Foundation, which was created after the Aurora movie theater shooting on July 20, 2012, has started the "Paper Crane Project"— taking paper crane donations with thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement written on them. They then craft them into wreaths that get sent out to communities impacted by similar tragedies.”
To read the full KMGH feature article, click here.
Sarah Greichen, 2016 Outstanding Youth Winner
Congratulations to Sarah Greichen on her announcement as a Truman Scholar, a highly competitive graduate fellowship program for students pursuing public service careers. As the founder of the nonprofit Score A Friend, Sarah has been working since middle school to help people with disabilities break down the barriers that restrict them from participating in society on an equal basis with others. (April 2020)
Here's a video where she hears the news
Sarah is currently a sophomore at CSU and she is still the CEO of Score A Friend, a nonprofit advancing opportunities for inclusion and friendship for people of all abilities. "This organization is my true passion and has allowed me to give back to the community on a daily basis. In addition, I served as the Community Service Chair on the Dean's Student Leadership Council at CSU this year."
"This award has made me who I am today. At the ceremony, I met the President of the Foundation for A Better Life. After meeting him, my brother and I were featured in a Pass It On campaign alongside the band NEEDTOBREATHE. The commercial has been shown all over the world and is the reason Score A Friend is expanding across the country."
Here's an article with details
Mountain Vista High School Student Leadership, 2018 Outstanding Youth Group winner
"We just finished raising $191,466 for the Make a Wish Foundation! 4-year total of $570,000 and granting 76 wishes!"
Amaya Garcia-White Buffalo, 2018 Outstanding Youth winner
"I enjoyed the whole experience of National Philanthropy Day, from video interview and luncheon, it was all very exciting. All the wonderful people I had the opportunity meeting during the luncheon. I really enjoyed meeting and talking to Linda Childears of the Daniels Fund."
"Since receiving this award, it has motivated me to research ways that may help my project expand and to help more people on a higher level. I have received other philanthropic nominations, which is helping with networking and to get the word out on my project. I am trying to reach out to others on a national level and not just locally."
Bob Bell, 2018 Outstanding Volunteer
Click here for a video from Bob Bell discussing the impact of winning National Philanthropy Day
Click here for a video from Bob Bell about National Philanthropy Day Nominations
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Nominator Testimonials
Tara Friedman, Philanthropy Director
“It was such an honor and so much fun to nominate Laura Barton last year! Through this process, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation learned more about her philanthropic experiences at other organizations and her diverse passions as a community leader. Moreover, the nomination process and award luncheon provided an invaluable opportunity to steward Laura and demonstrate to her our deep gratitude for the time, treasure and talent she’s given this institution and so many other organizations.”
Roger Sheffield
"Fundraising is hard work and recognition of a job well done is so important in so many ways to all stakeholders. Honoring a volunteer with a nomination to a meaningful award is an act of gratitude, appreciation, leadership, creativity, honesty and teamwork – a way to showcase the highly-valued, shared character strengths between volunteers and the organization. It is a recognition of a volunteer’s investment of talent, time and heart, a public demonstration of how the work of volunteer volunteers can forever change the trajectory both of an organization and the people it serves.
Nominations inspire future collaborations and lead to strong, life-long relationships. Knowing one’s work is appreciated, volunteers become even more fully-engaged in an organization’s mission, thus leading to more successes, both internally and externally, and together the volunteer and the organization create greater good in the community.
The key to successful fundraising is to thank the donors and volunteers in multiple ways. What better way to thank someone than by lifting them up as an example for others?"
Amy Daly
"Nominating a donor for a National Philanthropy Day award is another way to tell that donor they are your hero. That you value the relationship. That they are having a huge impact on your organization’s work. Few donors seek awards and recognition--and some might even be a bit embarrassed by the attention—but, deep down, donors love being recognized for the good they are doing in the world. The nomination process has allowed us to get to know some of our most significant donors better and has led to deeper, more meaningful relationships."