Thank You Thursday: The Denver Foundation

Today we’d like to say “thanks” to The Denver Foundation for its recent grant of $5,000 to support the Imagine!'s Dayspring Community Calendar Activities program.

The Denver Foundation is a community foundation dedicated to improving life in Metro Denver through inspiring people and mobilizing resources to strengthen the community. Community foundations are endowments - permanent pools of money contributed by donors to benefit a specific geographic area. ln 2010, The Foundation awarded $69 million to nonprofit organizations.

Dayspring’s Community Calendar activities introduce families with children who have developmental disabilities or delays to places in our community that offer great activities and opportunities for children to meet their goals through fun and play. All activities encourage motor, sensory, social-emotional, cognitive and speech-language development.

Each location has activities that are age and developmentally appropriate. Activities are centered around play, because play is the primary vehicle for a child’s mental and physical growth. Play has a vital role in cognitive, speech-language, physical, emotional and social development.

Much of young children’s learning takes place when they direct their own play. Learning occurs as children touch, manipulate, experiment and talk about things, while interacting with people who facilitate without directing. During play, children are provided with sensory experiences and opportunities to move. Young children need to climb, run, jump and challenge themselves motorically. Children are natural explorers and instinctively touch, taste, hear and observe the world around them.

We are sincerely grateful for The Denver Foundation’s support of children and families served by Imagine!.

Imagine! Gets REAL (Award)

Last week, Imagine! Foundation Executive Director Susan LaHoda had the pleasure of attending Boulder Magazine’s REAL Awards ceremony. Especially exciting for Susan was the fact that Imagine! won a REAL Award in the Non-Profit, Community at Large category.

The award is a real honor, especially considering the other finalists in our category. The Colorado Chautauqua Association, Community Cycles, and KGNU Community Radio are all excellent examples of organizations making a difference in our community, and any one of them could have won.

REAL stands for “Recognizing Everything About Local,” and that is a big part of what makes the award so special for Imagine!. What we do at Imagine! is essentially a community building endeavor, and we wouldn’t be successful without the support of our community.

That community support of Imagine! was on display at the ceremony. Many of the other finalists and winners of the evening were organizations and individuals that have supported Imagine! in many different ways. So we can truly say that although the award plaque says “Imagine!,” everybody in attendance last night had a hand in our success, and the award is as much theirs as it is ours.

Thank you Boulder Magazine, the esteemed panel of REAL Award judges, and everyone who has supported, and continues to support, Imagine! and the people we serve. We are truly grateful.

Imagine! Foundation Donor Recognition Reception

Donors to the Imagine! Foundation during the past 11 years will be honored and thanked at a reception on Wednesday, April 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Imagine!’s John M. Taylor Conference Center, 1665 Coal Creek Drive, Lafayette. A brief program will bring guests up to date on Imagine!’s involvement at the state and national level, including an update on activities at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder and the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2001,community donors have provided nearly $4,850,000 to benefit those Imagine! serves.

Thank You Thursday!

This week’s roundup of generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation includes:

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Combined Federal Campaign (Individual donations will be listed at the end of the fiscal year.)

Associate ($500-$999)
Howard and Mary Allen Fund/The Longmont Community Foundation
McCarty Charitable Fund/The Longmont Community Foundation Friend

($1-$249)
In Memory of Patricia Coyne
   From Mary Chokran
Walt & Linda Pounds

As always, thanks to all of our generous donors.

Congratulations Charles “Chuck” Sisk

Today we’d like to say “congratulations” to Charles "Chuck" Sisk for his induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.

Mr. Sisk is a partner in the firm of Hurth, Sisk & Blakemore.

Mr. Sisk moved to Colorado at the age of one. His great grandparents homesteaded in Colorado in 1871. Mr. Sisk received his B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1967 and his J.D. from the University of Colorado in 1969. He joined Hurth, Sisk & Blakemore in 1973 after serving three years as Deputy District Attorney for Boulder County.

Mr. Sisk has served as Boulder County’s Public Administrator since 1977. As such, he is regularly appointed by the Court to represent minors, the elderly and the mentally or physically challenged who need legal representation.

A former (20-year) college football referee in the Mountain West Athletic Conference, Mr. Sisk is active in numerous civic organizations and recently ended an eight year run as Mayor of Louisville, Colorado due to term limits.

Mr. Sisk is licensed to practice law in the Colorado State Courts and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

Mr. Sisk has recently agreed to become a member of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors, and will be beginning his service in June. His experience and knowledge will be a great asset to the board, and we look forward to working with him.

