The holidays are a special time to give, which is why Denver7 and Larry H. Miller Dealerships teamed up this holiday season to spread joy and recognize charities that are making a difference in the lives of people throughout Colorado communities.
To make this season a little brighter for these deserving charities, employees from Boulder and Denver metro dealerships shared the spirit of giving by surprising five local charities with $10,000 grants to support their programs that benefit children and families.
Jeffco Eats: The mission of Jeffco Eats is to provide food to kids and families over the weekends to ensure that no child goes hungry. The charity distributes food to children in Jeffco Title One Schools and GAP schools during 39 weeks of school and summer. Currently, they provide food to over 12 Title I and GAP schools which serve 400 children who receive food weekly. Recipients are provided seven items a week (approximately eight pounds of food) that is shelf-stable. The donation will help to continue to expand the program to impact more youth and families in need https://jeffcoeats.org/.
Joyful Journeys: In addition to providing year-round youth enrichment programs, Joyful Journeys helps to run the Adams County Santa Shop this time of year and provides Christmas to over 1,300 children and their families. The donation will help to support this annual program and provide Christmas dinner, gifts and stocking stuffers https://joyfuljourneyscommunityenrichment.org/.
Hope House: Hope House is metro-Denver’s only resource providing free self-sufficiency programs to teen moms. The $10,000 donation will support their community programs, which help at-risk teen moms reach economic and personal self-sufficiency. Teen mothers are one of the most vulnerable populations: 67 percent live below the federal poverty line, less than 50 percent earn a high school diploma and less than two percent will ever graduate college. The funds will support their Community Programs, which take place at their Resource Center in Westminster. These programs include a GED program, college and career program and early learning programs https://www.hopehouseofcolorado.org/.
America’s Kids Belong/ Dream Makers Program: Dream Makers targets vulnerable youth aging out of the foster care system across Colorado – more than 300 youth age out annually in Colorado. These teens often don’t have any family or resources to help them get started and navigate their lives. The grant from LHM Charities will help fulfill dreams of more than 50 young people ages 16-25. Fulfilled dreams can be things like vocational training and tuition support, basic tangible needs, positive-confidence boosting hobbies, down payments on a first car for a job, clothes for a job interview, or a deposit on an apartment http://americaskidsbelong.org/co/.
Impact on Education: Impact on Education supports all Boulder Valley public schools (BVSD). Their wide-ranging projects and programs drive innovation and foster excellence throughout BVSD, and impact over 31,000 local students and 4,000 educators each school year. Their focus is on improving equity, including addressing economic and learning barriers that curtail success, promoting innovation in education, and fostering excellence in instruction. The $10,000 grant will support their Opportunity Fund, which provides resources to ensure that all BVSD K-12 students can participate in extra-curricular clubs and sports, acquire school supplies and participate in enrichment experiences https://www.impactoneducation.org/.
“Many of these charities give throughout the year, often with a lot of love but with limited resources,” explained Ray Reilly, senior vice president, Larry H. Miller Dealerships. “5 Days of Giving provided us with a unique opportunity to share their stories and give them a special gift so that their work to impact the lives of people and to strengthen our communities can continue.”
Through its charitable organization, Larry H. Miller Charities, more than $800,000 has been donated to qualified nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado since 1997. For more information on Larry H. Miller Dealerships and how they’re giving back in the community, visit LHMAuto.com/Community.