Thank You Thursday!

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

Friend ($1-$249)
Ilene Kaufman
Marjorie Rogers
Beverly Shaw -- Crowdfunding for Out & About
In Honor of Jana Ward
  From Phyllis Stewart

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Out & About Crowdfunding Campaign Reaches Goal

They did it! Imagine!'s Out & About department's crowdfunding campaign to support its children’s services reached its goal of $1000 last night, and there’s still five days left in the campaign. Thanks to everyone who supported this campaign – and if you didn’t get around to it yet, it isn’t too late to donate! Going beyond the goal is perfectly OK!

Click here to participate.

 

Thank You Thursday!

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

Friend ($1-$249)
Ilene Kaufman
Marjorie Rogers
Beverly Shaw -- Crowdfunding for Out & About
In Honor of Jana Ward
  From Phyllis Stewart

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Imagine!'s Out & About Summer Camp

Campers arrive one by one in the meeting room at the Boulder base-site for Imagine!’s Out & About Summer Day Camp. Meredith stays to herself for a few minutes, but soon her infectious laugh fills the room as she shows off her unique “crab dance.” Forest delights in “scaring” people, Aidan hugs his beloved iPad, and Jack gives a heartbreakingly soft and beautiful rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The day has begun.

The goal of Imagine!’s Out & About Summer Camp is to provide for every child a sense of acceptance and self among peers, an enhanced quality of life, and an opportunity to engage with the community.

When all eight campers have arrived, they and their counselors climb into cars and vans for the drive to nearby Growing Gardens where they learn about insects, catch butterflies, watch bees, smell the delicate scents of rosemary and basil, and then make and eat fresh salsa. It’s a fun-filled morning with lunch and swimming yet to come. Imagine!s Out & About Summer Camp began 15 years ago as a way to provide respite for parents caring for a child with developmental disabilities at home. But it has evolved into a full-fledged therapeutic recreation program that sets individual goals for participants and provides one staff member for two or three campers for many kids and a one-to-one ratio that allows those children with the most serious behavioral challenges to attend camp. This year 54 children aged 7-21 were enrolled at different times during the June-August camp. Some children attend five days per week every week of camp, some attend only four or five weeks out of the 10 weeks of camp, and some attend as few as one to two days per week. Activities include swimming, bowling, fishing, therapeutic horseback riding, art exploration, sports and games, and an exciting list of field trips to such varied places as Elitch Gardens, the Colorado Railroad Museum, Water World, the Denver Art Museum, and the Wildlife Experience.

Imagine!’s Out & About Manager Colette Marie, who has been with the program since the beginning, says that the Summer Camp is unique in the state. She notes, “More kids with developmental disabilities who do not have serious needs are going to typical programs, but those programs don’t have the expertise to provide for those with higher level needs, which is a specialty for Out & About.” She continues, “Our goal is to provide for every child a sense of acceptance and self among peers, an enhanced quality of life, and an opportunity to engage with the community.”
 
Parents have high praise for the camp. Mom Karen Leh says, “The staff works closely with parents, and we share ideas back and forth about what works best for each child. It is wonderful to know that my child will be well cared for, will engage in new experiences and learn new things, and will have fun while I am able to work, run errands, and see friends. Summer Camp is a great gift for our family.”

Summer Camp has considered expanding but is currently unable to cover increased costs for transportation, supplies, and field trips. The Imagine! Foundation would like to offer you the opportunity to support this important and highly beneficial program and to help it grow. To avoid bank and processing fees for your online gift, go to Imagine!’s page at the Colorado Gives site and designate Summer Camp in the special instructions, or you may send a check with “Summer Camp” on the memo line, and we will be sure your gift goes directly toward allowing even more children with developmental disabilities to access this rewarding camp experience! As camper Jack would say, “That’s awesome!” Thank you.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Supporter ($250-$499)
Anonymous -- Crowdfunding for Out & About

Friend ($1-$249)
Nancy Blackwood
Broadridge Foundation – Match to Gift from John Clarke
Kathy Coyne -- Crowdfunding for Out & About
Matthew Mock -- Crowdfunding for Out & About
Hanni Ruehrdanz – Crowdfunding for Out & About
Cheryl Spear -- Crowdfunding for Out & About

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Monthly Donations: Quick, Easy, Done!

At the Imagine! Foundation, our hope is to make it as easy for our supporters to donate as possible. One of the options we want to be sure you know about is a monthly (or weekly, quarterly, or yearly) donation that you set up to come directly from your credit card or bank account. That way you can avoid the paper, spread out the cost – maybe making it possible for you to give a little more than you thought you could – and not have to worry about adding it to your “To Do List.” Set it up once, and you’re done!

