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.

11th Annual Imagine! Celebration Raises $245, 000

Since the 11th Annual Imagine! Celebration was held just a few days ago, we hope you’ll understand that this is just a brief summary of the event. We’ll be providing much more information (and photos) in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned!

The wonderful news is that the Imagine! Celebration brought in $245,000! This is a 12% increase over the $218,000 raised last year.

The event was held last Friday, January 27, at the Plaza Hotel Conference Center in Longmont. More than 200 silent and live auction items were available, a video highlighting Imagine!’s services was shown, parents of a child who had received services spoke, and more than 400 people attended.

Imagine! - Two Stories

At the Imagine! Celebration this past Friday, a video was debuted with two stories that demonstrate the impact Imagine!’s work has on the lives of those they serve, as well as their families. Check it out below.

Congratulations, Sandy!

Congratulations are in order for Alexander E. “Sandy” Bracken, who was appointed yesterday to the University of Colorado Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership.

Sandy also happens to be the President of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors and has been a great supporter of Imagine! for a long time. Way to go, Sandy!

Read this article from the Boulder Daily Camera to learn more.

Thank You Thursday!

Here’s this week’s roundup of generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation:

Gold ($5000-$9,999)
Betty Eldridge – Imagine! Celebration Gold Sponsor

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Amgen, Inc. – Silver Sponsor + 6 Tickets To Imagine! Celebration
Collins Foundation at Wells Fargo (grant for Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome)

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Sandy & Sally Bracken – Imagine! Celebration Table
Front Range Community College – Imagine! Celebration Table
Merrill Lynch – ½ payment for Imagine! Celebration Silver Sponsorship
Lonnie Nixon & Rebecca Turnbull – Imagine! Celebration Table

Associate ($500-$999)
Krische Construction – Imagine! Celebration Donation for Charles Family SmartHome

Supporter ($250-$499)
Greenhouse Partners – 4 Imagine! Celebration Tickets

Friend ($1-$249)
Richard Ackerman – For Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome
Anonymous
Whitney P. Blair PC – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Wendy Blakemore – Imagine! Celebration Ticket
David & Kathy Brinton – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Scott & Virginia Brown – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Kory & Kim Cash – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Joel & Linda Champion – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Tom Cobb & Mary Blue – Imagine! Celebration Donation
Crossroads School (Beth Bulthuis) – Imagine! Celebration Ticket
Mark Emery – Imagine! Celebration Ticket for spouse
Hays Companies – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Jim & Virginia Holmes – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
IBM Employee Payroll Deduction Gift
InJoy Productions, Inc.
Jung & Associates – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Jim & Linda Karagas – Imagine! Celebration Donation
Kathryn Medina
MGM & United Artists Services Company – Residuals from Billy Montgomery’s acting in “Rain Man”
Patricia Mullane
Greg Wellems – Imagine! Celebration Ticket for spouse

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Arapahoe Basin – Two lift tickets -- $148
Ascent Sports Management – 2 Broncos tickets - $250
Baskin Robbins – Certificate for Ice Cream Cake - $30
Alonzo Clemons – Two Sculptures
Colorado Rockies Baseball – 4 outfield box seats -- $156
Colorado Trout Group – Full Day guided fly fishing for two -- $300
Fantasy Orchids – Gift Certificate -- $30
Granby Ranch – Two twosomes of golf -- $360
RJ & Pauline Higgins -- 4 night stay in Estes Park Cabin -- $450
Indulge Bakery – Dessert every month for a year -- $312
Melting Pot -- $50 Gift Certificate and Basket -- $100
Monarch Mountain – Two lift tickets -- $114
Omni Interlocken Resort – One night w/breakfast and 18 holes of golf for two -- $450
Options in Design – Cashmere wrap, silver clutch purse -- $284
Plaza Hotel Longmont -- overnight and dinner for two -- $169
Pro Sports Authentics PSA – Framed Signed John Elway Poster -- $300
Seth Ellis Chocolatier - Truffles & Suncups -- $90
Vitamin Cottage – Gift Card -- $25
What’s Cooking – Italian Gift Basket -- $55

As always, we are so grateful to all of our generous donors.

Imagine! Celebration Sponsors

The 2012 Imagine! Celebration is only days away! Today we’d like to give a big shout out to all of the Gold, Silver, and Table sponsors of the event.

These generous donors have contributed $110,625 to the event!

Thank You Thursday!

Generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation this week include:

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Susan White

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Land Title Guarantee Company 
Louisville Auto Supply/NAPA Auto Parts 

Supporter ($250-$499)
Chris Mirto and 3 guests (PEH Architects) – Celebration Tickets

Friend ($1-$249)
Richard Ackerman
Bob & Diane Carroll – Celebration Tickets
Frank & Deb Drexel (CivilArts) – Celebration Tickets
Don & Anita Fort – Celebration Tickets
Martin Gravel & Michele Morin – Celebration Tickets
Jeanette Hansen
Tom & Beth Huffman – Celebration Tickets
Tim & Samantha Jenkins – Celebration Tickets
Cary & Cathy Juvonen – Celebration Tickets
Jennifer Kirbury
Tim & Kristina Lofing (InspirationField) – Celebration Tickets
Walter Logue & Anahid Katchian – Celebration Tickets
Julie Maguire
Joan Martin
Tom & Pat Metz – Bob Charles
Joy Pak & Alexis Rhyner (Dairy Center for the Performing Arts) – Celebration Tickets
Lou & Mary Smario
David & Patti Micklin – Celebration Tickets
Jim & Sue Rector
Namaste Solar – Celebration Tickets
Ron Sandgrund & Cheryl Barr
Dan and Sandra Stevens
John & Barbara Taylor – Celebration Tickets

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Omni Interlocken Resort -- One night stay with b-fast and 18 holes of golf for two -- $450
Seagate Technology – Two 1-terabyte external hard drives valued at $130.00 ea. -- $260

Other In-Kind
Ann Arnette – children’s clothing and toys
Neill & Judy Bicknell – Mitsubishi 65” projection TV and wall unit
Greg & Pam Felderman – childrens’s clothing, blankets, toys
Will & Darby Pettit – children’s toys

As always, we offer our sincere thanks to all of our generous donors.

Bid Online For Imagine! Celebration Auction Items

The 11th Annual Imagine! Celebration and Dinner and Auction is fast approaching! The date is set for January 27, 5:30 -9:30 PM, at the Plaza Hotel Longmont.

If you are interested in attending, you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Even if you can’t attend in person, you can still participate in the Imagine! Celebration’s
Live Auction through proxy bidding online. Online bids will be accepted through Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Click here to take part in the online bidding. 

There are some great items available in the online bidding, including:

Wine-A-Month Special Selection

You will benefit as Liquor Mart’s Fine Wine Manager personally selects one bottle of wine each month for one year for top-notch value and quality. 12 bottle total. Expires 1/31/2013.

Donor: Liquor Mart

Bountiful Barbecue

Round up your friends for a West End Tavern market style BBQ for 20 people with Colorado's best beef brisket, slab of pork ribs, whole chicken, hot links, pork shoulder, and choice of sides. Redeemable at West End Tavern or delivered to you.

Donor: Big Red F Restaurant Group

California Wine Tour

Delight in the La Bellasera luxury hotel in Paso Robles, CA where 80 world class wineries are within ten miles. Includes one room for two people for two nights, a two-day car rental, and $250 in air fare credit. Restrictions apply, and space is subject to availability. Expires 10/31/2013.

Donor: Cain Travel

Leona's Luscious Baked Bread

Enjoy a delicious, freshly baked loaf of bread each month for a year made by renowned bread maker, 1997 Colorado Mother of the Year, former Longmont Mayor, and former Imagine! Foundation President Leona Stoecker. Delivery details to be arranged with Leona.

Donor: Leona Stoecker

African Photo Safari

This unforgettable adventure starts with six days and six nights for two people at a Zulu Nyala Lodge located in South Africa’s province KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa. Your stay will include authentic African meals and two guided photo safaris per day. You will be situated in the heart of one of South Africa’s most diverse conservation regions nestled between the great Hluhluwe, Mkuze, and St. Lucia Reserves. It is home to many animals including elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. This is a birder’s paradise and for those who love plants, the trees are especially rewarding. This beautiful site was also the location for the filming of “I Dreamed of Africa." You are sure to make memories to last a lifetime!

Donor: African Eyes Travel

Spectacular Ouray

Get away for a one week stay in beautiful Ouray, Colorado. This lovely three bedroom home accommodates six people comfortably with 2200 sq. ft. and 2-1/2 baths. The home is in a very secluded area but conveniently located north of Ouray, only five minutes to the hot springs pool and downtown Ouray and less than an hour to the gondola at Telluride. You will also receive up to 10 passes to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool which is open year round. No matter the season, you will find a plethora of activities and spectacular views with winter downhill and Nordic skiing, summer hiking and biking, cascading waterfalls, 4-wheeling, and so much more in the “Switzerland of America.” Home is available select weeks after May 1, 2012; arrange time with owner.

Donor: Jay & Kathy Montgomery

Cape Cod Getaway & Whale Watch

Relax for a full week in an authentic, remodeled Cape Cod house with room for six adults and two children. You will be five minutes from the ocean with beaches sure to please kids and adults alike. Included is an unforgettable three hour whale watching boat excursion for four. Sept. - Oct. 2013.

