give magazine spring 2013

Stories of Metro Denver Philanthropy 1

tragedy, Hope, and generosity

Second Act:philanthropy

spring 2013 volume 2 • issue 1

stories of metro denver philanthropy

what do these people have in common?pioneer and patron Helen mcLoraine

2 give spring 2013

DCP Midstream believes in adding to the vitality of the communities where they work. So with corporate headquarters in Denver, they sought out a partner nearby to help them manage their charitable giving—one with “best investment practices” and networks locally and across the country. They chose The Denver Foundation. DCP and its employees generously support the American Heart Association through the Heart Walk. They also worked with The Denver Foundation to support firefighters of last summer’s Waldo Canyon and High Park fires, and to develop a veterans’ employment program.

The Denver Foundation powers the generosity of corporations, individuals, and families to maximize their impact. Contact us at 303.300.1790 to find out how we can help you.

A Catalyst for GoodPowering your generosity. Maximizing your impact.

www.denverfoundation.org






By David Miller, President and CEO, The Denver Foundation

Welcome to our second issue of Give Magazine. We were delighted by the response to our first issue, in which we shared stories about our generous

neighbors: the Reisher family, Marco Antonio Abarca, the Long family, and many more, along with tips and trends related to giving. Our readers told us that they were inspired by the stories and encouraged by all they learned about our Metro Denver community.

In this second issue, we focus on people who might be described as quiet philanthropists. It is unlikely that you have heard of Rick Lang or Tom Heule before, but these men—and the others whose stories we share in this issue—live among us doing good and giving generously every day. Our cover story on the incredible Helen McLoraine will give you a glimpse into the life and legacy of a woman who lived quietly among us for years, and whose spirit will live on for generations to come through endowment funds and scholarship programs.

We hope that you will be inspired by these stories to give of yourself in ways that are meaningful to you and to our community. Email us at [email protected] to share your story today.

contentsGive Today





meTro denver Gives

4 Helen McLoraine: Pioneer & Patron

7 From the Foreword of the Book: Helen McLoraine: A Lifetime of Caring

Trends in GivinG

8 Tragedy, Hope and Generosity Drennen’s Dreams, The Stinkbug Project, David’ Law, and A Debt of Gratitude, a Lifetime of Service

13 why i Give

ChariTable adviCe

16 Strategic Giving with a Purpose

19 A Grown-up Family Gives

GivinG in aCTion

20 Second Act Philanthropy – Rick Lang’s Story

21 Eleven Friends + Eleven Organizations = Impact on Education

23 The Links Join Forces with The Denver Foundation

24 Stories from the Field

EditorsRebecca Arno and Angelle Fouther

Contributing WritersCindy Charlton, Wanda Colburn, Scott Hamilton, Phil Nash, and Kent Nossaman

Staff WritersRebecca Arno, Angelle Fouther, Sarah Harrison, Kate Lyda, and David Miller

PhotographyFlor Blake and Jim Havey

DesignPurple Sage Design

The mission of The Denver Foundation is to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. We hope that through the tips and stories of generous individuals, families, and organizations in this publication you will be inspired to give!


Denver Foundation Board of Trustees 2013

Jandel Allen-DavisGinny BaylessSarah BockDenise BurgessLinda CampbellDaniel EscalanteCole FineganK.C. GallagherMaria GuajardoKenzo KawanabeJim Kelley

Denise O’LearyRico MunnJoyce NakamuraBill Ryan, ChairSteve SeifertBruce SchroffelSandra ShreveGeorge SparksChris Urbina Maria Zubia





Cover: Diana, left, with her two children, just earned her GED through the Gathering Place, which receives funding through the Helen M. McLoraine Gathering Place Endowment Fund. Heather, center, received a Helen M. McLoraine Scholarship for Foster Care & Emancipating Youth to attend the University of Colorado Denver; and Amber, right, is a member of Girl Scouts of Colorado Troop 1287. The Girl Scouts of Colorado receives funding through the Helen M. McLoraine Girl Scouts Scholarship Endowment Fund. See article on pages 4-7 for more about Helen M. McLoraine. Photo by Flor Blake.

4 give spring 2013

metro denver gives

Helen mcLoraine:

&Pioneer Patron

Center: Helen McLoraine. Clockwise starting at the top: Denver Center Theatre Academy, Gathering Place, Girls, Inc. scholarship recipients, Olympic Figure Skater Scott Hamilton. See page 6 for a full list of funds McLoraine established at The Denver Foundation.


Over the last 25 years of her life, Helen McLoraine donated half of her income to charitable causes. She gave to support research scientists, scholars, children,

developmentally disabled persons, veterans, and athletes. Her deep love for the sport of figure skating manifested itself in sponsorships for more than 70 promising skaters throughout the years, most notably Olympic champion Scott Hamilton, who became a dear friend.

Today, 10 years after Helen’s passing, her legacy lives on—as strong as ever—continuing to touch thousands of Metro Denver residents each year.

“Helen was a very private person, frugal, kind, and smart, who felt a serious responsibility to the community,” says Lark Birdsong, a family friend and one of the trustees of the Pioneer Fund, the

private foundation that Helen started with her mother in the 1960s. Helen stipulated that the Fund be expended within 10 years of her death. The trustees, who also include the late Jim Bye, Scott Hamilton, and Bob Anderson, Helen’s accountant for 30 years, have worked hard to carry out her legacy. “It is such an honor to do this work in her name,” says Bob. (See page 7 for Scott Hamilton’s remembrances of Helen McLoraine.)

To ensure that Helen’s generosity will make a difference for generations to come, the Pioneer Fund created a number of permanent endowments under the auspices of The Denver Foundation. These funds support a wide range of charitable organizations, from Girls, Inc. to Urban Peak. The Pioneer Fund also created several scholarships in Helen’s name and additional programs in the name of her beloved brother, Lewis E. Myers, Jr., who died in battle in World War II. (See page 6 for list of endowment funds and scholarships created at The Denver Foundation.)

“We chose to work with The Denver Foundation because we needed a steward for Helen’s legacy over the long term,” says Bob. “She had a strong sense of responsibility about charitable giving and did a significant amount of investigation before she gave. The Denver Foundation helps us continue that tradition of thoughtful generosity.”

The following are just a few stories of how Helen McLoraine’s legacy lives on.

Foster Care ScholarshipHelen McLoraine believed in giving people opportunities, especially when their life circumstances had been most challenging. There are few groups for

whom this is truer than youth exiting the foster care system. While post-secondary education is a financial difficulty for many Coloradans, it is unattainable for all but a very few foster youth. Only 10 percent will enter a four-year college or university. Only two percent will earn a four-year degree. This is due, in great part, to the fact that many foster care youth lack financial resources, support, and relationships necessary to sustain themselves through college.

The Pioneer Fund trustees decided to create the Helen M. McLoraine

Scholarship for Foster Care and Emancipating Youth after learning about how the Fostering Success Program at Colorado State University was supporting foster youth on campus. Most of these students face the challenges of affording medical expenses and having no place to go during college breaks. Through the Fostering

Success program, care packages are delivered, financial assistance workshops are offered, and social and networking activities are enjoyed by former foster youth, who often must work one or two full-time jobs in addition to taking classes full-time.

The scholarship is now in its third year, offering competitive awards up to $10,000 yearly for three years to any accredited post-secondary school, including trade, vocational, community college, or four-year school, in the United States. To date, 53 students have received support—11 of whom are in their second year of funding. One such student is Latisha Alvarado, a graduate of Eagle Crest High School and the oldest of eight children—all who have been in foster care. Latisha is studying to be a nurse at the University of Colorado Denver, and works hard to stay connected to her siblings who are still in the foster care system.

In the 1950s, very few women were entering the business world, much less the oil and gas industry. Helen McLoraine was a pioneer. Born in Chicago in 1918, she studied business at the University of Chicago and went on to break ground for women in leadership roles and to achieve significant success in investing alongside her male counterparts. Later in life, this pioneering leader became a resident of Denver, living a quiet, intensely active retirement. She took part in numerous causes, and gave generously to support promising people and organizations throughout Metro Denver and across the country.

