Causes 2013 by Fort Collins Coloradoan

Giving 2013

Campaign Presented by

Sponsored by

media northern colorado

Letters............................................................................... 4

Kids at Heart ................................................................. 14

How Causes Began........................................................ 4

Larimer Animal People Partnership .......................... 14

The Causes

Laramie River Valley Rendezvous............................. 14

3Hopeful Hearts............................................................. 7 Adoption Dreams Come True...................................... 7 Adaptive Recreation Opportunities............................ 7 Animal House Dog Rescue & Grooming .................. 7 Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County ...................... 8 ChildSafe ......................................................................... 8 Catholic Charities .......................................................... 8 Custom Publishing President/Publisher: Kathy Jack-Romero 970.224.7885 kathyjackromero@coloradoan.com Executive Editor: Josh Awtry 970.224.7793 joshawtry@coloradoan.com

Crossroads Safehouse ................................................... 8 Disabled Resource Services ......................................... 9 Fort Collins Museum of Discovery............................. 9 Fort Collins Good Samaritan Village .......................... 9 Fort Collins Senior Center............................................ 9 Gardens on Spring Creek............................................ 12 Harvest Farm................................................................. 12

Advertising Director: JoAnn Kurtyak 970.416.3989 jkurtyak@coloradoan.com

Half Moon Arts ............................................................ 12

Graphic Designer: Erika Moore 970.416.3941 erikamoore@coloradoan.com

Junior Achievement..................................................... 13

Homeless Gear............................................................. 12 Homelessness Prevention Initiative.......................... 13 Insightfoal Program...................................................... 13 Junior League of Fort Collins ..................................... 13

Larimer Chorale Singing for Seniors ......................... 14 Larimer County Child Advocacy Center.................. 15 Make Change NoCo.................................................... 15 LAUNCH: Community Through Skateboarding..... 15 Neighbor to Neighbor................................................. 15 Partners Mentoring Youth .......................................... 16 Poudre River Library District...................................... 16 Poudre Landmarks Foundation .................................. 16 Poudre Wilderness Volunteers.................................. 16 Project Self-Sufficiency ............................................... 17 Rocky Mountain Flycasters ........................................ 17 RamStrength ................................................................. 17 Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.............................. 17 Soroptimist International............................................ 18 The Matthews House .................................................. 18 Ten Thousand Villages ................................................ 18 Touchstone Health Partners ....................................... 18 Warriors in Transition .................................................. 19 W.O.L.F. Sanctuary....................................................... 19 Wildlands Restoration Volunteers............................ 19

Ad Services Manager: Bonnie Huey 970.416.3923 bonniehuey@coloradoan.com

www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 3

4 | 2012 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

The Coloradoan’s 2013 Make a Difference Day crew.

Readers, It’s hard to believe, but the Coloradoan Causes section is nearing its 18 month birthday. During that time, we’ve told you countless stories about the special work of local nonprofit agencies in our community and the amazing people behind the scenes who work to improve the lives of others. Our Causes Reporter, Sarah Jane Kyle, has done tremendous work connecting volunteers and people who want to give back to various nonprofit organizations. Sarah’s storytelling has inspired, saddened and prompted action, all for the betterment of the special people, animals and places that make up our great community. Your response has been humbling. We are delighted to kickoff our second Annual Causes Giving Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to further improve our mission of making our community a better place by helping local nonprofits with financial support to continue their good work. Last year during our inaugural campaign, we had more than 19,000 votes for area nonprofits and raised almost $10,000 for All Aboard Animal Rescue, Larimer Humane Society and the Girl Scouts of Colorado. The campaign works by engaging you, our Causes readers, to vote for your favorite nonprofit organizations that have been featured in our Causes section during the past year. This section gives you a quick review of each of these special organizations. After reading through these summaries, you can go online to Coloradoan.com/CausesGives and vote for the three agencies that you’d like to benefit from the campaign. The Coloradoan will then encourage you to donate to those charities through the Causes Giving Campaign. We’ll match everything donated up to $5,000. Vote now, and please give if you are able. Thanks for all that you do to make Fort Collins a better place.

Kathy Jack-Romero Publisher & President, Fort Collins Coloradoan Last year’s beneﬁciaries: All Aboard Animal Rescue, Larimer Humane Society and the Girl Scouts of Colorado.

