Tuesday, April 26, 2011

More News About Our Hope For Colorado Day, May 3


Our Hope for Colorado Day on Twitter, using the hashtag #OurHope4CO, is already shaping up to be a fun event. On May 3, Colorado people, businesses and nonprofit organizations will use the hashtag to tweet about their vision of Colorado in the future and their definitions of hope.

You are invited to tweet blog posts, videos, photos, presentations, or simple tweets stating your hopes. Anyone can get involved.

We are hoping to have some prizes for those who tweet using the hashtag. If your business would like to offer a prize, send me a DM so we can work out the details. Refer to my previous blog post about this as well.

Be sure to tell your Colorado followers about the day and encourage others to tweet their hopes. On May 3, retweet the hopes of others and connect with those who have similar hopes. It is a great way to get new followers as well.

I am planning to produce a paper.li based the hashtag. If you want your tweet to be in that paper, there must be a link attached to the tweet. Links to Facebook do not work so use a blog, video, presentation on YouTube, twitpic or post an article on a website and send the link.

Obviously, the more people RT, the more likely we are to trend on Twitter. Wouldn't it be great to see something positive, especially about our beloved state, in those trending topics for a change? We can do it!

See you on Our Hope for Colorado Day!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Our Hope For Colorado Day, May 3

Colorado: It's Time to Tweet About Hope

Our Hope For Colorado Day #OurHope4CO

May 3, 2011

@ConnectColorado on Twitter is initiating a new Twitter event called Our Hope For Colorado Day, which will take place on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The purpose of the event is to get Coloradan's thinking and tweeting about how we want our state to be in the future, and what we will each do to make it happen.


On May 3, use the #OurHope4CO hashtag to tweet your hope and your intended actions. Write about it in your blogs, in articles, on your websites. Make a Youtube video about your hope. Write a song. Tweet it on that day, with the hashtag.


Every person, business and charity in our state has some kind of hope they want to see realized. Tweet about it and find others who share your vision. Let's get #OurHope4CO to trend on Twitter that day. Let's bring our hopes to the attention of our leaders.


This is an "all-in" event. You can do a lot with #OurHope4CO day, whether you are an individual, business or organization:


If you are a company on Twitter based in Colorado, you can even run your own contests on that day, based on the number of people who tweet using the hashtag. If you want to do that, contact me with a DM just so I am aware of it and can help promote it. I do not have the ability to run contests but you are welcome to do so if you have the ability. Companies obviously also have their own hopes for Colorado and I encourage you to tweet about them, too.


If you are a Colorado nonprofit organization, use #OurHope4CO day to envision a Colorado where your mission has been accomplished. Write a blog post or do a video. Tell people what you need from them to realize the dream. Tell people what you are doing now. Ask for support.


If you are an individual, tweet your hopes as well and you will be able to find other people who share your vision. Tweet hopes for our children, yourself, or any issue that is near and dear to your heart.


About politics: If you intend to tweet about political issues for #OurHope4CO day, all I ask is that you keep it really positive. I don't tweet about politics because there are so many other outlets for that, and because it has become so extremely divided and negative.


So, @ConnectColorado followers, start thinking about your hopes and dreams for our beautiful state and be ready to tweet about it on May 3!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Market Your Business - Do Good for the Community

One of the ways businesses can market their products or services while also doing good for the community is by supporting local charity fundraising events. Your business can support organizations by investing sometimes just a few dollars in donations of services or products to silent auctions or by sponsoring parts of the events. The following Colorado organizations have events coming up and they are in need of business contributions to make them succussful. Here are some ideas for what to donate for silent auction items:

  • Something that belongs to your company like your box at a sporting event

  • Services

  • Products

  • Something else donated in the name of your company

  • Use of your vacation property

  • Sports memorabilia

  • Collector items and antiques

  • Artwork

  • Gift baskets

  • Tickets to events

  • Fun experiences like creating your own pottery

  • Spa services

  • Gift certificates

  • Jewelry

  • Smaller items that could be put into gift baskets

  • Packages like a night on the town including limo and dinner

  • Services of all kinds like cleaning, chef for a night, snow removal, lawn maintenance

  • Golf course foursomes at private clubs

  • Electronics

  • Airline tickets

  • Ski packages

  • Dinner for two at a restaurant
Kids in Need of Dentistry (also known as KIND) @Kindsmiles - is the oldest dental charity in the country. They provide dental care to over 7,000 low-income children in Colorado each year. KIND is currently planning for two events:

Strokes of Kindness Golf Tournament - will be held on June 20, 2011 at The Golf Club at Bear Dance Larkspur, CO. The event is attended by dental professionals and supporters of KIND. A silent auction is held at the event as well. KIND is in need of:

Contact for the golf tournament is Sally Walker 303-733-3710

Wine and Cheese Fundraiser for the Colorado Springs clinic - will be held August 25 at the Warehouse in Colorado Springs. The event is attended by 75-90 people from the Colorado Springs community who support KIND's efforts. KIND is in need of:


  • Silent auction items

  • Community members who would like to attend

Contact for this event is Sharon Fabrizius 719-227-1018


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Denver Urban Ministries (also known as DenUM) @DenUMhope- provides emergency and job services for homeless and nearly homeless individuals and families.


Contact: Amanda Baker 303-350-5066


DenUM's Hope Benefit - will celebrate 30 years of DenUM's service to the community. Approximately 125 people attend the event, many of which are from local churches. There will be a silent auction to raise money for DenUM's services as well.


DenUM is in need of:



  • Silent auction items

  • Attendees are welcome! Click on the above Hope Benefit link for info.

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Firefly Autism @FireflyAutism - is the largest autism center in Colorado, and the only comprehensive center serving children 18 months to 18 years old.


Contact: Lisa Lujan 303-759-1192 x 18


Firefly Autism's Bright Futures Luncheon - will be held May 9 in a private home on the Denver Polo Club grounds. The featured speaker is renouned author Lee Woodruff from ABC and the New York Times. Expected attendance is 150 guests. The event will help them to build a playground.


Firefly Autism is in need of:



View a full sponsorship information packet for this event


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Share Our Strength Cooking Matters (@ADDCrafter is the contact on Twitter) - provides a cooking and nutrition educational program that helps low-income families to learn to cook nutritious meals on a low budget.


Contact: Carrie Packard 303-892-8480


The event, called Denver Chefs Up Front, is Denver’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid grows up hungry. It will be held April 17 at the Colorado Convention Center's Korbel Ballroom. They expect over 300 attendees at the event.


Chefs Up Front is in need of: