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Donation a 'godsend' for nonprofits (Greeley Tribune)
Group gets Active in helping local children
Young leaders unite to help area's children
Donation a 'godsend' for nonprofits
BY staff reporters, Loveland Reporter-Herald
December 3, 2008
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County — along with three other northern Colorado nonprofit agencies — received an early gift this year.
Northern Colorado Active 20-30 donated a combined $95,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County, Weld County Juvenile Assessment Center, the Partners Mentoring Youth of Larimer County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Of that amount, $30,000 will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County — a “godsend,” according to Greg Kimbrough, chief professional officer for the organization.
With the economy in recession, Kimbrough said the organization did not receive as much money as anticipated through this year’s fundraisers — placing an added strain on an organization already under pressure for more services.
“(Northern Colorado Active 20-30) basically filled that gap that we had that we weren’t getting through a lot of the sponsorships for our events,” said Kimbrough in a telephone interview. “And in that sense, it’s helped us stay on budget.”
Kimbrough said the money will go toward operating expenses “in a sense, keep the lights on.”
Northern Colorado Active 20-30 was formed in 2007 to help nonprofit organizations in need of more funding. The money for these donations was raised during the organization’s Vines and Wines Suitcase Party in September.
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Group gets Active helping local children
Twenty/thirty-something men dedicated to raising 'a bunch of money'
BY PAT FERRIER, Fort Collins Coloradoan
December 25, 2007
About 50 Larimer County families will open gifts this morning thanks to a group of men who believe they have a mission to help make lives better for Larimer County's children. The Active 20/30 Club, so named because of the age of the men involved - 20 to 39 year olds - is a group of about two dozen men dedicated to raising a bunch of money for children's charities.
Last week they took 47 kids shopping to help make the holidays a little brighter. The kids, from Partners Mentoring Youth, were given $50 gift cards to buy gifts, not for themselves, but for their loved ones.
“It was not just a fun event, but also a lesson in how to budget and spend a limited amount of money, said Chris Imsland, Partners executive director. Without the 20/30 group the event wouldn't have happened, he said. "This was something extra the kids received. We could have just given them $50 and told them to go have fun but that wouldn't have been as meaningful."
Giving something back
Time, treasure and talent — that's all it takes to make a difference in the life of a child, said Shawn Sullivan, co-founder of the local Active 20/30 Club. And, it's a mission the group takes to heart. In its first year, Active 20/30 raised enough to donate $35,000 each to Partners Mentoring Youth and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Within the next few years, they hope to raise $500,000, said Sullivan and co-founder Pete Kelly.
"Pete and I saw a need," Sullivan said. "There seems to be a gray dividing line ... people who are (older than) 45 have their network of people they work with and talk to whether in business or philanthropy and the 20 to 39 year-olds do their own networking and philanthropy," he said. "We were trying to find something unique that we could get collectively excited about as younger individuals. ... The end goal revolves around the kids and raising money for them."
Imsland said the group is "the next generation of philanthropists. Someone has to pick it up and they chose to do it."
The club collects its money through the Community Foundation, which makes donations tax deductible. It plans to apply for its own nonprofit designation in the near future, Sullivan said.
Setting a goal
Sullivan and Kelly got the idea to raise money for kids from their work on the board of Partners Mentoring Youth, a group that pairs adult mentors with children. The pair identified a core group of people they believed had the time, talent and treasure to give back to the community.
“We did intentionally go out and recruit high-horsepower people … the people we thought could make a difference, roll up their sleeves and get involved with children’s charities,” Kelly said.
The men already were involved in 13 different children’s charities from Turning Point and Educo to the Boys & Girls Clubs. Three serve on the Partners board. The men each pay $450 a year in dues which helps cover operation costs. In addition, each member is expected to donate a minimum of $2,000 per year.
“We recognize that not everyone can write a check for $2,000 but everyone should have the ability to go out and solicit donations,” Kelly said.
Active 20/30 also raises money to bolster its coffers. In its first fundraiser the group raised $85,000 by throwing a Vines and Wine party and raffling off an exclusive weekend in Napa Valley. At the end of the party, the winning couple flew off to Napa in a private jet for the weekend.
“Time will tell, but we pride ourselves in doing large gifts,” said Kelly, a Realtor with Everitt Commercial Partners.
It doesn’t all have to be big money, but as with the Christmas for Kids event two weeks before Christmas, it has to have a big impact, he said.
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Young leaders unite to help area's children
NoCo Active 20/30 connects community, business professionals
It's far easier to stereotype young business professionals as being disconnected from their communities than to recognize their contributions.
But NoCo Active 20/30 Children's Foundation, a local group of "next-generation" leaders, defies such stereotypes.
In September, 21 members of the group hosted its first event - a fundraiser for Partners of Larimer County and Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County. And they raised a whopping $80,000 in one night.
NoCo Active 20/30, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, was launched in May to boost community awareness and benevolence among younger business professionals. The service organization has a goal of generating $100,000 in net donations for children's-based organizations in its first year, so it is well on its way.
Northern Colorado is no different from other regions in that the same people are usually tapped to organize events and lead public discussions. Sometimes, that approach can create a gap in participation among young professionals.
But members of this new service organization are showing they are willing to break with tradition and ignore boundaries by uniting leaders in Larimer and Weld counties in identifying ways to improve children's lives.
This new, diverse service organization has found its niche in a region already characterized by its giving spirit.
