Thank You Thursday!

We’ve got a couple of weeks of catching up to do, and a lot of donors to thank! Here’s a roundup of recent generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation:

Cash Donations

Platinum ($10,000+)
Andy & Connie Minden -- for Boulder Treasures

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Della Cava Family LLC – Silver Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)  
Benson, Kerrane, Storz & Nelson PC – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Don & Karen Brown
In Honor of Scott Doyen
  From Carolyn Doying
EKS&H – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Frasier Meadows Retirement Community – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Susan LaHoda
Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Rajul & Amy Pandya
Jerry & Julie Rudy
Don & Colene Van Winkle – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
In Honor of LoAnne Zentner, Mark Zentner Family, Mark Clemens Family, Elizabeth & Jim Joque, Christine Jahncke, David & Janice Griffin, Brian Clemens Family, James & Amy Zentner, Kelly Joque, Jenny, Jade, and Amber Beuedan, David Mudge, and the Prochoska Family
  From Chris & Barbara Clemens

Associate ($500-$750)
Anonymous
Black Roofing
Kathleen Clemons
Rodger & Dena Creel
Chris & Pat Current
James & KenEtta Fitzgerald-Duff
In Honor of Kyle Luxner
  From Bob & Joan Luxner
  From Tom & Mary Martella
  From the Summers Family
Timothy Macdonald
Dan & Karissa Mackin
In Honor of Susan McNutt
  From Peter McNutt
John Mehaffy
David & Patti Micklin
Harvey & Rosalyn Micklin
The Myers Family
Susan White
David Williams
Scott & Theresa Wrangham
Dave & Marcia Wyatt

Supporter ($250-$499)
John & Kelly Bratton
Joel & Carolyn Buck-Gengler
Peter & Anne Carpenter
Carlos & Rebecca Descalzo
Mark Emery
Sam & Carolyn Johnson
Liquor Mart Wrapping Project Donations ($296)
Kevin & Jennifer Music
In Honor of Rick Nelson
  From David Harwood & Ellen Marshall
Rick & Kathy New
PASCO (Personal Assistance Services of Colorado)
Robert Pelz, Jr.
Sanderson Law, P.C.
Silver Fern Homes, LLC
Eileen Vanek
Charles Wellman

Friend ($1-$249)
Mark & Enid Ablowitz
Renate Alpert – For Dayspring
Carol Andreo
Anonymous (6) – One is a donation for Family Services
Anonymous -- For Boulder County Initiative
Anonymous – Holiday Gifts
Alex & Nancy Ariniello
In Memory of Johanna “Jodi” Arnold
  From Edward & Jaqueline Arnold
In Honor of Polly Atkinson
  From Geri Combs
Joshus Bachrach
Blake Baily
In Honor of the Mark Baker/Dr. Debbie Hamilton Family
  From Ken and Pat Baker
Jay & Mary Balzer – Tickets at the Imagine! Celebration
Paul & Kay Bierbaum
Boulder Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union – Tickets at the Imagine! Celebration
David & Laura Braddock
Carl & Merna Brady
Charles Brendecke
Kristin Brousseau – For Imagine! Behavioral Health Services
Buck & Nancy Buchanan
Caroline, Eva, and Essie
Jim & Susan Chrisman
Louis & MaryKay Cicio
Jessica Clarke
Tom Cobb & Mary Blue
Kathleen Coniway
Michelle Conkey
Dave Cooper/Wright Kingdom – Holiday Gifts
Kathy Coyne
Christina Craigo
In Memory of Ben Curtis
  From Don & Judy Forkner
Alan & Tessa Davis
The Divito Family
Susan Downey
Paul & Jan Driscoll
Mark & Denise Duffy
Fran Dugan
George & Sallie Duvall
Brian Egaas & Korina Bersentes
Martha Evans
FirstBank Incentive Fund from Colorado Gives Day ($212.23)
Fawn Gold/Premier Designs Jewelry
Golden Nuggets Kiwanis
In Memory of Jeanette Gonzalez
  From Anonymous
In Honor of Jordyn and Kolten Grochocki 
  From Frank & Leslie Grochocki
Trent & Jennifer Gustafson
Ken Hackbarth
In Memory of David Hamilton
  From Leslie Rothman & Joe Rudy – for Dayspring
Robert & Christine Hannagan
Greg Harris & Sara Lawrence
David & Melinda Harrison
Jim & Judy Heinze
John & Carol Hoeffler
In Honor of the Charles & Sally Holmes Family
  From Pete & Patti Sandman
In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. John Honea & Micah, Mr. & Mrs. Gene Barnett & Joey, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Mytton, Ms. Betty Cagle, Ms. Margaret C. Dreyfous, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Larson, Ms. Scotland Gragg, and Mr. Paul Jones
  From Jim & Jeanne Mytton
Ruth Howe
Chris & Kim Huss
In Honor of Keith Icove
  From The Feiger Tigers
In Honor of the Imagine! Staff
  From the Gehrs
Alison Kadans
Stuart & Lauren Kingsbery
Kathryn Latier
In Honor of Ewan Lester
  From Ken Suslak & Harriet Edelstein
Joy Linfield
Eric & Jennifer Love
Patricia Lowe
In Memory of Ann Mandis
  From Anonymous
Gary & Lou McClelland
In Memory of Patti McNelly
  From Bob & Allie Richardson
Alison Meadows
Tom Miller/National Research Center, Inc.
Albert & Alison Moraska – For Family Services
David Mungo
In Honor of Katie O’Connor
  From Catherine Manka
In Honor of Conner O’Donnell
  From Kurt & Kathleen O’Donnell – for Out & About
Dick Olson & Janice Keenan
In Honor of the Out & About Staff
  From the Gehrs -- for Out & About
Roy & Barbara Pringle
Jaclyn Ramaley
Sam & Carla Rapp
John & Nancy Reilly
Martha Ridgway
Charles & Gay Rohrer
The Sadlers
Garry Sanfacon
Jeffrey Schmidt
Steve & Darla Schueth
Mike Schwartz & Angela Marlino
Chuck Semple
In Honor of Alex Shuler
  From Mollie Stauss
Louise Smart – For Out & About
In Honor of Carol Spencer
  From Bob Spencer
Robert & Dorothea Steinke
Larry, Kathy and Eric Stevens – For Family Services
Bryan & Cyndi Stringham – For Family Services
Scott & Sue Thomas
Remsen & Marilyn Voorhis
Jack Walker – Holiday Gifts
Sim & Janis Walker
Stephen Whitaker
Thelma Whitaker
David & Paula Williams
Eric & Lucy Williams – Holiday Gifts
Sterling Wind
Roger Wittern
William Wood
Budd Zuckerman