From the Causes reporter You may have seen my smiling face on an ad promoting our Causes section sometime in the past year, sprawling text declaring “I’m Sarah Kyle. Together, we can make a difference.” It’s hard to believe we’re already celebrating a second Causes Giving Campaign and are in our second year since I started my journey as your nonprofit reporter and, with it, my mission to help this community make that difference. When our first “Causes” section on Respite Care, Inc., published on May 4, 2012, I was both terrified and excited. To be honest, terrified was the stronger of the two emotions because after months of planning, the seemingly halfcocked plan of a 22-year-old rookie reporter was finally in action. I felt like I was a 12-year-old who had been given the keys to a Ferrari, and I was terrified that if it didn’t turn out at least half-decent, my editors would wisely pluck that Ferrari out of my garage. After seeing what’s happened in more than a year of sharing with you my personal volunteer experiences at local charities and projects, I can only laugh at those fears now and tell “One Year Ago Sarah” that this Causes idea would take off more than she could ever imagine, and that looking back on these 52 weeks, she would feel humbled, grateful and beyond emotional about this beautiful opportunity she was given. I’ve been privileged to look directly into our community’s heart this year and what I’ve seen is something beautiful and unique. I’ve seen that everybody in this community has a cause. Even if you can’t give money, you give your time relentlessly. Some of you consider volunteering to be your main job. You treat people, animals and the environment with dignity and respect. You understand that the point in which you enter someone’s life isn’t the end of a story, but the beginning. You reach out to help your fellow man, to keep this planet beautiful and to give furry friends a second lease on life. In a world that can seem so dark, dreary and disheartening — in a world where theaters become fields of bloodshed and terror and a marathon becomes somebody’s worst memory — you still care. You still try to make this world a better place, no matter how small that difference may seem. You still give people a reason to hope and to see the good in this life. In watching you do all of this, I’ve laughed, cried, stood in awe of this community of amazing people, kissed a wolf and been knee-deep in horse manure. I’ve had some pretty weird experiences, some beautiful experiences and some hilarious experiences. And I believe even more fervently today what I wrote in my very first Causes column: “Whatever your talents and hobbies are, you can find a place to put them to use.” Thanks for a great year, Causes. I can’t wait to see what we do by the time our next Causes Giving Campaign kicks off.

Sarah Jane Kyle covers volunteerism, nonproﬁts and philanthropy. 2012 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 5

Causes section captured peoples’ passions, and great things are ahead BY JOSH AWTRY

In a region known for its philanthropy, Fort Collins and Larimer County stand out. More than 40 percent of Fort Collins residents volunteer their time to a worthy cause. You can see it in the overwhelming number of the region’s nonproﬁts and the pride in the singular place in which we live. When I moved to Northern Colorado two years ago, it was one of the ﬁrst things I noticed — even down to the way in which people introduced themselves. People here tend to offer dual introductions, saying their name, their career and the philanthropic passion they most identify with. Sometimes, it can be hard to differentiate between the job and cause. It’s hard to believe there was a time when The Coloradoan didn’t keep the community connected with the spirit of giving that pervades this place. We started the Coloradoan’s Causes section more than a year and a half ago; in that time, it’s become a vital part of the fabric of the newsroom and a powerful link to the community. We were fortunate enough to have the perfect candidate to lead the section already in the room. Less than an hour after the idea to create Causes was shared with the staff, then-education reporter Sarah Jane Kyle came into my office. “I want that job,” she said with a competitive edge in her voice. For me, it wasn’t even a question. In some ways, the job was designed with her in mind from the beginning. Her unique passion for both volunteerism and journalism combined exactly the two “isms” we needed. She threw herself into working with local charities with enthusiasm. Last year, we experimented with taking the role of advocacy journalism even further. The Causes Giving campaign was an effort to not just use our resources to tell good stories, but to connect those we cover with the resources they need. 6 | 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

Traditionally, journalists are told not to get involved and to be impartial, dispassionate chroniclers of information. But when it comes to helping those less fortunate, I’m quick to cast some of journalism’s old bylaws aside. A good news outlet helps provide answers to questions. A great news outlet connects the community with what it needs. In this case, nonproﬁts needed funding, and we were only happy to help broker that transaction with the residents of Larimer County. The possibilities for the Coloradoan to take a strong stand on the causes that matter most to you and highlight those giving selﬂessly are only limited by our collective time.

The Causes Giving campaign was an effort to not just use our resources to tell good stories, but to connect those we cover with the resources they need. In other words, we’re as good a resource as you’ll let us be. As we continue forging ahead with what a modern news organization can be for its community, be sure to let us know whose faces need to be highlighted, which groups need to be lifted up, and which causes are worthy of our collective attention and chronicling. Thanks for all you do to make Northern Colorado an amazing place. Josh Awtry is the Coloradoan executive editor.

www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

3Hopeful Hearts 3Hopeful Hearts provides bereaved parents and families opportunities to honor, ﬁnd hope and seek healing through events, support, education and remembrance. Founding members Bonnie Cochran, Kristin Glenn and Betsy Strafach are intimately familiar with the group’s mission. Cochran and Glenn are bereaved mothers, and Strafach helps bereaved parents as a professional photographer who preserves one last memory of stillborn babies.

