The Giving Gals

2010-03-23T21:33:00.002-06:00

Highlands Mommies Charitable Group –

“The Giving Gals” welcomes you to “The Giving Times”

March, 2010

http://givinggals.blogspot.com/

Events Coming Soon (in order of event date):

■Valdez Day at Buchi Café Cubano – Thurs, April 1st (8am-9pm)■Eat at Buchi on the 1st Thursday of the month and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Valdez PTO. Eat a great meal and support our local schools.■It is spring break … so take your kids out for a great breakfast, lunch or dinner and support a local school!■HM Charitable Group’s Spa Party to benefit Wee Cycle! April 10th from 11am-1pm at Spa Raviche (4104 Tejon)■Do some spring cleaning and get rid of your pre-owned and new baby items and donate them to families in need! Think of it as a baby shower for some really deserving families with a lot girl fun just for you!■It is easy and fun! 2 different ways you participate!■Just bring your baby items to Spa Raviche (just pull up out front of 4104 Tejon and we will have someone there to take your donated items!) … how easy is that??!!■Bring your items to Spa Raviche, park your car and come on in and enjoy a great Spa Party (appetizers, mimosas, chair massages, check out other spa/health related products, foot soaks and just some all around good girl time)! Cost to attend … at least 1 baby item donated.■The best news … The Spa Party is a mommies-only event. However, All In A Days Play is just a few blocks away and available to take care of your childcare needs that morning! Please contact them at 720-335-6579 or info@all-in-a-days-play.com to reserve a spot as space is limited.■Items that will be accepted are at: http://www.weecyclecolorado.org/Give_Baby_Gear.html ... basically everything except clothing and used baby bottles.■More information about Wee Cycle can be found online at http://www.weecyclecolorado.org

You can help!:

■EdgeRunner5K■From Korina Keating: I am helping to organize a big event in Edgewater on May 8th called the Edgerunner 5k to raise awareness about the need for Foster Care in Jefferson County. Following the race there will also be about 100 agencies handing out information to the community as part of a community resource fair. The event will be at Jefferson High School. We need runners/walkers and volunteers for the event. Please can register to walk/run or volunteer at www.edgerunner5k.com. It is a fun event and benefits a great cause. If sleeping in is more your style you can also sponsor a youth in Foster Care or at Jefferson High to participate. Most of all we need people to participate in the walk/run and it is a great way for the whole family to do something together. My husband pushed our 3 month old in it last year. My contact info is kkeating@jeffco.us is anyone has any questions.■The Delores ProjectWould you like to get involved with a nonprofit organization right here in our neighborhood? The Delores Project provides safe, comfortable overnight shelter and services to unaccompanied adult women in Denver who are homeless and have limited resources.

We have a variety of volunteer opportunities for families and lots of ways for you to get involved. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate your children and families about the issue of homelessness and to help out other women and mothers in our community.

In 2009 1,606 single women were found to be homeless on any given night in Denver*. 515 of these women found shelter, acceptance and support at The Delores Project last year. Our model of service is one of hospitality, respect and regard for the dignity of each guest.

If you'd like more information about how you can get involved with The Delores Project, please call 303.534.5411 or visit our website at www.thedeloresproject.org.

Tips and Tricks!