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
King Soopers, Aurora – 502 Holiday Gifts

In-Kind Bronze
Cain Travel – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: California Wine Tasting Trip
Nativity of Our Lord – Holiday Gifts for 175 children and 20 adults

In-Kind Associate ($500-$999)
Frontier Airlines – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $500 Gift Card for Frontier flight
Julie Hartman – Donations of food and beverages for 2013 Dayspring staff celebrations plus clothing, bedding, and household items for needy Imagine! families
Southwest Airlines – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two airline tickets
St. Julien Hotel and Spa – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One night stay with dinner and breakfast for two at Jill’s
Tebo Development Company – 67 Holiday Gifts

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
Guaranty Bank & Trust Company and The Denver Broncos – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Champ Bailey NFL Autographed Football
Monarch Mountain – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two full day lift tickets
ReMax Alliance of Longmont – Holiday Gifts for 34 adults

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Banjo Billy’s Bus Tours – Discounted rental for two private tours
Boulder Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Four coin sets
Calvary Bible Church – Gym usage
Carelli’s of Boulder – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Gift Certificate for two entrees
Colorado Chautauqua Association – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two season passes to its Silent Film Series
Denver Art Museum – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Four passes for general admission
Denver Botanic Gardens – Discounted admission for Out & About participants
Denver Center for the Performing Arts – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two tickets to “Animal Crackers”
Dinosaur Ridge – Free entrance to Dinosaur Ridge for 15 Out & About participants
Fantasy Orchids – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $25 Gift Certificate
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery – Discounted Admission for Out & About participants
Bobby Hills, CMT – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One hour sports massage
Indulge Bakery – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Gift Certificate
Alyssa Johnson/Trips4Fundraising – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: 12-pack of photo notecards
Leonard’s Golf – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Certificate for practice or lesson
Madcap Theater – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two passes good for four free admissions
Helen McKeown – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two paintings: “Santa Fe Color” and “Flatiron View”
Monarch Mountain – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two one-day lift tickets
Rebecca Novinger – Holiday Gifts
Pirate’s Cove Family Aquatic Center  – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Four one-day passes
Hope Robertson, CEH, RCST, NCLMT – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One 90-minute healing massage
Root Down Denver Restaurant – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Gift Certificate
Leslie Rothman – Holiday Gifts
Christy Russell at Fringe Hair Studio -- Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $45 Gift Certificate for haircut
Seagate Technology – 12 Holiday Gifts
Sprouts – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Gift Card
Spruce Confections – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $25 Gift Certificate
Sturtz & Copeland Florists & Greenhouses – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $100 Gift Card

 As always, we thank all of our generous donors. 

Spectacular Celebration Auction Items

Here are just a few of the more than 200 live and silent auction items that will be available for purchase at the Imagine! Celebration:

Bracken Farm Table Dinner: Up to 12 lucky people will enjoy a delicious catered farm table dinner hosted by Sandy and Sally Bracken at their home on the prairie. Guests will enjoy a unique dining experience while gazing across open fields to a breathtaking view of the sun setting behind the Continental Divide.

Cape Cod Getaway: The beautiful five-bedroom home of George and Kristin Karakehian in Orleans, MA is five minutes away from one of the best beaches in the U.S. It’s fully equipped with beach towels, boogie boards, and everything needed to enjoy an outdoor lobster dinner in the lovely gardens surrounding the home.

Gorgeous Greek Island Villa: The Palmos Family is again making available a magical week at their deluxe villa on Lefkada Island off the west coast of Greece. The villa sleeps eight in four bedrooms with tennis courts, a pool, and breathtaking ocean views. This is the seventh year that the Palmos Family has donated this magnificent gift to benefit those we serve!

California Wine Tour: Cain Travel is offering a two-night vacation in a King Deluxe room at La Bellasera luxury boutique hotel in Paso Robles, CA, plus a two-day car rental and $250 in air fare credit. La Bellasera is nestled at the gateway to wine country, with 80 world class wineries within ten miles.

