Published in the Daily Sentinel February 9, 2023
Women’s Giving Club ponies up $22K
By NATHAN DEAL
Nathan.Deal@gjsentinel.com
Four times each year, the Giving Club, Mesa County’s premier women’s networking and philanthropic organization, convenes to vote on a nonprofit organization to support with donations from every member.
On Monday night, the Giving Club held its first meeting of the year at SpringHill Suites on Main Street, with each of the club’s 220-plus members nominating a nonprofit. Three of the nominations were pulled out of a hat and the members voted for one to receive a donation of more than $22,000 courtesy of $100 checks from every club member.
The first winning nonprofit of 2023 was the Mesa County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that builds and supplies beds to children without them.
“The donation itself is pretty substantial,” said Giving Club Steering Committee Chairwoman Kristin Donahue. “For a nonprofit to receive that amount of money that’s not budgeted usually makes a huge difference in their ability to serve their community, so that’s impactful for sure.”
MarillacHealth and KAFM Radio were the other two nominees. Donahue said that they’re both also likely to receive donations from Giving Club members, as is usually the case for nonprofits that aren’t chosen as the victor at club meetings.
“You learn about other nonprofits that you may not know about,” Donahue said. “One thing that’s fun is, often, our nominees that are not selected also end up getting substantial donations, so we end up supporting more than just one, and on top of that, this is a great chance for people involved in nonprofits and people who are passionate about nonprofits to come together.”
Since 2014, the Giving Club has donated more than $617,300 to 30 Mesa County nonprofit organizations.
BUILDING BEDS
Carla Haas and Larry White, teachers at Central High School, founded the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national nonprofit organization, in early October.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace organizes build days in which volunteers build wooden bed frames. The rest of the bed supplies are purchased and then beds are delivered the households of families who signed up to receive a bed for a child aged 3-17.
So far, Sleep in Heavenly Peace has built 30 beds and delivered 19 of them. With the Giving Club donation, it will be able to build 80 new beds.
“This is huge,” Haas said. “We’ve put off several little things. We’re all volunteers; none of us get paid. It’s all just donations, so now we’re going to be able to buy more wood, set up more build days, set up more delivery days and reach out a little further too.
“One thing we’ve been needing is a covered trailer. We have to load tools into, like, eight different trucks if we’re going to go build on a site, so to be able to have some money to put toward that effort is great. We’re real stingy with it too, though. We try to put everything we can toward the beds themselves and the mattresses.”
Haas teaches mathematics at Central and White teaches construction, and they often teach geometry in construction together. They’ve used that class as an extension of Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s efforts.
“Our class builds some beds during their construction time, as well, so they’ve been very involved,” Haas said. “It’s kind of been a class project, but it’s grown so much bigger than just our class or our school.”
Haas said that some students at Central, and even students in her own classes, will benefit from Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s mission, as some of them have beds in poor shape if they have beds at all.
School District 51 Foundation Executive Director Angela Christensen said the $22,000 donation will be a “game-changer” for Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
“Six months ago, Carla came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I have this nonprofit that I’m starting and I want some tips and pointers on how to begin,’ ” Christensen said. “When she shared with me exactly what she was doing and how that was going to impact students and the entirety of Mesa County…. I get chills even thinking about it right now.”
Giving Club member Kara Rachal addresses fellow members at Monday night’s club meeting at SpringHill Suites on Main Street. The group of women awards donations four times a year to area nonprofit organizations.
NATHAN DEAL/ The Daily Sentinel
The Giving Club
From: HOPE of the Grand Valley
By: Vicki McGee
What a magnificent group of Ladies, with hearts that are giving, loving and kind.
This gift is what we needed to insured we will leave no family behind!
Especially during these times of doubt and concern.
We will continue with our purpose providing families the opportunity to Excel, to Grow, to Learn.
You via The Giving Club ladies have made a huge difference in what we can do.
Your giving hearts are amazing and true, Thank you to all of you.
With great appreciation from all of us with HOPE of the Grand Valley.
What an extraordinary group of ladies you are
We are so grateful and truly blown away by your generosity!
The Giving Club (a poem)
by Kelly Collini, Colorado Discover Ability
Lovely women no better you’ll find.
They come together with on thing in mind.
To help out others and to always be kind.
Oh yeah and also for the dessert and the wine!
A note from Kelly –
Dearest Giving Club Members – You cannot imagine the difference this gift will make for CDA! We are all so very grateful and humbled that so many individuals contribute to make this such a generous gift. Each of you should know that you are making a big difference in many lives. Because of your generosity, individuals with disabilities are able to participate in fun outdoor activities year round. Kelly Collins (August 2020)
News and Notes
News and Notes February 5, 2018
News and Notes November 6, 2017
News and Notes August 7, 2017
Thank You from the Grant a Wish Program I want to share a story with you to put into perspective how much your May 2017 donation means to the Grant A Wish program.