What we would do with the money: 3Hopeful Hearts is designing a sibling grief retreat. Siblings, ages 8-18, will learn how to express their grief, learn beneﬁcial coping skills and meet others in similar circumstances. Donations will assure that all interested families can participate.

Adaptive Recreation Opportunities The Adaptive Recreation Opportunities, or ARO, program is part of the city of Fort Collins Recreation Department. ARO provides quality and equal opportunities for recreation and leisure programs to community members with and without disabilities. ARO provides recreational opportunities for children, teens and adults with various disabilities including physical, mental, developmental, social and/or emotional challenges.

What we would do with the money: ARO would purchase adaptive recreation equipment including rugby chairs, handcycles and kayaks. Expand programs in adaptive ﬁtness, aquatics and the workout programs. Fitness rooms could be enhanced with accessible weight equipment to increase the ability for community members with disabilities to work on ﬁtness goals as independently as possible.

Animal House Dog Rescue & Grooming Adoption Dreams Come True Adoption Dreams Come True believes every child deserves a home that is loving, safe and permanent. This agency works to make this dream come true for Colorado children by supporting birth parents in their decision around an unplanned pregnancy, aiding adoptive parents in their process to adopt and working to make healthy, happy families. Volunteer efforts for Adoption Dreams Come True are led through the Dream Guild volunteer group.

What we would do with the money: The Dream Room always needs diapers for children from infancy to 2 years. As all Dream Room items are free to clients, this would be a huge plus for our volunteer staff and the families we serve. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Animal House exists to provide space to help ease the burden on overcrowded kill shelters, to provide a safe, healthy, stimulating environment for the dogs in its care and to help educate the public about the facts of pet overpopulation. To help with this goal, Animal House offers continued training for both owner and dog after adoption to provide support for the duration of an animal’s life.

What we would do with the money: The money raised would directly be used for the mission to decrease the euthanasia rate of adoptable animals: collaborating with overpopulated and underserved shelters; providing the community with education; information and outreach; providing adoption opportunities for homeless animals; and giving them all time to ﬁnd a forever home. 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 7

Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County The Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County provide an environment (people, place and programs) that helps kids develop their full potential. They believe that every child has the potential to be great, and they strive to build incredible kids who will become caring, responsible citizens. There are club locations in Fort Collins, 1608 Lancer Drive; Loveland, 2500 E. 1st Street; and Wellington, 3815 W. Harrison Ave.

What we would do with the money: Enable teen leaders to gain valuable character and leadership skills at the National Keystone Conference where they will visit colleges, take part in community service activities, be inspired by great speakers and learn from and support other teen leaders from Boys & Girls Clubs across the county.

Catholic Charities As the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Denver, and inspired by God’s love and compassion, Catholic Charities extends the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need. In Fort Collins, Catholic Charities operates three homeless shelter programs in one building and provides a free lunch service for the homeless.

What we would do with the money: Funds received from the Causes Giving Campaign would be used at The Mission, our emergency shelter and community kitchen in Fort Collins, to provide food, shelter and hope to all men, women, children, seniors and veterans experiencing extreme poverty, hunger and homelessness in Larimer County.

ChildSafe ChildSafe is a nonproﬁt treatment center that provides therapy for children who have been victims of sexual abuse and their nonoffending family members as well as adults who were molested as children. ChildSafe takes a systemic approach to treatment, including but not limited to offering group therapy, advocacy and partnerships with other organizations. ChildSafe never turns anyone away due to inability to pay, with a mission of repairing the damage done to victims and their families, reducing the risk of re-victimization and preventing the cycle of abuse.

Crossroads Safehouse

What we would do with the money: ChildSafe never turns anyone away due to inability to pay. Funds raised would go toward partial scholarships to beneﬁt children who have been sexually abused, their nonoffending family members, as well as adults who were abused as children. Treatment aims to empower victims and help them go from victims to survivors to thrivers.

What we would do with the money: Crossroads Safehouse would use the money raised to improve the dietary options provided to children residing in a the shelter as a result of living in family that experienced domestic violence. The funds would allow us to provide a greater variety of food with a higher nutritional value.

8 | 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

Crossroads advocates for and provides a safe environment for victims of domestic and interpersonal abuse and violence in Larimer County, while promoting positive change through education, awareness and intervention. Crossroads provides 24/7 crisis intervention for recent victims and long-term survivors, emergency safehousing, counseling and support programs and a variety of educational programs.

www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Disabled Resource Services Disabled Resource Services empowers people with disabilities to become or remain independent by providing services, advocacy and accessibility. It provides case management, volunteer support, ﬁnancial assistance, legislative advocacy and supportive technology. DRS provides medical equipment at a very low cost or sliding scale through the Loan Closet program.

