Blog Archives

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.

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.