NPD in Colorado 2022 Event Program

by

WELCOME

Sarah Grazier, Event Chair

Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, Rose Community Foundation

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

Kyle Clark, 9News

Adeeb Khan, Delta Dental of Colorado Hanna Skandera, Daniels Fund

2022 HONOREES

Outstanding Foundation Caring for Denver Foundation

Outstanding Professional Grantmaker Dace West

Inspiration

Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado

Outstanding Large Business

Group

Outstanding Small Business Horse & Dragon Brewing Company

Outstanding Philanthropists Carrie and John Morgridge

Outstanding Volunteer Heather Dearman

Outstanding Professional

Sarah Harrison

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

DeAnn Acosta, CFRE, AFP Colorado Chapter

Lily Benedict

Zoe Clemmons, Barefoot PR

Robyn Goldy, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado

Sarah Grazier, CFRE, WellPower

Su Hawk, Colorado Society of Association Executives

Sheila Kutzer, Intermountain Healthcare

Genevieve Laca, The Denver Foundation

Jack Alexander, Community Volunteer

Andrea Aragon, Robert Hoag Rawlings Foundation

Anthony Aragon, National Western Authority

Christine Benero, Mile High United Way

Elycia Cook, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado

Lauren Czajka, YouthRoots

Emily Davis, Emily Davis Consulting

Dave Dixon, Bike Fort Collins

Bonnie Downing, Community Volunteer

Carleigh Elkus, Colorado Children’s Campaign

Mary Feller, Craig Hospital Foundation

Jack Finlaw, University of Colorado Foundation

Bonnie Gross, Xcel Energy

Jacquie Hall, Craig Hospital Foundation

Bee Harris, Urban Spectrum

Sarah Hogan, Barefoot PR

Eric Hozempa, Longmont Community Foundation

CLOSING Sarah Grazier

Outstanding

Dawn and Andy Marshall

Outstanding Youth Skye O’Toole

Outstanding Youth Group

Montrose High School Interact Club

Lifetime Achievement Shari F. Shink, Esq.

Corrina Madrid, CFRE, Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming

Jane Marsh, University of Colorado Boulder

Katie Peshek, Rose Community Foundation

Gerry Rasel, Colorado Nonprofit Association

Alexandra Secord, Empower

Jerry Sinning, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Sarah Swanson, Friends of the National Center

Christine Tesmer, Colorado Public Radio

AWARD & SELECTION JUDGES

Kelly Jackson, Aims Community College Foundation

Charlie Kercheval, Alpine Bank

Sarah Kurz, Rose Community Foundation

Stacie Ledden, Anythink Libraries

Melanie Lewis Dickerson, Junior League of Denver

Katie Lindquist, Community Volunteer

Paul Lhevine, Colorado Nonprofit Association

Laura Love, GroundFloor Media

Kevin MacCary, Community Volunteer David Miller, Barton Institute for Community Action

Maria Montoya, Kundinger, Corder & Montoya

Koral O'Brien, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response

Gloria Price, Schlessman Family Foundation

Aimee Resnick, Student/Community Volunteer

Reggie Rivers, The Gala Team

Simone Ross, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Carolyn Schaefer Wollard, Community Volunteer

Roger Sheffield, Mind Springs Foundation

Susan Steele, Buell Foundation

Gary Steuer, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

Amy Stewart, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation

Robin Tolan, RT Solutions

Tracy Ulmer, Denver Post Community Ghazal Vaghedi, Community First Foundation

Stewart Vanderwilt, Colorado Public Radio

Faye Washington, Community Volunteer Monica Williams, The Equity Project

Vickie Wilson, VMWilson Consulting

Ellen Winiarczyk, University College | University of Denver

Caring for Denver Foundation

Caring for Denver Foundation was designed to address mental health and substance misuse needs in the city of Denver. In the three years since its inception, Caring for Denver has awarded 282 grants totaling $70 million to 183 organizations that are committed to healing and recovery in Denver.

The Foundation was established when taxpayers voted to create a sales tax of .25% in 2019. Funding priority areas were identified through a public process of gathering community input (including engagement with 1,600 individuals) and analyzing data. The resulting four priority areas are Alternatives to Jail, Care Provision, Community-Centered Solutions, and Youth.

Since then, Caring for Denver has garnered national attention for Denver’s STAR program, which sends a health professional and EMT to non-emergency 911 calls. But they have also funded mental health and

recovery supports in so many other areas at a time of critical community need, from schools to homeless shelters and transitional houses, to restaurants, to community organizations.

Caring for Denver has improved mental health and recovery in the City and County of Denver. For the grant participants reporting to date, 70% demonstrated or reported reduced substance misuse; 83% reported imported or maintained mental health, and 86% did not re-enter the criminal justice system.