■Red Apple Recycling! Have clothes, shoes and textiles you want to donate but not sure who to give them to? Red Apple Recycling is a great program has little red school house drop off points outside at Valdez and Sandoval Elementary schools. Red Apple sells the items donated and then provides grants to schools for Green / Sustainable / Health related programs. Please consider donating to Red Apple. For more information about the program and what you can donate check out: http://www.redapplerecycling.com/■African Community Center – needs your donations! Donate furniture, house wares, electronics, books, clothing and shoes. Bring items to 414 Broadway in Denver or call 303-722-4500 for pick up of larger items. Donations go to refugee families arriving from around the world (in most cases leaving dangerous situations) what is not used for the refugees is sold in their thrift store which goes to support refugee programs.■Enter to win a 42 inch LCD Flat Panel TV and help support the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence! To purchase raffle tickets please contact Gretchen at 303-667-1893 or gretchenindenver@hotmail.com/ Drawing will be held on April 5, 2010 at 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1603, Denver, CO 80203. Do not need to be present to win. $5.00 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20.00■DCIS PTSA is selling the EcoMetro Guide coupon books for $20 each as a fundraiser. These are something like Gold C and Entertainment with a green focus - valueable couponf for dining, products, services, local businesses, entertainment - Sunflower Market, Dragonfly Eco Goods, Tennyson Hardware, Tenn Street Coffee, Echter's,and McGuckin's hardware are jsut a few examples. Includes three free one-way ride coupons for RTD. As with the Entertainment book this book will pay for itself several times over if these are the kinds of places you shop. Check out the website for more information: http://www.ecometro.com/denver/default.aspx and please e-mail me if intersted.

If you have items to be included in the April Charitable Group Newsletter please send them to Kristen at skywalkerspeth@yahoo.com.

Spa Party for Wee Cycle

2010-03-22T19:12:00.001-06:00

A little press about the Highlands Mommies Spa party for Wee Cycle - check it out! And be sure to join us April 10th.

http://www.examiner.com/x-39743-Highlands-Local-Business-Examiner~y2010m3d22-Local-Highlands-Mommies-give-back-to-the-community?cid=exrss-Highlands-Local-Business-Examiner

Save the Date - Spa Party supporting Wee Cycle

2010-03-10T18:59:00.002-07:00

All Highland Moms ... you are invited!

The Charitable group is planning a Spa Party to benefit Wee Cycle on April 10th from 11am-1pm. So please save the date and plan on joining us for this relaxing event to support a great cause! Price of admission to the Spa Party is donation of at least one pre-owned or new baby item (such as bouncy seat, swing, baby monitor, carriers, diaper pails, diaper bags, etc). Of course we will take all you want to donate ... just no clothes, used stuffed animals, open packages of diapers or used bottles.

For the complete list of items that can and cannot be donated check out Wee Cycle's web site
http://www.weecyclecolorado.org/Give_Baby_Gear.html

Details:
When? April 10th, 11am-1pm

Where? Spa Raviche at 4104 Tejon St.

What? Come enjoy some tasty treats, indulge in a mimosa, get a chair massage, soak your feet and enjoy some fun time getting to know other Highland Moms (without kids running around for a change ... so please leave the kids at home and come out for an hour or 2 and relax!)

Why? To help out Wee Cycle and enjoy some fun relaxing girl time with fellow Highland Moms!

Who does Wee Cycle support? WeeCycle distributes new and gently used baby gear through our network of community-based organizations that serve families with infants and toddlers in the Denver metro area who are coping with poverty, homelessness and domestic violence.

Cost ... at least one new or pre-owned non-clothing baby item (for full list of items accepted check out Wee Cycle's web site: http://www.weecyclecolorado.org/Give_Baby_Gear.html

The Spa Party is a mommies-only event. However, All In A Days Play is just a few blocks away and available to take care of your childcare needs that morning! Please contact them at 720-335-6579 or info@all-in-a-days-play.com to reserve a spot as space is limited.

Hope to see you there!
The Giving Gals team

The Giving Times January news letter

2010-01-25T14:37:00.003-07:00

“The Giving Gals” welcomes you to “The Giving Times”

January, 2010

Events Coming Soon (in order of event date):

This Saturday, January 16, Denver Elks Lodge #17 will host a "Western Night" fundraiser, with all proceeds to benefit Colorado Special Olympics. Here's the info:
Western Night
Denver Elks - 2475 West 26th Avenue
Dinner at 6:00pm
Races (place your bets!) and Dance to follow.
Tickets are $15, which includes a steak dinner. Wear your best Western duds, bring your best squeeze, and have a good ol' time!
Elks Lodge #17 has served our neighborhood for 128 years!

