Denver, CO—Tonight, Rose Community Foundation is hosting its 20th Anniversary celebration at 5:00 p.m. at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in the Seawell Grand Ballroom. The event, IMAGINE…, will be a reflection of the past 20 years of working to enhance the quality of life of the Greater Denver community through leadership, resources, traditions and values. IMAGINE…will also be announcing nine winners of a new six-month project called Innovate for Good.
In 1995, following the sale of Rose Medical Center, Rose Community Foundation was created to serve the Greater Denver community. Since that time, the Foundation has worked to make life better for all people in the seven county metro Denver area through strategic grantmaking, partnership and leadership. The Foundation was built on Jewish values of non-discrimination, philanthropy and social justice and it continues to uphold those values.
“I believe deeply in the mission of Rose Community Foundation and have enjoyed being a part of helping guide and grow this organization,” says Jerry Glick, Chair, Board of Trustees. “What impresses me most is the Foundation’s ability to uphold the values of excellence and service to the community while looking ahead and taking innovative risks to further the impact of its work to improve circumstances for the people who need it most.”
This year, creating a new avenue to improve Denver, the Foundation launched a project to find and fund new, innovative projects to make the Greater Denver community a better place to live. Launched in January, Innovate for Good, received nearly 400 ideas submitted in response to the question, “What new and innovative idea would you bring to life to make the Greater Denver community a better place to live?”
Tonight, Rose Community Foundation will announce and award nine Innovate for Good winners, three of whom will deliver live pitches for the chance to be selected for an additional $20,000 through an audience choice vote. In all, $250,000 will be granted. The winners were selected with the help of 130 community members who evaluated submissions based on their innovation and creativity, feasibility and ability to make a measurable difference within one year.
“We are delighted to announce the winners of our Innovate for Good project tonight at our 20th Anniversary celebration,” said Sheila Bugdanowitz, President and CEO. Every person in the room will have a chance to learn about this innovative work and vote on additional funding. I am thrilled to have been a part of it all.”
The 2015 Innovate for Good winners are:
Bright by Text
Submitted by: Bright by Three (formerly Bright Beginnings)
An educational text-messaging system that sends parents evidence-based tips to support the development of very young children. This iteration will expand to also provide parents with localized community resources and information.
Clean River Design Challenge
Submitted by: The Greenway Foundation
A design competition for students attending Metro State University of Denver, created as a mechanism to remove trash from the South Platte River.
Creative Youth Take Flight – La Alma Connection
Submitted by: Arts Street
Underserved youth will learn about urban design, creative placemaking and economic development by producing a master art plan and public art series encouraging pedestrian use of the light rail and 10th Avenue, in the La Alma neighborhood.
Fresh Food Connect
Submitted by: Groundwork Denver
The Fresh Food Connect application (app) will feed families, reduce waste and provide income to low-income youth by allowing home gardeners to donate extra produce for distribution at food banks and through affordable sale. The app will connect gardeners to youth who will be employed to pick up and deliver donated produce using bikes and trailers.
Race, Policing and Community Justice Advocates
Submitted by: Shorter Community AME Church
This program will forge a partnership with other community stakeholders to engage high school kids in becoming peer presenters in the areas of racial equality, community awareness based policing and justice advocacy work.
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
Submitted by: Denver Center for the Performing Arts
This “food truck for the arts” will provide affordable, high quality theatrical performances to high school students in school parking lots followed by actor-led workshops to support classroom teaching and learning.
The Stompin’ Ground Games
Submitted by: Warm Cookies of the Revolution
The Stompin’ Ground Games is a monthly, year-long Olympics-style competition between Denver neighborhoods where arts, culture and history are combined in the name of civic pride and engagement.
Veterans in Food Deserts
Submitted by: Denver Botanic Gardens
Military veterans will help grow and sell fresh produce and share knowledge about planting, harvesting and nutrition through farm stands in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy foods.
Workshop on Wheels
Submitted by: Be the Gift
A workshop on wheels truck will be outfitted with all of the tools and materials ‘Be the Gift’ volunteers need to complete home repair projects for single mom families.
About Rose Community Foundation
Rose Community Foundation uses leadership, grantmaking and donor engagement to invest in strategic and innovative solutions to enduring problems and emerging issues. The Foundation has granted more than $227 million since it was founded in 1995. To learn more, please visit rcfdenver.org.
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