Nathan Pai Schmitt, executive director of The HadaNou Collective said, “Their commitment to gathering and leveraging insight from a hugely diverse group of stakeholders is truly exemplary, as is their personal approach to supporting all of the organizations and individuals they work with.”

OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL GRANTMAKER

Dace West is chief impact officer at The Denver Foundation. In her role, she serves as senior leadership and oversees the Impact Group, which brings together all the Foundation’s philanthropic activities, from work with donors to nonprofit grantmaking. She also oversees the Foundation’s policy and advocacy work, evaluation and learning, and other community leadership efforts.

Dace’s professional background ranges from executive-level positions in the nonprofit and public sectors to community organizing around social issues across the Denver Metro area. She has served on multiple boards and committees at both the local and national levels throughout her career. A core theme in all her work has been pulling together diverse partners across a variety of issues to work toward common, comprehensive goals and create real change for communities.

Through her work with The Denver Foundation, she has provided leadership in their restructuring and strategic planning process while also making sure that communities of color and other marginalized communities have a voice in the process. She has also been vocal about supporting the nonprofits that The Denver Foundation serves with general operating support and streamlined reporting requirements. She understands firsthand that nonprofits need dependable support and as little paperwork as possible while still ensuring accountability.

Katherine Pease, managing director at Pathstone, said, “The field has undoubtedly benefitted enormously from her unequivocal commitment to excellence and her commitment to ensuring that all Coloradoans benefit from the important work of the philanthropic community.”

Dace West

Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado

The Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC) is one of Colorado's most recognized and accomplished leadership organizations within the Denver metro area. The organization’s mission is “to continuously improve the professional and social trajectory of minority leaders through effective leadership training.”

Concerned with the drastic underrepresentation of Black leaders in professional, service, and civic environments, the ULFC was created in 2007 by former Denver mayor Wellington Webb, former senator Angela Williams and business owner Richard Lewis to develop and support a network for leaders of color. A primary goal is to improve the representation of minorities by diversifying corporate and nonprofit boards, commissions, and other decision-making bodies, and to inspire social change through community service.

Over the last fifteen years, ULFC has improved the social and professional trajectory of nearly 500

individuals. The alumni of this program are elected officials, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs, executives, mothers, and fathers–people from all walks of life using the tools received from ULFC to create tangible change in their respective fields.

Jennifer Dunn, senior vice president of FirstBank said, “The economic ecosystem they’ve also implemented has been central to fostering a solid network of organizations and institutions, benefitting the wellbeing of communities of color.”

As a part of the organization’s commitment to community service, ULFC fellows complete two highimpact community service projects each year that focus on the needs of the community. Since 2007, ULFC has completed over 40 community-facing projects. Thanksgiving in July, a community barbecue for people without homes, is one of ULFC’s most special projects.

Weifield Group Contracting is a national leader in cutting-edge electrical construction with a culture of philanthropy throughout the company. Their support also demonstrates not just a one-time check, but a hands-on, whole-hearted approach, which includes financial support, serving on nonprofit boards, and completing valuable in-kind electrical work for small nonprofits.

Weifield Foundation has donated $1.5 million to the Colorado community over the past five years to more than 100 nonprofits, and their employees have volunteered thousands of hours each year. The non profits they work with serve thousands of people across all genders, ages, marginalized populations, and socio-economic statuses.

Additionally, the firm hires numerous at-risk youth and unemployed adults from multiple Denver area therapeutic and rehabilitation programs into their electrical apprenticeship program, covering the cost of the four-year educational program and training necessary to become a licensed journeyman.

Lisa Steven, founder and executive director of Hope House, said “Partners like Weifield Group play a pivotal role in the work we do to empower teen moms. We are thankful for their support and commitment to transforming the lives of others in the community!”

Horse

Horse & Dragon Brewing Company (H&D) was founded in 2014 by Carol and Tim Cochran to create and support strong communities through craft beer. The four principles guiding their company are 1) make great beer; 2) treat everyone ethically; 3) reduce their negative impact on the environment where possible, and 4) being proactive members of their communities.

Brewing Company

Over the past eight years, H&D has lived up to each of those tenants. They have contributed to more than 200 organizations through volunteering, dollars, and in-kind donations, regularly making beers whose proceeds are donated to local or national charities such as the Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, Colorado Strong, Safehouse Denver, and many, many more.

H&D also uses its tasting room and social media platforms to raise awareness of a variety of great

things happening in the community. They regularly host events for local legislators and community organizers as well as meetings for nonprofits whose work covers everything from giving a platform to women in the sciences, to housing animals in need, to working to end food insecurity in the community.