Donors: George & Kristin Karakehian

Avalanche Suite

Celebrate an Avalanche win in style with a luxurious Club Level Suite located on center ice to see the Colorado Avalanche battle the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, March 3 at 7:00p.m. You will receive 20 tickets, four Lot A - VIP parking passes, and two Premier Lot passes located adjacent to the arena. Your Suite tickets also give you access to the VIP entrances at the Pepsi Center 1 1/2 hours prior to your event. Extensive catering menu is available, though not a part of this package.

Donor: Colorado Business Bank

Gorgeous Greek Island Villa

Enjoy a magical week at a deluxe villa on Lefkas island off the west coast of Greece. Villa sleeps eight in four bedrooms with tennis courts, a pool, and breathtaking ocean views. Cross the swing bridge to the mainland or settle in at your villa and enjoy the island's many offerings including sailing, diving, windsurfing, exploring ancient archeological sites, or simply soaking up the sun. Redeemable in 2013, and timing is flexible but needs to be confirmed with owner.

Donor: The Palmos Family

Craft Beer Bonanza

Show your love of local craft beer with a package put together especially for you by Liquor Mart with hand selected gear, group tours, and gift certificates to your favorite local breweries. From Avery Brewery you will receive two 10 oz glasses, two Avery T-shirts, and a gift certificate for a brewery tour and beer for up to 10 people. Boulder Beer will outfit you with two pint glasses, two Boulder Beer T-shirts, and $50 in gift certificates. From Left Hand Brewing Company you will receive Beer For A Year including two pint glasses, a Left Hand/Mountainsmith sixer cooler, a growler jug, and a gift certificate to visit the tasting room once a month for a year to fill your new growler or half gallon jug. From Oskar Blues you will receive two pint glasses, two Oskar Blues T-shirts, and a $50 gift card. From Twisted Pine Brewery you will receive two pint glasses, two Twisted Pine T-shirts, and a $50 gift card. Top off your tour with a gift certificate to Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery for $100 and $25 to use at Old Chicago!

Donors: Local Craft Breweries and Liquor Mart

Rowdy Round-Up

Enjoy Steamboat Springs in the summer. Spend four nights in a Steamboat Springs condo while you get ready for the experience of a lifetime cattle drive (June 1 -Oct 15, 2012) for four or a Wagon Dinner Ride for four from Saddleback Ranch. Then cheer on the real cowboys and cowgirls with four tickets to the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Rodeo runs Friday and Saturday evenings from June 15 to August 18, 2012.

Donors: Dennis & Debra Paul

Family Reunion in Durango

Luxuriate for seven days in this beautiful Durango vacation home with six bedrooms, two lofts, and 4 ½ baths, easily accommodating up to 12 people. Every bedroom has vaulted ceilings, skylights, a small patio, and stunning views of the mountains. The kitchen features granite countertops and new appliances. Looking over the great room is a game loft with a large screen television and regulation size pool table. Expires 1/31/2013 with flexible dates arranged with owner as available.

Donors: Don Sullivan & Paige Lawrence

Thank You Thursday!

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

Gold ($5000-$9,999)
Flood and Peterson Insurance, Inc.

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Centennial Bank – Boulder 
Republic National Distributing Company

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Douglas Barnert
Rodger & Delia Creel
The Samuel Gary Jr. Foundation
Imagine! Employee Gifts for 2nd Quarter
Gary Klein
Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. 
Tebo Development Company 
Walmart – Lafayette Store – Grant for Family Support Grants

Associate ($500-$999)
Citywide Banks
Chris Leh & Natalie Hanlon-Leh
Longmont St. Vrain Rotary Charity Fund, Inc. – Grant for Charles Family SmartHome 
Silver Fern Homes - $973 from Pay It Forward program (5% of year-long real estate commissions, with clients selecting local non-profits to receive donations)

Supporter ($250-$499)
Martin Birch

Friend ($1-$249)
Anonymous – Anonymous cash for Holiday Gifts - $40
Anonymous - $200
Dan & Judy Ault
Jay & Mary Balzer – Imagine! Celebration Tickets 
Joseph & Ann Boberschmidt
Claire Chetham
Kathleen Clemons
George & Margaret Cope
Nathan & Lillian Craze
Bob & Sandy Edson - Imagine! Celebration Tickets
David Edwards – Holiday Gifts
Brian Egaas & Korina Bersentes
Bruce Flynn & Stephanie Griffin
Mike & Joyce Frailey – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
David & Melinda Harrison
Tom & Beth Huffman
Mark & Amelia Keeth
Eldon & Pat Lindeman
Eric & Jennifer Love – Imagine! Celebration Tickets
Carol Lucas
Gerald & Patricia McNutt
Gary & Connie Nowlan
Dick Olson & Janice Keenan
William Shiovitz
Larry, Kathy & Eric Stevens
Jack & Sophie Walker