If you are interested in attending the April 25 Boulder County Business Hall of Fame luncheon, click here.

Vote Imagine!

Imagine!’s Community Calendar Activities (CCA) program, run by our Dayspring department, is up for a Community Foundation Serving Boulder County NOVA Award – and you can help by voting for Imagine! (and other great organizations) this week.

Click here to learn more about CCA and to vote!

Go Dayspring!

Thank You Thursday!

This week’s roundup of generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation includes:

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Art & Marion Seder

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)

In Memory of Viola Dingman

  From Gary Stewart

Associate ($500-$999)

Rotary eClub One

Supporter ($250-$499)

Apple Matching Gifts Program

Michelle Parsons

Friend ($1-$249)
Emily Gadacz
Patricia Gray
Timothy Shanahan – IBM Payroll Deduction
In Memory of Valerie Straight

  From Anonymous

  From Stuart & Barbara Boyd

  From James Carter & Ruth Fletcher-Carter

  From David Carton

  From Glen & Ina Gwin

  From Carolyn Kiehn

  From Eugene & Marilyn Schneider

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Friend

Denver Boulder Couriers – one courier trip

As always, thank you to all of our generous donors.

Celebrate National Siblings Day

Today is National Siblings Day, so we’d like to take this opportunity to give a great big shout out to all the siblings of the individuals served by Imagine!. Siblings play a vital role in the lives of their brothers and sisters with disabilities, and many of the folks we serve are blessed with incredibly supportive siblings. In fact, several members of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors serve on the board because of their experiences growing up with a sibling with an intellectual disability.

If you are interested in learning more, check out The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN), a national nonprofit dedicated to providing siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote issues important to them and their entire families.

Thank You Thursday!

Here’s a roundup of generous donations to the Imagine! Foundation from the last week.

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Mutual of America – Table Sponsor at Imagine! Celebration
Imagine! Employee “Transcend $10,000” Campaign – 3rd Quarter

Friend ($1-$249)
In Memory of William Beam
  From Lo Anne Zentner
In Memory of Guy Smith
  From Anonymous
  From Randi Madsen
In Honor of Jane Sprague and Maureen Kelly
  From Joshua Putterman and Family
In Memory of Valerie Straight
  From Carrie Davis

As always, thanks to all of our generous donors.

Thank You, Walmart

Today we’d like to say “thank you” to two local Walmart stores that have contributed recently to help support Imagine!’s Family Support Grants Program.

Family Support Grants help pay for the extraordinary costs of caring for a family member who has a developmental disability. Funds may be used to help pay for respite care, professional services, medical and dental senses, transportation, assistive technology, home modifications, and parent and sibling support.

Anyone who has a family member with a developmental disability knows how difficult it can be to pay for some of these expenses, and these grants can make a huge difference.

As one family told us: “This grant will help ease the financial stress and burden that comes with having a special needs child. It helps offset costs that insurance does not cover. Each year it seems that insurance covers less to help our child function in the world. We have dealt with that by cutting down on therapies, respite and recreation activities. This grant helps us keep some of those things in place.”

The Walmart located at 500 Summit Boulevard in Broomfield recently gave $1,000 to underwrite a Family Support Grant for a Broomfield family, and the Walmart located at 745 US Highway 287 in Lafayette  recently gave $1,000 to underwrite a Family Support Grant for a Boulder County family.

Other local Walmart stores have supported our Family Support Grants in the past, including two Walmart stores in Longmont that contributed $2,500 each in 2009.

Thank you, Walmart, for your continued support of Imagine! and the families we serve!

Light It Up Blue For Autism

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation are “Lighting It Up Blue” to help shine a light on autism.

Learn more here.

Congratulations, Eric!

Congratulations are in order for Eric Wallace, President and Co-Founder of Left Hand Brewing Company, for his selection as a member of the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, Class of 2012! 

Eric is a former member of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors. In addition to serving on the Foundation board, Eric has supported Imagine! by hosting a variety of fundraising events, and Left Hand has employed individuals served by Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department since 2006.

Way to go Eric! A well deserved honor, indeed!

Thank You Thursday!

Here’s a roundup of generous donations to the Imagine! Foundation from February 23 through March 23.