Go to www.coloradogives.org/imagine. We use this site because it eliminates all bank and processing fees so that every penny of your gift goes to support the people Imagine! serves. Once you press the “Donate Now” button, you will be asked for the amount you wish to donate and then “Is this a recurring donation?” Just follow the instructions, and within minutes you will have simplified your life! We invite you to at least go to the site and look at the options. Thank you.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Platinum ($10,000+)
Pounds Family Foundation/Community Foundation Serving Boulder County – To create videos showing the work of Imagine!

Bronze ($1,000-$2,500)
In Memory of Viola Dingman -- for Foothills Group Home
  From Ron Stewart
In Memory of Ted Shoffner
  From Ruth Shoffner

Friend ($1-$249)
Anonymous (3) -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Joseph Bradley -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Fred Hobbs -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Lisa Hofmann -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Pat Hofmann -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Susan LaHoda – Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Andrea Lucchesi -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services
Rick & Jackie Nelson – Through the Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign
Gary Stebick -- Crowdfunding for Out & About’s Children’s Services

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

New Fiscal Year Brings Changes To Foundation Board

The board of directors of the Imagine! Foundation elected Walt Pounds as its new President at the Annual Meeting on June 11, 2013. Jay Montgomery was re-elected Secretary, and Charles Holmes was re-elected Treasurer. Outgoing President Alexander (Sandy) Bracken was thanked for his service from 2011-2013. David Edwards and Terry Palmos completed their second three-year terms and retired from the board. Leona Stoecker also completed six years of service, but the board approved a By-Laws change that grants Leona emeritus status for her outstanding and continuing efforts on behalf of the individuals Imagine! serves. Two new members joined the board of directors. They are: Don Brown, Principal at Secondary Interactive LLC, and Beverly Shaw, former Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Boulder Community Hospital. Committee Chairpersons for the 2013-2014 year are: Walt Pounds, Strategic Planning and Nominating; Rick Nelson, Marketing; Charles Holmes, Finance; and Colene Van Winkle and Paige Lawrence, Imagine! Celebration.

Walt Pounds

Don Brown

 

Beverly Shaw

 

Leona Stoecker

Imagine!'s 50th Anniversary Video

If you weren’t able to join us at yesterday’s Imagine! 50th Anniversary Celebration, please enjoy the video we debuted at the party, a 50-year retrospective of Imagine! that covers how we started, what we do, why we’ve been able to succeed, and what the future holds.



Can’t see the video? Click here.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Bronze ($1,000-$2,499)
Herbert Parker Trust (Wells Fargo) – Grant of $2,000 for Dayspring’s Community Calendar Activities program. The Herbert Parker Trust has now contributed $9,000 to the Imagine! Foundation during the past five years.

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Support Imagine's Out & About Children's Services

Imagine!’s Out & About program is running a crowdfunding campaign to support its programs for children with developmental disabilities. Watch the video below to learn more, and click here to contribute!



Can’t see the video? Click here.

Local Restaurants Celebrate Imagine!’s 50th Anniversary With Food And Drink

Several local restaurants have teamed up with Imagine! to create some specialty dishes and drinks in honor of Imagine!’s 50th Anniversary, and to help us meet our mission!

From August 1–August 15, you will be able to purchase the “Imagine! Blueberry Dream” cocktail from any Big Red F Restaurant (The Bitter Bar, Jax Fish House—three locations, Centro Latin Kitchen, Lola-Denver, West End Tavern, and Zolo Southwestern Grill), and all proceeds will go to Imagine!.

From August 1 - August 14, you will be able to purchase the “Imagine! Burger” at The Sink Restaurant in Boulder, and 20% of the proceeds will go to Imagine!.

Here are the ingredients of each specialty concoction:

“Imagine! Blueberry Dream” at Big Red F Restaurants
Muddle: 6-8 blueberries, 10 mint leaves
Add: 2 oz. Bombay sapphire gin, 1oz. fresh lemon juice, 3/4 oz. 2:1 simple syrup
Shake and double strain over fresh ice in an old fashioned glass (10 or 12 oz).
Top with splash of soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and three blueberries.

“Imagine! Burger” at The Sink Restaurant
Grass-fed Teton Waters Ranch patty on a Breadworks bun
Burger stuffed with Mouco Truffello cheese, giving it a great truffle flavor
Topped with caramelized onions and grilled Colorado peaches

Does this make you thirsty and hungry? It should, but wait until August 1. And please thank Dave Query from Big Red F and Mark and Chris Heinritz from The Sink Restaurant when you are there!

Thank You Thursday!

