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.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Gold ($5000-$9,999)
McElwain Family Foundation

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Lou & Melodie Della Cava
PDC Pharmacy

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Chris & Barbara Clemens
EKS&H 
Jay & Kathy Montgomery

Associate ($500-$999)
Stan’s Automotive 
Melvyn & Noelle Branch
David James Williams

Supporter ($250-$499)
Colorado Gives Day FirstBank Incentive Fund

Friend ($1-$249)
Mark & Enid Ablowitz
Anonymous (2)
Linda Barr
Jan Baulsir
Terri Benjamin
Michael Bonino
Dale & Teresa Brooks
Max & Barbara Coppom
Kathy Coyne
Joan Davis
Joshua & Jennie Feiger
Brett & Bridgett Feauto
Doris Gray
Andy & Carol Johnson
Stuart & Lauren Kingsbery
Ed & Connie Lehman
Gary & Lou McClelland
Robert & Barbara Mohr
Tom Myers & Lois Purtell
Albert & Margaret Rael
Jon & Jan Rasmussen
Arthur & Maria Richmond
Jeffrey Schmidt
Sill Terhar Motors 
Richard & Pat Uhlir
Sim & Janis Walker
Marion & Carolyn Weygandt
David Wilson
Budd Zuckerman

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Boulder’s Dinner Theatre – 2 tkts. -- $112
Cowgirl Skincare – Cosmetics -- $110
Denver Art Museum – 4 passes -- $52
Denver Center for the Performing Arts  – 2 tkts. -- $100
Dinner by the Dozen – 3 meals -- $80
Flatirons Golf Course – golf for two -- $96
Fox Hill Social Membership -- $1260
Jungle Quest – Gift Card -- $28
Longmont Symphony Orchestra – 4 tkts. -- $64
Lucile’s Creole Café – Gift Certificate
The Puddle Car Wash – 10 punch pass --$110
The Rib House -- 2 Gift Packs -- $29
St. Julien – Overnight & Sunday Brunch for 2 -- $399
Tortugas – Gift Certificate -- $25

Other In-Kind
Airborne Gymnastics -- Reduced rates for Dayspring Families -- $150
Jane Bodnar -- Holiday Gifts
B & C Bouncetown -- Reduced rates for Dayspring Families -- $150
Greg & Pam Felderman – Children’s Clothing $15
Gymboree – Reduced rates and space for Dayspring Families -- $1150
King Soopers Reclamation Dept – Holiday Gifts valued at approx. $1485
Lockheed Martin – Food Baskets & Holiday Gifts – valued at approx. $1,300
Sarah Looney – Holiday Gifts
Nativity of Our Lord Church -- Holiday Gifts – valued at approx. $3750
Nicole Newsom -- Holiday Gifts
Jim & Laural O’Dowd – Gently used toys -- $40
ReMax Alliance of Longmont – Holiday Gifts – valued at approx. $600
Seagate Technology – Holiday Gifts valued at approx. $150
Sunflower Farms -- Reduced rates for Dayspring Families -- $250
Krista Vagnieres – Holiday Gifts
Andrea Van Peursem – Holiday Gifts
WOW Children’s Museum -- Reduced rates for Dayspring Families -- $150

Others, including many Imagine! staff and Imagine! and Imagine! Foundation board members, contributed holiday gifts but didn’t leave names or values of the gifts. Many thanks to all those who helped to make this holiday a much more enjoyable one for needy Imagine! families.

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

Imagine! Clients Create Handmade Christmas Ornaments For Charity

Earlier this month, artist/consumers in Imagine! CORE/Labor Source art classes completed a fun project that provided a great community connection.

“It was a beautiful simple project where students cut up small pieces of tissue that were then glued on clear glass ornaments using watered down Elmer’s glue,” said Alethea Chorey, Art Instructor for the class. The end result? Lovely ornaments that looked like stained glass.

The fun didn’t end with creating the ornaments, however.

The ornaments were attached to several seasonal displays at Whole Foods Market, located at 2905 Pearl Street in Boulder. Whole Foods shoppers were able to purchase the ornaments for a five dollar donation to Community Food Share. Almost all of the ornaments were sold, and it proved to be a great opportunity for individuals served by Imagine! to give back to their community.

Congratulations to all involved in this project!

Pictured below are Bobbie and Lana, and Stephanie, all working on their ornaments, and some of the ornaments on display at Whole Foods.

Thank You Thursday!

