Message to Our Giving Community
From Board President Lisa Pedersen
Dear
friends,
I write
today with unexpected yet exciting news.
After
careful thought and consideration, Heather
Lafferty is returning to her former
organization, Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver,
to serve as Executive Director. Heather spent
the last 9 years at Habitat in various roles and
when asked to lead the organization she chose to
return. We extend our best wishes to Heather
and look forward to continued partnership in her
new role as a leader of one of our member
agencies.
I am
pleased to announce the
Community
Shares of Colorado Board of Directors
unanimously voted to hire Deputy Director Alyssa
Kopf as Chief Executive Officer of our fine
organization. Not only does Alyssa have five and
half years experience at
Community
Shares during the organization’s largest
growth period, she is also highly regarded in
the nonprofit community as an innovative leader.
We believe Alyssa brings the passion,
intelligence, and vision to guide
Community
Shares in a time of changing workforce
structures and exciting advances in
e-philanthropy. Alyssa is deeply rooted in our
organization’s core values of inclusivity and
democratizing philanthropy. She will be uniquely
able to ensure our organization’s history is
reflected in our future.
Leslie
Foster, President and CEO of The Gathering
Place, voiced her support of Alyssa’s capacity
to lead the organization. “I could not be more
pleased than to see Alyssa at the helm of
Community Shares. She’s enormously talented and
a natural leader with an unwavering commitment
to our organization. Alyssa offers the skills of
a veteran who has been with
CSC
for years as well as the creativity and
relationship skills necessary to keep us
relevant long into the future.”
Alyssa
adds, “I am enthusiastic in embracing the chance
to lead an organization in line with my values
where I have the good fortune to learn, serve,
and be inspired every day.
Community
Shares is committed to supporting the
entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of our
nonprofit member agencies. I look forward to
expanding our reach beyond workplace giving
campaigns and offering a complimentary set of
philanthropic services as a dynamic community
giving fund.”
As the CEO
of a member agency, I am enthusiastic in my
support of Alyssa Kopf as the right leader of
Community
Shares during this exciting time of new
possibilities. Please feel free to contact me
with any questions about the board of directors’
strategic vision for the organization.
My sincere
thanks for your continued support of
Community
Shares of Colorado!
Lisa Pedersen
Board President
Community Shares of Colorado
Celebration of Love, Community and Music
On March
9th Denver author
Laurie Cameron celebrated the release of her
new book,
The Journey From Fear to Love: Waking Up and
Walking the ‘Evolutionary Relationship’ Path
With Your Partner,
with a book signing party benefiting
Community
Shares of Colorado. Over 100 guests
joined this internationally known coach, author
and speaker for an afternoon of music and fun.
Local all-vocal rock band Face performed and the
audience enjoyed snacks and libations at
Jazz@Jacks at the Denver Pavilions. The event
raised over $1,500 for
Community
Shares through the silent auction and a
portion of the proceeds from book sales.
We thank
Laurie for including
Community
Shares in this great event and to all who
came out to support a local author and the cause
of inspiring philanthropy in Colorado!
The Big Give:
Making Philanthropy a Reality in Colorado.
Over 15
million viewers watched as Oprah’s The Big Give
rode into Denver this past Sunday, the latest
stop on the new reality show designed to inspire
philanthropy in America. We congratulate
Empowerment Program, a
CSC
member agency, for being chosen to appear on The
Big Give!!! Read more in the
Shares Blog about The Big Give in Denver and
how you can Give Big in our community.
Save the Date!
Community
Shares’ 2008 Summer Celebration will be
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 6pm at the Belmar
Event Center in Lakewood. Join us to celebrate
community! There will be a silent auction with
some wonderful items. Watch for more
information coming soon. Contact
Mary Snyders at 303-861-7507 with questions
in the meantime.
Partners of the monthh
Outstanding Member Agency
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission
The Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission (PPJPC)
is a community-based organization grounded in
principles of nonviolence, solidarity with the
poor and oppressed, sustainable living, and
social and economic justice. Last March, PPJPC
volunteers, board members, staff and friends
donned green t-shirts with peace signs and, as
they did the year before, joined board member
Eric Verlo's Bookman entry to march in the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade. One official motioned for
the group to begin. A block and a half later,
another official stopped the group, and seven
people were arrested. While the incident
triggered an emotional response in the
community, PPJPC continued to promote peaceful
conflict resolution. Due to their determined
efforts, the PPJPC was invited to participate in
the 2008 parade taking place March 15th.
Executive Director of PPJPC, Jeff Briggs, is an
active member of the Pikes Peak Chapter of
Community Shares, as well as a contributing
member of the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition (PPEC).
OUTSTANDING WORKPLACE
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente’s goal of total community
health is deeply embedded in their nearly
40-year history in Colorado as a
prevention-oriented health care organization.
Community & Local Government Relations
Coordinator, Jana Baker, said, “Partnership with
key organizations such as Community Shares
allows KP employees to make a true impact. The
giving campaign makes it as easy as possible for
employees to support organizations they are
passionate about through payroll deduction.” KP
sponsors a highly successful employee giving
campaign raising nearly a quarter of a million
dollars annually for local nonprofit
organizations and internal community benefit
funds. In addition, KP is committed to outreach
through four core areas of community benefit
work: care and coverage for low-income people;
partnership with Safety Net Clinics to increase
access to care; community health initiatives;
and, developing and disseminating health
knowledge to improve the quality of care for all
patients. “Community benefit is not always
easily measured in numbers and dollar amounts.
At the end of each day, there is no greater
satisfaction than knowing we are making a
difference; one person at a time, one community
at a time.”
Community Events
march
19 - ACLU of Colorado: Blues, Brews & Bills
6PM @ The Post Modern Company (2734 Walnut St.,
Denver)
More info
march
19 -
KGNU: Silent Auction Fundraiser
7PM @ The Dairy Center for the Arts (2590 Walnut
St., Boulder)
More info
march
26 -
Mile High Youth Corps: Happy Hour & Silent
Auction
6PM @ Dazzle Jazz Club (930 Lincoln St., Denver)
More info
march
27 -
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women:
Work Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Workshop
6PM @ Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado (315 E.
Costilla St., Colorado Springs)
More info
march
30 &
31 - KGNU: Jim Hightower Book Signing & Benefit
Denver and Boulder events
More info
Visit our
Web Calendar
for more opportunities to connect with
your community.