Just five days before the May Giving Club meeting, the Grant A Wish board held its monthly meeting. We broached a very dire situation – the fact that even though we were breaking our previous fundraising records and raising more money than ever before, the number of kids being nominated for scholarships from our program was far out-pacing the amount of funding we had to support them. If something didn’t happen soon, we would have to stop accepting new kids and just maintain those we already pledged to support.
But something did happen. You happened. Your kindness, generosity and your understanding of the need to support our local kids happened. You made a difference that will be felt for months to come by dozens and dozens of local youth. You are changing their lives and contributing to their successes.
On behalf of the entire Grant A Wish board, I sincerely thank you. I do believe in miracles, big and small, and am fortunate to get to see them on the faces of each kid we sponsor. Thank you for being a part of those miracles.
Mackenzie Dodge, Director of Grant A Wish program
The Giving Club begins our fourth year of giving on August 7, 2017! The Giving Club will start our fourth year 190 members strong! This impressive number of giving women will have incredible impact on our local community! As always, being present at the meetings allows you to nominate and vote for your favorite non-profit. If you’re unable to attend the meeting, we will inform you of the non-profit chosen and you can send donations to PO Box 1382, GJ 81502. We will make sure the non-profit receives it!
And, please know, The Giving Club does not share email addresses with any non-profit and if you’d like to receive information from any organization, we recommend you contact them directly.
The Giving Club keeps on giving! The Giving Club starts our new year with a small surplus from the previous year’s hospitality fees and this will be passed on to the chosen non-profits in the upcoming year. So, beginning August 7, 2017, each non-profit selected will receive an additional $1,250 on top of the $100 donation from individual club members! Talk about a powerful impact!
Bring a guest! The Giving Club encourages everyone to recruit anyone you feel would enjoy an evening of philanthropy and fun. Guests are welcome and for $20 dollars, they can also enjoy the evening’s food, drinks (drinks include well drinks, beer and wine –and we tip too!) and the energy of giving. Just make sure they check in at the desk to receive a name tag. Even after visiting once, we’re sure they will want to join!
THANK YOU Springhill Suites for providing the meeting space and exceptional services free of charge!!
Please take a moment at our next meeting to say thank you to staff for all they do!
THANK YOU to The Giving Club members for your commitment to making a powerful impact in our community!! We appreciate you!
See you at the next meeting: 5:15 pm, MONDAY, November 6, 2017!!!
News and Notes May 1, 2017
Thank You from School District #51 Foundation On behalf of the School District 51 Foundation, I want to sincerely thank The Giving Club for the very generous donation. I appreciated having the opportunity to talk at the last meeting about the accomplishments of our school district as it educates over 22,000 children in Mesa County.
Your contribution is significant in our mission to raise funds for academic growth and achievement and to promote outreach to benefit kids and the community. Specifically, this year we are raising funds for technology for students and professional development for teachers. We will use a portion of the donated money to purchase Chromebooks in our fundraising partnership with the Western Colorado Community Foundation. In addition, this summer we will be the primary sponsor of the 2017 Elevate Conference at Two Rivers Convention Center where over 600 local teachers will gather to learn more about Performance Based Learning.
The D51F was formed in 2010 from a group of concerned business and community leaders who wanted to find a way to help support School District 51. They created the D51 Foundation as a non-profit 501c3 entity. The D51 Foundation meets monthly with a focus on raising money for our schools and providing outreach to our community.
Thank you for your investment in the future of our students. It takes our entire community coming together to support the student growth and achievement happening in School District 51.
Angela Christensen, Ph.D., Foundation Coordinator
Our meeting on May 1, 2017 marks three full years of giving! The total given by members of The Giving Club in its first three years will be approximately $185,000. This impressive amount does not include checks written to other nominated organizations by individual members who were touched by a presentation during a meeting. As always, if you are unable to attend a meeting or you forget your checkbook, your prompt donations sent to PO Box 1382, GJ 81502 are greatly appreciated.
Keeping it simple, keeping it fun, keeping up the support that makes our community a better place to live – what a wonderful group of community-minded, delightful women!
Time for Annual Renewal The Giving Club will start its fourth year when we next meet on August 7 (subsequent 2017-2018 meeting dates are November 7, February 5 and May 7). Please renew your membership in anticipation of fun and generosity during the coming year! You can make your commitment for next year by paying The Giving Club’s annual hospitality fee of $80 per member; this equates to just $20 per meeting for food, drink, website and incidentals such as the postage box rental and nametags. Please write a check to The Giving Club for 2017-2018 hospitality fees this evening, or send it ASAP to P. O. Box 1382, Grand Junction, CO 81502. Please remember that we can manage your quarterly donations to the selected nonprofits if you would like us to do so – just write your check for a total $480 and we’ll take care of the rest.
Spread the Word! Ask someone to join or bring them with you on August 7th. Information is available on our new Facebook page (Thanks, Stacy Beaugh!) and our website (Thanks, Judy Vanderleest!)