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Virginia W. Hill Foundation – Grant for Community Calendar Activities Program
Palmos Development Corporation – Imagine! Celebration Silver Sponsor
WD Foundation – Grant for Family Support Grants

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
David Edwards – Celebration Table Sponsor and Other Donation
Elevations Credit Union  – Celebration Table Sponsor
Dennis & Becky Fase – ½ Merrill Lynch Celebration Silver Sponsorship
Harry Goresline – for Imagine! Host Home Program
Littler Mendelson – Celebration Table Sponsor
Sadie Gift Fund/Community Foundation Serving Boulder County – Grant for General Operating
Rich Tocher & Julie Vlier
Tracy Family Foundation – Grant for General Operating

Associate ($500-$999)

Frank & Gina Day
Stephen Tebo

Supporter ($250-$499)
CBIZ Meyers Dining – Celebration Tickets
In Memory of Johnny Chetham
  From Joseph & Betty Brooks
  From Donald & Avis Davis
  From Gastroenterology of the Rockies
Lindsey Lehr
Joy Pak
In Memory of Guy Smith
  From Paul & Janet Hoskins
  From Thomas and Andrea Mann
 From Michael and Carlene Matthews
  From Kathleen O’Connor
Daniel & Sandra Stevens
Shari Tebo

Friend ($1-$249)
Albemarle Foundation – Matching Gift for Richard Sabalot
Albertsons LLC
In Honor of Polly Atkinson
  From Geri Combs
Nancy Antos, Boulder Women’s Guild
Connie Banta, Boulder Women’s Guild
Whitney Blair/Beth Leibo
Susanna Block, Boulder Women’s Guild
Kathy Coyne
Bert & Mardelle Crist
Linda Davidson, Boulder Women’s Guild
Linda Faul, Boulder Women’s Guild
Angela Forest, Boulder Women’s Guild
Bill Goodacre
Cameron & Erika Grant
Teresa Gray
Chuck & Sarah Miller
Andrea Mindell, Boulder Women’s Guild
Dennis & Debra Paul
Margot Planchard, Boulder Women’s Guild
Jim & Diane Reitz
Jeanne Ryan, Boulder Women’s Guild
Deborah Silberstein, Boulder Women’s Guild
Susan Soklin, Boulder Women’s Guild
In Memory of Roland Stendler
  From Lo Anne Zentner
Gail Sutton, Boulder Women’s Guild
United Way of Tri-County, Inc. 
Michele Williams, Boulder Women’s Guild
Romney Williams

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Associate ($500-$999)
Tetra Tech – 2 HP Laser Jet 5000 N printers

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Boulder Reservoir – Discount for boar rentals for Imagine!’s Out & About Summer Camp
Denver Boulder Couriers – Two courier trips
Kerry & Erin Foutz – Children’s clothing
Front Range Hippotherapy – Discount for regular sessions during Imagine!’s Out & About Summer Camp
Erika Leon – Children’s toys and high chair

As always, we thank all of our generous donors. 

Thank You, US Bancorp

Today, we’d like to thank US Bancorp for providing a $1,500 grant in early February to be directed to providing supported employment services to an individual served by Imagine!’s Labor Source department. According to the grant, the funds will “underwrite the identification of one low-income adult with developmental disabilities to whom services are otherwise not available, initiation of Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-funded job placement, and the provision of job coaching and support for one year.”

Supported employment services are vital to our community. They are also a great example of Imagine!’s mission in action. Supported employment offers people who have a disability the opportunity to develop vital job skills and become active participants in their communities. They pay taxes and spend their hard earned money in the community.

In short, they contribute.

US Bancorp has supported labor Source with a grant in each of the last four years, providing a total of $6,500 in grants. Their contributions have made a huge difference in the lives of those we serve, as well as our community.

Thank you, US Bancorp!

Time To Get REAL

Imagine! has been nominated for a Boulder Magazine REAL Award in the non-profit category. Check out our nomination here.

CORE/Labor Source Consumers Volunteer at Community Food Share

Thanks to Carrie Keyes, who works for Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department, for sharing this information about some individuals served by Imagine! who contribute to their community through volunteering.

We have a great group on Friday mornings at Community Food Share, where our task is to fill one pound bags of beans, and package 25 bags into each crate. Despite performing the same tasks for over a year together, we continue to grow as a group. We enjoy having time to collaborate as an assembly line team, while socializing with each other and other community members. The whole group verbalizes excitement when we walk in the door and they see their favorite greeter, whom they all recognize by name. Each member of the volunteer crew is flexible in their tasks and tries different things each week. They are independent in setting up supplies and no one complains about working. It has been such a great experience for us all to increase job and social skills.

