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Making Volunteerism Smarter!
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June 2012
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Greetings! Believe it or not, summer has traditionally been a quiet time for Metro Volunteers while there's a pause in our training schedule and we help support all of our member agencies with their summer projects.
But we've been amazingly busy this spring, and summer is looking to be just as much fun. So far this year, Metro Volunteers has:
- Lent our expertise to Kaiser Permanente to help field more than 450 employee volunteers at more than 25 projects on MLK Day.
- Led the successful Volunteer Fest Colorado at Sports Authority Field, where we connected nearly 600 new community volunteers to opportunities at more than 90 nonprofit agencies.
- Collaborated with The Denver Post to bring our community The 2012 Volunteer Guide, which you can access online.
- Partnered with 7 News to bring the 7 Everyday Hero Awards to Volunteer Fest Colorado.
- Introduced participants at the Denver Business Journal's Partners in Philanthropy event to opportunities to engage the community through Employee Volunteer Programs and Days of Service.
- And trained nearly 100 community members how to make their volunteerism smarter through classes like Board Leadership and Engaging Volunteers Effectively.
This summer holds even more great volunteer opportunities and impactful collaborations between our business and nonprofit partners who are working together to improve the community.
We're looking forward to bringing you even more news, opportunities, and events as we move into our summer and fall seasons. We're glad you're with us. --the staff and volunteers of Metro Volunteers |
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Hot Fun in the Summertime
Summer is a Great Time to Volunteer at Fairs & Fests
We're just about into summer, but the season for volunteering at Fairs and Festivals has already started. Metro Volunteers is fielding lots and lot of requests for volunteers for special events, so we thought we would list some of the bigger events for you, conveniently in one place.
Hopefully, e  veryone enjoyed the Denver Day of Rock last weekend, benefiting Concerts for Kids. The organization holds cool events like this one year-round, so be sure to visit Concerts for Kids regularly for updates.
Next up is the Capitol Hill People's Fair on June 2nd and 3rd, when Civic Center Park comes alive with music, activities, and the hippest of Denver's hipsters. This is one of Denver's most family-friendly activities, and one that's rich with music, good food, and other programming. To volunteer for this event, learn more about volunteering with CHUN, visit Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods or email nicoleanderson@chundenver.org for more information. These folks are working hard to "green up" the fair this year, so let's give them a hand. Another unique event arrives June 2nd and 3rd with the Denver Chalk Art Festival on Larimer Square, where more than 200 artists will transform Denver's streets in to a temporary museum to welcome more than 100,00 visitors. To see how to help with this free event every year,visit the Denver Chalk Art Festival to sign up.Can't make it to San Diego for Comic-Con this year? You don't have to, because for the very first time, Denver has its own Denver Comic-Con this year on June 15th, 16th and 17th at the Colorado Convention Center. The convention benefits Comic Book Classroom, a nonprofit after-school program that teaches kids literacy and arts education through the wonders of sequential art. It's not too late to sign up for Denver Comic-Con and come hang out with guests like Wil Wheaton, James Marsters and the cast of AMC's The Walking Dead. Email Beth at volunteering@denvercomiccon.com and tell them Metro Volunteers sent you. It's our Event of the Month, but we can't help mentioning Denver's PrideFest one more time, stretching out across our fair city on June 16th and 17th. Come celebrate tolerance and community alliances by volunteering for the event. Sign up on the volunteer page at The Center (which has all kinds of volunteer opportunities throughout the year). Volunteers are the backbone of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, lighting up an event that will draw nearly 400,000 people on July 6th, 7th and 8th. A team of almost 1,000 volunteers are needed to produce the Cherry Creek Arts Festival each year. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival's mission is to provide access to a broad array of arts experiences and support arts education in Colorado. Visit The Cherry Creek Arts Festival's volunteer page or email volunteer@cherryarts.org for more information on this high-end opportunity.
On July 19 to 22, Broadway rocks when The Underground Music Showcase brings more than 350 performances to the largest live music festival in Denver. Want to be sure you're in like Flynn? Sign up to volunteer for the UMS. Work one or two shifts and you get to attend the rest of the festival for free, or become one of the UMS' storied full-time volunteers, and you get to go past the velvet rope into the exclusive, invitation-only Late Night Lounge. Think volunteers are just part of running an event? The Buffalo Bill Days was created in 1989 and counts on volunteers so much that the event isn't held if they don't get enough volunteers. This is one of the premier celebrations of Colorado's western heritage and a great time to visit Golden for a Wild West Show, Duck Races, and headliners Chris Daniels and the Kings. Visit the volunteer page at the Buffalo Bill Days or email the Volunteer Chair at buffalobilldaysgolden@yahoo.com to sign up to help.
On July 28 and 29, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will bring Colorado's Asian Pacific heritage to Sloan's Lake Park with live music and dance, foods of the region, traditional goods, and the 2,000 year-old sport of dragon boat racing. The Festival needs volunteers in more than a dozen areas, and is especially interested in groups of 15 or more volunteers who want to work together. Visit the volunteer page at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival or email volunteers@cdbf.org to sign up.
