Since Valentine’s Day is traditionally celebrated with declarations of love and appreciation, it is the perfect time to honor our friends working at so many incredible nonprofits in Boulder County. The work they do, with passion and compassion, is an invaluable asset to the local community and vastly improves the quality of life here.
A glance at the calendar reminds us of how much the arts and cultural nonprofits have to offer. Tonight (Feb. 13, 2015) starting at 6 p.m., our friends at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art are holding a “Love Kicks” event to celebrate the intersection of modern art and fancy footwear. Tonight and Saturday night, beginning at 8:30 p.m., the Dairy Center for the Arts will be home to “Love and Loss,” an extravagant burlesque show which will donate 100 percent of its proceeds to Out Boulder and transgender awareness. Local venue eTown will mark Valentine’s Day on Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m., with “Rendezvous en Rouge,” a program featuring gourmet food and drinks and a preview screening of a film that will be featured at the Boulder International Film Festival 2015.
It’s just one weekend, but it’s enough to remind us of how much nonprofits provide in cultural opportunities. The nonprofits themselves are a huge part of the Boulder County economy. A study done by the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado found that nonprofits make a $255 million impact in Boulder County.
That study, commissioned by the Human Services Alliance of Boulder County and the St. Vrain Community Council, showed that nonprofits provide employment, leverage public funds for the common good, and draw dollars from outside of the county as well, both in donations and money spent here.
But those are just measurable outcomes. Beyond the incomes and spending, the food, shelter, counseling and more are human services that have an immeasurable impact on our neighbors. The report concludes:
“Boulder County human services nonprofits impact the community primarily through the social services they provide for individuals and families throughout Boulder County. Additionally, these nonprofits are also a part of the Boulder County economy, employing paid individuals and buying goods and services from local vendors.” (Emphasis added.)
Looking beyond the arts and employment, our gratitude is extended to those vast contributions. Those organizations extend the safety net to our neighbors in need, and serve as an emergency helping hand to those who need it desperately. From the Meals on Wheels in Boulder and Longmont, to Community Food Share in Louisville, to Sister Carmen in Lafayette, area nonprofits serve to nourish neighbors. Agencies ranging from H.O.P.E to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless provide life-saving support to those without shelter, while Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley provides services and shelter to individuals and families fleeing domestic violence.
Boulder County wouldn’t be the amazing place to live if it weren’t for the visionary, passionate people working for nonprofits here — from the arts to basic and emergency care. We are so grateful to have their uncompromising dedication to giving back to the community.
