May 2007 e-Community My Colorado awarded Challenge Grant by the Gay & Lesbian fund for Colorado! The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado has awarded Community Shares a challenge grant to help us raise funds to increase philanthropy in the community and launch My Colorado™.  If you've never considered giving before, now is a great time to give.  Through the next year, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado will provide a 100% match of new gifts! That means if you donate $50, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado will match it with an additional $50, so your $50 donation is really worth $100.  If you're a current donor, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado will match any increase in your donation over last year, dollar for dollar!  Many thanks to the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado for this very generous grant and to you for your continued support!  Donate now!   2007 Summer celebration   Community Shares invites you to the 2007 Summer Celebration on June 13th at Belmar Center.  Click here for more information on the event.  Buy tickets! The Celebration will feature a silent auction so be prepared to bid on some great items donated in support of Community Shares.  If you have an item you'd like to donate for the auction, please contact Mary Snyders at 303-861-7507.   When did you first feel like a philanthropist?   Philanthropy means something different for everyone.  For some it's volunteering on a community project, for others it means donating canned goods or writing a check to a great cause.  We want to hear what philanthropy means to you.  Tell us about the the first time you felt like a philanthropist!   Mother's Day Gift ideas The Women's Bean Project has an assortment of sweets, breads, dips, and soups that Mom will love.  Click here to browse their online store and find the perfect gift for May 13th while supporting other moms who are working to provide a better life for themselves and their children! Don't forget the flowers!  Show your appreciation for Mom and benefit Community Shares through Lehrer's Flowers for a Cause program.  Community Shares receives a $5 donation for each purchase!   Investing your Contributions   On April 21, Community Shares was a proud sponsor and participant of I Volunteer! Day, organized by Volunteer Connection of Boulder County.  This event pairs over 300 volunteers with 45 community projects for four hours of work each.  Did you know that in 2006 the value of volunteer time was estimated at $18.77* per hour?  That means in one day volunteers invested time worth over $1,000,000 back into their community!  *source: Independent Sector   Member spotlight   Jesse recently took a road trip to visit our nonprofits on Colorado's western slope and spent some time at the new KVNF Mountain Grown Public Radio studio in Paonia.  KVNF broadcasts community driven programming, reaching an area that covers most of southwestern Colorado.   Check out the Shares Blog for more info on KVNF and other CSC nonprofits Jesse visited on his trip!   Partners of the month Outstanding Member Agency Women's Bean Project The Women's Bean Project gives women living in poverty job education and has assisted hundreds of women toward long-term employment and self-sufficiency since inception.  At the Ready, Set, Grow event this month, they will celebrate the most recent graduates from their program.  In addition to supporting our membership through employee giving campaigns of their own, the Women's Bean Project has offered great volunteer resources and leadership to Community Shares since joining in 1994.  The Women's Bean Project is truly a great organization and an outstanding Community Shares nonprofit!   Outstanding Workplace Firehouse Ventures Firehouse Ventures opened their first veterinary clinic in October 2004 in the old fire station on 6th and Corona in Denver.  In their short history they've opened four more clinics and established Firehouse Charities, which annually donates $100,000 toward enhancing the lives of animals in the community.  TJ Maxfield, Vice President of Operations for Firehouse, joined the Community Shares Board in 2007 and immediately started a giving campaign for Firehouse employees.  Community Shares is proud to honor Firehouse Ventures and we look forward to continuing our partnership!   Community Events   Save the Date!  Community Shares 2007 Summer Event June 13, 2007 6PM @ Belmar Center (Lakewood) More info May 4 - VSA arts of Colorado: 99 Pieces of Art on the Wall First Friday 6PM @ Access Gallery (909 Santa Fe Dr., Denver) More info May 5 - Colorado Wildlife Federation: Annual Banquet for Wildlife 11:30AM @ The Wildlife Experience (10035 S. Peoria, Parker) More info May 5 - NARAL: 25th Annual Choice Celebration and Auction 5:30PM @ Denver Marriott City Center (1701 California St., Denver) More info May 5 - Beacon Center: Carnival Gala 6PM @ Hyatt Regency Tech Center (7800 E. Tufts Ave.) More info May 6 - Allied Jewish Federation: Denver Jewish Festival 9AM @ The Denver Academy of Torah (6825 E. Alameda, Denver) More info May 9 - Women's Bean Project: Ready, Set, Grow: Graduation Celebration 11:30AM @ Belmar Center (405 S. Teller St., Lakewood) More info May 10 - Colorado youth At Risk: Silent Auction & Cocktail Party 6PM @ Gallery 1261 (1261 Delaware St., Denver) More info May 10 - CHARG Resource Center: 4th Annual wine tasting Fundraiser 6PM @ Lumber Baron Inn (2555 W. 37th Ave., Denver) More info May 10 - Inner City Health Center: Salsa & Soul 6PM @ Belmar Center (405 S. Teller St., Lakewood) More info May 12 - Table Mountain Animal Center: PetLane "Pawty" 9:30AM @ Copper Fields Event Center (4901 Marshall St., Wheat Ridge) More info May 14 - Work Options For Women: Women Cook 6PM @ Temple Emanuel (51 Grape St., Denver) More info May 19 - Longmont Humane Society: Walk for Animals 8:30AM @ Boulder County Fairgrounds (Longmont) More info May 19 - Environmental Learning for Kids: Cast a line fundraiser 11AM @ Lake Lehow (Waterton Canyon) More info May 19 - The Gathering Place:  17th Annual Brown Bag Benefit 6PM @ Hyatt Regency Tech Center (7800 E. Tufts Ave., Denver) More info May 23 - Casa of Adams & broomfield: Casa Classic Golf Tournament 7AM @ Hyland Hills Golf Course (Westminster) More info May 31 - Colorado Environmental coalition: 2007 Rebel With A cause 5PM @ Mile High Station (2707 W. Lower Colfax Ave., Denver) More info Visit our Web Calendar for more opportunities to connect with your community.  "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow you gotta be willing to put up with the rain." ~ Dolly Parton