This year’s Imagine! Celebration will be held Friday, January 24, 2014, at the Plaza Conference Center at 1850 Industrial Circle in Longmont. More information about sponsors, auction items, and all of the festivities is available on the Imagine! website (www.imaginecolorado.org/foundCelebration.htm) and the Imagine! Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ImagineColorado). Purchase tickets and tables online at https://secure.imaginecolorado.org/ssl/CelebrationRSVP.htm.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper To Attend Imagine! Celebration

Gov. John Hickenlooper will be a special guest at Imagine!’s 13th annual Imagine! Celebration on Friday, January 24, 2014.

Imagine! invited Gov. Hickenlooper to attend the annual fundraiser to honor his significant role in providing support for individuals with developmental disabilities throughout his term of office. For the past four years – in good years and in difficult years for the economy – each November 1, Hickenlooper’s budget request has included funding for developmental disabilities. He has made significant investments in this area as a budget priority.

This year, for example, he added funds to the budget to reduce wait lists and to provide additional support for individuals and families. For Imagine!, this means that 34 more adults and 57 additional children will receive services. And the governor’s proposal for next year is even more promising. Mark Emery, CEO of Imagine!, notes, “We are very grateful for Gov. Hickenlooper’s continuing focus on improving the lives of those with developmental disabilities in our state, and I know that Imagine!’s staff, its boards, and our donors will be pleased to have the opportunity to thank the governor in person for his remarkable support of the developmental disabilities community.”

This year’s event will again be held at the Plaza Conference Center at 1850 Industrial Circle in Longmont. More information about sponsors, auction items, and all of the festivities is available on the Imagine! website (www.imaginecolorado.org/foundCelebration.htm) and the Imagine! Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ImagineColorado). Purchase tickets and tables online at https://secure.imaginecolorado.org/ssl/CelebrationRSVP.htm. Reserve now, and we’ll look forward to seeing you on January 24!

Flood Damage Update – Financial Impact And Efforts

Today we thought we’d give you an update on how we’re dealing with the financial impact we incurred during the historic flooding that took place this fall in Boulder County. Imagine! is pleased that all of its homes that were damaged in the flood have now been repaired, and all live-in staff who were displaced have now moved back into their residential settings. Grants have thus far brought in $26,000, insurance provided $30,000, and our online crowdfunding campaign raised $35,237. We have some additional grant requests that have been submitted, we completed an application for FEMA, and we have applied for a Small Business Administration loan. But, at present, Imagine! is still facing a shortfall of approximately $130,000. This shortfall will most likely translate into belt tightening in all departments. If you haven’t had a chance to help as yet, please consider a gift to: Imagine! Foundation, 1400 Dixon Avenue, Lafayette, CO 80026 or the online on our website at www.imaginecolorado.org. Thank you!

Thanks, Liquor Mart!

Today we’d like to offer our sincere thanks to Liquor Mart.

Since Saturday, December 14, and continuing through Tuesday, December 24th, Liquor Mart has set up a wrapping station at their store so customers can have their holiday cheer wrapped before they even get home. Proceeds from wrapping will benefit Imagine!.

This is just one more way Liquor Mart has supported Imagine! over the past decade. For example, Liquor Mart has generously arranged for and/or donated beverages for ALL of the Imagine! Foundation’s events, including the Imagine! Celebrations, since the beginning of the Foundation in 2000 – an amazing contribution!

Pictured below, Imagine! CEO Mark Emery is seen manning the wrapping station this past weekend.

Thank you, Liquor Mart, for all you do for your community!

Holly Jolly Holiday Giving!

Imagine!’s Gift Giving Drive is complete, and once again we have been delightfully overwhelmed by the generosity of our community.

Among the generous organizations that donated items to help make the holidays brighter for individual served by Imagine! were:

FirstBank, which donated gifts for 22 adults.

International Paper, which donated gifts for 12 children.

King Soopers in Aurora, which contributed 386 gifts for children.

Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church, which donated gifts for 175 children and 20 adults.

ReMax Alliance Longmont, which donated gifts for 17 adults.

SeaGate, which donated gifts for 12 children.

Guests at Stephen Tebo’s Annual Holiday party, who donated gifts for 67 children.

You can also see some of the individuals who contributed gifts or cash for gifts by clicking here and here. Thanks to gift donations and cash donations of more than $1,000, we were able to provide presents for 515 Imagine! clients.

Check out a few pictures of the donated toys below. Thanks to all who helped out and helped make it a truly holly jolly holiday for individuals served by Imagine!.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Cash Donations

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Eide Bailly LLP – Silver Sponsor at the Imagine! Celebration
PDC Pharmacy – Silver Sponsor at the Imagine! Celebration

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Adams Bank & Trust – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Jon & Karen Jones
NewMark Merrill – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Jay & Kathy Montgomery – Table at the Imagine! Celebration

Associate ($500-$750)
David & Suzanne Hoover

Supporter ($250-$499)
The Philoptochos Society of Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church             

Friend ($1-$249)
Anonymous (2)
Anonymous – For Holiday Gifts
Thomis & Barbara Buell
Paul & Mary Ann Bursiek
Max & Barbara Coppom
Bob & Sandy Edson
Lynn Henry – For Holiday Gifts
Paul & Jan Hoskins
Andy & Carol Johnson
Dale & Sandra Keller – For Flood Relief
Bill & Laura Koch – Tickets for the Imagine! Celebration
Markel Homes Construction Company
MGM/United Artists – Residuals for Billy Montgomery’s performance in “Rain Man”
In Honor of Bill Sabin
  From Jerry Sabin
Susan Sahm – For Holiday Gifts
Stan’s Automotive
John Thacker
Rick & Pat Uhlir -- For Holiday Gifts
In Honor of Pat Uhlir
  From Anonymous -- For Holiday Gifts