In recognition of their sustainable business practices, H&D received the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed 2022 Dick Jefferies Partner for the Poudre award; a 2021 Larimer County Environmental Stewardship Award; and was a 2018 B Lab Best for Colorado honoree.

Ann R. Hutchison, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce said, “They are dependable, thoughtful, intelligent, and dedicated. They effortlessly share their time, leadership, and vision with those around them.”

PHILANTHROPISTS

John and Carrie Morgridge serve as the president and vice president of The Morgridge Family Foundation (MFF). They founded MFF in 2008 with an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy and a hands-on style of leadership.

Carrie and John recognize that the size of a gift is secondary to a person’s investment in a cause. In her book, Every Gift Matters, Carrie speaks about how to maximize every gift—and not just gifts of money. Readers are inspired to engage with causes they care about whether their gifts of time or resources are large or small. Any gift and any person can make a difference when they bring their passion to the work.

Carrie is a frequent speaker on philanthropy and has been featured in numerous publications and venues, including TedX, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and The New York Times.

Becky Takeda-Tinker, Ph.D. said, “Carrie and John’s humble perspectives on their role sets a powerful example to remind us of all that it is a collaborative, united, and community effort to effect constructive change, in which all can contribute.”

Carrie and John exemplify this type of giving. With their ambitious philanthropy, they aspire to create a world where all people, regardless of where they are born, can reach the greatest heights.

Carrie and John Morgridge

Heather Dearman is a civil service specialist for the city of Aurora, serves as a chairperson at both the 7/20 Memorial Foundation and the Spirit of Aurora, and is a founding member of The Colorado Resilient Life Center (CORLC) and the Survivors of Tragedy Outreach Program (STOP).

Heather’s cousin Ashley was paralyzed on July 20, 2012, at the Aurora Theater Shooting. Ashley’s unborn child and 6-year-old daughter Veronica were also killed. Heather was inspired to join the 7/20 Memorial Foundation in 2015 after experiencing the love and compassion the community displayed at her youngest daughter’s lemonade stand fundraiser for the theater shooting memorial. For the following three years, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the permanent memorial, and in July of 2018, the permanent memorial "Ascentiate" was installed.

Heather and her board are now focused on providing support across the nation to communities who have experienced similar tragedies through the Paper Crane Peace Project. The project sends handmade paper crane wreaths to other communities affected by tragedy. Heather has been a keynote speaker and panelist on several survivor panels, and the 7/20 Memorial Foundation has grown into a resource for advice and guidance in the aftermath of other mass tragedies. She has continued to advocate for survivors’ long-term needs, alongside others in the STOP coalition.

Michael Coffman, mayor of the city of Aurora, Colorado said, “Heather’s ongoing commitment will result in days of remembrance to those lost, reflection by those who have survived, and a community filled with hope and support. Her impact in the City of Aurora truly represents the heart and soul of our city.”

Sarah’s fundraising career spans 38 years, including leadership positions at Morris Animal Foundation, The Colorado School of Mines, and Craig Hospital. In 2002, Sarah joined the staff at The Denver Foundation where she assisted individuals and families with their philanthropic goals and charitable planning activities.

Sarah created two highly impactful programs that stand out. In 2008, during the recession, Sarah created the Critical Needs Fund to provide a rapid response mechanism to funnel the generosity of donors directly to the most emergent community needs. The fund was used to address hunger, channeling millions of dollars to meet both immediate and systemic needs, and has remained a staple of the Foundation’s rapid response giving. When the world changed once again in 2020, the fund enabled The Denver Foundation and its donors

to quickly direct millions of dollars to frontline nonprofits working to support our community.

Sarah also created the Community Legacy Society to encourage and honor estate and legacy gifts to The Denver Foundation, a vehicle for engagement as well as giving. Members are invited to learn about issues of importance to the community and to connect with other donors. After 20 years, Sarah recently retired from The Denver Foundation.

David Miller, executive director for the Barton Institute for Community Action said, “Sarah is deeply committed to the fundraising profession. She has mentored countless young development professionals and helped develop and grow the field. She is a great teacher and coach. Most of all, she leads by setting an example of dedication to donor and community interests.”

Sarah Harrison

PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISER

Dawn and Andy Marshall OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISERS

Dawn and Andy Marshall’s leadership and direct impact on Social Venture Partners Denver (SVP Denver) has enabled the organization to support more than 250 nonprofits and help nonprofits and social mission organizations raise over $25 million to date. Andy has served on the SVP Denver Board for several years, including as board chair, and helped to organize the Social Impact Investor Group (SIIG).

Dawn has become SVP Denver’s “go-to” volunteer for social mission organizations that need support with their financial systems. Her expertise has impacted organizations such as PlatteForum, Village Exchange Center, Sistahbiz, Clothes to Kids Denver, Hands of the Carpenter, WINGS Foundation, Denver Indian Family Resource Center, and more.