She was a remarkable woman. Cheerful every day. How many people can you describe that way?”

metro denver gives

6 give spring 2013

Honoring a Fallen Hero Helen McLoraine was in her twenties when her brother Lewis, was killed aboard the submarine U.S.S. Trout in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Lewis had been an actor who intended to pursue his career after the war. He once stated that he would “wield his sword in defense of justice, glory, and righteousness,” which is exactly what he did, sacrificing his life—and his dream—along the way in service to our country.

Helen McLoraine’s estate established two funds at The Denver Foundation in her brother’s honor. The first is the Lewis E. Myers, Jr., Caregivers Fund, to provide spouses, parents, and other unpaid caregivers of wounded military personnel with financial assistance. These resources go to Colorado caregivers through Operation HomeFront. In recent months, Operation HomeFront has used the Fund to provide more than $100,000 in support to dozens of families, such as one military wife whose husband suffered from a traumatic brain injury. As she struggled

to help him heal, she also had four children and three grandchildren relying on her. The Myers Caregivers Fund provided her with $3,500 for housing, utilities, and food.

The second is the Lewis E. Myers, Jr. Actors Scholarship Program, intended to help serious actors develop their craft by supporting their study at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. As it is one of the largest theatre education programs in the country affiliated with a professional theatre, the Academy was a terrific fit for the scholarship program. Funds from the endowment will enable the Academy to provide scholarships that help students foster their talents to become professional actors.

The Legacy ContinuesAs the Pioneer Fund draws its activities to a close, the trustees have created both a book and a website to honor Helen McLoraine. Visit www.helenmcloraine.com to read an extensive description of her philanthropy, including a list of nearly 100 different organizations, funds, and

programs that she supports. Visitors can also learn about the deep tradition of philanthropy in Helen’s family and read a full biography of her life and work.

“She was a remarkable woman,” says Bob. “She was cheerful every day. How many people can you describe that way? She worked hard and was always grateful for all she had received in her life.”

Lark wrote the following paragraph as a note to the students receiving scholarships through funds sponsored by Helen through The Denver Foundation: “The door to Helen’s apartment, which originally opened inward the way that most doors do, was changed to open out to the world. This was indicative of the way Helen embraced life and invited others to do the same. May you apply your life with the same work ethic and passion Helen showed while living, realize the opportunity you are given, and be open to helping others as one way of honoring the gift you are given.”

metro denver gives

Alyssa Heberton Morimoto Scholarship Fund at the Denver Waldorf School

Colorado Skating Club/Joe DeLio Award Fund

Colorado Skating Club/Peggy DeLio Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Colorado State University - Pueblo Scholarship Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Opportunity Scholarship Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Colorado Children’s Campaign Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Gathering Place Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Girl Scouts Scholarship Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Girls Inc. Scholarship Program Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Kempe Children’s Foundation Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Nonprofit Employee Scholarship Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Parent Pathways Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Scholarship Fund for Foster Care & Emancipating Youth

Helen M. McLoraine Summer Scholars Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine University of Colorado Pre-Collegiate Scholarship Program Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Children’s Museum of Denver Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Clayton Foundation Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Emily Griffith Center Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Regis University Teacher Education Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Sewall Child Development Center Endowment Fund

Helen M. McLoraine Urban Peak Endowment Fund

James E. and Mary H. Barnes Scholarship Fund for Trinity United Methodist Church

Lewis E. Myers, Jr. Caregivers Fund

Lewis E. Myers, Jr. Scholarship Fund for The Denver Center Theatre Academy

United States Figure Skating - Collegiate Championship Award Fund

United States Figure Skating - Scholastic Honors Award Fund

Funds established at The Denver Foundation by the Pioneer Fund in memory of Helen M. McLoraine


FroM tHe ForeworD oF tHe Book: Helen M. McLoraine: A Lifetime of Caringby Scott Hamilton

It’s amazing how one person can change the lives of so many, and at the same time change the world.

Over time we get accustomed to hearing about these good deeds from those who want people to know what they have done and how generous they are. I applaud them and will always be grateful for their heart and ability to make a difference in others’ lives.

But there is a different type of giver: generous people who don’t desire a spotlight, or adoration, or even the slightest bit of acknowledgement. They are rare. Their giving is pure. I admire them more than I could ever express in words.

I know what you may be thinking. If they don’t want people to know who they are or what they are doing, how do I know they exist?

I know because one of those “angels” came into my life and changed it forever.

Her name was Helen McLoraine. And even though she is no longer with us physically, her philosophies and generosity live on.

She was there for all four [of my] U.S. National Titles. All four World Titles. And the most important accomplishment—the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal in Men’s Figure Skating. None of it would have happened without her. None of it.

I loved her like a mother and very much enjoyed making her proud of me. When I started my professional career she was there to support me the same as she did during my competitive years. I had my first official professional show in Houston, Texas, and Helen was there to see it.

We would go to The Delectable Egg in Lower Downtown Denver and sit for a couple of hours and catch up. Mostly I would tell her what I was up to, but occasionally she would tell me about her business and charity investments. She loved education, children’s charities, medical research, women in business, and skating. I learned that she wanted to do more, but only if she could do it right and well. She wasn’t one to waste money—or anything else for that matter.

I figured she was probably worth millions, but didn’t live that way. If she liked a pair of shoes, she got them resoled. She wouldn’t buy a Sunday newspaper because the price didn’t represent value to her. The only thing she would treat herself to was travel. She loved experiencing new places, but loved traveling to skating competitions the best—especially to cheer on the skaters she was sponsoring. She loved people, ice skating, and doing good.

I loved her like no one else in my life.

She loved me too.

Her modest investment in my skating has given me the ability to raise millions of dollars for cancer programs and research. I have been honored to serve and raise money for many other charities as well.

In this book you will see what Helen has accomplished—what her confidence in us has done for a lot of wonderful people wanting to do good for those who couldn’t advance their cause without financial support.

Even I can’t wait to see the last ten years of giving recorded all in one place.

One person quietly can change the world.

Maybe Helen’s greatest and last gift is to inspire everyone who sees this to do the same.

Scott Hamilton June, 2012

To view Helen M. McLoraine: A Lifetime of Caring, visit www.helenmcloraine.com.

Doug Wilson, Producer, ABC Sports and member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Helen McLoraine, and Olympic Champion Skater Scott Hamilton.

metro denver gives

trends in giving

Misfortune and loss are an inevitable part of the human experience. But the tragedies that have struck our nation in

recent years have taken their tolls. Whether through natural disasters such as wildfi res in the Rocky Mountain region, hurricanes and earthquakes on the U.S. coasts, senseless mass shootings, two of which were right in our local community, or the commensurate images of panic and pain portrayed in perpetual motion on 24-hour media outlets—all have worked to create a sense of hopelessness in many.

After the Sandy Hook tragedy occurred in Newtown, Connecticut last December, a photo went viral on the Internet. Taken by Jim Judkis in the late 1970s, the photo featured a four-year-old boy by the name

of Tommy Paulhamus, who lived in a Pittsburgh care center. He was embracing the face of Fred Rogers, beloved star of the PBS series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. This photo was accompanied by a quote of Rogers’:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always fi nd people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”

The photo and the quotation serve as a reminder that, in the midst of even the most unfathomable of circumstances,

there will always be those generous souls who immediately commit to the work of comforting and restoring humanity to the suffering.

But an even stronger testament to the generosity of the human spirit is apparent when the “helpers” are those directly affected by tragedy. While their stories often do not make headlines, these individuals are all around us.

The survivors and families in the following stories are ordinary people. Your next- door neighbors, your friends. Yet they are extraordinary in that each found the courage not only to bear the unbearable, but also to develop a profound sense of hope and generosity to give back.

tragedy, Hope, and Generosity

The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado (EFCO) is a network of Colorado entrepreneurs whose companies share a common commitment to pledge a portion of founding equity or annual profits to the community. To learn more visit www.efcocolorado.org

Half a million dollars in community impact…and growing.

There is a saying in Tibet: ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of diffi culties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster. – Dalai Lama XIV

9

Drennen O’Melia’s father, Bill, describes his son as the type of person who, when meeting someone new, would instantly become his or her best friend.