Pictured above are Scott, Kyle, Peter, and Corrina.

Keep Up With Imagine! Using Social Media

Are you interested in learning more about Imagine! and the work we do to provide individuals with developmental disabilities the tools and supports they need to become contributing members of their communities?

To help keep you informed with current information about what is going on at Imagine! and in the field of developmental disabilities, we encourage you to use the following simple online tools to keep you up-to-date, while also allowing you to become part of the conversation. The best way we have to keep you current on events or noteworthy happenings, especially between newsletters, is through Imagine!’s social media sites.

Whether you are new to social media or a longtime user, there is a platform out there for you. Below are some options for you to “get in the know” using social media.

Facebook pages:

Become a fan of the Imagine! Facebook page

Become a fan of the SmartHomes Facebook page

Become a fan of the Dayspring Facebook page

Become a fan of the Imagine! Behavioral Health Services Facebook page

Become a fan of the Labor Source Facebook page

Blogs:

Follow Imagine! CEO Mark Emery’s blog

Follow the SmartHomes blog

Twitter Pages:

Follow Imagine! on Twitter

Follow the SmartHomes on Twitter

And check out Imagine!'s YouTube Channel

Thank You Herbert Parker Foundation

A big shout-out today to the Herbert Parker Foundation for providing a $2,000 grant to Imagine!’s Dayspring Community Calendar Activities program.

Dayspring’s Community Calendar Activities program introduces parents of young children with developmental delays and disabilities to places in our community that offer great activities and opportunities for children to meet their goals through fun and play. All activities encourage motor, sensory, social-emotional, cognitive and speech-language development.

Each location has activities that are age and developmentally appropriate. Activities are centered around play, because play is the primary vehicle for a child’s mental and physical growth. Play has a vital role in cognitive, speech-language, physical, emotional and social development.

Much of young children’s learning takes place when they direct their own play. Learning occurs as children touch, manipulate, experiment and talk about things, while interacting with people who facilitate without directing. During play, children are provided with sensory experiences and opportunities to move. Young children need to climb, run, jump and challenge themselves motorically. Children are natural explorers and instinctively touch, taste, hear and observe the world around them.

The Herbert Parker Foundation has provided generous support to this programs for the past three years with grants totaling $5,000.

Thanks, Herbert Parker Foundation! Your support is much appreciated!

Thank You Rotary Club of Longmont St. Vrain

Today we’d like to say “thank you” to the Rotary Club of Longmont St. Vrain for their generous donation of $500 for the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont.

Pledge To End The R-Word

Today (March 7) is Spread the Word to End the Word Day. Get the details below, and pledge your support to eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word.

WHAT

Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies and supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.

The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at http://www.r-word.org/ and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

WHEN
The official annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of every March. While most activities are centered on or near that annual day in March, people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools year-round thru pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.

WHO

Spread the Word to End the Word was founded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011) in 2009, and continues to be led by passionate young people, Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the United States and in many other parts of the world.

Celebrity activist John C. McGinley is a spokesperson for the campaign.

WHY

Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities.

HOW
Visit http://www.r-word.org/ to learn how you can Spread the Word to End the Word.

Imagine! Volunteer Spotlight

“The two days I volunteer at Imagine!

are my two favorite days of the week.”

Kevin Breslin began volunteering at Imagine! in October 2011. He was inspired to volunteer after having a conversation with Wendy Breitenfeld, Imagine!’s Payroll Specialist. “Wendy told me how happy she was at her job, and her enthusiasm was contagious,” said Kevin. “She suggested I try volunteering, and I thought it would be a good way to check it out.”

Kevin began volunteering for Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department on Thursdays and Fridays. On Thursdays, he works with CORE’s “Guys Group,” helping on consumer outings in the community. Recently, Kevin has assisted CORE at events including a tour of Coors Brewery, an outing to the stock show, and a trip to the bowling alley. On Fridays, Kevin works with Labor Source in the mornings, helping a work crew at the Hungry Toad Pub, and in the afternoon helps out with CORE’s “Radio KGNU” class. Kevin can be seen on the far left in the photo taken at the radio class.

That’s a busy schedule for anyone, but Kevin finds motivation from Imagine! employees. “I have been so impressed with the people who work for Imagine!,” said Kevin, in particular singling out staff members Jill Burcham, Jason Gillespie, and Richard Lowe for their unwavering commitment to the individuals Imagine! serves. “Imagine! has such dedicated and caring staff members,” Kevin continued.