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Colorado Doorways – Back-ups, monitors, computers, keyboards, and mice

In-Kind Associate ($500-$999)
Omni Hotels – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two certificates for one-night stays at any Omni Hotel in North America

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
The Palmos Family – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Gift Cards for Agave, Buddha Café, Murphy’s Grill, and Thai Kitchen; $100 Gift Card for Tangerine

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Colorado Symphony – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two tickets to select concerts in the 2013-14 season
Robert & Susan Gabriel – Holiday Gifts
Cory & Debbie Graus – Holiday Gifts
Bill & Laura Koch – Holiday Gifts
John & Karen Nevins – Holiday Gifts
Caroline Siegfried – Holiday Gifts
Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $50 Gift Certificate

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Next Step Group Home Construction Update

Here’s some construction photos (more foundation work) from last week at the future site of Imagine!’s Next Step Group Home in Broomfield.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Cash Donations 

Platinum ($10,000+)
Bob & Judy Charles – For Bob & Judy Charles SmartHome
McElwain Family Foundation – Platinum Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration

Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
Centennial Bank – Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration
Colorado Business Bank -- Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration
Louise Dudley (Will be used for Flood Relief)
Robert Dudley (Will be used for Flood Relief)
Betty Eldridge – Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration
Land Title Guarantee Company -- Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Robert W. Baird and Co., Inc. – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Crestone Capital Advisors LLC – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Pete & Gayla Lindquist
Northrop Grumman – Grant of $1,000 for Family Support Grants
Michaela Phillips
Chuck Sisk & Terre Rushton – Table at the Imagine! Celebration
Danny Souders – Flood Relief
Western Disposal – Table at the Imagine! Celebration

Supporter ($250-$499)
Kent Arnold
David Millhiser
Zolo Grill Thanksgiving Day Donations ($428)

Friend ($1-$249)
Angelo & Ann Bindi
Hal, Sherry, & Annie Bruff
Joel & Linda Champion
George Cope
Ken Hackbarth
Dan & Judy Hersh
Joy Linfield
Tom & Debbie Lockwood
Gerry & Pat McNutt
Tom & Pat Metz
Shirley Morck
Robin Nissen
Steve Turley
Bill & Rosalie Vorlage

In-Kind Donations 

In-Kind Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
George & Kristin Karakehian – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One week at Cape Cod five- bedroom home

 In-Kind Bronze ($1,000-$2,500)
Sandy & Sally Bracken – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Farm Table Dinner for 12
John Kirk – Refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and microwave for Imagine! residences

In-Kind Associate ($500-$999)
Jessica Johnson – Microwave, dishwasher, and stove for Imagine! residences

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
Catie Bodin -- Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Silver, onyx, and crystal necklace & earrings
Boulder Country Club – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One round of golf for 4 players w/carts
Omni Interlocken Resort – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One night stay with breakfast and 18 holes of golf for two people

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Ron & Janan Alford – Holiday Gifts for Imagine! families
The Animal Hospital – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Annual canine exam, heartworm testing, & vaccinations
Mary Balzer – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Award winning handwoven vessel with glass swirl
Whitney Blair – Holiday Gifts for Imagine! families
Buffalo Lock & Key – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: American Security Pistol Box Safe
Court Street Antiques & Gifts, Ltd. – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Turquoise beaded bracelet and arm candy purse
eTown – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two Tickets to an eTown Hall event
The Little Jewel – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Sterling silver necklace
Lodge Casino – Black Hawk – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One night stay plus $50 towards dinner
Longmont Kiwanis Club – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Wooden toy train, helicopter, jeep, & biplane
Pedestrian Corporation – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Pair of Dansko professional clogs
Snooze – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $25 Gift Card
Leona Stoecker – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: A year of homemade baked bread
Rick Uhlir – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Series of four golf lessons at Indian Peaks Golf Course
Wonderbound – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two tickets to “Love”

As always, we thank all of our generous donors. 

Colorado Gives Day Brings In More Than $17K For Imagine!

Yesterday’s Colorado Gives Day proved to be another successful one for the Imagine! Foundation. We raised $17,425 from 91 donors! Now, admittedly, the amount is less than we brought in last year, but last year’s total included an anonymous donation of $25,000 for our Next Step Group Home in Broomfield, and we weren’t expecting a repeat of that.

So we were pleased not only with the total amount, but also in the number of donors! The total of 91 donors was a substantial increase over last year’s number of 74 donors, proving that this annual event continues to attract more and more generous citizens in Colorado and elsewhere.

Thank you to all who participated, not only those who donated to Imagine!, but to the many other great and vital organizations who also took part in this day of giving. In all, Colorado Gives Day brought in nearly 88,000 donations to 1,442 nonprofit organizations totaling a record-setting amount of more than $20 million, surpassing the $15.4 million raised in 2012.

Today Is Colorado Gives Day!

Colorado Gives Day is today, and we encourage you to participate! Donations made online at www.coloradogives.org/Imagine today will be eligible for partial matching funds. Donating through Colorado Gives eliminates all processing fees for Imagine! for donations totaling up to $50,000 per year.

