BRIEFS

Boulder-based Community Food Share was named a Boulder County Partner for Food Safety as part of a voluntary cooperative effort between the food-service industry and Boulder County Public Health. The incentive program recognizes facilities in Boulder County which practice excellent food safety.

Boulder County residents gave more than $1.6 million to charities on Tuesday, Dec. 4, as part of Colorado Gives Day 2012. That was about $554,000 more than the $1,087,325 that Boulder County residents donated to charities for Colorado Gives Day in 2011. The third annual charity giving day in 2012 was sponsored by Arvada-based Community First Foundation and FirstBank Holding Co. in Lakewood. In Boulder County, 137 nonprofit groups received $1.3 million — the majority of the money raised — from the 2012 charitable giving day. In 2011, 97 local charities received $942,000. In all, Colorado residents made about $15 million in donations to charities across the state on Dec. 4, about $2.6 million more than the year before.

Terry Benjamin, executive director of the Emergency Family Assistance Association for the past 33 years, will retire this year, according to the Boulder-based nonprofit. During his tenure, EFAA has expanded dramatically, according to its newsletter. Private contributions have increased from $12,000 in 1980 to an expected $2.1 million in 2013, and EFAA’s shelter program has expanded from five to 53 units. EFAA provides assistance to people who need food, shelter and other necessities but cannot attain them. It also helps people improve their self-sufficiency.


FUNDRAISERS

Imagine!, a nonprofit based in Lafayette that provides support to people with cognitive, developmental, physical and health-related needs, presents the 12th Annual Imagine! Celebration, a fundraiser, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, at the Best Western Plus Plaza Conference Center, 1850 Industrial Circle, Longmont. Imagine! is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Cost is $95 per person. Table for 10 is $1,250. Register online at imaginecolorado.org/foundCelebration.htm.

Blooming in Boulder County, an event-planning organization, will present its Blooming Hearts fundraiser from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, at Great Frame Up, 430 Main St., Longmont. The fundraiser will benefit Boulder County AIDS Project, Longmont Humane Society and Via. Live music, dancing, finger foods and professional entertainers. Cost is $45 and includes a $15 contribution to the hosted nonprofits and two drink tokens. Tickets available online at www.Brownpapertickets.com/event/307955 or by contacting Barbara Douglass, 303-588-5157, bloomingbarbara@gmail.com.


GOOD DEEDS

Boulder-based Pain Free Living Inc., founded by Lynne Sanditen, will donate a percentage of the sales for one month of its KidneyDiet app to the Lopez Foundation, founded by actor George Lopez. The money will help children with kidney disease be able to enjoy a weekend camp through the California-based foundation’s Kidney & Transplant Camps. The app is a tool that makes it easy for patients and their families to understand what’s safe or dangerous to eat.

Longmont-based nonprofit First Nations Development Institute received $20,000 from the Comcast Foundation to fund production of video public service announcements, plus $1 million worth of airtime from Comcast to broadcast the announcements’ reach. First Nations hopes to launch its PSA campaign early this year in selected Comcast cable TV markets around the nation after first producing the spots locally.


GRANTS

Lafayette-based Imagine! received two grants totaling $10,318 from Energy Outreach Colorado through its Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program. The grants are for energy upgrades at two Imagine! residences. This support will reduce Imagine!’s energy consumption and costs at these homes, strengthening its capacity to provide a variety of services to people of all ages with developmental delays and disabilities throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Longmont-based First Nations Development Institute received $20,000 from the Comcast Foundation to fund production of video public service advertisements, plus $1 million worth of airtime from Comcast to broadcast the PSAs. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States.