What we would do with the money: An award would allow DRS to supplement the incomes of those waiting for Social Security Disability Insurance approval through toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, etc.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery Fort Collins Museum of Discovery merges science and history into an interactive and engaging museum. The museum focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to learn, reﬂect and have fun through hands-on and collections-based experiences in science and culture.

What we would do with the money: Donations from the Causes Campaign would be designated toward consumable supplies for our free “Meet the Animals” Program, providing children and adults the chance to get up close and personal with our live animal collection to learn about exotic and native animals. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Fort Collins Good Samaritan Village Good Samaritan Society villages nationally care for more than 27,000 people of all beliefs. The Fort Collins village is a nursing and retirement facility with a complete continuum of care from independent living to intensive nursing and long-term care. Programs include long-term skilled nursing care, shortterm rehabilitation with private rooms, assisted living apartments, senior housing with services apartments, two duplexes and health and wellness services for the greater Fort Collins community.

What we would do with the money: We are in need of a new wheelchair accessible van to transport our wheelchair-bound residents to community events.

Fort Collins Senior Center The Fort Collins Senior Center is a gathering place where older adults can come together for activities that enhance their dignity, maintain their well-being, support their independence, foster lifelong learning and encourage their involvement in the community.

What we would do with the money: Funds would assist with the purchase of equipment and furnishings for the expansion of the Senior Center and would allow for specialty items to be included. 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 9

Partnerships Beneﬁting Our Entire Community

The Impact of CSU Giving Percentage of State Total Donated During 2012 Campaign CSU ranked second in the 2012 campaign among all participating state entities. Contributing 11 percent of the total contributions statewide, CSU was only 1 percent behind the CU-Denver Health Sciences campus.1 Other Institutions of Higher Education2 9%

Other State Entities3 8% Dept. of Human Services 7%

CSU 11%

Dept. of Transportation - 6%

Judicial Branch - 5%

University of Colorado Denver/Health Sciences 12%

e Ever y day across our community, ther who le peop of s sand are tens of thou pitch in to advance the causes they care g about – feeding the hungry, shelterin , ness well g otin abandoned animals, prom our for ent creating a better environm children. For many of us, this willingness is to get involved and make a difference our t one of the things we prize most abou community. proud to join the Coloradoan That’s why Colorado State University is paign. This is a chance to in promoting the Causes Giving cam nizations that are essential celebrate a special group of people and orga ity. It’s inspiring to look to the health and vitality of our commun here – and to realize that at the causes and organizations featured of ordinary citizens coming every one of them resulted from a group to solve a problem or seize together to find a new and innovative way y citizens” who are willing a great opportunity. It’s clear that “ordinar can transform our world. e to commit their time and passion to a caus

that CSU faculty and staff We’re also pleased to highlight the impact ugh the Colorado Combined have through their collective giving thro of the campus community Campaign. While countless members es they care about, the volunteer and donate each year to caus the CCC provide a nice contributions made specifically through loyees give back to help keep example of the different ways CSU emp our community strong.

Tony Frank President

Dept. of Regulatory Agencies - 4% Dept. of Public Health & Environment - 4%

The Colorado Combined Campaign:

Colorado State University Gives to Support Local Causes

ast year, Colorado State University faculty and staff contributed more than $130,000 to local and statewide charities through the Colorado Combined Campaign – the one opportunity that state employees have each year to make charitable contributions via payroll deduction. Among all state agencies, CSU comes in a very close second to the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for overall contributions. The average CSU employee donation to charities in 2012 was 86 percent higher than the statewide average.

2% each University of ColoradoColorado Springs Dept. of Revenue Dept. of Corrections Office of Legislative Legal Services and Legislative Staff Agencies Office of Information Technology Office of State Public Defender

Colorado School of Mines - 4%

3% each University of Colorado-Boulder Dept. of Natural Resources Dept. of Labor and Employment

Top 10 Organizations Supported by CSU Contributions Ten organizations received 57 percent of the total funds donated by CSU faculty and staff. This graph breaks down the percentage that each of these organizations received during the 2012 Campaign, thanks to CSU’s participation in CCC. Food Bank for Larimer County 7%

United Way of Larimer County 34%

Tom Hilbert, Colorado State Head Volleyball Coach and Honorary Chair for the 2013 Colorado Combined Campaign

Larimer Humane Society 5% 2% Each Crossroads Safehouse Meals on Wheels of Fort Collins Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado Animal House Rescue and Grooming

This year’s CSU Colorado Combined Campaign will kick off in November and run through the end of the calendar year. CSU employees give back to the community in many ways – through volunteerism, serving on boards and commissions, and by making donations to the causes they care about. Contributions to the Colorado Combined Campaign are just one of the many ways that faculty and staff support local nonproﬁt and service agencies. But the campaign provides an interesting snapshot of how CSU employees give back to keep Fort Collins strong.