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Be a Superhero to Kids in Denver
MV Member Spotlight: Comic Book Classroom
 Comic Book Classroom
is a nonprofit, free, after-school program for fifth through eighth grade students that teaches literacy and arts education through comic books. Comic Book Classroom uses a state standards-based curriculum and is dedicated to educating at-risk and under-served students through teaching the basics of the craft, starting with the elements of structure and storytelling. To graduate from the program, students apply this knowledge in creating their own comic book. Comic Book Classroom believes that a love of comics can foster a love of reading and learning.
Comic Book Classroom was created in order to reach out students who are not being served by traditional means of education. Comic Book Classroom welcomes all types of donations that benefit the students in our programs. Examples include Art Supplies, Comic Books, Tables, Chairs, etc. Other types of donations include gifts of service such as Time, Materials, Money, and of course Volunteers.
Visit the Volunteer Page at Comic Book Classroom or email founder Ilya Kowalchuk at illya.kowalchuk@gmail.com to find out how you can get involved.
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National Philanthropy Day in Colorado
Submit your nominations today
National Philanthropy Day in Colorado is now accepting nominations for outstanding philanthropic individuals, businesses, organizations, and foundations making a difference in your community. Awards will be presented to eleven outstanding representatives of these categories: foundation, philanthropist, service organization, grant-making professional, fundraising professional, volunteer, volunteer fundraiser, youth, youth group, large business, and small business. Recognize the people and organizations that make you proud to be a Coloradan by nominating them for one of these awards. Nomination forms are available and can be downloaded or completed online at www.npdcolorado.org, or by contacting Paula Henry, NPD Coordinator, at npdcolorado@gmail.com. Nominations must be received or postmarked by Wednesday, July 11, 2012, and must include a nomination form, nomination narrative, and two letters of support. Cash scholarships will be given to the Outstanding Youth and Outstanding Youth Group winners. All award winners, and their nominators, will be honored at the National Philanthropy Day in Colorado Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 9th, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. About National Philanthropy Day in Colorado National Philanthropy Day is the special day designated to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy - and those people active in the philanthropic community - have made to our lives, our communities, and our world. Celebrations are held in more than 125 communities around the nation. The annual luncheon will honor individuals, organizations, foundations, businesses and corporations for exceptional and impactful philanthropic and volunteer contributions in Colorado. The 2012 event is expected to draw 1,000 people to honor the accomplishments of the award winners. A list of previous winners is available at www.npdcolorado.org. |
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"We Count on You!" Awards Luncheon
Denver DOVIA honors outstanding Denver Volunteers
Since 1986, the "We Count on You!" awards have honored outstanding volunteers throughout the Denver community. This year's luncheon will be hosted by Mitch Jelniker of 7 News. The event will be held on Tuesday, September 25th at 11:30 at the Wildlife Experience in Parker, Colorado. Nominations are currently being accepted for:
- Individual Volunteer (Youth & Adult)
- Volunteer Group
- Board Member
- Corporate Individual or Group
- Volunteer Engagement Professional
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Member Agencies
Did you know that paid MV members get premium access to critical volunteer resources including unlimited volunteer postings, discounted trainings, consulting and referrals, and spotlights in our newsletters and social media?
Not a member agency? Join Now!
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A Billion + Change
An easy way to support us!
Take the Billion + Change pledge and help support Metro Volunteers. This national campaign encourages companies to pledge their commitment to skills-based volunteering. And it's FREE! For each Denver pledge the campaign receives by June 18, Metro Volunteers will receive a financial benefit from Points of Light. Take the pledge for free online at www.abillionpluschange.org or email claytonmoore@metrovolunteers.org for more information.
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The Volunteer Guide
 | | 2011 Volunteer Guide Click to Download |
The 2012 Volunteer Guide is here!
Metro Volunteers is pleased to present the 2012 Volunteer Guide, now available online with nearly 200 exciting volunteer opportunities throughout the Metro Denver region. Check out the new and improved web version with email and web links, or stop by Metro Volunteers to pick up a copy. Thanks to our partners at Denver Post Community for the great look and improved interface.
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Event of the Month:
Pridefest
On June 16 and 17, the nation's third-largest PrideFest winds its way from Cheesman Park to Civic Center to celebrate Denver's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Come join more than 275,000 people - and Fab Morvan from Milli Vanilli. Sign up on the volunteer page at The Center. |
Contact Us
1355 S. Colorado Blvd., C-601
Denver, CO 80222
www.MetroVolunteers.org
303.282.1234    
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About Us
As Denver's leading source for volunteer engagement, Metro Volunteers is making volunteerism smarter by empowering individuals, organizations and businesses with the knowledge, skills and resources to make volunteering more effective and rewarding while creating positive impact in our community. Our wide range of innovative programs, tools, trainings and resources can help you achieve your goals as a volunteer, business leader, community organization or nonprofit agency. Visit Metro Volunteers today to find out how you can make a difference.
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