Colorado Gives Day was a great success last year. Our total was $44,125 from 74 donors, and included $867.28 in partial matching funds from the FirstBank Incentive Fund. This total was nearly four times the amount raised in 2011, thanks in great part to the donation of $25,000 from an anonymous donor for the new Next Step Group Home in Broomfield.

If you are thinking about making a gift to Imagine! before the end of the calendar year, please consider doing it online today. Whether you go through our website (www.imaginecolorado.org) or directly to Colorado Gives, you will end up at the same place. You may also designate a particular Imagine! program in the “Any comments or special instructions” box if you would like. The only gifts that are ineligible are donations for which you receive something in return, such as tickets or sponsorships of our Imagine! Celebration. 

Thank you!

There's Still Time To Help Brighten The Holidays For Imagine! Families In Need

Imagine!’s 2013 Gift Giving Drive is in full swing. Last holiday season, more than 500 Imagine! clients were served through the Gift Giving Drive with the generosity of community support. We had a significant increase of families seeking support this year and all donations will help us reach our clients who are most in need this season. There will be donation drop off boxes at Imagine!’s Coal Creek and Dixon office buildings, or a pick up can be arranged for group donations!

Due to an incredible need within the Imagine! community this year, we will be extending the dates for collecting gift donations through next Monday, December 16th. As many of you know, we have experienced a (major) increase in the number of families seeking support this year and many of our community donors have been able to donate fewer resources this year as well.

Our goal is to support the 500+ individuals on the list and we need your help more than ever!

For questions please contact - Elizabeth Hill- ehill@imaginecolorado.org or 303-926-6460.

Gift ideas include:

For Children ages 0-18

Educational Toys (Spanish or English)

Dolls and Accessories

Board Games Books (Spanish or English)

Craft Sets

Ball Set or Nerf Set

Car or Truck Sets

Remote Control Car

CD Player w/ Headphones

Legos

Art Supplies

Clothing Items: Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves Gift Cards

 

For Adults

DVDs

CDs

Art and Craft Supplies

Body Lotion/Bath Sets

Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves

Thank You Thursday!

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

Cash Donations

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
David & Roberta Levin
Mark Zentner – ½ Gold Sponsorship of Imagine! Celebration to be matched by Motorola Solutions Foundation

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Robert Bauers
In Honor of Luke Goresline
  From Paul Diede
Qualcomm Foundation – Matching Gifts
Bernie & Leona Stoecker – Table at the Imagine! Celebration

Friend ($1-$249)
Judi Halbert
Jill Hobson
Art & Maria Richmond

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: One Night Stay in a Mini-Suite with $100 Certificate for Dinner at Farraddays Steakhouse

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Bolder Boulder – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two Race Certificates for the 2014 Bolder Boulder
The Boulder Cork – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Gift Certificate for $75
Boulder Cycle Sport – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: A Bicycle Tune-Up
Carlson & Carlson Sprinklers, LLC – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Sprinkler Spring Start Up & Fall Blow Out
Children’s Museum of Denver – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Four $1 Gets You In Passes
Colorado Music Festival – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two Level One Tickets
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Family Dinner Certificate
History Colorado – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two Family 4-Packs of Free Admission, plus Commemorative Book and Issue of Newsmagazine
Iris Nails, LLC – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Regular Manicure and Regular Pedicure
Jesters Theatre – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Dinner & Show for 2
Opera Colorado – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two Tickets to Verdi’s Rigoletto
The Puddle Car Wash – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Punch Card for 10 Water Works Car Washes
Pump House Brewery – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $25 Gift Certificate
The Rib House – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: Two 3-Piece Gift Boxes
Tortugas – A Fish House – Imagine! Celebration Auction Item: $25 Gift Certificate

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Next Step Group Home Construction Update

Here’s an update on the construction of Imagine!’s Next Step Group Home.

Yesterday and early today, forms were set to pour the foundation walls. Late-morning today the concrete was poured, and the concrete work for walls was wrapped up mid-afternoon. Once the foundation walls were poured, the site was covered with thermal blankets due to the extreme cold forecasted to arrive. The thermal blankets will be in place for two to three days to allow the concrete walls to set and dry in the forms. Once the forms are dry, they will be removed, and the next steps will be for rough-in plumbing in the basement, setting the rebar for the basement slab, and, following a bunch on inspection, framing will begin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Very Zolo Thanksgiving

The 10th Annual Zolo Southwestern Grill free Thanksgiving for Imagine! families served approximately 350 meals in three seatings. All food was donated, and the servers, chefs, and kitchen staff from the various Big Red F Restaurants all volunteered their time. Big Red F owner Dave Query was there with his whole family working in the kitchen (pictured below). SmartHomes architect Peter Heinz and his wife Arlene also took orders, bussed tables, and scraped plates as they do most every year. While servers did not accept tips, guests were offered the opportunity to donate to an Imagine’s fishbowl, and $428 was collected to benefit those we serve. Many thanks to Dave Query and Big Red F for making this wonderful occasion possible for Imagine! families.

The Query family.

 

The McNutt family.

 

The Luxner family

Zolo Grill, Dave Query Making Thanksgiving Special For Imagine! Clients

Dave Query is once again treating Imagine! clients and their families to a traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day. This year’s event will again be at Zolo Southwestern Grill.