This week's roundup of generous donors to the Imagine! Foundation include:


Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Avista Adventist Hospital    

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company
Walmart 

Associate ($500-$999)
Anonymous
Michael Berman
Tom & Maryann Hesemann

Supporter ($250-$499)
David & Marlys Millhiser
Donald & Shirley Stanosheck in honor of four nieces

Friend ($1-$249)
BCL Architects, PC
Angelo and Ann Bindi
John & Ann Boettcher
Christina Craigo
John, Tina, and Micah Honea in honor of two families and one Imagine! staff person
Walter Kingsbery
Trudy Parsons
Lo Anne Zentner

Imagine! Celebration Live Auction Items
We are so excited to have some brand new live auction items this year:
Valorie Simpson/Colorado Business Bank - A Suite of 20 tickets at the Club Level for the Mar. 3 Colorado Avalanche vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game, including five VIP Parking passes -- $2500
Jay & Kathy Montgomery - A stay at an Ouray mountain home
Liquor Mart - A Craft Brewery Package including four different breweries with gift certificates, t-shirts, pint glasses, a tour, and more -- $500
We will be listing all of our live items on our website and on this blog the first week of January.

Imagine! Celebration Silent Auction Items
Barbara & Company -- $100 Gift Cert. and metallic leather handbag -- $198
Buffalo Lock and Key – Safe -- $100
Colorado Symphony Orchestra – 2 tkts. -- $110
Flatirons Golf Course – golf for 2 w/carts – $96
Fresh Produce Sportswear – 2 shirts, sweater, necklace -- $281
Eva Gaudio -- Beeriodic Table -- $450
Pedestrian Shops – 1 pr. Dansko clogs -- $125
The Regiment Shop – Gift Certificate -- $50

Other In-Kind
503 Café – Discount on food for Dayspring staff meeting - $100
Bob & Susan Gabriel – Holiday gifts -- $100
Julie Hartman – Bedding, dishes, dresser, TV, bookshelf -- $200
Liquor Mart  – 12 sets of holiday gifts for families -- $360
Matrix Leadership Workshops – Reduced rates for workshops -- $1000
John Nevins – Holiday gifts -- $95
Marianne Nick – Holiday gifts for all members of one needy Dayspring family -- $500
Roger & Terry Wittern – Holiday Gifts -- $95

Others, including many Imagine! staff and Imagine! and Imagine! Foundaation board members, contributed holiday gifts but didn’t leave names or values of the gifts. Many thanks to all those who helped to make this holiday a much more enjoyable one for needy Imagine! families.

As always, thanks to all of our generous donors.

Order Your Celebration Tickets Online!

The 11th Annual Imagine! Celebration will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Plaza Hotel Conference Center in Longmont.

More than 200 silent and live auction items will be available, a new video will highlight Imagine!’s successes, and more than 400 people are expected to attend. Last year the event raised $217,000 for services and supports for Imagine!’s consumers, and the Imagine! Foundation board and Imagine! Celebration Committee’s goal for this year is $233,000.

Tickets are $95/each, with $65 being tax deductible. Tickets may be ordered online by clicking here, or you may send a check with names of attendees to:

Imagine!
ATTN: Susan LaHoda
1400 Dixon St.
Lafayette, CO
80026

Don’t miss this chance to help support some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens, and have a great time in the process!

Thank You Thursday!

This week’s roundup of donations to Imagine! is a big one, and includes generous individuals and businesses such as:

Platinum ($10,000+)
Boettcher Foundation – Grant for the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome

Silver ($2,500-$4,999)
Daniel & Karissa Mackin

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
David & Susan LaHoda
Longmont United Hospital
Peter McNutt
Rajul & Amy Pandya
Daniel Parise

Associate ($500-$999)
Anonymous
R. David & Suzanne Hoover
Tom & Mary Martella
National Research Center, Inc. 
Jerry & Julia Rudy

Supporter ($250-$499)
Black Roofing 
Joel & Carolyn Buck-Gengler
Scott & Claudia Culley
James Joque & Elizabeth Zentner
John Lewis
Robert Pelz, Jr.
Julie Vlier

Friend ($1-$249)
Richard & Alma Alber
Linioel Aleskin
Anonymous (2)
Ann Arnette
Kent Arnold & Lu Walters
In Honor of the Mark Baker/Dr. Debbie Hamilton Family from Kenneth & Patricia Baker
Paul Bierbaum
Boulder Vision Center
Carl & Mema Brady
Gary Brenner
Kristin Brousseau
Buck & Nancy Buchanan
Buffalo Lock & Key 
Dale Charles
John Clarke
Tom Cobb & Mary Blue
Rogers Coke
Scott & Susanne Davis
Sue Deans
Donald & Martha Dick
Larry & Fran Dugan
Sherry Edmond
Lisa Estrada
Judith Forkner
David & Darlene Foy
Lehn & Johannah Franke
Rachel Gehr
Al & JoAnn Gray
Allison Gray
Jennifer Gustafson
Brian & Theresa Haley
Jill Hobson
Jerry Lewis
Patricia Lowe
Bob & Joan Luxner
Catherine Manka
Gerald & Patricia McNutt
David & Patti Micklin
In Honor of 10 Friends from Jim & Jeanne Mytton
Bryan & Molly Pieper
Jan Rasmussen
James Rhodes
Daren & Sara Roberts
Charles & Gay Rohrer
In Honor of Bill Sabin from Gerould & Martha Sabin
Garry Sanfacon
Bill & Helen Schmalhorst
Gail Scott
Caroline Siegfried
Mollie Stauss
Robert & Dorothea Steinke
Brenda Summers
Bill & Rosalie Vorlage
Jim & Terry Vratny
Gregory Wellems
Mark & Katie Wilcox
Sterling Wind
Roger & Terry Wittern
Bill & Renate Wood

