Colorado Gives Day; Won’t You?

Wednesday, December 8 is a big day for non-profit organizations in Colorado.

Community First Foundation and FirstBank have partnered together in an effort to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. Colorado Gives Day will take place during a 24-hour period on December 8, 2010. Donations to local charities will be accepted through the website GivingFirst.org, Community First Foundation’s online giving resource, with a goal of raising $1 million in one day.

What’s even more interesting is that the participating non-profit organizations will each receive a “boost” – a proportionate share of a pool of $250,000.

Stepping Stones and Jewish Family Service are participating agencies. Stepping Stones has an additional exciting way to participate: if you visit certain Panera Bread stores (including the one at 29th Street in Boulder), donate to Stepping Stones on Wednesday and get free coffee; for more info: http://cot.ag/fdzkSm. Anyone who donates to ANY nonprofit on Colorado Gives Day can get a FREE BEER from Rock Bottom Brewery. Details: http://cot.ag/f5vAU1. Kudos to these organizations for participating in this exciting opportunity.

We like that this community philanthropic event is taking place on the last day of Chanukah, because it gives us the opportunity to gently remind readers that the many organizations we enjoy in the greater Boulder Jewish community – arts, cultural, educational, social justice and more – could use a little gelt at year-end (yes, year-round, but particularly at year-end).

If you don’t find the organization listed on the GivingFirst.org website, you can give directly on organization websites and on other places like Givv.org, JustGive.org and NetworkforGood.org (we like to search “Boulder Jewish” on these sites). For links to the websites of Boulder-area organizations, look to the right side of your screen. That’s the sidebar. Look for the word “Find” in a blue box. Click on it. You’ll see a list that includes:

• Education, Youth and Camps
• Israel Organizations
• Jewish Community-Wide Organizations
• Synagogues and Communities

Each of those is a link to a directory page – and those pages have the links to the organization websites. However you get there, we hope you’ll take a moment while lighting the 8th candle to participate in the mitzvah of tzedakah and talk about it with your family.

Best wishes for a meaningful last night!

David & Cheryl

Hint to local organizations: sign up now so you’re ready for next year: GivingFirst.org.