Dave is the owner of Big Red F Restaurant Group, including restaurants Centro Latin Kitchen, Bitter Bar, Jax Fish House – Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Glendale, LoLa Coastal Mexican, Post Brewing Company, West End Tavern, and Zolo Grill.

Query is donating the makings for a delicious Zolo-style repast with all the trimmings, and the wait staff is volunteering its time. There is no charge for the meal, and no tips are necessary.

This is the 10th year Dave and the good folks at Zolo have hosted this dinner, and it is immensely popular. There will be three seatings this year, and in all, 360 people will enjoy a fantastic meal thanks to Dave.

Thank you, Dave and Zolo Grill, for giving so many a happy Thanksgiving!

Next Step Group Home Construction Update

Construction on Imagine!’s Next Step Group Home is moving forward quickly! Here’s a few photos of structural concrete being poured late yesterday.

The Next Step Group Home will serve as a home base for meeting the multiple and varied needs of six low-income seniors with developmental disabilities. This specialized care will allow the clients to live in a neighborhood setting while avoiding the more costly nursing home alternative. Construction is scheduled to be completed in late Spring 2014.

The Bob Charles Story

Editor’s note – the story posted below originally appeared on Imagine! CEO Mark Emery’s blog as part of Imagine!’s ongoing “50 Years, 50 Stories” series. Since Bob Charles founded the Imagine! Foundation and continues to play a key role in its efforts, we thought we’d share his story with you today.

We’ve had many great stories in this series so far, but we’ve also realized that there are some people who have stories that should be told, but probably won’t share them on their own because they are too humble.

So Susan LaHoda, Executive Director of the Imagine! Foundation, has taken it upon herself to write up a couple of stories of folks who have stories that simply cannot be ignored. In that spirit, please enjoy the story below about Bob Charles, the Founder of the Imagine! Foundation and truly one of Imagine!’s most generous supporters.

"We" Was "Me"

By Susan LaHoda

 

This newspaper article from the 1960s demonstrates that Bob Charles has been dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities for quite some time.

 

In his typical dry-humored way, Bob Charles likes to tell the story of how the Imagine! Foundation got started in 2000. He says that John Taylor “cornered” him and told him that we were going to create a foundation to raise funds to offset governmental cutbacks and help address some very pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities in our community. Bob says, “I looked around the room and realized that the ‘we” was ‘me’!”

When asked to take the leadership role in establishing the Foundation, Bob was technically “retired” from owning and operating 13 McDonald’s Restaurants in the area, although he was still very active as a volunteer on several non-profit and educational boards and committees. But Bob says, “My heart had already been softened to the idea of helping individuals with developmental disabilities because I had hired several for my restaurants, and I was intrigued with how well they worked.” So he agreed to launch the Imagine! Foundation and, because of the enormous respect he commands in the community, was able to put together a highly qualified and influential board of directors who joined primarily because they had tremendous admiration for Bob and his reputation for generosity, honesty, and commitment. Bob served for three years as the Foundation’s president, guiding and encouraging the fledgling organization all along the way. During that time, the Foundation was able to raise funds for the purchasing and paying down a significant part of the mortgages on five staffed homes for Imagine! clients.

It wasn’t long before Imagine! asked the Foundation if it would help raise funds for two SmartHomes that would serve as laboratories for testing technology to promote client self-sufficiency and improve staff efficiency. At this point, Bob was far past the two three-year terms of service offered in the Imagine! Foundation’s by-laws and was given Emeritus status, but remained as active as ever. He spearheaded the capital campaigns for the two SmartHomes, but, more than that, he and his wife Judy provided the naming gift for the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and he and his family, including sons Bob, Jr. and Dale and daughter Janice, provided the naming gift for the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. Bob is very involved in the SmartHomes and keeps up with the technologies that are being tested there and the progress of individual residents (even offering challenges to some to learn new skills!).

Though Bob has now served 13 years as a volunteer on the Foundation board, he doesn’t talk about leaving. He says, “Why would I walk away? I’m still very interested in the program and am as excited as I was at the beginning. You almost feel that you would be walking away from the people you are helping.” Bob is quick to give praise to the Imagine! staff, too. He says, “The successes of our clients are a credit to the Imagine! folks who work with them. The staff at Imagine! is incredibly capable. I see the impact Imagine! is having on people’s lives, and I get great satisfaction in seeing how effective it has been.”

Always humble, Bob says, “I think the biggest surprise to me over the past 13 years is how big the Foundation has gotten. I had no expectations. I was actually a little intimidated! I thought maybe we could find four to five people to help us try to raise some money. Who would have dreamt that ‘some money’ would be several million dollars?” (The Foundation has raised more than $5.5 million to date.). But it isn’t the dollars that matter most to Bob. He says, “My hope is that we continue to do well, impact more people, and keep improving people’s lives.”

There is no real way to adequately express our appreciation, Bob, for the difference you have made in the lives of those we serve. On behalf of all of the Imagine! community, we extend our deepest thanks.