Valdez Day at Buchi Café Cubano – Thurs, Feb 4th (8am-9pm)
Eat at Buchi on the 1st Thursday of the month and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Valdez PTO. Eat a great meal and support our local schools.

Highland Moms Families First Story Time, Feb 6th, 1-2pm
The Highland Moms Charitable group is co-hosting their February Story time – please bring your kids and join us! This is a great way to get your kids involved in a volunteer activity. If you would like to attend and / or supply a snack please let Heidi Olivera know (heidiolivera@comcast.net) by Jan 29th as we are limited to how many people can attend.
2163 S. Yosemite Denver, Colorado 80231
Mission of Families First: To provide services which strengthen families, empower parents, nurture children, and end the cycle of child abuse and neglect.
Attendees are families in their neighborhood, additional invited families, and some children from their treatment center.
They host it in their lobby around the fireplace, so it is cozy.
The theme of the Feb story time will be Houses. They have a reading specialist who has chosen two books and will do the reading.
We should bring a nonmessy, somewhat healthy, easy snack and needed paper products for about 40 people.
If we have an older child attending with us who would like to read a short favorite book to the group, we can let her know.
Following the books, they will facilitate a craft (often related to the theme).
Snack sometimes is in conjunction with the craft or following the craft.
Alice will arrange a short tour of Families First following the story time.
We should plan to be there from about 12:50 to 2:30 p.m. (2:00-ish if you are not interested in staying for the short tour).
We should plan on a max of about 20 HMs/kids.

On February 10th, Buenos Aires Pizzeria will donate 15% of all dine in lunch and dinner purchases to Clayton Early Learning, the non-profit that I work for. Buenos Aires Pizzeria, is a little outside of the 'hood (downtown) but the food is yummy and worth the drive!

Please join us for the 2nd Annual Brown International Academy Casino Night!
A night of food, drinks and casino games - a win/win for you and the students and teachers at Brown!
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 ~ 7:00 - 11:00 pm.
The Historic Grant Humphreys Mansion ~ 770 Pennsylvania Street * Craps * Roulette * Blackjack * INCREDIBLE prizes * Plus a separate POKER tourney - $25 buy-in - Space is limited - this sold out quickly last year! Live Music and Fabulous Food from some of Denver's top restaurants including: Mizuna, Sullivan's, Coral Room, Happy Cakes and Red Trolley. Beer from Del Norte Brewing Co. Your ticket also includes one drink ticket and plenty of funny money for the casino games $40/person - $75/couple 21 and over, please
Email BrownPTO@gmail.com for more info and to purchase your tax-deductible tickets!

You can help!:

Wee Cycle
It is that season for more "stuff"! If your house is busting at the seams after the holidays then donate your gently used infant and toddler gear that is no longer needed, think of donating it to families that could use it. WeeCycle is a nonprofit organization that helps low income families with infants and toddlers, in the Denver metro area, by providing them with new and gently used baby gear free of charge. We acquire the gear through charitable donations of individuals and businesses and distribute it through local community organizations.
A Highlands drop off location is open from 9:00am to 6:30pm at 3443 W 30th Avenue. Other drop off locations are in Stapelton, downtown Denver, Wash Park, Lakewood and Golden. Check out www.weecyclecolorado.org for more information about WeeCycle, the other drop off locations, and how to make financial contributions.
The Charitable group is working on trying to plan a wee cycle donation event …. Stay tuned for details!

Big City Mountaineers
Big City Mountaineers is a Denver-based nonprofit that gets inner-city, urban teens outdoors. we are looking for volunteers with event planning experience to help us launch hour first ever spring benefit, slated for April 2010. BCM has been around 20 years. More info on our mission and who we serve can be found at bigcitymountaineers.org. Contact fellow HM Hillary Harding at hillary@bigcitymountaineers.org or 303-271-9200 ext 402 to volunteer or for more info.

