A specialized Parlando School of Musical Arts’ offering is Julie’s Program which provides music and theatrical classes and performance opportunities to members of some of our most often overlooked community members: People living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as neurodiversities.

Grant Boosts Support for Intellectual Disability Programs

Inspired by Parlando’s founder and executive director’s sister, Julie’s Program provides music and theatrical classes and performance opportunities to members of some of our most often overlooked community members: People living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as neurodiversities. Built on our belief that music and the arts should be available to everyone, Julie's Program ensures that people of ALL abilities are able to pursue their passions and interests.

During the 2022-2023 Academic Year Parlando provided over $25,000 in programming to more than 1,300 people with disabilities and neurodiversities. Programming was offered both in-person and online, including a return to our in-person collaborative staged performance with IMAGINE.

From Gina Coufal, Founder and Executive Director of FRIENDS of Broomfield:

Music has great therapeutic value to many of our folks with sensory integration difficulties. We have also seen some of our non-verbal participants come alive.

“We thank you for continuing providing this class to our adults as they look forward to it each week. Your music class continues to be one of the MOST popular classes they choose from. You have created something truly extraordinary.

“We are very grateful to you, your staff, and your supporters for making this happen!”

Leonard Rudolph Fund Makes Powerful Impact

The Leonard Rudolph Fund, established to help patients, survivors, and caregivers of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), has recently made an incredible impact.

In early spring, two different types of chairs costing $7,092, were gifted to the family of an ALS patient. In the above image, the caregiver describes how the chairs have helped in their daily lives.



“Our chairs have been life-savers! Justin absolutely needed these as getting up and down from traditional furniture has become extremely difficult and challenging for him. Having these chairs has also saved us from a lot of falls (and me picking him up off the floor). So, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for them…. Thank you for giving me hope that there are still some good, kind, and caring people in the world….“

Donations are no longer being accepted to the Leonard Rudolph Fund, however, we are seeking beneficiaries across patients, survivors and caregivers of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). Email info@broomfieldfoundation.org to express interest.

Broomfield Community Foundation staff members had the opportunity to visit grant recipient We Don’t Waste in Spring 2024.

ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE DENVER FRONT RANGE

Food insecurity is a pressing issue along the Denver Front Range, affecting a significant portion of the population. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 1 in 8 individuals in the region struggles with food insecurity, translating to over 400,000 people unsure of where their next meal will come from. This problem is particularly acute in low-income neighborhoods and food deserts, where access to fresh and nutritious food is limited.

We Don't Waste: A Pioneering Solution to Food Waste and Hunger

In response to this critical issue, We Don’t Waste was founded in 2009 with a mission to tackle food waste while addressing food insecurity. As one of the largest food recovery organizations in Colorado, We Don’t Waste plays a vital role in ensuring that surplus food reaches those in need instead of ending up in landfills.

We Don’t Waste prioritizes rescuing perishable items such as fresh produce, lean proteins, and dairy products. These foods not only have a shorter shelf life but their production also has a significant environmental impact. By focusing on these items, We Don’t Waste not only helps reduce food waste but also provides nutritious food to families and individuals who might otherwise go without.

This approach is particularly beneficial for those living in food deserts, where access to fresh foods is severely limited. By providing a steady supply of fresh produce, lean proteins, and dairy products, We Don’t Waste helps ensure that these communities have access to healthier food options.

In addition to directly serving individuals and families, We Don’t Waste supplements the food assistance provided by their partner nonprofits. This collaboration allows recipient partners to offer consistent, healthy, and wholesome foods without increasing their operating costs. Consequently, these nonprofits can allocate more of their financial resources to other critical programs and services.

Through its innovative approach to food recovery and distribution, We Don’t Waste not only mitigates the environmental impact of food waste but also makes a substantial difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity in the Denver Front Range.

Partner Distribution

We Don’t Waste is deeply committed to supporting the community and the environment by providing quality food at no cost to nonprofit organizations feeding those experiencing food insecurity. The organization is driven by the belief that the strength of a community is measured by its compassion. By supplying nonprofits with the food they need, We Don’t Waste helps ensure that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious meals.

Mobile Food Markets

In the Metro Denver area, approximately 50 neighborhoods are classified as food deserts, lacking access to affordable, fresh, and nutritious food. To address this issue, We Don’t Waste developed a Mobile Food Market, which brings healthy and nutritious food directly to these underserved areas. This initiative aims to bridge the gap in food accessibility and ensure that all community members have access to the sustenance they need.