“50 Stories, 50 Years” bonus video – Bob Charles speaks at the grand opening of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, discussing the origins of the Imagine! Foundation and why the work Imagine! does is so important.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

“50 Stories, 50 Years” bonus video #2 – a video honoring Bob and Judy Charles as Imagine!’s 2008 Donors of the Year.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Help Brighten The Holidays For Adults And Children With Disabilities

Imagine!’s 2013 Gift Giving Drive begins Monday, November 18. Last holiday season, more than 500 Imagine! clients were served through the Gift Giving Drive with the generosity of community support. We had a significant increase of families seeking support this year and all donations will help us reach our clients who are most in need this season. There will be donation drop off boxes at Imagine!’s Coal Creek and Dixon office buildings, or a pick up can be arranged for group donations!

Please help us continue to assist our families and children in need during this holiday season! For questions please contact - Elizabeth Hill- ehill@imaginecolorado.org or 303-926-6460.

Gift ideas include:

For Children ages 0-18

Educational Toys (Spanish or English)

Dolls and Accessories

Board Games Books (Spanish or English)

Craft Sets

Ball Set or Nerf Set

Car or Truck Sets

Remote Control Car

CD Player w/ Headphones

Legos

Art Supplies

Clothing Items: Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves Gift Cards

 

For Adults

DVDs

CDs

Art and Craft Supplies

Body Lotion/Bath Sets

Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves

Thank You Thursday!

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

Cash Donations

Platinum ($10,000+)
Broomfield City/County – Grant for $25,000 for the Next Step Group Home 

Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
Alexander & Sally Bracken – Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration
Flood & Peterson Insurance, Inc. – Gold Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
The Steven Holmes Fund/Longmont Community Foundation – Grant of $1,500 for the Family Recruited Employees program
Dick & Linda Livingston – Flood Relief
Longmont United Hospital – Table Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration
Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC – Table Sponsor of the Imagine! Celebration

Supporter ($250-$499)
Fall River Elementary School Student Council – Flood Relief
Ed McDowell

Friend ($1-$249)
Margaret Berglund
Scott & Susanne Davis
Ken Hackbarth
Tom Kahn
Doc Nelson & Jeanie Valentine
Jim & Sue Rector
Jim & Mary Rianoshek
Art & Barbara Sward
Jim & Candace Williams

In-Kind Donations

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
Boulder Community Hospital - For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Performance Bike Fit
Comedy Works – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Ten “Admit Two Free” Passes
High Country Motorcycle Rentals – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Three-day motorcycle rental and t-shirt
Qualcomm, Incorporated – 25 keyboards and 15 mice

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Blue Mountain Arts – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Six vouchers for tickets to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Boulder Community Hospital – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Cardiac Scoring CT Scan
Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc. – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Six passes to the Eldorado Springs Pool
Eldora Mountain Resort – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: two adult full day life tickets
Erie Community Center – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: 10-Visit Punch Pass
The Golden Hotel – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Overnight in a deluxe room with breakfast for two in the Bridgewater Grill
Jungle Quest – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: One and one-half hours of play time
The Little Jewel – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Sterling silver snake chain with five colored beads
Longmont Theatre Company – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Two show vouchers to an LTC production
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: $50 in Gift Certificates
University of Colorado – For the Imagine! Celebration Auction: Four tickets to Women’s Basketball on 2/28/14

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Thank You, Kiwanis Club Of Longmont

Elizabeth Hill, Imagine!'s Volunteer Coordinator and Chris Skultety from the The Kiwanis Club Of Longmont show off some of the 58 wooden toys handcrafted by the Club and donated to Imagine! as part of the Club's Craft Toys for Kids Project. Most of the toys will become a part of Imagine!'s Gift Giving Drive, while four of the toys will be featured in the Imagine! Celebration's silent auction on January 24, 2014.

Thank You Fall River Elementary!

In the last week of October, members of the student council at Fall River Elementary School in Longmont held a fundraiser to help Imagine! recover from the recent flooding that damaged many of our homes. The fundraiser brought in $494.11! Wow! Thanks to all the students and teachers who participated! Pictured below, Imagine! PR Director Fred Hobbs accepts the check from student council treasurer Mason while Principal Dr. Jennifer Guthals looks on.

Fall River Elementary rocks!

Thank You Thursday!

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

Cash Donations

Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
Foothills Flood Relief Fund - $10,000 Grant for Flood Relief

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Longmont Legacy Fund/Longmont Community Foundation – Grant of $1,750 for Family Support Grants for Longmont Families
George & Petrea Mah – Flood Relief/Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome
St. John’s Episcopal Church – Flood Relief

Associate ($500-$999)
Richard Ackerman – Flood Relief

Supporter ($250-$499)
Rick & Jackie Nelson

Friend ($1-$249)
Fletcher & Janie Brown

In-Kind Donations

Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
The Palmos Family – One week at a gorgeous Greek Island Villa – for the Imagine! Celebration Auction

In-Kind Supporter ($250-$499)
The Palmos Family -- $50 gift certificates to Agave, Arugula, Buddha Café, Murphy’s North, and Tangerine for the Imagine! Celebration Auction
Walt & Linda Pounds - Spanish Wine Basket and Italian Wine Basket for the Imagine! Celebration Auction

In-Kind Friend ($1-$249)
Clutter Consignment – $25 Gift Certificate for the Imagine! Celebration Auction
GolfTEC – 90 minute full golf swing evaluation for the Imagine! Celebration Auction
Melody McCoy – Brand new special needs step stool

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Colorado Gives Day Is December 10

Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 10, and we encourage you to participate! Donations made online at www.coloradogives.org/Imagine on December 10 will be eligible for partial matching funds. You may also pre-schedule your gift to have it recorded on December 10. Donating through Colorado Gives eliminates all processing fees for Imagine! for donations totaling up to $50,000 per year.