Kevin’s stint as a volunteer has convinced him to pursue a career in the human services field – a far cry from his previous career as an investment broker! “The work Imagine! does makes a difference, it really makes lives better,” said Kevin. He is hoping to join the CORE/Labor Source staff in the near future.

Good luck, Kevin, and thank you for what you do. Support from volunteers like you is essential in creating an inclusive community!

Interested in volunteering at Imagine!? Click here.

Thank You, Boettcher Foundation

Today we’d like to thank the Boettcher Foundation for its generous grant of $20,000 to support the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

Since 1937, The Boettcher Foundation’s mission has been to invest in the minds and mortar of Colorado. The grant from the Boettcher Foundation was used toward the construction of the SmartHome.

This support is vital to one of Imagine!’s most ambitious projects. Over the past five years, Imagine! has built, and is currently operating, two SmartHomes. Imagine!’s SmartHomes provide permanent affordable housing for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, and they incorporate cutting edge technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of services and supports for the residents.

As the first such homes in the nation, Imagine!’s SmartHomes are serving as a model for the future of residential care for people with developmental disabilities. They enhance the lives and independence of residents, augment the effectiveness of staff as caregivers, and provide cost and energy savings to Imagine!.

In addition, the SmartHome model has enormous potential to impact groups of people with related concerns (dementia, autism, chronic mental illness, and Alzheimer’s), as the homes are serving as living laboratories to create and test “SmartSupports” – assistive technologies that can be used in family homes to keep individuals with any kind of cognitive impairment living in their own homes for as long as possible.

Thank You Thursday!

Here’s a roundup of donations to the Imagine! Foundation from January 28 through February 22.

Gold ($5000-$9,999)
The Denver Foundation – Grant for Dayspring Community Calendar Activities


Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Community Foundation Serving Boulder County – For Family Support Grants
Motorola Solutions Foundation – Match for Mark Zentner Gift
Wells Fargo

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Kathy Coyne
David Edwards
Elevations Credit Union 
Jon & Karen Jones
Walt & Linda Pounds
Lloyd Streit
U. S. Bancorp Foundation
Julie Vlier
Western Disposal Services 
Barbara Zarlengo

Associate ($500-$999)
Mary Dichtl
Golden Triangle Construction 
Knights of Columbus Boulder Council #1183
Brian & Christine Moser
Jerry & Julie Rudy
Ron & Vickye Secrist

Supporter ($250-$499)
Whitney Blair & Beth Leibo
Scott & Claudia Culley
Sue Deans
Clay Della Cava
Doris Gray
Lindsey Kehr
Longmont Entrepreneurial Network, Inc.
Jim & Heather Mock
Luke Osborne
Dean Scheef
Nanette Schunk
Mark Zentner

Friend ($1-$249)
Anonymous
Jay & Maru Balzer
Neil & Judy Bicknell
Wendy Blakemore
Linda Cain
Diane Carroll
Bob & Judy Charles
Colorado Business Bank
Melody Conway
Scott Edwards
Allen Feld
Bill & Suzanne Ferrell
Teresa Gray
Erik Hall
Charles & Sally Holmes

Tim & Samantha Jenkins

Paige Norton

Pat & Michelle O’Brien
Bob & Allie Richardson
Tom Riley
Jo Ann Ringgenberg
Valorie Simpson
Dan & Sandra Stevens
Bernie & Leona Stoecker
Sue Thomas
Don & Colene Van Winkle
Greg & Alice Wellems
In Memory of Carl Schrubbe from Lo Anne Zentner

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
Janine Randol – Use of timeshare for Dayspring staff
The River Community Church – Space for CORE/Labor Source’s Sensory Cooking Class

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Marisa Andrews - Clothing
Willow Call - Clothing
Phil & Patricia Pratt – Clothing

 

As always, we thank all of our generous donors. 

Thank You, Boedecker Foundation

Today we’d like to thank The Boedecker Foundation for its generous grant to support the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

The mission of The Boedecker Foundation is to provide critical resources to nonprofit organizations that inspire positive change within diverse communities around the world. The grant from The Boedecker Foundation will help reduce the debt associated with constructing and equipping the SmartHome. This is the second time the foundation has provided a grant to Imagine!’s SmartHomes – it also provided a grant in 2009 to the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont when the foundation was known as The Anthony H. Kruse Foundation.