A fun-loving practical joker, “he was ‘that’ kid; everyone knew Drennen and loved him,” says Bill. He attended Powell Middle School in Littleton, where he was involved in the gifted and talented program, played on the chess club and Scrabble club, and sang in the choir. He was the first in his class to have a girlfriend, and also excelled at athletics: football, golf, basketball, and the Southglenn Gators competitive swim team.

On June 5, 2010, he qualified for the All Stars while swimming the anchor leg in three individual events.

The next day, he drowned in a pool of 3 ½ to 4 feet of water and later died at Littleton Adventist Hospital. He was 12 years old.

“The first emotion is shock,” Bill says of the reaction he and wife Melissa experienced. “Initially, we knew Drennen was a special kid,” he adds. “But we didn’t know until after he died how far reaching he was in the community—there were 1,300 to 1,400 people who attended his funeral.”

Drennen’s death seemed to touch a whole community, and the cards poured in along with quite a bit of money given in Drennen’s memory. The couple knew they wanted to do something so his memory would live on. “Drennen was such a special boy and involved in everything,” Bill says. “It seemed like a waste to let his energy and spirit go without helping others.”

Melissa and Bill created a donor-advised fund at The Denver Foundation called

Drennen’s Dreams, a name suggested by Drennen’s friend, Chris Davis. The mission: to continue Drennen’s legacy by engaging the greater community to impact lives through initiatives that inspire well-rounded individuals and the leaders of tomorrow. The couple began exploring options for how to give back to the community, and sat with friend and neighbor Jen Darling, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, to find an area of focus. Because of Drennen’s many involvements, it was necessary to narrow down the options. The idea of addressing water safety came up immediately, but the couple felt too raw, at first, to deal with that issue.

So in the meantime, the family and friends in the community focused on raising funds to build a youth center at their place of worship, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, in Drennen’s name. “Drennen had been bugging folks at the church about completing the youth center,” Bill says. “It seemed logical.” But Bill had one condition: that it look like a professional built it, and not a place that was thrown together for the kids. Being a contractor, he was able to guide the project and devote his own hard labor to its completion. The Center, which is affectionately called the D’Zone by the many teens who thrive there, was built with $120,000 in cash and in-kind donations, and is open for nonreligious activities to junior and senior high school kids. Every

Tuesday, dozens of high school students enjoy Taco Tuesdays generously prepared by local volunteers; and after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, tutors help kids excel in their studies while others enjoy the camaraderie of their friends.

Outside of the donor-advised fund, Drennen’s Dreams now holds two big annual fundraising events: a dinner for adults only, and a 5K run for families. Proceeds from the events go toward ongoing support of the D’Zone, as well as football and college scholarships. Through their donor-advised fund, they made a donation last year to the Bereavement Program at Colorado Children’s Hospital for the Aurora Theater Shooting Victims/Families. Now the Drennen’s Dreams board is focused on promoting pool safety standards and accountability as part of their larger mission to honor Drennen’s impact on

our community.

In contemplating the kind of loss he and Melissa have faced, Bill

remembered a famous quotation that Drennen included on a school report. It was from baseball great Jackie Robinson, who

was Drennen’s hero, according to his dad. “A life is not important except for the impact

that it has on other lives.” This was how Drennen lived.

“He was my hero,” Bill says.

For more information, visit www.drennensdreams.org.

trenDs in giving

Drennen’s Dreams

trends in giving

allison Winn was almost seven years old when she was diagnosed with a disease that had a name bigger than she was: medulloblastoma. A brain

tumor. The treatments were brutal and included surgery, six weeks of radiation, and 14 months of chemotherapy. As Allison, now 12, recalls, “I was very stressed and very tired.”

She also recalls really wanting a dog as she was going

through the process, but her mom, Dianna, feared it would add to the stress.

When Allison fi nished her last treatment, she drew a picture of a Stink Bug with the words, “bye bye stink bug.” To her, the drawing represented her chemotherapy treatments and saying goodbye to all of that.

A year later, Allison’s parents said okay to a dog, and Coco, a Bichon Frise, entered

Allison’s life. Coco proved to be the perfect cure for Allison. “She knew

when I wanted to play and when I wanted to cuddle,” Allison says. “Coco made me feel better. Dogs have special medicine. Great medicine.”

Coco came from a dog shelter and was trained at a K-9

Companion Program at Colorado Correctional Industries, where

inmates train the dogs, then put them up for adoption.

Allison’s family learned of the program from a neighbor. “The manager of the program, Debi Stevens, understands perfectly the signifi cance dogs play in healing, as she, herself,

had a child who was ill,” says Dianna. The program benefi ts prisoners as well—only a small percentage of those prisoners who train dogs return to incarceration. “When they know that what they are doing will help a sick child, they take it very seriously,” Dianna says.

“Allison was a different kid when she was around dogs,” Dianna

says. “Her mood was better—she talked, and had energy.”

Because of the emotional healing that Coco provided her, Allison got the idea to give dogs to other kids who were suffering as she had. And the Stink Bug Project was born. It operates under the umbrella of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. The program gives children with a life-threatening illness well-trained, loving companion dogs from the Prison-Trained K-9 Companion Program. In addition to alleviating the stress for children who are sick, the program also helps siblings, who tend to get lost in the shuffl e during the family’s diffi cult time of dealing with the illness of a child.

Allison, her sister, and her mom began raising money for the program by selling homemade dog biscuits. When the Denver Post covered the story, they got a great deal of response from readers who wanted to help and who donated money. They quickly raised enough to help two families.

They have since made dozens of doggie love connections.

Allison remembers her ninth adoption. The girl’s name was Anya. When she found out she would be getting a dog, her words tickled everyone: “I’ve been wanting a dog my whole life,” she stated. Anya was four years old.

“It makes me feel pretty good to help kids who want a dog,” Allison says. “I know that because they are sick, they may not be able to have the best day, but they are a little happier because of me. I am excited about that.”

Allison and Dianna—along with a cadre of volunteers—make and sell dog biscuits twice a month. For more about this program, visit www.StinkBugProject.org.

Th e Stink Bug Project


David Brooks’ mother, Laurie, describes her son “as a sweet, charming, handsome boy who had a way with words, a quick sense of humor, and an even

quicker smile.” In August of 1995, a week after his 12th birthday, David suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and died while away at summer camp due to an undetected heart defect.

David’s father, Paul, wondered if David’s death could have been prevented. To fi nd out, Paul sought other parents who had lost their children to SCA. He learned that an Automated External Defi brillator (AED) might have saved his son’s life. SCA victims can survive if they receive immediate CPR and are treated quickly with an AED. Unfortunately, only one-third of SCA victims receive bystander CPR and only two percent are treated with AEDs. Every year, 7,000 children die as a result of SCA.

Paul, Laurie, and their daughter, Jessica, created The David Brooks Memorial Endowment Fund at The Denver Foundation, to do something in David’s memory that would help other children with heart problems. One of the fi rst donations the Brooks Family made was for an AED for Lois Lenski Elementary School, where David had just graduated from fi fth grade. Since some school districts did not want their schools to

accept these life-saving devices, Paul and Laurie pursued legislation to require that they do so.

David’s Law, also called Senate Bill 170, was sponsored by Senator Nancy Spence (R-Centennial) and Representative Angie Paccione (D-Fort Collins). It passed and was signed into law by Governor Bill Owens. The law requires Colorado public schools to accept donations of AEDs and also protects a Good Samaritan who, acting in good faith, helps someone by using an AED in an emergency. However, the law does not provide funding by the school districts or the State of Colorado to purchase AEDs.

“There are times that something positive can occur in the aftermath of a terrible

tragedy. This is one of those times. The commitment made by Paul

and Laurie Brooks led to the introduction and passage of David’s Law. It is important that our schools have immediate

access to an AED when an emergency situation arises. These devices, and this legislation, will save lives,” Governor Owens says.

“It was not smooth sailing,” Laurie admits. “We did not

obtain funding to purchase AEDs from

the state or the school districts. But in the end,

we were grateful that we were able to get the door

open and get information to the public, and it’s been gratifying to see that others

have donated AEDs to public schools. A school without AEDs is like a school without a fi re extinguisher.