While you are recruiting, remember the Guys Giving Club and the Giving Club of Montrose.
THANK YOU…
… to Springhill Suites and Cowboy and the Rose for providing us exceptional space, service, food and drink!!
… to The Giving Club members for your involvement, attendance and the incredible group we are building!!
Every member of The Giving Club is important to our success and impact in the community.
Please continue your commitment and invite a friend!
See you at the next meeting: 5:15 pm, MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017!!!
News and Notes February 6, 2017
Thank You from Western Colorado Suicide Prevention Foundation Your donation provides a bright light shining on the effort to prevent suicides here in Mesa County. Lately we have felt the particular pain of youth suicide, but the unfortunate truth is that – in even greater numbers than our youth – middle-aged men are dying by suicide and women continue to attempt.
People of all ages and circumstances are crying out for help. Your dollars fuel the work to connect these people to the resources they need, to provide suicide awareness and intervention classes, and to support WCSPF as it collaborates with other organizations to identify and address gaps and needs. This work makes a difference: More than one person has taken our “Brief Suicide Intervention Training” and reported using the learned skills to keep someone safe from suicide.
There is lots of work to be done and your generosity will help keep us and our community partners moving forward. Receiving The Giving Club’s donations has been a humbling and inspiring experience for all of us here at WCSPF, and we thank you for your courage and commitment! Martha Graf, Departing Executive Director, WCSPF
Friendly and Important Reminder The spirit and intention of The Giving Club is that its members – individually and collectively – are here to make a significant impact on the Mesa County community. By design, we are committed to providing a safe and comfortable forum for the interests and involvements of our members to be brought forth and considered for Club member funding.
Within the parameters we’ve set, there is no “right” or “wrong” nomination; every member is encouraged to present organizations and projects that she believes are making a positive difference, whether benefitting many or benefitting a few. Maintaining a respectful and collaborative environment is foundational to our consideration of potential gift recipients. Thus, confronting or challenging a Club member regarding her nomination or affirming comment made in good faith is not aligned with the goals and values of the Club.
Voting provides the “voice” for our individual opinions as to the fitness and priority of a given organization or project.
We are both grateful and privileged to have our members’ involvement in and commitment to The Giving Club, its values, its processes and decisions. Through these, we honor each other, the opportunities brought forth by our members, and the organizations to which we make our gifts.
Nonprofits’ Eligibility for Gifts through The Giving Club It has been determined that The Giving Club, its members and the Mesa County community will best be served by having a three-year cycle for considering a nonprofit to be nominated for and receive Club gifts. Thus, there is a “moratorium” of three years, or 12 quarterly cycles, rather than two years or 8 cycles (as was our original plan) for all past and future recipient organizations. Please remember this as you make your nominations for potential donations through The Giving Club, and do note that all past recipient organizations have been notified of this change.
Two New Leaders Now Serving on Organizing Committee We are excited to have both Stacy Beaugh and Lindsay Keller join The Giving Club’s organizing committee! Stacy is Executive Director for Tamarisk Coalition and was one of the Club’s first members, and Lindsay leads one of our favorite donations’ recipient organizations in Imagination Library.
Stacy and Lindsay join the group of women who work behind-the-scenes to make sure that all is swell with quarterly meetings, gifts’ collection and delivery, financial oversight and general Club direction. Current committee members who have served since the Club’s introduction include Jacquie Chappell-Reid, Deb Horwitz, Mary Beth Luedtke, Cindy Rhodes, Illene Roggensack, Michaelle Smith and Judy Vanderleest (Sandy Kent recently departed the group/Club for a job in Texas).
THANK YOU…
… to both Springhill Suites and Cowboy and the Lady for providing us exceptional space, service, food and drink!!
…. to The Giving Club members for your involvement, attendance and the incredible BUZZ that we’ve built!!
See you at the next meeting: MAY DAY MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017!!!
News and Notes November 7, 2016
Thank You From Ariel Clinical Services… for your generosity to the children served through our Community Support Service Program. UNICEF suggests that when we help the most disadvantaged children in a community, we ultimately help all children. Your gifts will directly assist an estimated 144 children as they receive the extra attention and skills they need. Most importantly, you are sending a message to these children that their community truly cares about them.
Child abuse affects children across multiple areas of functioning. Often, these victims need a variety of supports to be successful at school, in the community and in relationships with other people. As example, here’s a note that one of our youth wrote: “My coach really made a difference in my life. Because of her positive attitude, I now have a positive attitude and can think positive before I think negative.”