This support is vital to one of Imagine!’s most ambitious projects. Over the past five years, Imagine! has built, and is currently operating, two SmartHomes. Imagine!’s SmartHomes provide permanent affordable housing for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, and they incorporate cutting edge technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of services and supports for the residents.

As the first such homes in the nation, Imagine!’s SmartHomes are serving as a model for the future of residential care for people with developmental disabilities. They enhance the lives and independence of residents, augment the effectiveness of staff as caregivers, and provide cost and energy savings to Imagine!.

In addition, the SmartHome model has enormous potential to impact groups of people with related concerns (dementia, autism, chronic mental illness, and Alzheimer’s), as the homes are serving as living laboratories to create and test “SmartSupports” – assistive technologies that can be used in family homes to keep individuals with any kind of cognitive impairment living in their own homes for as long as possible.

To recognize The Boedecker Foundation’s support, the kitchen in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome will be known from now on as The Boedecker Kitchen, and will be recognized with a prominently displayed plaque.

Good Knights!

On February 8th, Dick Bryant, with the Knights of Columbus Boulder Council 1183, presented a check for $860 to Jane Sprague from Imagine!'s Dayspring department. The funds were raised by the Knights' Tootsie Roll Drive to help families who have children with developmental disabilities and delays to attend activities in the community that support the therapies children are getting in their homes.

The Boulder Knights have supported Imagine! by donating a total of $12,394 to the organization over the past decade! Thank you, Knights!!!

Thank You Thursday!

Here’s a roundup of donations to the Imagine! Foundation that were paid from January 21 through the night of the Imagine! Celebration, January 27. Thanks to all of our generous donors.


Gold ($5000-$9,999)
Signature Offset

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Don & Anita Fort
George & Kristin Karakehian
Eric & Jennifer Love

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
The Boulder Group, Robert W. Baird & Co. 
Sandy & Sally Bracken
Bob & Judy Charles
Phil & Yvonne DiStefano
Bob & Sandi Edson
John & Deea Frisbie
Jon & Karen Jones
Dale & Kathy King
Terry & Suzie Lavelle
Liquor Mart
Tom & Tia Mattson
Marty & Alfred McElwain
Jay & Kathy Montgomery
Rick & Jackie Nelson
Lonnie Nixon & Rebecca Turnbull
Polk Family Charitable Fund
Walt & Linda Pounds
John Thacker
Rick & Lynne Waidler

Associate ($500-$999)
John & Crystal Bickel
Steve & June Blouch
Scott & Virginia Brown
Robb Cope
Cameron & Erika Grant
Rich & Connie Knippelmeyer
Chris Leh & Natalie Hanlon-Leh
Lawrence & Barbara Marquess
Peter & Carol Mitschke
Ron & Vickye Secrist
Gene & Beverly Shaw
Steve & Sarah Stoecker
Lee & Roshelle Woods

Supporter ($250-$499)
Scott & Shelly Baker
Rick & Pat Burdick
Janice Charles
Bob & Beth Davis
Mark & Judy Emery
Bill & Suzanne Farrell
Jerry & Diane Golnick
Becky Hammond
Rollie & Josie Heath
Charles & Sally Holmes
Keith Kanemoto
Walter Logue & Anahid Katchian
Bruce & Robin Marshall
Chuck Sisk & Terre Rushton
Don Sullivan & Paige Lawrence
Susan White
Sterling Wind

Friend ($1-$249)
Ron & Janan Alford
Hunter & Stephanie Barto
David & Kathy Brinton
Mike & Julie Butler
Roger & Elle Cabbage
Kory & Kim Cash
Ted Conti & Meg Brennan
Kathy Coyn
Ken & Lynn Curtis
Pat & Janell Daly
Greg & Lesley Davis
Jeannie Demarinis
Jack Elliott
Kathy Evans
Dennis & Becky Fase
Mike & Joyce Frailey
Caitlin & Cathy Frantz
Robert & Karla Friar
Mike & Tamara Gaffney
Sean Gingerich
Paul & Susan Graf
Deb Gravelle
Mel & Cindy Green
Kevin Harding
Katie Hawkins
Mike & RaShelle Hindman
Fred Hobbs
Matt Hutchinson & Alison Kadans
Adam & Mary Ingersoll
Daniel Johnson
Cary & Cathy Juvonen
John Kay
Stuart & Lauren Kingsbery
Eric & Lisa Kittelberger
Mike & Kerry Kleiman
Jeff & Ali Knight
Mark & Julie Lee
Arlin & Cindi Lehman
Mark Love
Kevin Martin
Ryan & Leanne Martyr
Michele Morin
David & Patti Micklin
Tom & Vicki Miller
Sara Ostrom
John & Lonni Peterson
Scott & Julia Pirnack
Dan & Tara Powers
Hector Rubi
Matt & Taryn Sanchez
Mia Sanchez-O’Dell
Ryon Schartz

