Community Partner Hall of Fame

Boulder County Government has long served as the cornerstone of the Boulder Valley giving campaign.  They are an essential partner in our work in the region.  2011 marks our 20th year of partnership with Boulder County Government.  County employees have generously donated nearly $360,000 to Community Shares member nonprofits.  

Celestial Seasonings inspires philanthropy by creating a giving drive that fits with the culture of the company – an annual charitable celebration. Each year the entire company gathers together in a show of camaraderie and shared giving as employees throughout the company contribute items that are raffled and won by other staff members.  All funds from the ticket sales and a generous 100% corporate match are directed to Community Shares’ Boulder Valley nonprofits.  Since 1995 they have donated more than $160,000 to Community Shares member agencies and were recognized as Giving Campaign of the Year in 2005 and 2010.   

Colorado College has been a strong partner to and advocate for Community Shares in Colorado Springs for 11 years, ensuring employees of the college can support nonprofit organizations reflective of their diverse and inclusive community.   The supportive faculty and staff of Colorado College have contributed $72,000 to Community Shares nonprofits since 2000.

Great-West Life is a nationally recognized company with offices throughout the country but deep roots here in Colorado with their Corporate Headquarters in Greenwood Village.  Their corporate commitment to community investment is inspiring, with volunteer and financial match commitments up to $5000 per employee each year including a $1:$1 match for all donations made through workplace giving.  This amazing commitment is rivaled only by their employees’ generosity.  Twice awarded Giving Campaign of the Year, since diversifying their workplace giving campaign in 2003 they have donated $287,000 to Community Shares nonprofits.  

Kaiser Permanente recognizes that part of living well and thriving is an active commitment to your community and the causes that move you. This year Community Shares celebrates 10 year partnering with Kaiser Permanente.  The hallmark of the KP campaign has always been a willingness to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work it takes to reach hundreds of employees at dozens of locations.  And they do it all with a smile.  In 2010 Kaiser moved to a national giving tool, yet KP remained steadfast in their commitment to local community investment and ensuring dollars donated in Colorado stayed in Colorado.  Thank you to Kaiser Permanente employees who have given more than $146,000 to Community Shares nonprofits!  

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and National Center for Atmospheric Research joined forces with Community Shares in 1995 to connect their employees to the charities and causes they care about most.   This exciting campaign has raised a life time total of $424,000!  NCAR/UCAR received Community Shares Giving Campaign of the Year in 2004 and again in 2006.  We are honored to induct them into the Community Partner Hall of Fame.

Last year, National Renewable Enenergy Laboratory was awarded our first ever “three-peat” Workplace Giving Campaign of the Year award. This year, we are thrilled to induct them into our Community Partner Hall of Fame.  Over the past 4 years, NREL has seen amazing growth, more than tripling their Employee Giving Campaign and having a stellar $475,000 campaign in 2010.  In 19 years of partnership, NREL employees have donated more than $830,000 to Community Shares member nonprofits and will likely pass $1million this fall.   They have truly transformed the meaning of sustainability and we are so proud to honor their great generosity.

For 13 years, Timber Line Electric and Control has encouraged their small team of just under 20 employees to support the charities and causes they care about most through workplace giving.  They have inspired a culture of philanthropy and commitment to charity through the company’s longstanding generous commitment of a $1:$1 match to those employee contributions.  We thank you for the monumental community investment of more than $76,000 that you and your employees have made together - proving that Every Dollar Makes a Difference!

We are proud to be entering our 20th year of partnership with University of Denver and congratulate University faculty and staff on a generous $383,000 donated to the Community Shares family of nonprofits.  With the Human Resources department at the head, the giving campaign enlists the help of the Faculty Senate, Staff Advisory Council, Campaign Team Leaders, and a dedicated team of volunteers to reach 2300 University employees and bring to life campaign themes like DUing Something for the Public Good, The Power of a Dollar, and We Care DU. University of Denver was honored as a Giving Campaign of the year in 2006.