From the bottom of my heart, thank you on behalf of our children! Becky Hobart, CEO, Ariel Clinical Services
Recruit to grow our impact!!! The Giving Club, and the Guys’ Giving Club, continue to seek local women and men who will enjoy being part of our efforts. Please consider actively recruiting those whom you believe will enjoy contributing to and through either Club. Let’s add to the phenomenal success we’ve already achieved in making our gifts:
August 2014 Western Slope Center for Children $ 8,500
November 2014 Roice Hurst Humane Society 10,800
February 2015 Riverside Educational Center 12,700
May 2015 Grand Junction Imagination Library 13,700 Guys’ Giving Club:
August 2015 Kids Aid 15,000 Grand Mesa Nordic Council $ 2,800
November 2015 Mesa Land Trust 15, 100 The House 4,500
February 2016 Fruita Monument High School Band 15,700 Project Healing Waters 5,000
May 2016 Court-Appointed Special Advocates 17,000 Colorado Discover Ability 6,000
August 2016 Ariel Clinical Services 18,000 New Emerson School 4,600
November 2016 Diabetes Counts Network 6,900
TOTAL GIVING TO DATE = $ 156,300*
*Does not include the estimated $5,000 in gifts from The Giving Club members to quarterly “runner up” organizations.
For membership information on The Giving Club, refer women to www.gjgivingclub.org; those interested in Guys’ Giving Club are encouraged to email GuysGivingClub@gmail.com.
A special holiday/year-end contribution As we enter the time of year that invites reflection and encourages gratitude and generosity, The Giving Club organizers encourage you to consider making an additional gift this evening. Write your check for a bit extra, or perhaps contribute additionally by making a contribution to the other nominated organizations. And don’t forget to check on any matching program that will increase your gift through the generosity of your employer. Utilize our simple yet powerful giving mechanism to “vote with your dollars” and further support improved quality of life for all here in Mesa County.
THANK YOU:
To Springhill Suites for providing us exceptional space and service!
To Cowboy and the Lady for their delicious appetizers and desserts – another reason to look forward to our quarterly gatherings!
To The Giving Club members for all you do, and for being an important part of “us”!
See you on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017!!!
News and Notes August 1, 2016
THANK YOU from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Thank you from CASA of Mesa County for your generous donation. You have been part of changing the world for the most vulnerable among us, and we are fortunate to have women like you who believe in our mission and care about the kids we serve.
The Giving Club donations will serve 54 children by providing supervision, support and training for 27 volunteers for an entire year. That means that these children will have “someone in their corner,” and with a direct line of communication to the judge, making sure that they are placed in the most appropriate home best suited to meet individual needs. And, these children will have the necessary mental health services, educational support, medical care, visits with their siblings and any other assistance needed.
If you would like to learn more about the impact of your giving, and the work of CASA of Mesa County, please plan to join us for a complimentary breakfast: Friday, March 3, 2017 at 7:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Grand Junction. You can reserve your spot at info@casamc.org or by calling 242-4191.
Most Sincerely, Executive Director Janet Rowland and the CASA Board of Directors
Recruit to grow our impact!!! The Giving Club, and the Guys’ Giving Club, continue to seek local women and men who will enjoy being part of our efforts. Please consider actively recruiting those whom you believe will enjoy contributing to and through either Club. For membership information on The Giving Club, refer women to www.gjgivingclub.org; those interested in Guys’ Giving Club should email GuysGivingClub@gmail.com.
Would you like to deliver The Giving Club contributions??? Be a part of the team that brings cheer and goodwill to one of our local nonprofits!! To participate (day/time to be scheduled with the recipient), see or send an email to one of the Organizing Committee members: Cindy, Deb, Illene, Jacquie, Judy, Mary Beth, Michaelle, Sandy.
2016-17 recipients to get an extra boost Tonight, The Giving Club starts its third year (subsequent 2016-2017 meeting dates are scheduled for November 7, February 6 and May 1). Please renew your membership, and keep in mind that the fee this year is just $80 to cover hospitality/incidental expenses.
Also note that a small surplus has accrued from hospitality fees collected during the past two years; these will be passed along to the nonprofit organizations selected to receive our gifts during the coming year. Thus, tonight’s selected organization – and all 2016-2017 awardees – will receive an additional $1,500, to be added to the total of our $100 individual contributions!
And, please remember two things: Your employer may have a matching gifts program, so this is worth checking out to effectively double the gift you contribute. Additionally, The Giving Club can manage your quarterly donations to the Club’s selected nonprofits. If you would like us to do so, just write your check tonight for a total $480 (hospitality fee plus 4-$100 donations) and we’ll take care of the rest.
_____
Springhill Suites now enters its third year of providing The Giving Club (and Guys’ Giving Club)
with meeting space and other generous hospitalities at no charge whatsoever.
THANK YOU, Steve and Kevin and Staff, for being a significant part of our success!!
And, a special and heartfelt thank you to Joy Hudak (Riverside Educational Center) and
the women of the Riverside neighborhood for preparing our homemade culinary treats this evening!!
We appreciate YOU, each and every member of The Giving Club!!
Thank YOU for making this effort a part of your philanthropic commitment to Mesa County.
See you on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7!!!