University of Colorado-System Dept. of Public Safety Executive Branch, Governor’s Ofﬁce

All Other Agencies 43%

1% Each Boys and Girls Clubs of Larimer County Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Inc. Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity

1 – Data provided by the State CCC Director’s Office. 2 – Other Institutions of Higher Education Includes: University of Northern Colorado, Front Range Community College-Larimer, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Community College of Aurora, Colorado Mesa, Pueblo Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Morgan Community College, Auraria Higher Education Center, Colorado Community College System, Adams State College, Arapahoe Community College, Northwestern Community College, Red Rocks Community College, Dept. of Higher Education, Front Range Community CollegeBoulder County, Front Range Community College-Westminster, Fort Lewis College, Community College of Denver, Pikes Peak Community College. 3 – Other State Entities Includes: Dept. of Law/Office of the Attorney General, Dept. of Local Affairs, Dept. of Personnel & Administration, Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs, Dept. of Education, Metropolitan State University, Dept of Health Care Policy & Finance, Secretary of State’s Office, Dept. of Agriculture, History Colorado, Dept. of Treasury, Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

s a land-grant university, Colorado State has a mission to support service and outreach that improves our world and quality of life. Here are just a few examples of CSU programs that give back to the Fort Collins community:

! Cans Around the Oval, now in its 27th year, is the largest one-day food drive in Northern Colorado. Run by CSU students through the Student Leadership, Involvement & Community Engagement ofﬁce, Cans Around the Oval helps stock the shelves at the Food Bank for Larimer County. ! School is Cool is a community outreach effort, managed and organized by CSU employees, that provides backpacks and school supplies to K-12 students in Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, and outlying mountain schools. Since 1992, School is Cool has helped more than 29,000 children. ! Each spring, as part of the annual CSUnity event, more than 2,000 CSU students gather for a daylong service plunge in and around the city of Fort Collins … planting trees, painting houses, visiting with senior citizens, and more. ! The Center for Community Partnerships in the University’s Department of Occupational Therapy has worked since 1985 to help increase access to employment, education, independent living, recreation, and the community for people with disabilities and challenges. ! El Centro and the College of Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center offer the Triunfo/Triumph Tutoring Program, a free, after-school outreach program to assist local K-5 students with their homework. ! HABIC (Human-Animal Bond in Colorado), directed by Georgia and Ben Granger and located in the School of Social Work and College of Health and Human Sciences, has about 140 trained and supervised human-animal teams who provide animal-assisted therapy and activity programs to more than 400 people a week in 42 separate programs. ! The Key Service Community is a ﬁrst-year residential learning community developed around the theme of “student leadership and civic engagement.” The Key Service Community involves 76 students who live together in Braiden Hall and take advantage of yearlong service opportunities. ! CSU’s popular Master Gardener Program trains a statewide corps of volunteers to help serve community needs with knowledge-based gardening information. In Colorado, about 1,500 Master Gardeners annually donate $1.2 million in volunteer service. ! The Little Shop of Physics is a group of CSU science educators and students who visit schools and conduct workshops across Colorado, South Dakota, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Nebraska – reaching more than 20,000 students each year – to share the wonders of science in creative and accessible ways.

Gardens on Spring Creek Gardens on Spring Creek seeks to be a world-class botanic garden that is community oriented, educational, experiential and sustainable. The Gardens’ mission is to improve the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture, with dedication to cultivating community through a passion for horticulture; honoring our local place, and the natural and human environments; demonstrating respect and compassion for all people; serving the Northern Colorado community through public involvement and partnerships; and providing exceptional service with enthusiasm, creativity and cost-effectiveness.

What we would do with the money: Donations would be used to support youth education programs such as Read and Seed and Parent-Child classes, horticulture programs and the Community Garden Outreach Program.

Half Moon Arts Half Moon Arts uses the arts to help youths learn life, work and coping skills, using creativity to build self-esteem and conﬁdence. Artists volunteer to teach and show their work to youths. Musicians teach and play with youths and teach song-writing.

What we would do with the money: Money would be used for youth scholarships for youth, who cannot afford to pay for the program.

Homeless Gear Harvest Farm Harvest Farm, a ministry of Denver Rescue Mission/Fort Collins Rescue Mission, is a 209-acre farm and rehabilitation center for men located in Wellington. The Farm accommodates up to 72 men who participate in a longterm treatment program. Program participants take part in the ﬁve-phase New Life Program, designed to help them gain the skills, stability and selfesteem necessary to become productive, self-sufficient members of society.