We hope it will never be needed, but would you want your child at a school without one?” To date, David’s family has helped place 21 AEDs in schools in Colorado and Utah, providing protection for thousands of students.

To fi nd out more about the David Brooks Memorial Fund visit denverfoundation.org/community/page/david-brooks. Additional resources can be found at Parent Heart Watch (parentheartwatch.org), a state-by-state network of parents dedicated to reducing disastrous effects of SCA in children. The site includes several stories of parents who have avoided tragedy through access to and effective use of AEDs.

trends in giving

David’s Law

Facts about sudden cardiac arrest in youth• Approximately 10 percent of

sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur in people under 40, and more than 7,000 people under 18 die from undetected heart conditions each year.

• Children and adolescents are twice as likely to survive SCA than either infants or adults.

• Young athletes suffer sudden cardiac death twice to three times as often as their less active peers.

• Th e median age of young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac death is 17. Ninety percent of young victims are male.

• Most SCA deaths in student- athletes are precipitated by strenuous physical activity, particularly during football and basketball.

Source: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

12 give spring 2013

By Cindy Charlton

On February 13, 1997, I felt the fi rst symptom of a catastrophe unfolding microscopically in my body. I had contracted a deadly bacterial infection

commonly known as the “fl esh-eating bacteria.” My doctors did not give my family any hope of my survival, but I fought hard for my life. I survived with a new identity: triple amputee. Even though my true battle had just begun—learning how to live in a newly disabled body—I knew with every molecule, with every strand of DNA, that I had survived for a reason. I had been given a second chance.

I was still learning how to live my life, standing on legs I didn’t come into this world owning, and with no right hand, when my husband Michael was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I knew that if I was going to survive this journey, with two little boys in tow, I would need help. The SOS was sent, and lifelines of all different shapes and sizes were thrown to me and my family.

In gratitude for those lifelines, I have embraced the belief that I should “pay it forward” through random acts of kindness.

I began my mission with verve by volunteering and

fundraising for the YMCA and helping new amputees scale their own enormous learning curves. I smile at strangers and give impromptu show-and-tells about my prosthetic hook to children of all ages. But one of the best opportunities I have to re-

pay this debt is through a project that my children

and I began three years ago.

In 2009, my two sons and I hatched a plan to do something meaningful for the holidays. We decided

to stuff Christmas stockings to give out randomly to homeless people living on the streets of Metro

Denver. Project Stocking Stuffer (PSS)

was born.

The fi rst year, 23 friends came to my house and

stuffed more than fi fty stockings with personal use

items. We all took stockings to deliver. The stories of giving

the stockings were so heartfelt, and the stuffers were so moved

that they wanted to do it again—and bring friends. The second year, we moved to a local school gymnasium, as we had outgrown my home. We have continually

grown in number of stuffers and stockings stuffed every year since PSS’s inception.

This past December, our fourth PSS event, 150 stuffers joined us. We stuffed 269 stockings, each containing 21 personal use

items, a Christmas card signed by as many stuffers as possible, and a candy cane. There were more than 5,000 items donated to this cause. The event was amazing, the giving profound.

I am an ordinary woman, living a pretty ordinary existence, and I feel very blessed in the midst of my ordinary every day. I am most thankful that I am able to ‘pay it forward’. Because it is through giving back that I feel most alive. It is through giving back that I feed my soul and caress my heart. It is through giving back that I have found a way to pay back my enormous debt of gratitude, that second chance at life, one worthy of living.

trends in giving

My Story: A Debt of Gratitude,a Lifetime of Service

It is through giving back that I have found a way to pay back my enormous debt of gratitude, that second chance at life, one worthy of living.


enVISIOn BuSIneSS COnSuLtIng: Sharing Success by Giving Back

Rob Novick and Kurt Wolf are the founders and managing partners of enVision, a “traditional business consulting firm” specializing in strategy,

human capital enablement, process improvement, IT business services, key initiative management, and talent solutions. Based in Downtown Denver at Writer’s Square, with satellite offices in Milwaukee and metropolitan New York, about half of enVision’s clients are in the Denver area. Novick and Wolf, both veteran business consultants, teamed up to launch enVision in 2009. From the outset, a core value of their firm included giving back to the community, which they do through The enVision Fund at The Denver Foundation.

How does giving fit into enVision’s business strategy?Rob: When we started, we talked about what we wanted to get out of the firm, our lives, and careers. We created a set of values, and one was around giving back. We hoped for success, and sharing success with others is good business. We chose to put five percent of our profits into socially responsible causes.

Kurt: As a consulting firm, we have other ways to give back that most businesses

don’t. Our core business focuses on helping people and organizations grow and do their work better, so we’ve found creative ways to provide world-class consulting to nonprofit organizations. Many nonprofits can benefit from the type of consulting Fortune 500 firms use as a competitive advantage. I am passionate about helping with both brains and wallets.

What have you seen in other places that you’d like to see in Denver?Rob: We lived in Dusseldorf, Germany, for two years. It really struck me how safe children are. People have a greater sense of responsibility for each other and the community. I saw train conductors leave the controls and help people on and off the train. The phrase, “It takes a village,” is really observable.

Kurt: My dad was a public school teacher in North Dakota. Where I grew up, our schools were top notch. We had art, band, music, dance, and foreign languages. We didn’t have to hold fundraisers to support that. Colorado is a highly educated state, and as a Denver resident with kids in the public schools, it is amazing to me how poorly we fund education.

What’s especially great about Denver and Colorado?Rob: The outdoors and open space are just one reason Denver is a great place to live. Denver is also very business-friendly. Our city and state governments are open to dialogue, and new ideas, are relatively progressive, and support business. I have a great deal of respect for our city and state representatives.

Kurt: During my 15 years here, Denver has become a much cooler city—with great restaurants, public transportation, and investment in the arts. So many people have chosen to live here, which creates a very optimistic

environment—one that’s very open and supportive of business. People want you to succeed.

Why do you give?Rob: Giving back is what our parents instilled in us, and what we instill in our children: being part of something bigger. We are still learning how to give, still looking for a more satisfying way than just writing a check. As we grow, we hope to make a larger impact.

Kurt: We are extremely fortunate, having started our business in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and we’ve done well. Giving back is the right thing to do, almost a moral imperative.

LISa anD tOM HeuLe: Where Giving Meets Faith

Lisa and Tom Heule married in 1983 and spent the first few years as many couples do: finishing graduate school, starting their family, and adjusting to married

life. “In those years, we were spending more than we made,” explains Tom. So when they returned to Denver in 1991, they made significant changes.

wHy i give

Why I Give

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“We decided to start our financial lives anew,” he explains. They applied a rigorous discipline to their budgeting, including their financial support of the church. “We decided to live up to our mutual commitment to tithe,” says Tom. “And beginning in June 1991, we began the practice of giving away 10 percent of our income.”

The result?“Since that time, we have never had any problems with money,” he notes. Also since that time, the Heules have experienced the joy of helping others and deepened their commitment to service.

The couple credit their pastor, Father Andrew, for inspiring them. “He reminds us that we were created by God with a need to give. He emphasizes that we should focus on our need to give and to help others. This encourages us to focus less on acquiring or wanting things.”

The Heules have found a need to help others through supporting education. Specifically, they give and volunteer to strengthen inner-city Catholic schools. “Our parochial schools do an outstanding, cost-effective job of educating the disadvantaged students they serve,” explains Tom. “The graduation rate is high, and the underlying values are essential.” Also, Lisa has volunteered weekly, teaching kids to read at St. Rose of Lima for the past 15 years.

“When our son was in kindergarten, I tried to volunteer in our suburban school,” says Lisa. “But to my disappointment, I learned that there were far more parents available to help than there were volunteer opportunities.” When Lisa asked the diocese about alternate volunteer jobs, she learned that inner-city schools had many options but few parent volunteers. “So I offered to help, and I recruited other suburban parents to help too.”

The deep involvement has helped hundreds of students over the years, and it has brought joy to the Heules as well. “On back-to-school night last fall, we saw second graders reading in the library named after Leonard Crimmins, Lisa’s dad,” says Tom. “We are blessed

to be part of helping these kids enjoy the benefits of a good education.”