Steve & Debbie Schmidle

Lee Shainis

St. Vrain Valley School District

Gary Stebick

Dale & Anne Stetina

Tim Studebaker & Linda Ortiz

Sue Thomas

Carrie Thornton

Phil & Brenda Tobias

Loree Vanderhye

Don & Colene Van Winkle

Lisa Wade

Star Waring

Rose Weyman

Jessica Woodings

Theresa Wrangham

In-Kind Platinum ($5000-$9,999)

Christine Landrum – Dynavox V-Max with EyeMax and other electronics

Thanks Community Trust of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County

Today we’d like to acknowledge the Community Trust of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County for their $3,000 grant to be directed to Boulder County Family Support Grants. This is the Community Trust’s third grant to Imagine! in the past three years, and it is most appreciated.

Family Support Grants help pay for the extraordinary costs of caring for a family member who has a developmental disability. Funds may be used to help pay for respite care, professional services, medical and dental expenses, transportation, assistive technology, home modifications, and parent and sibling support.

Anyone who has a family member with a developmental disability knows how difficult it can be to pay for some of these expenses, and these grants can make a huge difference. As one family told us: “This grant will help ease the financial stress and burden that comes with having a special needs child. It helps offset costs that insurance does not cover. Each year it seems that insurance covers less to help our child function in the world. We have dealt with that by cutting down on therapies, respite and recreation activities. This grant helps us keep some of those things in place.”

Many thanks to the Community Trust for making such a difference in the lives of Boulder County families!

Thank You Thursday!

Today we’d like to send a great big “thank you” to The Collins Foundation Trust for their recent $3,000 grant for the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome. This is the Collins Trust’s fourth grant to our Boulder SmartHome, totaling $12,500. The Collins Foundation Trust was established by William R. and Ruth Collins for distribution to charitable, religious, and educational purposes and organizations within the County of Boulder. The Trust is administered by the Private Client Services division of Wells Fargo Bank.

Thanks, Collins Foundation Trust!

Congratulations, George!

George Karakehian and his wife Kristin

Congratulations are in order for George Karakehian, an Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors Emeritus member. George, sometimes called “The Sheriff of Downtown Boulder,” is being honored as the 2012 Boulder Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts of America, Longs Peak Council.

The Distinguished Citizen is the highest honor bestowed on a community leader by the Longs Peak Council for their service to their community, exemplary character, and loyal citizenship. The selection committee determined that Karakehian best represented these values, which are the backbone of Scouting.

George, owner of Art Source International and Boulder City Councilman, moved to Boulder in 1971 after graduating from Colorado State University to follow his soon to be wife, Kristin. In 1980, he opened Art Source International, which has been on the Pearl Street Mall for more than 20 years. He has been engaged in the Boulder community by serving on numerous city boards and non-profit organizations such as Imagine!, Downtown Boulder, Inc, The Colorado Chautauqua Association, and he was the driving force behind the creation of the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District. An avid supporter of CU athletics, George has also been an officer of the Buff Club. In 2009, he was elected to the Boulder City Council and recently reelected in 2011. George and Kristin have two daughters, Jessie and Katie.

In order to honor George in a fun and engaging manner, George’s friends and other community leaders have agreed to host a roast. Please join us in an entertaining evening to recognize George’s contributions to our community and support the Boy Scouts in their mission to create tomorrow’s community leaders. The dinner will be at the St. Julian Hotel on March 8 beginning at 6:30 PM.

To purchase your seat or table at the event, simply click here and join the fun on March 8th.

Thank You Thursday!

For today’s Thank You Thursday, we’d like to thank all of our Imagine! Celebration 2012 Sponsorship Partners. The total of paid and pledged sponsors this year totaled $111,875, which represents an 8% increase over last year!