News and Notes May 2, 2016
THANK YOU from Fruita Monument High School Band Thank you for your gracious donation to this program, and for recognizing the work of our students and the need that exists in school band programs. Each dollar you have donated will be used to purchase sorely-needed instruments and equipment, and will impact the growing number of students who walk through the doors of the FMHS band room each day. The lasting impact of your selfless gift will impact hundreds of children.
The Fruita Monument Band program provides a breadth of musical opportunities for more than 150 students every day. From concert, jazz and marching band to percussion ensembles, the Wildcat Band has built a legacy of excellence in performance while teaching students of the many and wonderful aspects of the art of music. The program helps students find their niche in high school, and places students on an upward trajectory personally, professionally and academically.
I truly admire your organization and how you come together as individuals to make a huge impact as a whole. Upon hearing the wonderful news of The Giving Club’s gifts, we had a long conversation with our students about what it is to give, and to put others before self; I thank you also for this ‘teaching moment’!
Musically Yours – Ryan Crabtree, Director of Bands, FMHS
Congratulations to Us!!! Tonight, The Giving Club’s cumulative giving will exceed $100,000!!! And, take a look at how much our impact is growing…not to mention the impressive list of organizations we’ve supported to date:
August 2014 Western Slope Center for Children $ 8,500
November 2014 Roice Hurst Humane Society 10,800
February 2015 Riverside Educational Center 12,700
May 2015 Grand Junction Imagination Library 13,700
August 2015 Kids Aid 15,000
November 2015 Mesa Land Trust 15,100
February 2016 Fruita Monument High School Band 15,700
TOTAL GIVING TO DATE $ 91,500*
*Does not include the estimated $2,000 in gifts from The Giving Club members to quarterly “runner up” organizations.
Time for Annual Renewal, and Reduced Hospitality Fees The Giving Club will start its third year when we next meet on August 1 (subsequent 2016-2017 meeting dates are November 7, February 6 and May 1). Please renew your membership and don’t miss out on a bit of the fun during the coming year!
As a result of both excellent collections and solid financial management, we have two exciting news items:
- The Giving Club is dropping its annual hospitality fee to $80 per member; this equates to just $20 per meeting for food, drink, website and incidentals. So, please write a check to The Giving Club for 2016-2017 hospitality fees this evening, or send it ASAP to P. O. Box 1382, Grand Junction, CO And, please remember that we can manage your quarterly donations to the selected nonprofits if you would like us to do so – just write your check for a total $480 and we’ll take care of the rest.
- A small surplus has accrued from hospitality fees collected during the past two years, and The Giving Club organizers have decided to award this to the nonprofit organizations selected for our gifts during the coming year. Thus, all 2016-2017 awardees will receive an additional $1,500, to be added to the total of our $100 individual contributions. All the more reason to be at Club meetings and to nominate your favorite organization during the coming year!
As we wrap up our second year of The Giving Club, we especially want to thank
Springhill Suites for providing this exemplary location for our quarterly meetings (at no charge),
as well as Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious and discounted appetizers and desserts!!!
Every member of The Giving Club is important to our success and impact in the community.
Please, continue your commitment, invite a friend, and know that you are sincerely appreciated.
See you on MONDAY, AUGUST 1!!!
News and Notes February 2, 2016
THANK YOU from Mesa Land Trust In 1980, Mesa Land Trust founders took action to preserve the orchards that surround Palisade. 35 years later, with the support of The Giving Club and many others here in the community, we carry on their work of conserving Mesa County’s most important natural landscapes.
Thank you for recognizing our work with your November 2015 donations! These very generous gifts will be put to work across our community to preserve farm and ranch land, protect wildlife and riparian habitat, conserve land along Mesa County’s scenic byways, provide opportunities for youth to participate in land stewardship projects, and enhance public lands and trail systems.
We invite you to join us for a complimentary informational luncheon on Wednesday, March 9th at our office at 1006 Main Street to learn more about the impact of your funding. The one-hour lunch begins at 12 noon; please RSVP with Mary at mary@mesalandtrust.org, or Libby at libby@mesalandtrust.org, or by calling 263-5443.
It has been an amazing experience to be selected to receive your contributions. We appreciate all you do to make a lasting difference for our community. Warm Regards, Rob Bleiberg, Mesa Land Trust Executive Director
Guys’ Giving Club Up and Running in Mesa County The Giving Club’s philanthropic formula has been so well received that a group of local men have started the Guys’ Giving Club. “It is a concept that I personally love, and that adds another dimension to my personal and professional commitment to this community,” says Todd Young, Senior Vice President with Bank of the San Juans. “I believe this Club will resonate with men as much as it has with the women, and am excited to be involved.”
Young is joined in organizing Guys’ Giving Club by Scott Aker, Mike Baker, Jack Connolly, Dan Flenniken, Fred Jones, Doug Sorter and Kevin Van Gundy. Thus far, the men have made awards totaling nearly $10,000 to Grand Mesa Nordic Council and The House.