What we would do with the money: Donations would provide opportunities for men to gain skills and have the resources to become addiction-free. 12 | 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

Homeless Gear provides homeless men, women and children with the supplies they need to survive on the streets and the support and companionship they need to navigate the path from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The nonproﬁt has a variety of programs to fulﬁll this mission, from street outreach to job help.

What we would do with the money: We distribute nearly $1 million of life-sustaining supplies to the homeless population and help about 100 homeless and near-homeless individuals secure employment each year. Funding would be directed toward the program costs that make that possible: product purchases, Outreach vehicle costs, warehouse and program staff, among others. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Insightfoal Program Homelessness Prevention Initiative Homelessness Prevention Initiative seeks to prevent homelessness before it starts by providing emergency rental assistance. The group can provide up to $300 a year per individual in emergency rental assistance to help ﬁll the gap of an emergency situation.

The Insightfoal Program is dedicated to enriching the mental health of children, adolescents and adults through therapeutic interaction with rescued horses. Pairing a person and a horse with similar backgrounds, feelings and behaviors creates a powerful, nonthreatening mirror to allow clients to get in touch with their feelings, own their behaviors and beliefs, and explore new choices.

What we would do with the money: The funds would be allocated toward our general operating expenses which cover our rental assistance programs and related administrative expenses.

What we would do with the money: We would break down the money as follows: 35 percent for direct services for clients, 35 percent for direct care for rescued horses and 30 percent for scholarships for those in need.

Junior Achievement Junior Achievement’s mission is to prepare young people to thrive in the 21st century workplace and global economy by inspiring a passion in free enterprise and entrepreneurship, and instilling an understanding of personal ﬁnancial literacy. JA promotes education and self-sufficiency by providing programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade that are hands-on, interactive and equip students with skills and knowledge to succeed.

What we would do with the money: Junior Achievement provides programs free in local school classrooms. Your support of Junior Achievement will help make these programs possible and will build stronger youths and our local economy. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Junior League of Fort Collins Junior League of Fort Collins promotes volunteerism, develops the potential of women and improves the community through effective action and leadership-trained volunteers. JLFC’s vision is that all women in Northern Colorado will be empowered to achieve a better quality of life.

What we would do with the money: Funds would be directed to the ABLEWomen Career Closet, Poudre School District Snack Program and Kids in the Kitchen. These three programs are our most effective way of directly impacting women and children who are trying to break out of poverty. 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 13

Kids at Heart Kids at Heart is a not-for-proﬁt agency that supports and recruits foster, adoptive and kinship families, as well as their biological children. Kids at Heart mobilizes volunteers to provide direct support to all foster and adoptive families who take these children into their homes and work hard to provide the love, safety and stability these children need and deserve.

What we would do with the money: Kids at Heart would use the award funds to help fund one of our 17 Fundango events for a total of three hours of respite for more than 25 families. Fundango is an ongoing program at Kids at Heart.

Larimer Animal People Partnership Larimer Animal People Partnership is an umbrella organization for therapy animal teams certiﬁed through Pet Partners or TD Inc. The organization visits libraries through the Animal Afternoon Programs, Crossroads Safehouse, Oakbrook II Senior Citizens and Touchstone Health Partners. Many members also volunteer with MCR, Poudre Valley Hospital and elementary schools in our community.

What we would do with the money: We would like to use the funds for educational purposes and educating new therapy dog teams. 14 | 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

Laramie River Valley Rendezvous Laramie River Valley Rendezvous is a nonproﬁt organization working to bring at-risk youths in Larimer County together with law enforcement officers in an outdoor adventure camp at no cost to campers. The camp has been in existence since 1984.

What we would do with the money: The Rendezvous is in a period of growth, recently receiving access to property that we will be building infrastructure to support our camp for at-risk youths. Further, we continue to provide our camp to youths in Larimer County every summer and look forward to another great summer in 2014.

Larimer Chorale Singing for Seniors The Larimer Chorale, a 115-voice auditioned chorus, is one of the largest and most accomplished classical choral groups in Colorado. The award-winning Singing for Seniors program offers seniors an opportunity to sing simply for the fun of it, while gaining multiple physical and mental health beneﬁts from singing in a group.

What we would do with the money: We would allocate additional funds for scholarships for dues for more seniors on ﬁxed incomes to experience the beneﬁts of group singing, music therapy exercises and the opportunity to engage weekly with fellow seniors. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

LAUNCH: Community Through Larimer County Child Advocacy Center Skateboarding The mission of the Larimer County Child Advocacy Center is to reduce trauma to children and their families through a comprehensive response to child abuse. The center takes referrals from local law enforcement and Larimer County Department of Human Services. Services range from victim advocacy to conducting forensic interviews to be used in prosecuting perpetrators.