What other causes are important to the couple?“We care about the issue of hunger,” says Tom. “In this country, in this day and age, there should not be people going to bed hungry.” To help the cause, the Heules again focused their efforts in the Catholic schools. “Through The Denver Foundation, we were introduced to Hunger Free Colorado and connected to Food Bank of the Rockies, where we learned about the food backpack program in the public schools.” With some information on best practices, some methods to get started, and his personal connections, Tom launched the backpack program in the inner-city parochial schools.

For the past two years, the program has provided nutritious food to students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. “Every school weekend, we send food home with 980 students. My goal is to grow that number to 1,065, the number of qualifying students at the time I started the program,” says Tom. Always ready to engage others in charitable work, he emphasizes that there are volunteer opportunities available now. “Corporate volunteers from JR Butler and Academy Roofing pick up the food and deliver it to the schools every week,” he explains. “We need people to put the food into the backpacks. Just 90 minutes a week...it’s a great way for company or service clubs to provide a simple but necessary service.”

Who are their philanthropic heroes?“The teachers in our inner-city schools are definitely heroes,” says Lisa. “They give time and expertise and add value in many ways.” Tom identifies Senator Bill Armstrong as a role model as well. “He’s my biggest hero in giving,” says Tom. “Senator Armstrong is a highly engaged Christian leader in our community. He is one of the most effective people in integrating his faith and his business life.”

Lisa looks back to her father as a hero in philanthropy. “He received a kidney transplant in 1970,” she explains, “and it gave him both a second chance and a new

outlook. He encouraged us to help others, starting with raising money to help the National Kidney Foundation.”

Together, Lisa and Tom have helped to raise future charitable leaders for the community, showing their children the importance of giving and helping others, and engaging them in giving and volunteering. At The Denver Foundation, the Heules created two donor-advised funds. “We use one of the funds to achieve our commitment to tithe and the other is directed by our adult children to support the important cause of early childhood education.”

Why give?“To make a difference. To see the change in others. To change ourselves. To live our Catholic faith. It is important for us to be actively involved in the ministries we support,” explains Tom.

Lisa adds, “We can see all the other people contributing to make the bigger picture work, and we like to be part of the bigger effort.”

JOHn POWeRS: Philanthropic Leadership for a Sustainable Colorado

In the early 1990s, John Powers had a vision: a building in Santa Fe, New Mexico that would house many nonprofits under one roof. It didn’t work out. Fast forward to

2004. Powers co-founded the nonprofit Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, which

wHy i give

bought a building at 1536 Wynkoop Street in Lower Downtown from Joyce Meskis, owner of The Tattered Cover, and John Hickenlooper, then principal of the Wynkoop Brewing Company. Fast forward again to 2013. The Alliance Center building is home for nearly three dozen nonprofits, which focus on environmental, social, or economic sustainability.

The environment is your number one passion. Why?Global warming is the greatest problem we face. If we allow global warming to cripple the ecological systems that make life possible, nothing else matters.

any other philanthropic interests?Human overpopulation. If we don’t control overpopulation, global warming won’t be controlled, but if we don’t control global warming, overpopulation will be controlled in ways we do not wish. If everyone who wanted family planning resources could have access to them, populations would stabilize humanely.

Who has inspired your philanthropic work?Ted Turner, for one. He said before you give money away, identify the most

important problem. He thinks our greatest threat to survival is mutual nuclear annihilation. Nations could demonize and dehumanize each other, easing their consciences about destroying the “enemy.” He created CNN so people around the world could see their shared humanity.

What is your first memory of giving?My dad found about $100 along a roadside—quite a lot back in the 50s. He led a dinner table discussion about what to do with the windfall and personal responsibility. He persuaded us to donate the money to Voice of America, a pro-democracy radio program broadcast into Iron Curtain countries. His wisdom was prescient, as the privilege to be associated with a foundation is like being able to give away “found” money.

any favorite organization?Yes. The one I founded: the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. That’s where I put my time and efforts to promote people working together. The Alliance connects environmental concerns with other sustainability issues such as access to education, housing, health care, and civil rights.

Say more.In grantmaking, I read requests from different groups working on similar projects unaware of each other or not working synergistically. Waste drives me crazy. The Alliance Center demonstrates collaboration in action; it’s a physical manifestation of being more efficient and more strategic in problem solving.

an example?I serve on the board of Conservation Colorado, the organization that formed from the merger of the Colorado Environmental Coalition and Colorado Conservation Voters, both tenants in the Alliance Center. The merger combines strengths of organizing with political advocacy.

Why do you give?I feel a strong sense of urgency to address root causes of environmental problems. Long ago I had a conversation with my eldest sister about leaving money in my will to college classmates. She asked, “Why wait? People need money when they’re starting out. If you give when you’re alive, you get to see and enjoy the results.” Her words changed my life.


wHy i give

In 2011, 88 percent of all contributions to philanthropic and charitable causes—a staggering $262.61 billion—came from individuals, bequests or family

foundations. In fact, total philanthropic giving in the U.S. now represents two percent of gross domestic product (GDP)1; however, many families don’t know where to begin when it comes to setting up their philanthropic plan. Or, if they already have a plan, they aren’t sure how to put that plan into motion—strategically.

Philanthropy is an important component of wealth planning, whether from a legacy, personal fulfillment, generational connection, or tax-planning perspective. Many times, families start out thinking about the tax-planning element, but are often using that as a way to answer something else stirring in their hearts. For families who begin thinking about “giving back” and who want to make a difference, we encourage them to focus on two key words: strategic philanthropy.

a higher quality of givingStrategic philanthropy is similar to intentional asset allocation in that it

requires as much of the giver’s brain as it does the bank account. A careful and disciplined approach to philanthropic giving combines purpose, practicality and passion. It can help you increase the effectiveness of your giving, align your giving with what’s in your heart, reflect—and protect—your intent as a donor, and respond to changing social and economic conditions. Ultimately, it’s about a higher quality of giving, one that really advances the causes and interests that mean the most to you. It goes far beyond just writing a check.According to Strategic Philanthropy, Ltd., giving with a purposeful strategy starts with becoming an informed giver.

• Seek guidance from issue experts, charitable recipients, and advisors.

• Respond to community and organizational need.

• Collaborate with peer donors.• Conduct due diligence on gift

recipients.

• Evaluate the impact of charitable gifts.• Select the most advantageous tools to

implement giving.• Listen and ask questions.• Look for gaps and strategic

opportunities in areas of interest.• Reflect on personal values and

experience to develop a giving strategy.• Consider your legacy.2

effective philanthropy: Starting the processBeginning a strategic philanthropy

Strategic Giving with PurposeBy Wanda Colburn and Kent Nossaman of Atlantic Trust

cHaritabLe advice

Philanthropy—it’s a big melting pot with a wide diversity of resources, personalities, passions, causes, and influences. Think strategically when setting your giving goals.

TiPS For EFFECTivE GivinGBy Sarah Harrison, Deputy VP, Philanthropic Services, The Denver Foundation

The Role of Philanthropy in Your LifeTax season, especially during a year in which the charitable giving deduction is being scrutinized, offers us the opportunity to contemplate the role of philanthropy in our lives. While we know that being philanthropic offers far more than a tax deduction, we’re curious about what it means to you. Here’s what some of our donors have told us they receive from being involved in the philanthropic sector.

“I learn so much.”Giving and volunteering are indeed

educational. When you connect with a cause or an organization, you have the opportunity to learn about what is happening in the community. You also learn how to make a difference. For example, when you work with organizations helping the homeless, you learn the causes of homelessness, the services available to help those facing homelessness, and the best ways to promote self-sufficiency.

“I like to get involved.”When you give both your money and your time, your experience is deeper and so is your impact. One donor relates the story of

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program means devoting time to research, due diligence, listening, and asking the right questions—of the recipient, as well as yourself.

STEP 1: Determine why you want to give and what criteria you will apply to your specific giving decisions. Eli Broad, a wealthy and involved philanthropist, applies three key questions to the philanthropic “investments” he makes: (1) Would it happen anyway?—If it’s going to happen anyway, then he doesn’t make the investment; (2) Will it make a difference 20 or 30 years from now?; and (3) Is there talented leadership that can really make it happen? If the answer to these last two questions is no, he doesn’t “invest.”3

STEP 2: Spend time talking with family members and really thinking about what you want to accomplish. This is especially true if you intend to begin philanthropy as a multi-generational focus within your family. Once you’ve determined what you want to accomplish, take action.