Guy’s Giving Club meets at the same time and place as our Club, but on the following night (first Tuesdays in February, May, August and November). Please help to spread the word about this exciting parallel effort to benefit those served through exemplary nonprofit organizations in Mesa County!
Putting Our Money Where Our Vote Is As a collective membership, we have shown exemplary commitment to deliver on the gifts we’ve pledged: For each of our six quarterly awards to date (August 2014-November 2015), we delivered donations from all but one member. In other words, we were only $100 short of the targeted total for each award by The Giving Club, with nearly all of us “making good” on our pledged gift!
Beyond the outstanding caliber of women in our Club, we must recognize the over-and-above collections work of Judy “Olga the Terrible” Vanderleest. Judy makes a Herculean effort each quarter to chase down members and ensure donations are made. THANK YOU, JUDY!! Please make her job easier by a. providing your donation (cash, check) upon selection of the nonprofit recipient at tonight’s meeting, b. immediately responding to the announcement of our selected organization (tomorrow/Tuesday morning) by sending a check to The Giving Club, or c. using the pre-payment option with The Giving Club, which will then follow up and pass along your gift to the designated organization each quarter. For more information on the latter option, please contact Judy at 260-6140 or gjvingclub@gmail.com
Once again, we salute and thank Springhill Suites for hosting The Giving Club (at no charge!),
and Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious and discounted appetizer spread each quarter!!!
Every member of The Giving Club is important to our success and impact in the community.
THANK YOU for your commitment to this fun and unique opportunity for philanthropic engagement.
We’ll see you again on MONDAY, MAY 2!!
News and Notes November 2, 2015
THANK YOU from Kids Aid Thousands – yes, thousands – of hungry children have eaten because of The Giving Club. Your donations in August purchased enough food to fill and provide more than 4,000 bags of food, feeding children attending 46 local schools for two weekends. That is no small task!
This fall, Kids Aid is sending food home weekly with 2,049 boys and girls just like the one in the following story told by the Kids Aid coordinator at a local elementary school: ”We enrolled a transfer student from another elementary school here in the Valley. When she was introduced to me and learned my job, her eyes got very serious and she said, “You haven’t got to meet my family yet because I am new here, but we have lots of people and I don’t want to be hungry again just because I am at this school now. If you are the lady who knows where the food bags are, I want to make sure that I get one even though I am new.” I knelt down, held her arms and told her that her old school had given us her Kids Aid form, and that her name is on the list of kids to receive food in her classroom on Friday. She smiled, looked up and said, “Well, I guess the only other thing I need to know here is where the bathroom is.”
Thank you for all you do! Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our youth and in our community. Mesa County is fortunate to have this club of women committed to supporting local nonprofits. You all are inspirational! Warm Regards From Mary Beth Luedtke, Kids Aid Executive Director
A special holiday/year-end contribution As we enter the time of year that invites reflection and encourages gratitude and generosity, The Giving Club organizers encourage you to consider making an additional gift this evening. Write your check for a bit extra, or perhaps contribute additionally by making a contribution to the other nominated organizations. Utilize our simple yet powerful giving mechanism to “vote with your dollars” and further support improved quality of life for all here in Mesa County.
Would you like to be more involved in The Giving Club??? Be a part of the hospitality team that greets and helps members to feel a part of The Giving Club at our quarterly meetings. OR, participate in delivering our gifts to an unsuspecting nonprofit following tonight’s meeting!! To participate in Club hospitality, contact Cindy Rhodes tonight or at cynthiaprhodes@gmail.com; to be part of the gifts’ delivery team (day/time arranged to schedule of recipient), contact Judy Vanderleest tonight or via email: gjgivingclub@gmail.com.
Acknowledging your gift Please remember that every organization receiving donations through The Giving Club is provided with your name and contact information (e.g. information printed on your check), and encouraged to follow up with a personal thank you and tax receipt letter. Depending on the organization, you may also be publicly thanked by the nonprofit (e.g. individual name published in an annual report). The Giving Club does not prescribe nor manage use of your name and contact information by these organizations, so if you do not wish to be publicly acknowledged, be placed on a mailing list, etc., please be in direct contact with the organization to convey your personal preferences.
Recruit to grow our impact!!! The Giving Club, and the Guys’ Giving Club, continue to seek a lot of good women and men who will enjoy being part of our efforts. Please consider actively recruiting those whom you believe will enjoy contributing to and through either Club. For membership information on The Giving Club, refer women to www.gjgivingclub.org; those interested in Guys’ Giving Club can email GuysGivingClub@gmail.com.
Once again, we salute and thank Springhill Suites for hosting The Giving Club in its second year (at no charge!),
and Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious and discounted appetizer spread each quarter!!!
A healthy and prosperous 2016 to each of you, and we’ll see you again on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1.
News and Notes August 3, 2015
We Love a Good Recruiter!!! The Giving Club is always looking for women who want to join us! Please consider actively recruiting those whom you believe will enjoy contributing to and through our Club.