LAUNCH seeks to empower individuals to better their community through skateboarding by creating a series of programs that promote self-expression and creativity through skateboarding. LAUNCH includes an indoor skate ramp, hands-on workshops (including a class that lets clients design, shape and create their own skateboards) and a volunteer program for youths.

What we would do with the money: Monetary funds would be allocated to help provide further support and protection for abused children through preventative teaching, enhancing forensic interviews, ﬁnding ways of informing our community about our cause and ways they are able to contribute.

What we would do with the money: LAUNCH would be thrilled to allocate funding for our youth-based programs including skateboard lessons, hands-on workshops and a newly-developed after-school program for adolescent skateboarders within the Poudre School District.

Neighbor to Neighbor Make Change NoCo Make Change NoCo is Northern Colorado’s community-driven ﬁnancial education initiative led by Colorado State University Extension Larimer County and United Way of Larimer County. Make Change works to increase the accessibility, availability, coordination and quality ﬁnancial education resources and services for all Northern Colorado residents.

What we would do with the money: Funds would be used to create promotional materials for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Neighbor to Neighbor grew out of a grassroots movement in 1970. Since then, programs have expanded to meet the growing need for affordable housing and self-sufficiency programs in Larimer County, including the HUD-Certiﬁed Renter and Home Ownership programs and our Affordable Housing program. N2N serves more than 3,500 families and individuals each year.

What we would do with the money: There are two needs for this funding, so we would use it for one or both of these things: A leadership enrichment program for low-income youth in our north Fort Collins properties and/or Homelessness/eviction prevention funding for low-income Larimer County residents. 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 15

Partners Mentoring Youth The Partners program positively impacts local youth by providing assets and protective factors to help them make better choices in their lives with regards to delinquency, school performance, substance abuse and social interactions. The unique mentoring structure of intensive case management, focused education and structured activities provides the necessary foundation to ensure the development of supporting mentoring “partnerships.”

What we would do with the money: We would allocate funds to our year end Christmas for Kids Campaign (November and December) which directly supports youths in one-to-one mentoring partnerships.

Poudre Landmarks Foundation The mission of Poudre Landmarks Foundation is to preserve, restore, protect and interpret the architectural and cultural heritage of the Fort Collins area. Poudre Landmarks Foundation manages two historic properties owned by the city of Fort Collins, including the 1879 Avery House, and the 1882 Fort Collins Water Works.

What we would do with the money: We would use the funding for tours of the Avery House for second-grade students studying local history, and to provide funding for our annual Old-Fashioned Fourth of July at the Avery House.

Poudre Wilderness Volunteers Poudre River Library District Established in 2006 by voter approval, the Poudre River Public Library District is a special taxing district and political subdivision of the state of Colorado. It is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees and supported by a 3-mill property tax. It is anchored by three libraries in Fort Collins but continues to develop a program of outreach services to reach residents living throughout the district.

What we would do with the money: Support library programs, which include a variety of reading and literacy programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. 16 | 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign

Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, or PWV, is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonproﬁt organization created to assist the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the United States Forest Service in managing and protecting the wilderness and backcountry areas within its jurisdiction. PWV recruits, trains, equips and ﬁelds citizen volunteers to serve as wilderness rangers and hosts for the purpose of educating the public, it provides other appropriate support to these wild areas.

What we would do with the money: Funding would be used to support our programs, which help the U.S. Forest Service restore, maintain and protect our wilderness areas, and provide education and awareness. PWV operates with no paid staff. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Project Self-Sufficiency Project Self-Sufficiency helps low-income, single parents become self-sufficient. The program helps participants gain ﬁnancial independence and build strong, healthy families through education, ﬁnancial training and a variety of resources and supports. While both genders of single parents are accepted, the majority of PS-S participants are single mothers.

RamStrength The Lubick Foundation/RamStrength supports local cancer survivors by providing ﬁnancial assistance for basic needs (mortgage and rent payments, car payments and unforeseen auto repairs, monthly bills, transportation to and from treatment, insurance premiums and lab or prescription co-pays, and counseling services), scholarships for CSU students affected by cancer and programs and services, including summer camps for child cancer survivors.

What we would do with the money: The funds would be used to help lowincome, single parents enrolled in PS-S with special needs and emergency ﬁnancial assistance while they work on their goals to move from poverty to self-sufficiency.

What we would do with the money: The funding we receive will be allocated to the RamStrength Basic Needs Program. When a cancer patient is identiﬁed as having a ﬁnancial need, RamStrength funds will be distributed where appropriate. Any additional funding we receive helps increase the average dollar amount per patient request.