STEP 3: Try to develop new and creative responses to issues. It’s only being realistic to recognize that much of what has been done in many issue areas—social services, hunger, education—has failed on a broad scale. But tremendous amounts

of good—and good progress—are being realized every day with a strategic approach to philanthropy that includes powerful, innovative tactics.

STEP 4: Remember that successful and effective giving doesn’t happen overnight There’s a learning curve necessary to really give intentionally, not accidentally. You must also let yourself be flexible enough to respond to changes in needs—both in your own community and in broader society.

A philanthropic advisor can help you become more aware of your own interests and values and start you on the path to discovering and embracing your philanthropic passion. A well-coordinated plan for philanthropy can accomplish many things for your family: instilling values and traditions; maintaining family ties; deepening social consciousness; increasing personal fulfillment and developing skills; knowledge, and awareness.

This article is provided by Atlantic Trust and is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of the author, are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.

Wanda Colburn, Managing Director, Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management. Wanda is a senior business development officer and managing director, leading the business development, marketing, and public relations initiatives. She has more than 28 years of experience in meeting the investment management, trust, and estate needs of high net worth families. Wanda can be reached at [email protected] or 720.221.5006

Kent Nossaman, Managing Director, Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management. Kent is a senior client relationship manager with more than 24 years of professional experience providing sophisticated income, gift, and estate tax consulting, as well as financial planning services, to business owners, corporate executives, professional athletes, and families. He advises clients in the development, implementation, and monitoring of customized wealth management solutions. Kent can be reached at [email protected] or 720.221.5044

asking the beneficiaries of an organization serving immigrant day laborers what they needed to improve their situation at the agency. The answer? Lockers…a place for workers to store their belongings while they were out on the job. The direct connection to the people served made this particular gift more meaningful to the donor, and more helpful to the recipients.

“It expands my network.”Engagement in charitable work introduces you to people and programs you might not otherwise encounter. You meet like-minded people who care about an

issue and are willing to work to improve it. When you serve on a board, you interact with people who have similar passions but different skills. When you work in a community garden, you meet neighbors interested in building a stronger neighborhood. Working together for a cause of mutual interest is especially impactful for families who want to engage their children in activities that help others and stretch their connections beyond their immediate, comfortable friends.

“It changed me.”Getting involved in the community

changes the community, and it transforms you. When you learn more about an issue, you may change your opinions. When you learn more about solutions, you may change your behavior. When you feel part of something bigger than yourself, you may change your perspective.

If you’re willing to share what philanthropy means to you, please send us an email at [email protected]. And if you want to explore new charitable activities with your loved ones, please call The Denver Foundation Philanthropic Services Department at 303.300.1790.

NOTES1 http://www.nps.gov/partnershipsfundraising.htm 2 Being an informed philanthropist is made even easier by Strategic Philanthropy, Ltd. Visit their website for donors, www.giveconfidently.com, and click on “Informed Philanthropy.” Strategic Philanthropy, Ltd., is a global philanthropic advisory practice based in Chicago, serving clients worldwide. The firm works with individuals, families, and closely held and family-owned businesses, helping them plan, assess and manage their charitable giving. 3 Chronicle of Philanthropy, November 27, 2012: http://philanthropy.com/blogs/the-giveaway.


charitable advice

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How do children grow up to be generous adults? Studies consistently show that a family tradition of giving is a key reason. Lee Palmer Everding,

a clinical social worker and founder of Denver Eclectics, a local group of more than 500 women dedicated to learning about tough issues facing our world, grew up in such a tradition. Through the decades, she has actively passed the tradition on to her now-grown sons, Richard and Robert Kylberg.

In 2001, Lee’s mother, Virginia Lee Clinch, offered her a gift of highly appreciated stock to donate to the nonprofit organization of her choice. Lee chose to open an endowed donor-advised fund with The Denver Foundation, naming the fund for her mother. She included Richard and Robert as co-advisors on the fund. Each year, the three use the investment earnings of the fund to support their favorite causes.

“I think The Denver Foundation staff are sorcerers—in the best sense of the word,” says Lee. “Lo and behold, in 12 years time, the Virginia Lee Clinch Fund has granted more money than was originally endowed and the Fund is still close to its original value. I’m a social worker, not

gifted financially, but I know magic when I see it.”

Lee especially loves that the Fund allows her family to experience philanthropy their way. She and her sons talk every year about how they’ll use the fund. Robert, a research developer for Sony, lives in California, and Richard, a vice president with Arrow Electronics, is based in Denver. Their charitable interests are diverse, but their time spent giving together remains truly rewarding.

Lee, who has served as a Denver Foundation Trustee and a volunteer on numerous committees, has expanded her charitable reach with The Denver Foundation by setting up two additional funds. The Lee Palmer Everding Fund is a non-endowed donor-advised fund that allows

her great freedom to support charitable endeavors. She made a grant from that endowment for the Everding Lectureship Program, a shared lectureship hosted by Iliff School of Theology, where her husband Ed was a professor, and St. John’s Cathedral, where Lee was on the vestry.

The lectureship brings diverse religious and spiritual leaders into Denver for sessions available to students,

parishioners, and the general public. The first six lecturers have represented Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions. “I set this up as a three-legged stool, because while Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral and Iliff offer great theology, The Denver Foundation is a superb steward of the endowment.”

On March 7th of this year, Iliff presented a prestigious Courage Award to Lee, “honoring her lifetime passion for providing educational venues for thousands of people through her commitment to many ventures promoting tolerance, peace, and justice.” Her sons were in the audience, cheering their mother on, celebrating yet another milestone in their family tradition of philanthropy.

one FamiLy’s story:

A Grown-up Family Gives


cHaritabLe advice

Lo and behold, in 12 years time, the Virginia Lee Clinch Fund has granted more money than was originally endowed and the fund is still close to its original value.

Virginia Lee Clinch, seated, with daughter Lee and grandsons Robert, left, and Richard, right.

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giving in action

second act: pHiLantHropy

rick Lang’s Story

giving and volunteering were always part of Rick Lang’s life. The Oklahoma native moved to Colorado after graduating from the University of Tulsa,

and he and his family built their lives here. “We were always involved in charitable activities,” he recalls. “Big things, little things. It was part of the family fabric.”

But Lang’s focus was, of necessity, more on his work. After a few years in the corporate world, he started his own company. LMC Resources was a PEO, or professional employer organization, that provided human resources (HR) services to companies with the need but not the capacity to fulfill their HR requirements.

“Our company was among the first in the country to provide outsourced HR services,” explains Lang. It featured solid expertise with high-touch customer service. The goal was to provide excellent assistance tailored to each customer’s individual needs. “We started in 1977, and by the time we sold the business in 2008, there were more than 600 U.S. companies doing similar work.” Lang was an innovator, on the leading edge of what is today a multi-billion dollar industry.

Now retired from the day-to-day demands of running a company, Lang has chosen his next career: philanthropy. He has served for several years on the board of FACES, a Denver nonprofit organization fighting child abuse. Established in 1974, the group provides therapeutic counseling, parenting education, and case management, as well as advocacy and support services.

“I received a mailing about FACES,” says Lang. “It intrigued me, so I went to an event, learned more, and got involved.” The mission is important, and the work is efficient and impactful.” Once again, Lang is involved with an organization

that provides expert, tailored services, only this time it is to families and children in need.

Lang has a special emphasis for his second-act career: involving his family together in philanthropy. His daughter, KC, and her daughter, Caroline, live in Denver, while son, Brian, and Brian’s wife Annie live in Chicago. “We’re close, and we like doing things together,” Rick says. And one of those things is helping others.

Brian remembers that giving back was always a part of the family’s tradition, from volunteering with Vail Mountain School to doing community service work on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This commitment has continued through the years. “It’s good to see where your money is going,” Brian says. “When you get on the ground and get involved, you can see what needs there are.”