And, of course, we’re trying to help out the Mesa County Guys’ Giving Club, which officially launches tomorrow night here at Springhill Suites. We encourage you to talk with the men in your life about getting equally involved in community-based fun and philanthropy. More information: GuysGivingClub@gmail.com.
In case you’re wondering : We recently have done a “checks and balances” internal review of The Giving Club’s financial accounting for our first year of operations, and are pleased to report the following:
Money In: Money Out:
Hospitality fees, 2014-15 $10,950 Food and drink $ 7,733
Pass-thru donations 4,100 Misc – post box, bank,
Pre-paid hospitality/pass-thru sound, supplies 547
donations, 2015-16 8,550_ Pass-thru donations paid 4,300_
TOTAL MONEY IN $23,600 TOTAL MONEY OUT $12,580
CURRENT BANK BALANCE 11,020*
FUNDS OUT + BALANCE IN BANK $23,600
*Pre-paid Liabilities $ 8,550
“Money In” in excess of liabilities 2,470
Current bank balance $11,020
AND, AS LONG AS WE’RE TALKING MONEY. . . Tonight, The Giving Club officially celebrates its one-year anniversary!!!! This also marks the night when we need to make our commitment to the Club for another year by paying the $100 annual hospitality fee. As you can see from the above, these funds are used to purchase food and drink for a lovely event each quarter, and also to cover any incidental expenses of the Club (e.g. nametags, nomination forms, our sound system).
Please see Judy Vanderleest this evening to pay your annual dues (August 2015-July 2016), or send immediately to P.O. Box 1382 Grand Junction, CO 81502. If you prefer to write a check for your full annual commitment of $500 ($100 hospitality plus 4-$100 contributions to selected local nonprofits), we will be sure that your donations are passed along to the recipient agency each quarter.
Would You Like to Deliver The Giving Club Contributions??? Be a part of the team that brings cheer and goodwill to one of our local nonprofits!! To participate (day/time to be set for later this week, as scheduled with the recipient), see or send an email to Michaelle Smith, michaelles@htop.org.
ABOVE AND BEYOND We have heard that several members of The Giving Club actually write THREE checks each quarter – $100 to each of the nominated organizations. What a generous and brilliant idea! Others have let us know that they would like to “sponsor” younger (or other interested women with less financial capacity) to participate in The Giving Club.
Your ideas are completely welcome and we’d love to hear them – to share with others and perhaps even institute as part of our SIMPLE yet powerful giving model. Let’s maximize our impact!!!
Please take any opportunity you have to say THANK YOU to Springhill Suites for agreeing to host The Giving Club for another year (at no charge!), and to Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious and discounted appetizers and desserts each quarter!!! And, see you again on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2!!
News and Notes May 4, 2015
THANK YOU from Riverside educational center (REC) Providing after-school, academic support for those students likely to fail is both an honor and a pleasure. On a typical day, REC has 90-110 students engaged in academic support activities both at our Riverside campus and Grand Junction High School. These services benefit income-qualifying, primarily ethnic minority K-12th grade students, and happen due to the dedication of a 13-member board of directors, 17 staff and 100+ volunteer tutors each academic year.
The current male Latino graduation rate in Mesa County is 54%; or, nearly one of two Latino boys in our community will not graduate from high school. And, we know statistically that dropouts are more likely to be involved in crime and/or drugs, become teen parents and rely on governmental financial supports.
REC is having a profound impact in the lives of students and families, and has eight students graduating from high school this year!! One of these graduates, who will attend CMU in the fall, shares his thoughts: “I have been involved with REC since they first opened in 2006. It was the best thing that’s ever happened to my family and me. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for REC. They don’t just help in homework and sports, but they also become like family and impact each student’s personal life in a positive way.”
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Funds received from The Giving Club members allow REC to continue its work in changing the world, and sincerely thanks you for being a part of that change!! – Board of Directors and Staff at Riverside Educational Center
In case you’re wondering … Any food that is leftover from our quarterly meetings is dropped off (that same evening) at The House, a safe shelter for Western Colorado teens. There are an estimated 160 homeless teens in our community each year, and we believe it is a terrific use of this food in getting it to those teens who find their way to The House. Thanks to each member for your support of The House and those it serves by being a part of The Giving Club and covering your quarterly hospitality fee. And, speaking of which…
Quarterly dues due Believe it or not, The Giving Club will celebrate its one-year anniversary at our next meeting (August 3)! Yea for us! This also marks the time of year when we need to make our commitment to the Club for another year by paying the $100 annual hospitality fee. These funds are used to purchase food and drink for a lovely event each quarter, and also to cover any incidental expenses of the Club (e.g. postage box rental, nametags).