Colorado Gives Day was a great success last year. Our total was $44,125 from 74 donors, and included $867.28 in partial matching funds from the FirstBank Incentive Fund. This total was nearly four times the amount raised in 2011, thanks in great part to the donation of $25,000 from an anonymous donor for the new Next Step Group Home in Broomfield.

If you are thinking about making a gift to Imagine! before the end of the calendar year, please consider doing it online on Colorado Gives Day. Whether you go through our website (www.imaginecolorado.org) or directly to Colorado Gives, you will end up at the same place. You may also designate a particular Imagine! program in the “Any comments or special instructions” box if you would like. The only gifts that are ineligible are donations for which you receive something in return, such as tickets or sponsorships of our Imagine! Celebration. Mark your calendar for December 10—or pre-schedule your donation any time after November 1. Thank you!

Imagine! Is Building The "Next Step Group Home"

Imagine! is building a new group home in Broomfield specifically for aging individuals with developmental disabilities. The Next Step Group Home—modeled after Imagine!’s highly successful Foothills Group Home in Boulder—will serve as a home base for meeting the multiple and varied needs of six low-income seniors with developmental disabilities. This specialized care will allow the clients to live in a neighborhood setting while avoiding the more costly nursing home alternative.

Currently, 327 residents of Boulder and Broomfield Counties who qualify for comprehensive residential services are waitlisted due to limits in State funding for room, board, and supportive services for people with developmental disabilities. As the “safety net” for individuals with developmental disabilities in the two counties, Imagine! strives to address these critical needs and to anticipate future challenges. The Next Step Group Home is an example of both.

Construction on the home has already begun and is scheduled to be completed in late Spring 2014.

Save The Date - Imagine! Celebration January 24, 2014

How would you like to spend a week on a Greek island in a gorgeous villa that sleeps eight with tennis courts and a pool . . . or perhaps you would like to sit down for a one-to-one chat over lunch with the new CU Buffs football coach, Mike MacIntyre, or with CU’s legendary basketball coach, Tad Boyle.

To have the opportunity to bid on these live auction items plus much more, mark your calendar for Friday, January 24, 2014, 5:30-9:30 p.m. for the 13th annual Imagine! Celebration Dinner and Auction at the Plaza Conference Center in Longmont.

Buy your tickets ($95/each) or tables of ten ($1,250) online at https://secure.imaginecolorado.org/ssl/CelebrationRSVP.htm. Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($5,000), and Silver ($2,500) Sponsorships are also available—contact Susan LaHoda at 303-926-6443 or slahoda@imaginecolorado.org.

The first part of the Celebration evening allows guests to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and dinner food from buffets set in the ballroom and hallways with plenty of time to socialize and browse the 200+ auction items that will be available. (If you come early, you’ll be treated to a complimentary glass of champagne.) Guests will then settle into their tables for dessert, coffee, the program, and the live auction. All wine and beer for the evening is at no charge, compliments of Liquor Mart and Left Hand Brewing Companies.

Be sure to check the Imagine! website (www.imaginecolorado.org/imagine-celebration) as we add our sponsors, our live auction items, and more about the festivities. See you on January 24th!

New to this year’s Imagine! Celebration Live Auction—an opportunity to sit down for a one-to-one chat over lunch with the new University of Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre (top), or with CU’s legendary basketball coach, Tad Boyle.

Imagine! Recovers From The Flood

Six of Imagine’s residential facilities received significant water damage during the severe floods that devastated Colorado in September. Fortunately, the 26 adults with developmental disabilities served in these homes did not need to be evacuated. However, in four of the residences, the live-in staff person whose home was in the basement no longer had a home. Hardest hit was the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder where the basement flooded with four feet of water.

Imagine!'s Innovations Director Jodi Walters worked around the clock to coordinate all of the immediate responses needed to ensure that all clients in Imagine!’s residential sites were safe and being cared for. Other Imagine! staff members pitched in throughout the flooding to keep the needs of the people we serve as the priority. While the rain came down, Imagine!’s Volunteer Coordinator, Elizabeth Hill, was already on the phone with AmeriCorps, requesting volunteer help. Because of her early action, a team of ten AmeriCorps volunteers was dispatched for six weeks specifically to help Imagine! recover. Many acts of true heroism by staff and board members surfaced, making us all proud to be a part of the Imagine! family.

Costs for the gutting and rebuilding effort are currently estimated at more than $140,000, not to mention additional expenses for data recovery, temporary living accommodations, and lost revenue. The total loss is nearly $230,000. The Imagine! Foundation has been at work submitting grants for flood relief. As of this writing, $10,000 has been received from the St. Vrain Flooding Relief Fund of the Longmont Community Foundation, $10,000 from the Foothills Flood Relief Fund, and $6,000 from the ANCOR Foundation. In addition, the Foundation ran a month-long online crowdfunding campaign, which brought in a total of $21,193. But additional funds are still needed to cover these unexpected and unbudgeted expenses.

If you are able, please consider increasing your support at this time of great need—Imagine! Foundation, 1400 Dixon Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026 or online at www.ColoradoGives.org/Imagine. We extend our deepest thanks.

The basement of Imagine!’s Bob and Judy SmartHome was deluged with four feet of water during the recent floods.