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Baskin Robbins - Longmont – Ice Cream Cake -- $30
The Boulder Theater – Two Tickets -- $51.50
Brasserie Ten Ten – Gift Certificate - $50
Country in the Village – Dickens Cottage Series House -- $65
Court Street Antiques and Gifts – Turquoise Necklace/Bracelet -- $88
JJ Wells – Silver ring with stone -- $80
Pizzeria Locale – Gift Certificate - $75
Simply Bulk Market – Gift Certificate & Bag -- $27
Snooze – Coffee Mug & $25 Cert. -- $43
Tokyo Joe’s – Gift Card -- $35
Tutti – Gift Card -- $20
Roberta Wellems – Painting -- $350
YMCA of Boulder Valley – Annual Membership - $1050

Other In-Kind
Denver Boulder Couriers – One Courier Trip

As always, we offer our sincere thanks to all of our generous donors.

GreenBack Program To Benefit Imagine!

The Imagine! Foundation has been chosen as the primary beneficiary of a new Colorado Daily Instant Savings Program called GreenBack Colorado. GreenBack is a completely new “reverse advertising” concept for businesses and individuals, which allows businesses to obtain advertising at no cost including radio, outdoor, and Facebook advertising.

Individuals save money through exclusive GreenBack offers that are available each and every day of the year. All offers may be used on multiple occasions. In turn, through card sales, GreenBack helps companies reduce advertising costs and increase traffic to their places of business. Rather than clipping coupons or having to remember to use time-limited discounts, individuals may use the personal GreenBack card to obtain special pricing at more than 100 locations in the area everyday. Businesses will include not just restaurants but also companies providing products or services in the areas of autos, chiropractic care, pets, bikes, day care, coffee, amusements, movies, flooring, furniture, bars, casinos, hair, nails, massage, fitness, and much more.

Each GreenBack card costs $40 for the year, with $5 being returned to the Imagine! Foundation. Once each business has reached its baseline for free advertising, GreenBack will donate $10 to Imagine! from every card sold.

GreenBack Colorado CEO Janice Charles says, “Our goal is to be Colorado’s Premier Savings Card Program, and we’re not going to stop until we reach that goal. We chose Imagine! as the primary recipient of our ‘GreenBack Gives Back’ philosophy because of the wonderful work it does in the community. This is a completely new concept in advertising, as everyone really does win – businesses, individuals, and the Imagine! Foundation.”

GreenBack will start by opening the new program to businesses that support Imagine!, as GreenBack is a semi-exclusive category program. “We believe it is important for us to initially contact businesses that donate to Imagine!, as they possess our passion for Imagine!,” said Charles.

For more information about becoming a GreenBack business or to obtain a card, please contact Janice Charles at 303-666-7725.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Gold ($5000-$9,999)
Alex Johnson

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
RNDC Foundation

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
George & Patrea Mah
Clark & Lynette McInroy
Bernie & Leona Stoecker
Van Winkle Associates

Associate ($500-$999)
Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC
David & Marcia Wyatt

Supporter ($250-$499)
David Mudge
Lo Anne Zentner

Friend ($1-$249)
Betty Demianew
David Edwards – For Holiday Gifts
Martha Evans
George Karakehian for City Council – Remaining $155.85 (plus $1000 recorded previously)
Gregory Harris
Terry & Donna Jackson
Kho’s Asian Bistro 
Ashley Kretsch
Karen Louis
Jeffrey & Stephanie Lynch
Doc Nelson & Jeanie Valentine
Robin Nissen
Jacob & Sharon Pomerantz
Roy & Barbara Pringle
Henrietta Romero
Sakura Japanese Cuisine 
Bob & Sandra Spencer
Stephen & Sue Whitaker

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Chipotle -- dinner for four -- $38
The Greenbriar Inn -- Champagne Brunch for Two -- $70
Kroenke Sports Enterprises -- autographed hockey puck ($50)
Monarch Mountain -- four lift tickets – $228

Other In-Kind
Cary & Debbie Graus

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

Family Thanks Imagine! with Embroidered Tablecloth

A family served by Imagine! recently expressed their gratitude for the Early Intervention services their children received by giving Imagine! an embroidered tablecloth that was handcrafted by the children’s grandmother. She had visited the family, and after seeing the progress the children had made after receiving Early Intervention services, she spent months making the embroidered tablecloth, which measures approximately 5 ½ feet X 4 ½ feet.