Several years ago, a friend invited Rick to join him at an event for Project CURE, the nonprofit that collects medical supplies and sends them to people in need all over the world. “I was intrigued,” he recalls. “And then I was hooked!” Lang and his family sponsored a container of medical supplies for Belize and helped deliver the supplies in person. “We kind of got the bug,” he admits.

“Project CURE was created by visionaries, is run like a business by economists, and has a distinct multiplier effect,” he explains. “The administrative cost is low and very efficient, while the impact is

dramatic.” The entire Lang family found it irresistible, and now they’re all involved. Brian is on the advisory board in Chicago, and Caroline, now eight, will join the family on another container delivery this summer, this time to Tanzania. Lang expects the experience to be transformational—for all of them.

Late in 2012, Rick Lang took another step toward formalizing his commitment to philanthropy when he established The Lang Family Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Denver Foundation. It was recommended by his estate attorney, and it met the need to mitigate taxes and extend his charitable activities.

“We want to learn about needs—and about solutions,” he notes. “We want to learn about the best way to have a meaningful impact.” The group is interested in best practices, site visits, and making a difference. And in an extension of the Lang family focus on high-touch engagement, they will give their money where they also volunteer their time.

“It’s an exciting time for all of us,” says Lang. His goal? “That after I’m gone, the next generations will continue and grow our tradition of family philanthropy.”

From left to right: Annie, Brian, KC, and Rick Lang


giving in action

at a time when most of us were asking questions like, “What do I want to do with my life,” this group of friends from east Denver was asking, “How do we make a difference?” They met and became friends at Graland Country Day School, grew up together, attended different high schools,

went away to college, and began careers. Although their lives took them in many different directions, they remained close. They discovered in their mid-twenties that they still had these feelings in common: a sense of gratitude for their education and a sense of duty for their community.

“We were lucky because we received great educations, and that made all the difference,” explains Brian Abrams, one of the group’s 11 founding members. He adds, “We came together to start the Eagle Fund so that we could—at least in a small way—take what we’d been given and give a little bit back.”

The group opened the Eagle Fund at The Denver Foundation in 2002 with a plan to pool their resources to contribute to positive change in education in Colorado. Abrams explains, “In many ways, we got lucky with our timing. Right as we were forming the Eagle Fund, education reform was beginning to sweep across the country.” From the start, the group had an

Eleven Friends + Eleven organizations= impact on Education

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Several founding members of the Eagle Fund

giving in action

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entrepreneurial bent. Their first grant was to the first class of a brand new KIPP charter school in southwest Denver. Since then, they have continued to find and fund new, innovative, and promising projects in education in the state. From other charter school programs to after-school programs focused on technology for low-income students, Eagle Fund grants have provided the early funding that’s essential to getting new projects up and going.

“We focus more on ‘venture philanthropy’ or ‘early stage giving’ versus giving to large established organizations,” says founding member

Brian Mankwitz. “We feel this is where our grants can have the largest impact.” This type of giving has meant success for young organizations.

“The Eagle Fund was integral to our launch,” says James Cryan, founder & executive director of Rocky Mountain Prep Charter School. Cryan explains, “They were our first investors and were crucial for providing the resources necessary to get us started. Beyond the financial support, some of the members have served as informal advisors, which has been incredibly helpful in starting to meet our mission of closing the opportunity gap in education.”

The Eagle Fund has created positive impacts that none of the benefactors could have imagined 10 years ago. An early Denver Foundation article highlighting the Fund inspired a local businessman, Marco Antonio Abarca, to start his own family foundation. And now that many Eagle Fund members have started families, they are inspiring a new generation of philanthropists. Eagle Fund member Dan Hamman says, “I want my kids to grow up with an understanding of philanthropy as part of our ‘family culture,’ which we hope they’ll pass to their kids.”

Photos of Eagle Fund grantees, clockwise from left: Summer Scholars; KIPP students stretching themselves; Open World Learning for Kids (OWL)Eagle Fund Members: Brian Abrams, Michel Barkin, Jon-Erik Borgen, Jeremy Barron, Brewster Boyd, Dan Hamman, Josh Holman, Ben Ladd, Brian Mankwitz, Ryan P. O’Shaughnessy, and Jonathan Right


Then-Mayor Hickenlooper, Michele Wheeler of the Northeast Park Hill Coalition, Terrance Roberts of the Prodigal Son Initiative, and Aaron Miripol of the Urban Land Conservancy

Committed to service and to improving the lives of people of color and the disadvantaged, The Links, Incorporated is a national service organization

comprised of African American women. The Links, Inc. – Denver (CO) Chapter recently celebrated 60 years of providing services, scholarships, and contributions to the community. Through The White Rose Foundation, the organization’s philanthropic arm, The Links, Inc. – Denver (CO) Chapter has provided over $1 million dollars and countless volunteer hours to support local, national, and international organizations and efforts that educate and enrich the lives of others.

On December 10, 2012, The White Rose Foundation created an endowed fund with The Denver Foundation. The White

Rose Endowment Fund is a permanent endowment that the organization can invest and grow for the future, preserving the organization’s legacy of giving. White Rose Foundation President MaryAnn Franklin said she was particularly impressed with The Denver Foundation’s “flexible tools that enable people to engage in philanthropy so easily.” She added, “We should have done this years ago.”

Denver Foundation Board Chair Bill Ryan spoke at the reception, which kicked off the partnership. He stated, “The White Rose Endowment Fund represents the formal connection of two historic Denver institutions: The Denver Foundation, founded in 1925; Colorado’s oldest and largest community foundation—and The Links, founded in 1952, one of our community’s most active charitable

associations.” LaDawn Sullivan, a Denver Foundation Program Officer and member of The Links Inc. - Denver (CO) Chapter, introduced the White Rose Foundation leadership to The Denver Foundation’s Philanthropic Services Group. Sullivan says, “It just made sense that these two impactful Denver philanthropic organizations with such powerful histories of commitment to a better Denver community should partner.”

In May 2012, The Denver Foundation also welcomed Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP): Black Men Giving With a Purpose. As members of a new giving circle, DAAP members positively impact Metro Denver by giving of their time, talent, and treasure to those in greatest need.

The Denver Foundation’s mission is to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. By working with philanthropic affinity groups, both established and new, The Denver Foundation is able to move philanthropy forward in Metro Denver.

The Links join forces with The Denver Foundation

giving in action

Sarah Harrison, Deputy VP of Philanthropic Services, The Denver Foundation; MaryAnn Franklin, President, White Rose Foundation; Bill Ryan, Chair of the Board, The Denver Foundation; Wanda Pate Jones, President, The Links, Inc. - Denver (CO) Chapter; and LaDawn Sullivan, Links Member and Program Officer, The Denver Foundation.

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giving in action

Metro nonprofit Leader named One of Cnn’s Heroes of the YearBeing part of the “CNN Hero of the Year” contest has been an awe-inspiring experience for Scott Strode, founder and executive director of Phoenix Multisport, a Colorado organization serving people in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and those who wish to live a sober life. By starting Phoenix Multisport in 2007, Strode has enabled more than 6,700 individuals to benefit from its free programs in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver.

Strode says, “The CNN recognition is a great opportunity to shine a light on individual stories of recovery in a way that will help remove the shame and stigma that surround dependency and addiction. This organization is about hope and second chances. By fostering a supportive, physically active community, Phoenix Multisport’s staff and volunteers help individuals in recovery to develop and maintain the emotional support they need to lead healthy, sober lives. The CNN Heroes program has allowed me to talk about what we do to overcome addiction to an international audience.”

Begun in 2007, the “Hero of the Year” competition is decided by public vote. “Heroes” are nominated for their extraordinary efforts to help change the world and better the lives of others. Phoenix Multisport receives community support from the Ware Foundation, the Daniels Fund, and The Denver Foundation, who recently awarded a grant through its Veterans Behavioral Health Project to support student veterans at all institutions on the Auraria Campus.

Piton Makes tax time Pay for CO Families For families like John and Samantha Virgin, who live in Aurora with their 8-month-old son, tax time means having more money to make ends meet. “We received a bigger refund from the Earned Income Tax Credit,” John says. “That money will help us pay bills on time—we always seem to be a little late.”

