YOUR AD HERE »

Get ready to give: Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday

Bravo! Vail fans will be able to see more of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in the future. The London-based orchestra is one of four orchestras in residence during the Bravo! Vail Music Festival.
Zach Mahone | Special to the Daily |

EAGLE COUNTY — The clock is ticking on the biggest single day in Colorado philanthropy.

The seventh annual Colorado Gives Day is on Tuesday. On that date, nonprofit groups around the state benefit from a focused period of online giving. The day was initiated by the Community First Foundation, and on that day, FirstBank handles the transactions, and there are some matching funds available.

This year, 52 local nonprofit groups are participating. Here’s a look at the roster of worthy causes.



Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail is one of Colorado’s premier botanical gardens. We specialize in growing and studying alpine flora. Situated on five acres in Ford Park, the Gardens is free and open to the public year round with over 100,000 guests annually. The Gardens consists of five themed gardens, the Education Center, an Alpine House or cold green house, volunteer cabin and two gift shops.

Support Local Journalism



The plant collection has more than 3,000 species of alpine and mountain plants, including the nationally accredited collection of Colorado’s alpine flora.The plants are displayed and carefully labelled with accompanying interpretive notebook pages for more in-depth learning.

The Education Center opened in July 2015. The 3,000 square foot building includes a room of interactive exhibits, an Alpine House or cold greenhouse growing rare and unusual plant species, a horticultural library, workspace for volunteers and staff and a rooftop terrace with a living roof. The building is giving us the indoor space to dramatically increase our educational programs. New programs include traveling exhibits to explain more complex biological ideals; exceptional presentations to provide fascinating insight into the traveling museums; and a series of hands-on workshops and informative classes.

In addition, we have an active focus on the conservation and science of the plant world. Experimenting with various propagating techniques, we are learning how to successfully grow endangered plants. We are a Seeds of Success Partner with the Bureau of Land Management. The seeds we collect are helping improve habitat for the rare sage grouse and stock seed banks. After almost thirty years this organization has positioned itself as a leader in alpine plant education and is ready to play its educational role in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

Bright Future Foundation

Domestic violence and sexual abuse impact members of our mountain community, regardless of background and circumstance. As Eagle County’s only community-based domestic violence and sexual abuse response agency, Bright Future Foundation provides prevention, intervention, advocacy and long-term healing services. Our core programs include a 24/7 crisis hotline in English and Spanish, emergency shelter at Freedom Ranch Safehouse, a Rapid-ReHousing initiative, counseling services, legal representation, financial literacy, youth advocacy and mentorship and outreach education.

Bright Future annually serves approximately 700 local survivors and their families with crisis intervention and advocacy services.

Bright Future is committed to preventing violence in our community and to creating protective environments where people work, live, and play. Our Youth Violence Prevention Programs serve Eagle County youth in school-based and mentorship initiatives. Buddy Mentors matches adult role models with children who can benefit from positive support and guidance. Youth involved with a mentor show increased confidence in academic work and increased success in sustaining healthy relationships. Our EmpowerMENt and EmpowerHERment Programs provide young men and women the tools, skills and confidence needed to prevent or successfully break free from the generational cycle of abuse.

Bright Future believes that every client, no matter how great the adversity, has the strength within to live fuller, happier and more productive lives. Clients are served holistically in an effort to support each of them to experience long-term change and ultimately individual self-sufficiency.

Bravo! Vail Music Festival

Celebrating 30 years in 2017, Bravo! Vail brings exceptional orchestral and chamber music to the Vail Valley. The Festival is proud to continue its tradition of hosting the very best orchestras, soloists, chamber ensembles, education programs and free concerts.

The 2017 season of Bravo! Vail will feature its four resident orchestras: London’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields with violinist Joshua Bell; the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; The Philadelphia Orchestra; and the New York Philharmonic. The schedule also includes the Chamber Music, Classically Uncorked and Linda & Mitch Hart Soiree Series. Dozens of free programs take place throughout the summer, including the Free Concert Series, Little Listeners @ the Library, the Free Family Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo and the Bravo! Vail After Dark Series.

Bravo! Vail’s involvement in the community continues year-round. Bravo! Vail’s After-School Piano Program includes more than 120 students across Eagle County during the academic year, giving children access to in-depth music lessons, training and appreciation.

Bravo! Vail’s dream is to inspire a music-loving community in which the finest performers, composers, instruments and instruction are accessible to everyone.


Support Local Journalism