Feel free to see Judy Vanderleest to pay your annual dues (August 2015-July 2016) this evening, or send to P.O. Box 1382 Grand Junction, CO 81502. If you prefer to write a check for your full annual commitment of $500 ($100 hospitality plus 4-$100 contributions to selected local nonprofits), we will be sure that your donations are passed along to the recipient agency each quarter.
Would You Like to Deliver The Giving Club Contributions??? Be a part of the team that brings cheer and goodwill to one of our local nonprofits!! To participate (day/time to be set for later this week, as scheduled with the recipient), see or send an email to Michaelle Smith, michaelles@htop.org.
Diary of a reluctant mingler … “I thought I should report in on a survey conducted among our group of women who are in The Giving Club, but not as enthusiastic about mingling: Good time? Unanimous! Great cause? Unanimous! Met one or more interesting people? Unanimous! This group is hooked – and mingling J.”
Once again, a very special THANK YOU to Springhill Suites for hosting The Giving Club’s quarterly gathering (at no charge!) and to Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious and discounted appetizers and desserts. Please let both businesses know how much we appreciate these contributions. And, see you again on MONDAY, AUGUST 3!!
News and Notes February 3, 2015
THANK YOU from Roice-Hurst Humane Society $10,000 for our shelter and adoption center buys 400 vaccine regimens for cats and kittens, or 200 spays and neuters, or 180 raised frame beds for the dog kennels, or 50 emergency/extraordinary medical procedures for special-needs pets! Most importantly, The Giving Club’s collective donation buys one priceless commodity for homeless pets: time. All healthy or treatable and adoptable pets are safe with Roice-Hurst until we find them homes…even one like 10-year-old Chihuahua mix Rocky, who spent nine months in the shelter before he found his forever home in January. Rocky did his darndest to turn off every potential adopter, refusing to get along with any dog, child or man he met at the shelter. But one special couple saw through Rocky’s scared, stressed and off-putting exterior to see the great dog inside. Rocky now claims his human dad’s lap as his own and snuggles in bed with two canine step-siblings…all because we gave time, and some loving care, to an old dog that nobody seemed to want.
On behalf of Rocky – and hundreds of other dogs, puppies, cats and kittens we rescue and rehome every year – we thank each and every one of you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your generosity and your compassion. You are helping to make our lifesaving mission possible. –The Board of Directors and Staff at Roice-Hurst Humane Society
Would You Like to Deliver The Giving Club Contributions??? We’d love to have you be a part of the team that brings cheer and goodwill to one of our local nonprofits!! To participate (day/time later this week, as scheduled with the recipient), see Jacquie Chappell-Reid (jreid@hopewestco.org) or Michaelle Smith (michaelles@htop.org) or send either an email tomorrow morning.
We Love a Good Recruiter!!! The Giving Club is always looking for women who want to join us! Please consider actively recruiting those whom you believe will enjoy contributing to and through our Club. We’ve got some tools to help, including business cards (with a place for your name!) and promotional postcards – pick some up this evening!!
And, a huge THANK YOU to our Organizing Committee members and others who already have brought in at least one new member (based on specific identification of referral source, through January 30):
Nikki Blackburn Laurni Blanchard Jana Thomas Chris Brown Michelle Hoy Rose Anne Schweissing Lisa Fenton Free Wynne Bouley Tammy Allen Linda Eden Jan Brooks Mary Gonzales Wanda Putnam Rita Shenkel
Does Your Employer Have a Matching Gifts Program? Many corporations will match the gifts of their employees, making your total contribution $200 each quarter!! Please make the effort to see if this is your situation, and feel free to contact Sandy Kent (sandra.kent@encana.com) or Illene Roggensack (thirdsec@earthlink.net) for more information.
We’ve overHeard Happy and Enthusiastic Members Saying … …
“I’m here to meet my new best friend.” “Watch out, Grand Junction Lions Club!” “When my $100 is added to all the other gifts, it is quite significant – makes me feel like I’m Melinda Gates!!”
A very special THANK YOU to Springhill Suites for hosting The Giving Club’s quarterly gathering (and at no charge!), and to Cowboy and the Rose Catering for our delicious (and discounted!) culinary treats. Please let them both know how much you appreciate these contributions.
Partners received our August 2021 donations and much of the dedicated and talented staff showed up to accept the checks. Partners have had a tough go of it since COVID hit and were thrilled to received these donations.
SummitCare West received our May 2021 donations and were over the moon with excitement. The funds will go towards helping their pediatric clients.
THANK YOU …… Last February (2020), the Giving Club chose as the recipient of their donations the Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department. The purpose of the money was to help GPVFire to buy new “bunker gear”, the suits the volunteer firefighters wears at structure fires. Those purchases have been made and the volunteers are thrilled. They are so much safer now. Bert Nieslaniik, the member who nominated them and spoke of their need, asked volunteer firefighter Merce to pose for a picture in the new bunker gear so the Giving Club would see the result of this wonderful gift. She had just returned from a trailer house structural fire and she so appreciated the new gear. Thank you from Glade Park Fire.
