Six years ago, Jackie Luevano and Ale Basquez were wandering. Abandoning schoolwork. Acting up. Heading down a dangerous path.

Today, the friends are preparing for college and working as raft guides and crew leaders for Denver's cityWILD, where low-income kids find opportunities for growth and development in the nonprofit's outdoor, experiential programs.

"I don't know where I'd be without cityWILD, but I'd be in trouble," said 17-year-old Luevano, who found cityWILD six years ago and now is applying for a Daniels Fund Scholarship and hopes to attend the University of Denver.

Luevano and Basquez are leaders at cityWILD, mentoring sixth- and seventh-graders from northeast Denver's Wyatt-Edison, Whittier, Bruce Randolph and Harrington schools.

"My first year here, I was messing up and I had people dealing with me, helping me. Now it's the opposite. I'm dealing with the kids who are messing up," s ...

Our friends in New York get a firsthand look this remarkable sight. Through the weekend, the world's most iconic tower glows red in support of The Cove. Ric O Barry, actor John Leguizamo, race car driver Leilani Munter and Louie Psihoyos were on hand for this special visual reminder of the dolphins in Japan.

Traditionally, the 102-story tower lights up in honor of holidays, heroes and local sports teams. When the building's owner watched The Cove this summer, he vowed to created a visual tribute.

Big thanks to all involved.

[ Source: Oceanic Preservation Society ]

The Denver Post
By Joanne Davidson

Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute, Work Options for Women and Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado are among the nonprofit organizations that Bank of the West recognized at its first Denver-area Philanthropy Awards Luncheon. Each received a $15,000 cash grant and a Bank of the West-produced video for them to use in spreading the word about their respective programs and services. In addition, $5,000 grants were awarded to the Carson J. Spencer Foundation, Revision International, Community Resources & Housing Development Corp., the International Center for Affordable and Sustainable Technology, the Colorado Enterprise Fund and Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Denver affiliate.

The Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI) is a three year old nonprofit organization, whose business it is to provide learning, lending, and coaching to help community entrepreneurs build businesses to advance along the pathway to self-sufficiency and self-worth. RMMFI’s philosophy to business development is: poor planning equals poor results, and as a growing organization they, themselves, recognized that to be most effective, strategic planning was a necessity.

Rob Smith, Executive Director of RMMFI, found an opportunity to apply for the 2010 Nonprofit Capacity Building Program offered by the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships.  Partnering with the Office of Economic Development and Community Resource Center, this program offers general training opportunities for nonprofit board and staff members and targeted one-on-one technical assistance in strategic planning, program ev ...

This Friday, May 20th, Groundwork Denver will be honored to receive the 2011 Outstanding Non-Profit Organization Award from the Governor's Commission on Community Service.

This is a reflection of all of you, our wonderful volunteers, supporters and partners! Please join us on Friday, May 20th in the West Foyer of the Colorado State Capitol from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The event is open to the public and we would love to celebrate with you.