Arc of Colorado presents Achieve With Us Film Festival

Posted: Pam Cress

The Arc of Colorado and all thirteen Colorado local chapters of The Arc are celebrating National Developmental Disability Awareness Month March 2017 with the sixth annual community-wide FREE awareness event Achieve With Us Colorado Film Festival, showcasing films related to the field of developmental disabilities.

One of the featured films is “Learning to Drive,” a marvelous depiction from director Roderick Stevens about the journey of a developmentally disabled young man learning to take the wheel and how the experience affects him and his brother. Stevens and star Connor Long were both on hand for a reception at the Sie Film Center on Friday night, where guests got to enjoy the film and ask questions of both afterwards.

The Arc of Colorado, with local chapters, (not to be confused with Arc Thrift Stores) provides crucial educational information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. They connect clients to community resources, help them to understand and access government services, and stand with them when they need an advocate. For more information, log on to www.thearcofco.org.

: Bette Brennan and Ian Brennan

: Arc of Colorado Director of Special Projects Heidi Haines with Isabella Brennan

: Brian and Sherrill Long

: Brian and Sherrill Long with their son Connor Long, star of “Learning to Drive”

: Melissa Stevens and her brother Roderick Stevens, director of “Learning to Drive”

: Vicki Wray, left, Lorraine May, Tonya Kelly, Ben Rhodes and Randy Patrick–all board members

: Arc of Colorado Executive Director Marijo Rymer, left, Brian Long and Anca Call

: Marijo Rymer, left, Connor Long and Anca Call

: Scrumptious food buffet provided by Pam Read, Goddess Catering

: Eleanor and Meg Wright

: Kim Tenure of Arc of Arapahoe & Douglas County, left, Kaley Day of Advocacy Denver, Heidi Haines and Jill Pidcock of Arc of Colorado

: Dianne Holscher, left, and Heather McNamara

: Heidi Haines and Jim Brennan

: Bob and Nadine Mantooth

: Deon Gillespie

: Pam Read, left, Randy Patrick and Jody Neely

: Ava Espinosa, left, her mom Heidi Haines, Anca Call and Marijo Rymer

: Kian Phair and Rachelle Rice

: Tony Daversa, left, and Isaac Haines

: Sherri Trudeau and Andrew Trudeau

: Jim and Michele Bartlett

: Kids had a great time at the reception

: Maya Monreal, left, with Stephanie Johnson

: Robbie Roppolo, left, Leah Frumpkin, Kim Tenure and Joe Monreal

: Marijo Rymer, left, with Ann Rossart and Jeff Fernengel

: Trey Gronenthal, left, Mitchell Gronenthal and board member Danielle Angotti

: Everyone enjoyed the great food provided by Goddess Catering

: Board member Kelly Stahlman chats with Jim Brennan

: Robbie Roppolo, left, Kian Phair and Andrew Trudeau

: Bev, Mark and Tim Yoakum

: Valerie Smith and Javier Marfil with kids Maya and Leo

: Guests had a good time chatting and getting ready for the film

: Hungry customers

: Ben Rhodes and Marijo Rymer

: Skip and Shawna Dorsey

: Board member Mitch Routon chats with Heidi Haines

: Scott and Kathryn Gould

: Tara Admire, left, Aaron Gonzales, Theresa Gonzales and Dennis Tetley

: Wilfred Romero, left, Kathy Stults and Mitch Routon

: Tonya Kelly and Christiano Sosa

: Greg Avery of the Denver Business Journal, left, with Sherrill Long, Susan Lubbers and Mac Weaver

: Maureen Welch, left, and Dalois Meyer

: The Activity Options crew

: Ava Espinosa and her grandfather Bruce Gottschalk

: Mitchell Gronenthal, left, Jonathan Brink and Devon Garcia

: Joan Jurann and David Mills

: Time for a group photo!

10 Sep

3rd Annual HOPE Center Run/Walk-a-Thon

Posted: ML Chavez

Early morning runners and walkers for Hope Center’s 3rd Annual 1K/5K Walk-a-thon were met with crisp clear weather Saturday morning September 7th at Stapleton Central Park.

Registration began early at 7:30 a.m. with a start time around 8 a.m. President/CEO Gerie Grimes welcomed some 100 runners and walkers, including young families and children to the event benefiting HOPE Center’s Vocational and Early Childhood Education programs. Established in 1962, the community-based agency has a daily enrollment of more than 200 children and 35 adults with developmental disabilities/delays and requiring specialized educational or vocational services.
Mrs. Grimes has served for more than three decades with the organization and seven years as President/CEO. She thanked the crowd for their support and recognized many sponsors and donors including premier participants Harvest Meat Company managers Matt Ryan and John Rosasco.

Apparently 60 plus is the new 40 because runner Jim Martin seemed rather relaxed after the 5K around the park. Meanwhile, runner Ayelen Verdié and her competitive siblings, Claudia and Marvin, also participated in the event.

Chief Operations Officer Cassandra Johnson and Development Director Bruce Duran and Business Manager Vanessa Nguyen helped coordinate the event, while Grimes’ sisters Deloris, Lorraine and Joanne Butler participated and showed their support throughout the day. A dozen vendor booths were represented by the Colorado Rapids, Denver Zoo, Denver Health, Donut Angel, Menchi’s Frozen Yogurt, On the Move Studio, Sam’s Club, the Zone Healing Center, Denver Preschool Program, Kids Choice Dental, Stapleton Fire Department, and Redline. The Colorado Rapids soccer team mascot–Edson the Eagle–entertained the young and old alike with his quiet but expressive antics.

For more information about HOPE Center visit www.hopecenterinc.org