Jackie Coppola teaches at Emily Griffith High school and has started a program to help teen mommies by collecting donations. Our girls need anything and everything from maternity clothes to baby stuff to clothes to shampoos to car seats. Anyone who would like to donate can drop off at my house at 5094 Meade St...and leave items on my enclosed porch. I am also willing to pick things up and can be contacted at jackie920.coppola@gmail.com. This is a great way to support our Denver Public School students.

Check out this … donate a day of time at a local school and get a FREE day at Disney! http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day
Support the Toy Library at the Smiley Branch! (see details below)

Tips and Tricks!

Have a child having a birthday sometime soon? Instead of gifts, ask the attendees to bring a new toy for the toy library!

Call Vietnam Veterans of America if you are doing spring cleaning and have items to donate … 1800775VETS

Help out single Moms, elderly neighbors and others that may need a hand! Remember, City ordinance requires that Denver businesses remove snow from their sidewalks within four (4) hours after a snowstorm ends and Denver residents remove snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowstorm ends. Violators that fail to remove snow from public sidewalks can receive fines ranging from $150 to $999. Lend a hand and help others get their sidewalks cleared.

Suzanne Vorlage’s family owns a villa in Tuscany (30 minutes north of Florence) that is available for donation for auctions with a reserve bid. If interested contact Suzanne at svorlage@yahoo.com. FYI, the villa is up for auction Jan 20th to support the Colorado Ballet. (Adjacent to the villa is a cottage comprised of 1 bedroom, bathroom, livingroom, diningroom and kitchen. It over looks a pool, which overlooks Lake Bilancino. It is truely a beautiful place.)

If you have items to be included in the February Charitable Group Newsletter please send them to Kristen at skywalkerspeth@yahoo.com.

Smiley Toy Library
By now, you might have heard that the Northwest Denver Toy Library located at the Smiley branch (46th and Tennyson) needs to replace their toy inventory. We have several registries set up and we were remiss in mentioning how to access the "wish lists". One of the most important things is that we do need a receipt, gift receipt or packing list to show that the toys were bought after August 2009. This will keep us current with the latest regulations.

At walmart.com, click on "gift cards and registry," click on "wish lists". Enter "toy" as first name and "library" as last name. This should direct you to our registry which lists Marjorie Herlth as the co-registrant.

At target.com, click on "gift registries and lists, " select "Target lists" and click on the advanced search. Under "organization", please type "Toy Library". This will direct you to the Denver Toy Library wish list.

At toysrus.com, click on "Wish Lists" and change "search by" from "creator" to "gift recipient". Please enter, last name, "library" and first name "toy". This will direct you to our wish list created by Marjorie Herlth.

Holiday Hope 2009

2009-12-11T20:26:00.007-07:00

The Giving Gals, organized Holiday Hope 2009 to benefit at-risk teenagers served by the Denver Department of Human Services. These teens are a group of people who are often forgotten this time of year. With help from presenting sponsor Councilman Rick Garcia, donations from the Highlands Mommies and many neighborhood businesses we were able to put together 200 reusable gift bags, filled with school supplies, hygiene items, candy, and gifts. We gathered a group of families together at the Hai Bar in Highlands Square to help us fill 200 bags and to be video taped singing some Christmas Carols, this dvd will be sent to neighborhood nursing homes as a way to brighten the holidays for some of our neighborhood's grandparents. We had a great turn out and the event was a huge success!
Thank you to all of our generous sponsors and to the families who came out to help us fill the bags and sing! This was the first of what we hope will be many events that make a difference in our community.

Please support these generous businesses, with out their help this event would not have been possible!

Cafe Buchi, Cafe Caliente, Common Grounds, Generous Servings, Hai Bar, Happy Cakes, Heidi's Brooklyn Deli, Highland Pacific, Highland Smiles, Indulgences Day Spa, Kismet, Littleman Ice Cream, Live Urabn Real Estate, Meade Street Station, Mountain View Dental Associates, Mouthfuls, Ooh, Ahh!, Parisi, Rebelle Salon, Red Trolley, Sour Grapes Design Studio, Taza de Cafe, Tenn Street Coffee, The Bookery Nook, & The Parlour.