Andy and Dawn were pivotal to the formation of The Left Behind Workers Fund (LBWF), a key safety net

that emerged during the pandemic. As a result of the work that he did on the LBWF, Andy then leveraged his technical and business acumen to launch AidKit with his co-founders to enable emerging direct cash and guaranteed income programs across the country at scale.

During the pandemic, Village Exchange Center (VEC) was tasked with serving as an enhanced food distribution center. Under Dawn's leadership as a fractional CEO, VEC expanded from 50 families served to more than 700. Dawn also managed the necessary funding streams to support this response.

Katrina Van Gasse said, “Andy and Dawn’s impact is far-reaching beyond words. I cannot think of 2 more deserving people to receive this award, they have put their hearts and souls into helping the Colorado community.”

Skye O’Toole’s achievements as an activist, artist, and altruist are unmatched. Skye’s greatest desire is that the needs of every Coloradoan are met, and her achievements are a testament to her commitment to this goal.

Utilizing her own unique lived experience as a transgender youth, Skye educates others with an understanding, loving compassion capable of bringing even the most unaccepting individuals to a state of tolerance. Through individual discussion in the community alongside efforts to revise homophobic systems, Skye makes tangible community change.

As a student intern for the Denver Public Schools Comprehensive Health Department, Skye has reviewed and edited the sexual health curriculum that every student in the district is taught to promote public health for every youth, not just those who are cisgender and straight.

In the same vein, Skye is a leader for sexual health in her role with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC). In her time with COYAC, Skye has sprung to action, working with a peer to draft legislation that would mandate universal HIV education, create a board of youth at the Colorado Department of Health and Environment dedicated to creating awareness of PrEP and PEP (therapies that can help prevent new HIV infections), and expanding access to confidential HIV testing and prevention medication for youth across Colorado.

Sarah E. Moss, MPA, director of the COYAC said, “We are lucky to have Skye as part of the COYAC community, crafting policy ideas to present to the legislature, and to make life better for youth in Colorado.”

Skye

Montrose High School Interact Club

The Montrose High School (MHS) Black Canyon Interact Club brings young people together to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. The club’s goals are to connect with leaders in the community and around the world to 1) make a difference in their school and community; 2) discover new cultures and promote international understanding; 3) become leaders in their school and community, and 4) have fun and make new friends from around the world. The MHS Interact Club is the high school version of a Rotary club.

One of their first projects was working with the five local elementary schools and an early childhood school in Montrose that had the desire to add some outdoor learning spaces to their campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through fundraising and

matching grants from other organizations, the Interact Club was able to make that happen, raising $30,000 to purchase and install shade structures at all six of the schools.

In addition, the MHS Interact Club successfully planned a mud run called the Montrose Mudder that had over 200 participants and raised over $10,000 during its first year. The funds from the mud run were donated to the Montrose High School Special Needs Students’ greenhouse project and to Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Bill Bell, the city manager of Montrose, Colorado said, “I am so proud of our Montrose High School Rotary Interact students and I hope you find their efforts to be as impressive as I do.”

Shari F. Shink, Esq.

Shari F. Shink, Esq. is the founder and president emeritus of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center of Colorado (RMCLC) where she spent almost three decades as executive director. During this time, she represented thousands of abused and neglected children, developed innovative programs, and raised millions of dollars to pursue the goals of the organization.

When she founded RMCLC, thousands of children were in dire need but had no voice. She has provided that voice. Her leadership at RMCLC has led to litigation efforts that have resulted in some of the most important Colorado legal precedents protecting children. She has spearheaded numerous programs to combat child abuse and neglect. In addition, she has trained hundreds of lawyers and law students to advocate on behalf of children.

Judge Richard Gabriel writes, “It is not an overstatement to say Shari's singular contributions in the field of child advocacy reverberate throughout Colorado and nationally, and I can think of no single person who has made a more significant or enduring impact on behalf of dependent and neglected children in this state."

In 2020, Shari founded Cobbled Streets to provide individualized experiences and enriching opportunities that help foster kids to develop relationships, learn new skills, and experience joy. In addition, Shari Shink and Cobbled Streets are producing a documentary on the Foster Care System which will be used to spark systemic reform nationwide. The film is due to be released in late 2023 or early 2024.

Outstanding Professional Grantmaker

Outstanding Foundation

Award

Outstanding Service Organization

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Outstanding Philanthropist

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser

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Outstanding Professional Fundraiser

to an individual fundraising professional who has made a significant impact through successful fundraising, outstanding commitment, dedication, and talent in promoting and supporting philanthropy over a sustained period of time in the community by

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Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld

The Elkus Family

Carolyn and Dave Wollard