Education and Engagement

Food waste is a collective issue that can be tackled at both the community and household levels. While We Don’t Waste focuses on recovering good food from businesses for redistribution, it also emphasizes the importance of reducing food waste at home. With the average household of four wasting about $1,600 annually on food, We Don’t Waste encourages everyone to become food waste warriors. By eating seasonably and being mindful of food consumption, individuals can contribute to a larger effort to minimize food waste and its environmental impact.

Learn more here on how you can make a difference within your own household.

Broomfield Community Foundations helps fill funding gap. Pictured from left to right are Kathy Escobar, The Refuge Program Director, Linda Barringer, CSPI Program Director, Marrty Dormish, Broomfield Community Housing Advocate, Lisa Herman, BCF Board President, Dion West, BCF Executive Director, Claire Hofferber, BCF Secretary, Terrell Curtis, CSPI Executive Director, Debbie Ytterberg, BCF Board Member and Tiffany Stockard, BCF Office Manager

Broomfield’s Unhoused have Three Safe Parking Lots, Case Management Support

By HANNAH COHEN | hannahisabelcohen@gmail.com



PUBLISHED: May 31, 2024 at 6:40 p.m. | UPDATED: May 31, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

The Broomfield Community Foundation is giving $20,000 to the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative nonprofit group, which runs parking lots around the Denver metro area for people to legally stay in their vehicles overnight, including three Broomfield church parking lots whose addresses were not disclosed for safety reasons.

The money is planned to go to a Broomfield case manager to make sure that that person can stay on through the rest of 2024. The group’s case managers help people who use the parking sites to find resources and to navigate the bureaucracy around those resources.

“Housing is a top priority, and we want to make sure that we’re contributing to organizations that are also supporting housing efforts in Broomfield,” said Lisa Herman, the Broomfield Community Foundation board president.

All parking sites have a bathroom – often a portable toilet. The group partners with site hosts at each parking site – a person who vets everyone who parks. Interested participants register for a permitted spot and are required to have car insurance, a valid driver’s license and a working and registered vehicle. The group’s executive director Terrell Curtis noted that part of what makes a parking lot “safe” is the community the parkers create.

“(The lots) are typically 10 to 15 cars. The people there get to know one another and create their own internal community and keep an eye on things,” Curtis said.

After two years of funding, Denver government officials cut the city’s contract with the group by $400,000, according to Denver Housing spokesman Derek Woodbury. He said there were challenges with spending and reporting during the contract period.

Broomfield Heights eighth-grader Tori Hector and her mother, Kate (positioned to the left), connect with JA Finance Park Associate Lilla Newton. Junior Achievement received a BCF Grant under the Education grant category.

Broomfield Heights 8th Graders attend Denver - located JA Finance Park

JA Finance Park is a part of the JA Financial Literacy Pathway and JA Work and Career Readiness Pathway and is recommended for middle and high school students (grades 7–9). JA Finance Park is Junior Achievement’s capstone program for personal financial planning and career exploration.

This program, comprising a curriculum and a simulation, helps students build a foundation to make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit. Students are conceptualizing what it will take to live independently – housing, utilities, car loans and payments, health, car, homeowner’s insurance, food, entertainment, travel, and 401K. To learn more about grade-level programming, which started in elementary school classrooms, visit https://www.jarockymountain.org/programs.

Nonprofit Grantees Transform Lives Across our City and County

The Sunny Horse Foundation is a non-profit organization located at 4131 Creek Drive, Broomfield, CO 80023. They offer equine-assisted therapy (EAT) programs that promote health and healing. The Foundation specializes in providing equine-assisted learning for veterans and active military personnel in the metro Denver area.

Their programs are based on the Spanish California/Nevada tradition and provide hands-on interaction with horses. The Foundation never charges any fee to participants.

One of the main benefits of equine therapy is that it targets the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a

common result of military service. During equine-assisted therapy (EAT), participants experience positive outcomes such as:

• Decreased feelings of isolation

• Self-efficacy and self-esteem building

• Reductions in anxiety

• Increased confidence

• Trust development

• Self-acceptance

• Decreases in depression symptoms

• Improved management of stress

Besides the human-focused outcomes, the Sunny Horse Foundation also provides support for abandoned, mistreated unwanted, or distressed horses.

Thanks to a grant from BCF donors, the Sunny Horse Foundation can provide approximately twelve participants with 28 hours of equine-assisted learning activities. If you want to know more about the Sunny Horse Foundation, you can visit their digital

presence here.

*For more on style of horse training visit https://www.history.com/news/mexican-vaquero-american-cowboy.