Imagine! Celebration Auction Items
Buffalo Wild Wings Longmont – Three Wing Parties -- $102
Colorado Ballet -- 2 tickets to Peter Pan -- $160
The Core Pilates Studio – Intro Package -- $250
Crackpots – 4 sitting fees -- $32
Dick’s Sporting Goods – Gift Certificate -- $20
Dick’s Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder – 2 race certificates -- $92
Longmont Theatre Company – Two show vouchers -- $34
Pedestrian Shops – Pair of Dansko clogs -- $125
Pump House Brewery – Gift Certificate -- $25
Sun Rose Café – Gift Certificate -- $25
Super Mini-Walnut Café – Breakfast or Lunch for Two -- $25
Terroir New American Cuisine – Gift Certificate -- $40
Thomas J. Zyvoloski, DDS – 2 Sonicare toothbrushes (adult/child) and tooth & gums tonic -- $236
WOW Children’s Museum – 4 admissions - $32

Other In-Kind
278 Gifts for Imagine!’s Needy Clients Brought By Guests at Stephen Tebo’s Holiday Party -- Approx. $5,560
Great Frame Up Longmont – Discounted frame & mounting of newspaper articles -- $150
Essie Siegfried – 3 Build-a-Bears -- $30

As always, thanks to all of our generous donors.

Colorado Gives Day Update

Last week, on December 6, the Imagine! Foundation participated in a state-wide fundraising event known as Colorado Gives Day. This was the second year Imagine! has been a part of this day to encourage philanthropy in Colorado. Imagine!’s total donations for this year’s Colorado Gives Day were $12,407 – a big step up from last year’s $4,675. A total of 56 individuals made gifts, including seven Imagine! staff members, two board members, and one former board member.

Overall, generous Coloradans donated $12 million through 52,000 donations on Colorado Gives Day. This is a 150 percent increase over last year.

Thanks to all who participated, and especially to the Community First Foundation and GivingFirst.org for leading the way on this day of giving!

Meet Imagine!'s 2011 Consumer of the Year

This past Friday night Imagine! hosted its annual employee holiday party. A highlight of the event was the introduction of Imagine!’s Consumer of the Year, Lindsey Newell. The video below was shown at the party to show why Lindsey was so deserving of the award. Enjoy!



Can’t see the video? Click here.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Gold ($5,000-$9,999)
The Ball Foundation 
Colorado Business Bank 

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Dean Callan & Co. 
George Karakehian for City Council (leftover funds)
Hisco 

Supporter ($250-$499)
Warren & Caroline Baker
David Harwood & Ellen Marshall

Friend ($1-$249)
Paul & Carol Cardosi
Amir & Nikki Cohen
Randy Draper & Sally Watts
Andrea (AJ) Grant
Paula Guercio
Judith Halbert
Robert & Chris Hannagan
John Hoeffler
Pat & Alfred LeBlang
Eleanor Linke
Jim & Donna Lionberger
Tom Norton
Jim & Jeanne Mytton
Marjorie Rogers
Stein & Karen Sture
Daniel & Sandra Stevens
Sharon Svendsen

Imagine! Celebration Auction Items
Boulder Marriott Hotel – One weekend night stay -- $225
David Schlatter Photography – 1 Studio Session & 1 11 x 13 portrait -- $215
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger – One Family Dinner -- $35
Great Harvest Longmont – Basket - $40
The Ice Rink at One Boulder Plaza – 4 entries & skate rental -- $36
Original Pancake House – 2 $25 Gift Certs. -- $50
Side Door Salon – Haircut -- $76
Smoker Friendly – Cigar Basket - $250

Other In-Kind
Denver Boulder Couriers – 1 trip

 As always, thanks to all of our generous donors.

Today Is Colorado Gives Day!

Today is Colorado Gives Day, and Imagine! is again participating. Donations made online through this blog or our website using any of the “Donate Here” buttons today will also be eligible for partial matching funds.

The “Donate Now” button (seen in the upper right hand corner on this blog) takes you directly to the Community First Foundation site and saves the 5.5% bank fee for credit card donations.

Last year individuals donated $4,675 to Imagine! on Colorado Gives Day, and we received $177.68 in matching funds from the Circle of Giving Incentive Fund. But $8.4 million was donated across Colorado last year, and $320,000 in incentive funds were given out, so we have room to grow!

If you are thinking about making a gift to Imagine! before the end of the calendar year, please consider doing it online today (you can 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 to our Imagine! Celebration.