Giving back is in Leslie Allen’s blood. “Both of my parents were teachers,” she said. “Both came from exceedingly challenging circumstances. One was abandoned as a baby, raised in an orphanage, and drafted to the front lines of Korea. My mother’s mom died early and...
.J. Heyman noticed something was different about Boulder County soon after moving here from the San Francisco Bay area in 1993. “I was surprised to hear little talk of giving back – as had been my experience in other places I’ve lived or worked. Not only in San...
Inspiring early-stage corporate philanthropy, Pledge 1% Colorado is a network of entrepreneurs who share a common commitment to give back. A movement with roots at the Community Foundation, Pledge 1% connects young companies’ future success to philanthropy by allowing...
What motivates people to give of their time, talent or treasure? Why do people commit to making a difference in the world? Although there are hundreds of stories about why people give, Jennie Arbogash believes they fall into five categories: A sense of social justice...
Jennie Arbogash’s parents struggled to make ends meet. And yet, she was raised in a generous family and community. “Even when we had very little when I was young, my mom still drove seniors to doctor’s appointments,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here today without the...
While Boulder County is generally perceived to be open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, our LGBTQ community faces persistent challenges. That’s why donors like Tom Hay and his partner, Mark Hinson, have designated a portion of their estates to...
Local volunteer activity remained high in 2017, with 55 percent donating their time to some sort of organization, according to the Community Foundation’s survey. This was up from 45 percent volunteer participation in 2015 and 51 percent in 2013. The national volunteer...
Work locally. Don’t be distracted by the political drama on the national level. Choose a local cause you feel passionate about and focus on helping that one cause. Be willing to live with a slower pace of change. Tell the story of the local cause you care about....
Let’s just say Denice Walker is civically engaged. Since moving to Boulder County in 1980, she has had a career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, received a Master’s Degree in religious studies and a PhD in media studies – both from The...
Marta Moreno isn’t surprised to hear that racial and ethnic minorities and immigrants from other countries remain Boulder County’s most marginalized populations. Every day, the founder of el Comite de Longmont helps immigrants by referring them to legal assistance,...
Build authentic, firsthand relationships by volunteering for organizations such as Intercambio. Join a rapid response network. Invite an organization to speak to your congregation or school about what’s at stake for so many. Find out where your elected officials stand...
We’ve come to know that many people at home in Boulder County want to make a difference beyond their lifetimes – for generations to come: people like Martha Kate Thomas whose fund for artists, established with the Community Foundation in 2012, supports those with...
Alex Johnstone works in the gig economy, but not in the most recent sense of the term, which often means driving for Uber. He plays music, specifically fiddle and mandolin, with a group called RapidGrass. “I’ve been gigging for a living since 2001,” he said. It’s...
How’s this for finding your bliss? Reliving your favorite childhood pastimes in a more artistic way. Here’s what Nancy Smith, Founder of Frequent Flyers in Boulder, had to work with as source material: “I spent my childhood climbing trees, swinging on swings and going...
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival marked its 60th season in 2017. The season also marked the second time the country’s second-oldest Shakespeare festival completed Shakespeare’s entire canon, a feat achieved by only a few other companies in the nation. That meant...
Ana Maria Hernando moved to Boulder 22 years ago because the city had a contemporary art museum, and because she thought it would be a good place to raise her three young children after a divorce. After growing up in Argentina, the artist first came to the United...
Art helps us tell stories that define who we are as a people. These stories can be used to promote social change or for propaganda to dehumanize people. “We don’t believe that art is ever neutral,” said Kirsten Wilson, Executive Director of Motus Theater in Boulder....
Colt Smith calls it a pause button. It’s the feeling of relief he experienced when a doctor prescribed opioid pain relievers after knee surgery when he was in the 10th grade. “I have this really weird ability to feel very alone even if I’m surrounded by friends. It...
Boulder County has not been immune to the national increase in opioid abuse and addiction. On average, 30 Boulder County residents die each year of accidental opioid overdose. Prescription drug overdose death rates are highest in Longmont, while heroin overdose death...
The majority of St. Vrain students are doing relatively well, according to a December 2016 survey of high schoolers, grades 9 through 12. In a presentation to the school board in February 2017, Superintendent Don Haddad said the good news is that most students report...