Rocky Mountain Flycasters

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

Rocky Mountain Flycasters, a chapter of Trout Unlimited, seeks to conserve, protect and restore North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. The group is about more than fishing; it is also about also keeping waters fishable, usable and safe for anglers and the general public alike. Last year alone, Rocky Mountain Flycasters members contributed more than 4,000 hours in volunteerism.

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program inspires the appreciation and protection of raptors and the spaces where they live through excellence in rehabilitation, education and research. Volunteers are fully trained to perform basic husbandry of raptors, including butchering and preparing nutritious raw food, cleaning raptor enclosures and working around the birds safely.

What we would do with the money: Cold water conservation projects and youth water education projects. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

What we would do with the money: To provide rehabilitative care for more than 300 injured birds of prey and educate children about the importance of wildlife and wild places on our planet. 2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 17

Soroptimist International

Ten Thousand Villages

Soroptimist is an international organization for and by women who use their collective power to help other women transform their lives and the lives of their families, both locally and throughout the world. “Soroptimist” means “best for women.” The Fort Collins club has been active since 1950, providing support for local organizations and international concerns.

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonproﬁt, fair trade retail store that sells handicrafts made by artisans in developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The Fort Collins store is located at 113 Linden Street, Old Town Square. The store develops longstanding partnerships with artisans to create and sell thousands of products to help ensure artisans receive a fair wage for their work.

What we would do with the money: We are a service club whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls. We would give the money to charities in Northern Colorado who serve women and girls in need, such as Crossroads, Project Self-Sufficiency, Women’s Resource Center, SAVA and groups helping women rescued from sex trafficking.

The Matthews House

What we would do with the money: Ten Thousand Villages Fort Collins would use the funding to provide those families affected by recent ﬁre and ﬂood disasters in Northern Colorado with fair trade shopping sprees so they could add those accessories and products to make their houses feel like homes once again.

Touchstone Health Partners

The Matthews House empowers young adults and families in transition who lack a signiﬁcant support network by providing the resources and relationships necessary for them to take control of their lives and shape positive futures for themselves, while becoming successful contributors to their community.

Touchstone Heath Partners is a private nonproﬁt dedicated to providing comprehensive, integrated and affordable mental health and addiction services, transforming lives through recovery, renewal and respect. Touchstone serves more than 6,000 clients of all ages annually at 20 locations throughout the county.

What we would do with the money: We would allocate the funds to support our Community Life Center, or CLC, whose goals are providing support for individuals, families and children, through a variety of services including one time drop-in visits for information and referral, families participating in education/parenting programs and families receiving ongoing case management.

What we would do with the money: Funds would help provide a place of warmth and understanding, combined with highly effective modern treatment and medications, to those in need of mental health services. Our counseling services are made affordable, sometimes free, through generous contributions. We believe that cost should never be a barrier to those in need.

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www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

Warriors in Transition Warriors in Transition, a program at Fifth Element Ranch in Loveland, facilitates veterans living a successful civilian life through an innovated equine therapeutic program. The program consists of progressive, ground-based exercises with horses, followed by individual or group processing to learn, heal and grow.

What we would do with the money: All the money would go toward tuition scholarships that are provided to veterans and their families so they may participate in group Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning, or EFEL, Workshops or attend individual EFEL sessions.

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Wildlands Restoration Volunteers engages thousands of volunteers in more than 60 land stewardship projects each year, completing a wide variety of high priority habitat restoration and conservation work throughout Colorado and southern Wyoming. Projects can be a single day, but some last a weekend or longer with camping in spectacular mountain settings.

What we would do with the money: In response to this year’s ﬂooding in Northern Colorado, WRV has had to both cut back on our normal funded conservation efforts and switch gears to unfunded post-ﬂood restoration on our public lands. Donations will support our volunteers in helping to reopen trails, trailheads and other open space areas.

W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Wolves Offered Life & Friendship, or W.O.L.F., works to “improve the quality of life for all wolves and wolf-dogs,” saving captive-bred wolves and wolf-dogs whose caretakers are no longer able to provide for them, providing lifelong homes for up to 30 wolves and wolf-dogs at a time and educating the public about the value of wolves in the wild and the compromises to their spirit when they’re held or bred captive.

What we would do with the money: We would continue to repair and rebuild from 2012 High Park Fire and 2013 ﬂooding damages, including our road, retention ponds, animal enclosures and destroyed buildings. www.coloradoan.com/causesgives

2013 Coloradoan Causes Giving Campaign | 19

Giving 2013

Campaign

We’re giving back and we need your help. Vote for your three favorite Causes at coloradoan.com/causesgives from November 3rd–November 15th and help us choose the beneﬁciaries of the inaugural Causes Giving Campaign.

Visit the website for complete details.

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