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

Associate ($500-$999)
The Optical Centre -- partial proceeds from silent auction held in honor of The Optical Centre’s 40th anniversary

Friend ($1-$249)
Kevin Harding
Qualcomm Foundation – Matching Gift to employees’ participation in QCares Experience

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

50th Anniversary Ale Has Arrived!

The beer is here! Yesterday we got our first peek (and taste – but only after the work day was over!) of Imagine!’s 50th Anniversary Ale, brewed by our good friends at Twisted Pine Brewing Company. The staff here is especially excited about this particular way we’re celebrating 50 years of building quality lives. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who helped transport the brew, and thanks to Twisted Pine for making such a fantastic ale!

Florists Bring Smiles To Imagine!

Many, many thanks today to Teleflora, Denver Wholesale Florist, and Lafayette Florist, for presenting Imagine! with 470 “Make Someone Smile” floral bouquets for Imagine! staff members and clients.

Teleflora donated its popular Be Happy Mugs, the flowers were donated by Denver Wholesale Florist, and volunteers from local florists help arrange the bouquets. Locally, two non-profit organizations received the generous donation of flowers. Sandi Yosihara-Sniff, General Manager of Layfayette Florist, is an executive Board Member of the Regional Teleflora Board and recommended Imagine! as one of the two agencies to receive the flowers.

And if that isn’t enough, Sandi and her team helped to deliver the bouquets!

The bouquets were delivered to clients and staff members at Imagine!’s group homes, three-person homes, our CORE/Labor Source offices in Boulder and Longmont, and our two administrative office buildings.

Pictured below is Terri, who receives services from Imagine!, proving that “Make Someone Smile” week really works!

We are so grateful for this support from Teleflora, Denver Wholesale Florists, and Lafayette Florist.

Thank You, Broomfield Chamber of Commerce

Thanks to the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce for highlighting Imagine! at its membership appreciation event last Wednesday. Imagine! serves 422 Broomfield residents and their families, and we are delighted to be part of the Broomfield community.

Pictured is Imagine!’s Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs at Imagine!’s booth during the event.

Thank You Thursday!

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

Friend ($1-$249)
Kevin Harding
In Honor of Finley Moore
  From Timothy & Meridith Moore

As always, we thank all of our generous donors.

Thank You, Optical Centre!

Longmont-based The Optical Centre recently celebrated 40 years of business by hosting a silent auction to benefit two local organizations: the OUR Center and Imagine!.

Imagine! received $785.00 from The Optical Centre, and we are most appreciative.

Thank you, Optical Centre, for your generous and continued support of your community!

Celebrate 50 Years With Imagine!

You are invited to Imagine!’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, August 4, 2013, 2-5 PM at the Millennium Harvest House Courtyard, 1345 28th St., Boulder. Join us for music, games, light refreshments, Imagine! giveaways, and a video of Imagine! through 50 years. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Please RSVP online.

Next Step Group Home Groundbreaking Ceremony A Success

Turning the dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for Imagine!'s Next Step Group Home are, from left to right: Elaine Chavez, US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Jodi Walters, Imagine! Director of Innovations; Mark Emery, Imagine! CEO; Sam Taylor, Broomfield City Council Member; Dianne Primavera, Colorado State Representative; and Chris Mirto, PEH Architects.

Yesterday, Imagine! hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Imagine!’s Next Step Group Home in Broomfield, CO.

The Next Step Group Home will provide safe and affordable housing for six people who have developmental disabilities as well as the multifaceted issues that come with aging. Individuals with developmental disabilities are living longer than ever, and as they age, their needs may become increasingly complex. In addition, with the “sliver tsunami” of retiring and aging baby boomers approaching, the demand for services for seniors is increasing rapidly. Imagine! is poised to be a leader in services for both the population of elders with developmental disabilities and the larger elder population. This home represents another step forward for Imagine! in developing the skills and tools needed to serve these populations.

The wide variety of attendees at the groundbreaking provided a clear demonstration of how an undertaking like this can truly only succeed with the support of the community. Attendees included: Trent Gustafson and Chuck Wellman, members of Imagine!’s Board of Directors; Mark Feilmeier, Dennis Thacker, and Elaine Chavez, from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (which is providing $633,700 in funding for the home); Broomfield City Council Member Sam Taylor; Colorado State Representative Dianne Primavera; Michele Craig, from the Colorado Department of Human Services Division for Developmental Disabilities; John McMillen from FRIENDS of Broomfield; and Michelle LaFluer, a neighbor to the West of the property who is also the owner of 2BG Equestrian School.

To learn more about this home and our groundbreaking, check out this story from yesterday’s edition of The Broomfield Enterprise.