The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado's Heroes of Sustainability Award

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The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado honored one of its heroes with a celebratory dinner and award presentation at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Downtown Denver on May 6th, 2015. Over 300 attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception, locally sourced and organic dinner and keynote address and award celebration. The Alliance’s Executive Director, Anna Zawisza welcomed the crowd to the event and emcee, Alliance board member and First Affirmative Financial Network President, Steve Scheuth spoke of the work of the Alliance and the night’s honoree, Ellen Dorsey. Dorsey, the Executive Director of the Wallace Global Fund, was honored with the Heroes of Sustainability Award for her leadership role in the Divest/Invest campaign for endowments and portfolios to sell investments in major carbon-intensive fossil fuel companies and to invest the proceeds in climate beneficial alternatives. Board President John Powers presented the award to Dorsey and U.S. Representative Jared Polis encouraged donations from the crowd with a paddle raiser at the conclusion of the evening.

The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado (the Alliance) was founded on the evidence that the long-term sustainability of the planet is at risk, solutions for which are hindered by the lack of constructive engagement between stakeholders. Activating collaboration between non-profits, government, business and academia on targeted sustainability issues is key to unraveling complex challenges and implementing effective solutions.

Harvest of Hope: Reaping the Harvest - Ensuring Hope

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The colorful Harvest of Hope was a dinner fundraiser celebrating the beauty and culture of Africa. It was also about educating about needs and our individual and collective ability to address some of those needs. Before dinner was served the Seawell Ballroom was transformed into an African marketplace for the 12th and final Harvest of Hope gathering.

The guests were happy and busy as bees in an apple orchard. There was much to look at, marvel at and of course purchase. In addition to the traditional handmade African jewelry, clothing and artifacts, Denver businesses generously donated hundreds of early holiday gifts such as sporting goods and memorabilia, travel packages, restaurant gift certificates, museum tickets, books, golfing, portraits, and a skydiving adventure package was just one of many unique items for purchase at the event.

Some of the guests were unmissable in traditional, festive African clothing highlighting the purpose of the gathering – a focus on the Church World Service and its efforts to press for human rights and to expand the role of the church as a compassionate and prophetic voice for justice.

Founders Pauline Miles, Kathryn Roy and MaryAnn McGeady met on a trip to Africa in 1999. Their future and vision was born. They hoped to work with all faiths and cultures to confront the root causes of hunger and poverty and to build a global community of compassion. By 2002 the Harvest of Hope was realized. Through the last 12 years, they remember the highlights of their efforts. In 2007 they were honored to have John Bul Dau, the Lost Boy from the Sudan, speak of his journey. Harvest of Hope attracted well-known supporters such as the late Noel Cunningham and George McGovern who, like many supporters, set out to ensure the global mission of promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities around the world.

Thursday’s event was a joyful culmination of three women’s dream. After 12 years they sadly announced the final Harvest of Hope as they have known it. Without further ado, each positively believes that Hope will go forward and continue to harvest.  Pauline Miles, Kathryn Roy and MaryAnn McGeady will continue to celebrate community and discover ways to stay connected to this life-saving work, even after the final Harvest.

The Harvest of Hope benefited the work of Church World Service in Africa, It Takes a Village and Ecumenical Refugee and Immigration Services in Colorado.

To learn more about the Church World Service please visit the website www.cwsglobal.org. 303-455-5765.

 

 

Walk of Dreams 2013 Gala

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Walking comes so easy to most of us that we take it for granted. However, for millions of people walking and mobility become painful and sometimes impossible because of debilitating bone and joint conditions due to injury, advancing age or ailments. To help those people struggling or unable to walk, Operation Walk Denver was established a decade ago to provide free surgery for those in developing countries with patients who do not have access to medical care.

More than 350 attended the 10th Anniversary of the Walk of Dreams 2013 Gala at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center with management oversight by Event Director Laura Fitch with Walk of Dream staff and volunteers.

The reception area bustled with excitement with long-time benefactors, staff, board members and indispensible volunteers united for an evening of entertainment, fine dining, a silent and live auction, and a video of Operation Walk Denver founder Dr. Douglas Dennis and his surgical team in action.

Speaking at the event were Dr. Larry Door, Founder of the Operaton Walk organization founded in Los Angeles in 1994, and Dr. Todd Miner and Dr. Douglas Dennis, Partners at Colorado Joint Replacement.

Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation, this annual September event supports the work of medical specialists of Operation Walk Denver, a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists and surgical technologists who provide joint replacement surgeries worldwide. The program also educates in-country orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals on advanced treatments and surgical procedures.

The simple act of walking is just putting one foot in front of the other without much thought except when joint problems hinder mobility and healthy activity. Donations and fundraising ensure free surgical treatment for more than 50 patients every year with disabling arthritis and debilitating bone and joint issues. For more information visit: www.opwalkdenver.org or call 303-715-7600

Blacktie Colorado
Blacktie Colorado