This tax season, The Piton Foundation is conducting a statewide public awareness campaign to ensure that Colorado families who made less than $50,000 in 2012 realize they could be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax benefits for working families with children. Piton is also collaborating with the Colorado Community College System to provide free tax preparation to low-income families through Tax Help Colorado, which operates 27 free tax sites across the state.

The Virgins filed their taxes for free at Tax Help Colorado’s Community College of Aurora location. “We went to H&R Block last year,” John says. “The $400 we saved buys groceries for a month. Plus, the people here really seem to care about my family.”

addressing trauma in Homeless IndividualsAn anonymous Denver Foundation donor is supporting the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless in a project to provide trauma-informed treatment, housing, and comprehensive health care and case management to a small group of people who were chronically homeless living on the streets of Denver. Through a comprehensive trauma-informed approach grounded in creating a physically and emotionally safe environment, this small group of people have reclaimed their humanity, become permanently housed, and been given access to the services, benefits, and resources they need to recover.

Bravo for First Data Foundation The First Data Foundation, based in Denver, is promoting the personal philanthropic desires of its 24,000 global employee base using a unique approach to its employee recognition program. Every day, employees are earning reward points – called Bravo Points – for outstanding workplace performance. Bravo Points can be redeemed online for hundreds of items, including electronics, jewelry, or gift cards. A new, popular alternative to purchasing an item is to donate the Bravo Points to the First Data Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. Most recently, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, employees gave more than $15,000 in Bravo Points to the Foundation resulting in $23,000 for the American Red Cross, including a 50 percent match from First Data. “Our goal is to make it easy for the First Data family to help when it is needed most without asking employees to dip into their wallets to do so,” says Ellen Sandberg, First Data Foundation president.

Social Venture Partners is all about giving in action In February, 20 individuals, ranging from 21 to 60+ in age and representing business specialties ranging from law to computers to public relations to real estate, met at SVP, formed project teams and began their work with six nonprofits all focused on improving the outcomes for children and youth in the Metro Denver community: Destination Imagination, Open World Learning, Playworks, Project PAVE, Revision International, and America SCORES. Each team acts as a pro-bono consulting team, working with board and staff of the nonprofit to tackle the biggest business challenges that nonprofits in our community face: strategy, board development, finance, fundraising, communications, and evaluating impact. SVP’s capacity-building work teams will collaborate with SVP Denver’s non-profit investees over the course of a year to strengthen each organization’s infrastructure, broaden the reach, and maximize return on investment. To find out how you can get involved, go to www.SVPDenver.org.

The following stories from the field highlight the wide array of Metro Denver projects that demonstrate Giving in Action. Share your story with us for a future issue at [email protected]

giving in action

exchanging time – Building Community The Aurora Community Exchange Time Bank is a community of people who support each other. When neighbors spend an hour doing something for an individual or group, they earn a time dollar. Each time dollar can buy an hour of a neighbor’s time, or engage in a group activity offered by a neighbor. Time can be used for things like minor home repairs, computer assistance, planning a party, haircuts, or moving. Community activities can include movie nights, yoga, knitting lessons, or storytelling. Neighbors get to meet other neighbors and build an old-fashioned network of extended family members who care for each other. This process, simple as it is, changes whole communities. For more information, contact Benita Muniz, A.C.E. coordinator at [email protected] or 303-326-8315.

The Helen M. McLoraine girls Inc. Scholarship ProgramThe Helen M. McLoraine Girls Inc. Scholarship Program was established in 2004. The fund provides scholarships to girls who have participated in programming at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver and who contribute to their community through service and leadership activities. Since its founding,

the scholarship program has awarded $370,000 to girls who strive for a higher education, embody the self-empowering spirit of Girls Inc., and carry on Helen’s legacy by growing into strong, smart, and bold women. Today, you will find Helen M. McLoraine Girls Inc. Scholars attending colleges and universities across the United States and fulfilling their dreams of a bright and meaningful future. The 2013 scholarships will be presented at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver’s Summer Celebration & Award Luncheon, a community-wide event on June 7th. To learn more about Girls Inc. of Metro Denver and The Helen M. McLoraine Girls Inc. Scholarship Program, please visit www.girlsincdenver.org.

Colorado Fire Relief FundIn 2012, Governor John Hickenlooper created the Colorado Fire Relief Fund to help provide private resources to support the communities affected by last year’s devastating wildfires. The Fund, administered by The Denver Foundation and overseen by eight community foundation CEOs from around Colorado, has raised and awarded nearly $1.7 million to support community rebuilding and restoration efforts.

To date, the Fund has awarded 37 grants to volunteer fire departments to replenish supplies for future fires. Eighteen grants

were for the Waldo Canyon fire, 11 grants for the High Park fire, and seven grants to organizations providing relief for wildfires occurring in other parts of the state. When all funds are awarded, we expect approximately 80 percent of the funding to be equally distributed to the communities affected by the Waldo Canyon and High Park fires, with the remaining funding being distributed to other parts of Colorado. These grants have supported direct financial assistance and supportive services for fire victims, community rebuilding efforts, and land restoration projects. The final report on the Fund’s work will be released to the community in late spring.

girl Scouts of ColoradoGirl Scouts of Colorado offers an incredible outdoor leadership experience to girls who would not be able to attend summer camp without financial assistance. Thanks to the Helen McLoraine Fund, we have camperships available for three or six-day adventures all summer at Magic Sky Ranch, near Red Feather Lakes. Girls make new friends as they shoot arrows, swing from the high ropes, gaze at the stars, roast marshmallows over a campfire, and sleep in the comfort of modern lodges. For camp info, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org and for fund inquiries, contact [email protected] or call 1-877-404-5708.


26 give spring 2013

giving in action

Photos, clockwise from upper left:Governor John Hickenlooper addresses audience at Colorado Nonprofi t Week Luncheon; at Give Launch Party: Joanne Kelley and Renny Fagan (center), Kumella Aiu and Abbie Kozik (right), Denver Foundation President David Miller (center) presented Media Award to Sarah Kyle (Fort Collins Coloradoan) and Fernando Sergio (KBNO Radio); Philanthropic Leadership Award Winners Bruce Fowler, Erica Johnson, Don McMichaels, and Dan Rich with David Miller


Photos, clockwise from upper left:Vickie Wilson, Senior Philanthropic Planner for Th e Denver Foundation with professional advisor Bill Schmidt; members of the Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP) deliver personal items to youth over the holidays; Social Venture Partners E.D. Pat Landrum with members of her Board; Th e Links, Inc. – Denver (CO) Chapter members Jane Pigford (alum), Wilma Webb, and Linda Williams at White Rose Foundation Giving Circle launch party; VP of Philanthropic Services Barbara Berv with Nancy Benson and Barbara Neal of the Arts Affi nity Group.

WE POWER YOUR PASSION.Powering Generosity. Maximizing Impact.

We know you have a passion for making a difference in the community. And we want to make sure your heartfelt generosity has the greatest impact possible. When you partner with The Denver Foundation, your charitable giving is supported by our highly personalized service, your leadership is leveraged by our initiatives and community connections, and you become part of a broader philanthropic community. With an 87-year track record, we’ll help maximize all the good you can do.

Find out about our donor-advised and legacy funds, giving circles, scholarships, and leadership opportunities, plus all the ways you can co-invest in the community with us. www.denverfoundation.org

55 Madison St., 8th Floor, Denver, CO 80206 303.300.1790

WE POWER YOUR PASSION.Powering Generosity. Maximizing Impact.

We know you have a passion for making a difference in the community. And we want to make sure your heartfelt generosity has the greatest impact possible. When you partner with The Denver Foundation, your charitable giving is supported by our highly personalized service, your leadership is leveraged by our initiatives and community connections, and you become part of a broader philanthropic community. With an 87-year track record, we’ll help maximize all the good you can do.

Find out about our donor-advised and legacy funds, giving circles, scholarships, and leadership opportunities, plus all the ways you can co-invest in the community with us. www.denverfoundation.org

55 Madison St., 8th Floor, Denver, CO 80206 303.300.1790

give magazine spring 2013

Documents

denver foundationwelcome

denver foundation powers

metro denver community

generosity of corporations

heart walk

american heart association

summers waldo canyon

high park fires