Gold Sponsorships
Ball Corporation 
Sandy & Sally Bracken
David & Laura Braddock
Colorado Business Bank
The Eldridge Family
Flood and Peterson  
McElwain Family Foundation
Micro Motion 
Signature Offset 
MarkZentner/Motorola Foundation

Silver Sponsorships
Amgen, Inc.
Avista Adventist Hospital 
Boulder Community Hospital
Centennial Bank 
Lou & Melodie Della Cava
Merrill Lynch 
Palmos Development 
PDC Pharmacy
Republic National Distributing Company 
Wells Fargo 
Susan White

Table Sponsorships
The Boulder Group/Robert W. Baird & Co. 
Sandy & Sally Bracken
Dean Callan & Co. 
Bob & Judy Charles
David Edwards
EKS&H  
Elevations Credit Union 
FirstBank of Longmont 
Front Range Community College 
Grant, Grant & Goiran
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company 
Land Title Guarantee Company 
Liquor Mart
Littler Mendelson, P.C. 
Longmont United Hospital 
Louisville Auto Supply/NAPA Auto Parts 
Metro Taxi 
Jay & Kathy Montgomery
Mutual of America 
Lonnie & Rebecca Nixon
Walt & Linda Pounds
Bernie & Leona Stoecker
Lloyd & Julie Streit
Tebo Development
Tetra Tech 
Van Winkle Associates
Western Disposal 

CityWide Banks  (1/2 table)

Imagine!'s Holiday Gift Giving Program Provided Gifts To More Than 500 People

Yes, it is already February, but we wanted to make sure we thanked all those who worked so hard last November and December to make Imagine!’s Holiday Gift Giving program a success.

Through the generosity, time, effort, and hard work of so many contributors, individuals, and employees, we were able to provide gifts for more than 500 children and adults through Imagine!’s Gift Giving Program for 2011.

Major contributors included:

• Tebo Christmas Party
• Nativity of our Lord Church in Broomfield
• Lockheed Martin/Operation Santa Claus
• RE/MAX of Longmont
• Seagate
• Association for Community Living (ACL)
• King Soopers
• Flatirons Church
• Imagine! Board of Directors
• Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors
• Bal Swan

Thanks to these individuals for helping to coordinate with our major contributors: Dawnna Ankenbrandt, Michelle Conkey, Jayson Cowley, Susan Gabriel, Debbie Garcia, Rebekah Kovarik, Susan LaHoda, Julie Ann Markiewicz, Nicole Newsom, Cheryl Sabo, and Caroline Siegfried.

Thank you to Imagine!’s Service Coordinators and Case Managers for nominating consumers and families, and for delivering gifts to them. Added thanks for everyone who volunteered to help by delivering packages.

A very special thank you to the following employees and family members for all their hard work, generosity, and tireless efforts, once again making this year’s program a success: Larry Bliss, Bruce Gibson, Sharon Headley, Patrick Krause, Marianne Nick, Irene Padilla, So Rosenblum, and Cheryl Sabo.

For many of our consumers and families, these were the only gifts they received and they were very grateful for the help. I’m sure we put smiles on many faces this past December.

Finally, we thank and acknowledge Carol Bliss, the 2012 Imagine! Holiday Gift Giving Program Coordinator, for ensuring the program’s success.

Celebration Photos

Last Friday’s Imagine! Celebration was a huge success! $245,000 was raised to support Imagine!’s mission, and a good time was had by all in attendance. Check out the pictures below!

Imagine! Foundation Board President Sandy Bracken and Foundation Board Member Emeritus George Karakehian, the evening's emcee.

Paige Lawrence, Don Sullivan, Don and Colene Van Winkle. Colene and Paige served as Imagine! Celebration Committee co-chairs, and Don Sullivan was part of that committee as well.

Former Imagine! Board member Dennis Fase and Imagine! CEO Mark Emery

Founder of the Imagine! Foundation Bob Charles and his wife Judy.  Both have been extraordinary supporters of Imagine!.

Kristin Karakehian, past Imagine! Foundation Board President Leona Stocker, and her husband Bernie

Ken and Lynn Curtis spoke passionately about Imagine! before the evening’s Special Appeal

Imagine! Foundation Board Vice President Walt Pounds and his wife Linda, Judy and Neil Bicknell

Chancellor of the CU-Boulder Campus Phil DiStefano and his wife Yvonne.

Robbie Alford, Janan Alford, Ron Alford, Imagine! Foundation Board Member Valorie Simpson

Alonzo Clemons, who receives services from Imagine!, showed off his amazing sculpting skills.

Frank Day and Imagine! Foundation Board Member David Edwards

 Imagine! Foundation Board Member Emeritus Jack Stoakes

Imagine! consumer Tanya Alford provided the evening's entertainment.

Imagine! Foundation Board Member Rick Nelson and his wife Jackie, who served on the Celebration Committee.