Back to top
Group gets Active in helping local children
Young leaders unite to help area's children
Donation a 'godsend' for nonprofits
BY staff reporters, Loveland Reporter-Herald
December 3, 2008
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County — along with three other northern Colorado nonprofit agencies — received an early gift this year.
Northern Colorado Active 20-30 donated a combined $95,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County, Weld County Juvenile Assessment Center, the Partners Mentoring Youth of Larimer County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Of that amount, $30,000 will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County — a “godsend,” according to Greg Kimbrough, chief professional officer for the organization.
With the economy in recession, Kimbrough said the organization did not receive as much money as anticipated through this year’s fundraisers — placing an added strain on an organization already under pressure for more services.
“(Northern Colorado Active 20-30) basically filled that gap that we had that we weren’t getting through a lot of the sponsorships for our events,” said Kimbrough in a telephone interview. “And in that sense, it’s helped us stay on budget.”
Kimbrough said the money will go toward operating expenses “in a sense, keep the lights on.”
Northern Colorado Active 20-30 was formed in 2007 to help nonprofit organizations in need of more funding. The money for these donations was raised during the organization’s Vines and Wines Suitcase Party in September.
Back to top
Group gets Active helping local children
Twenty/thirty-something men dedicated to raising 'a bunch of money'
BY PAT FERRIER, Fort Collins Coloradoan
December 25, 2007
About 50 Larimer County families will open gifts this morning thanks to a group of men who believe they have a mission to help make lives better for Larimer County's children. The Active 20/30 Club, so named because of the age of the men involved - 20 to 39 year olds - is a group of about two dozen men dedicated to raising a bunch of money for children's charities.
Last week they took 47 kids shopping to help make the holidays a little brighter. The kids, from Partners Mentoring Youth, were given $50 gift cards to buy gifts, not for themselves, but for their loved ones.
“It was not just a fun event, but also a lesson in how to budget and spend a limited amount of money, said Chris Imsland, Partners executive director. Without the 20/30 group the event wouldn't have happened, he said. "This was something extra the kids received. We could have just given them $50 and told them to go have fun but that wouldn't have been as meaningful."
Giving something back
Time, treasure and talent — that's all it takes to make a difference in the life of a child, said Shawn Sullivan, co-founder of the local Active 20/30 Club. And, it's a mission the group takes to heart. In its first year, Active 20/30 raised enough to donate $35,000 each to Partners Mentoring Youth and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Within the next few years, they hope to raise $500,000, said Sullivan and co-founder Pete Kelly.
"Pete and I saw a need," Sullivan said. "There seems to be a gray dividing line ... people who are (older than) 45 have their network of people they work with and talk to whether in business or philanthropy and the 20 to 39 year-olds do their own networking and philanthropy," he said. "We were trying to find something unique that we could get collectively excited about as younger individuals. ... The end goal revolves around the kids and raising money for them."
Imsland said the group is "the next generation of philanthropists. Someone has to pick it up and they chose to do it."
The club collects its money through the Community Foundation, which makes donations tax deductible. It plans to apply for its own nonprofit designation in the near future, Sullivan said.
Setting a goal
Sullivan and Kelly got the idea to raise money for kids from their work on the board of Partners Mentoring Youth, a group that pairs adult mentors with children. The pair identified a core group of people they believed had the time, talent and treasure to give back to the community.
“We did intentionally go out and recruit high-horsepower people … the people we thought could make a difference, roll up their sleeves and get involved with children’s charities,” Kelly said.
The men already were involved in 13 different children’s charities from Turning Point and Educo to the Boys & Girls Clubs. Three serve on the Partners board. The men each pay $450 a year in dues which helps cover operation costs. In addition, each member is expected to donate a minimum of $2,000 per year.
“We recognize that not everyone can write a check for $2,000 but everyone should have the ability to go out and solicit donations,” Kelly said.
Active 20/30 also raises money to bolster its coffers. In its first fundraiser the group raised $85,000 by throwing a Vines and Wine party and raffling off an exclusive weekend in Napa Valley. At the end of the party, the winning couple flew off to Napa in a private jet for the weekend.
“Time will tell, but we pride ourselves in doing large gifts,” said Kelly, a Realtor with Everitt Commercial Partners.
It doesn’t all have to be big money, but as with the Christmas for Kids event two weeks before Christmas, it has to have a big impact, he said.
Back to top
Young leaders unite to help area's children
NoCo Active 20/30 connects community, business professionals
It's far easier to stereotype young business professionals as being disconnected from their communities than to recognize their contributions.
But NoCo Active 20/30 Children's Foundation, a local group of "next-generation" leaders, defies such stereotypes.
In September, 21 members of the group hosted its first event - a fundraiser for Partners of Larimer County and Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County. And they raised a whopping $80,000 in one night.
NoCo Active 20/30, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, was launched in May to boost community awareness and benevolence among younger business professionals. The service organization has a goal of generating $100,000 in net donations for children's-based organizations in its first year, so it is well on its way.
Northern Colorado is no different from other regions in that the same people are usually tapped to organize events and lead public discussions. Sometimes, that approach can create a gap in participation among young professionals.
But members of this new service organization are showing they are willing to break with tradition and ignore boundaries by uniting leaders in Larimer and Weld counties in identifying ways to improve children's lives.
This new, diverse service organization has found its niche in a region already characterized by its giving spirit.
Back to top