Accessing Lists on New New Twitter

If you have had problems accessing your lists on Twitter since the change over to "New New Twitter", here is a temporary solution I have found. This problem only seems to impact those who use the Twitter interface, not those who use Tweetdeck, etc.

Each of your Twitter lists have their own URL. The URLS are formatted like this:
https://twitter.com/#!/yourtwittername/name-of-list

Notice that there are dashes between words on the name of your list if it is more than one word. If you type the URL of your list in your browser, you can then bookmark it.

Good luck!

Giving to Charity: A Gift to Yourself

In this last couple of days of 2011, take a few minutes to reflect back on the year and ask yourself: Did I receive a gift from a charity this year? And...did I give back to that charity?


Sometimes people don't realize that they have benefitted from the work of a nonprofit organization. When we give to charity, we often think of it as giving to others. But you have most likely received a gift from charity some time this year. You have benefitted from charity if:

• Your parents, grandparents or other family members have received services from a hospice when they were at the end of their life.


• An environmental hazard was threatening your community and it was stopped or cleaned up.


• Your child was in the hospital.


• You used data from a research study to write a paper or proposal.


• Anyone in your family has a disability or mental health issues.


• You learned about an important social or community problem.


• You, your neighbor, or someone in your family received foreclosure prevention counseling.


• You visted a museum, gallery or went to a music, dance or theatre performance.


• You enjoyed a day at a wildlife refuge or even a national park.


• You adopted a new family pet.


• You gave or received blood.


• Anyone you know has been a victim of crime or domestic violence.


• You bought anything at a thrift store.


• The legislature received testimony about an issue that impacts your life.


• You love to watch NOVA, Nature or Colorado State of Mind or Sesame Street on TV


• A senior citizen in your family received a meal at home, goes to a day program or many other things.


• A struggling child you know received tutoring.


• Someone you know received food from a food bank, or utility assistance.

Obviously, this isn't everything. There are thousands of causes. What is most important is that you understand that we are all impacted by the work of charities every single day. When we give to charity, we are giving back what we have used, in addition to helping others.

Remember the charities that helped you this year and give what you can. Charities are grateful for every single dollar they receive, so don't worry if you can't give a lot.

Happy New Year!

Colorado Still Believes in Santa

Dear Colorado:

I still believe - do you?

Colorado is a generous community of people, as proven by your incredible donations on Colorado Gives Day, Indygive and Season to Share. Not to mention all of your other donations and volunteerism that is evident on Twitter every day.

I still believe that people are basically good. And if people are not showing that goodness, at minimum they still want to be good - and we can help them get there. I believe that Coloradans care about protecting our beautiful lands. I believe that we can still lift people out of bad circumstances if we work together. I believe Colorado is a rather magical place, filled with so many different kinds of people who know how to "rally."

I believe in you, Santa Colorado. And if we continue to believe together, then 2012 will be a great year.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays filled with prosperity, friends and family.

Renee @ConnectColorado

P.S: Here's the link again for tracking Santa through NORAD

Colorado Gives BIG in 2011!!!

Dear Colorado Followers of @ConnectColorado,
On December 6, 2011, Colorado has an opportunity to GIVE BIG to support local charities through the second annual Colorado Gives Day.

Colorado Gives Day is a project by the Community First Foundation. Last year, Colorado Gives Day raised $8.7 Million for Colorado charities! Let's see if we can beat that this year!

On December 6, Go to the Colorado Gives Day website and search for your favorite charites. You can donate to several charities all at once. Your donations are multiplied by some matching funds from local businesses. This year, they have even added a fantastic incentive called Bonus Bucks. "Bonus Bucks are prizes in the amount of $1,000 each. At least once per hour on Colorado Gives Day a donor will be randomly chosen, and the nonprofit associated with the donation will receive the cash prize!"

Twitter is an extremely valuable vehicle for promoting Colorado Gives Day. And that is where you come in. I know that my followers on @ConnectColorado are very interested in supporting charities. So would you please help me out and watch for my tweets concerning #COGivesDay and be sure to RT them so that we reach thousands of Coloradans?

December 6 on @ConnectColorado will be devoted to #COGivesDay. I hope you will participate in all the excitement and tweet with me. My tweets will be excessive on that day and I hope that you will understand.

No matter what you can afford to give to your favorite charities on Colorado Gives Day, your donation will have a significant impact. Being involved in promoting the event and sharing stories about your own favorite charities that are participating will also be very helpful. Be sure to use the #COGivesDay hashtag!

Thanks everyone!

New Hashtags for ConnectColorado

Photo by me! Taken near Tarryall, CO

Dear Followers:
As I said in my previous blog post, @ConnectColorado tries to tweet positive messages or to help the Colorado community in a positive way through Twitter. I try not to tweet bad news, political news, etc. that you get way too much of anyway.

I am starting some new hashtags on @ConnectColorado, and I want to explain why.

New hashtag #1 - #COMissing = Colorado Missing Persons
Twitter is a very powerful tool and just a moment of your time could help someone to find their loved one. A couple of years ago, the son of a friend of mine went missing. He was 19 years old and had a medical condition. I learned about how difficult it was for parents of adults to get help finding their loved ones. My friend's son was murdered - all for an Xbox, but it was possible he could have been found alive with more "eyes" looking for him. That is why I want to do this. I will be using only verified resources, by the way.

New hashtag #2 - #COHistory = Colorado History
Tweets about Colorado's rich (and often fun) history have been very popular on @ConnectColorado so the hashtag will help to find them all in one place. If you have a #COHistory tweet, be sure to tell me!

New hashtag #3 - #COEvent = Colorado Events
I don't tweet about ALL types events. They have to be for community good, arts & culture, nonprofit fundraising, etc. I consider the community value of the information. But if you have an event, let me know.

Old Hashtags I have used:
In the past, I started a couple of fun hashtags:
#ToCatchaDoGooder - is to highlight good deeds done by followers. If you see a do-gooder tweet, let me know!
#OurHope4CO - is used for Our Hope for Colorado Day, which I started this year

A note about Follow Friday #FF
I really appreciate all of the Follow Friday mentions from my followers! I do need you to know, however, that I don't RT all #FF mentions. I ONLY #FF Colorado peeps, because I only follow Colorado peeps. But I do mention everyone who does #FF me.

Every day is charity day on @ConnectColorado though. If you are trying to raise money for your favorite charity, please let me know!

Thank you all for following @ConnectColorado.

Wanted: News About YOU

Dear @ConnectColorado Followers:

If you read my tweets fairly often, you may have noticed a theme. I like to tweet about the "good life" in Colorado. (And will also pitch in when there is a disaster like the fires).

There is so much bad news that we are bombarded with every day. Instead, I am working to build a Colorado community of people and organizations that inspire one another.

So, I am inviting you great followers to send me tweets about you that I can retweet. Tell me about something you have done or you are doing like:

• Did you climb a 14er recently?


• Did you volunteer at a local nonprofit?


• Are you doing a project for school kids?


• Did you build a community garden?


• Do you need support for a walk or bike-a-thon you are doing for charity?


• Is your company doing something for charity? For example, @friskboutique recently did a diaper drive for Denver Urban Ministries.


• Are you organizing a tweet-up or flash mob?


• Are you trying to help an elderly neighbor to fix their house? Do you need help with that?

You get the idea, I'm sure!

People ask me all the time to retweet business-type tweets. I really like to help my followers, but straight up business promotion is not the purpose of @ConnectColorado. However, I am happy to help if your tweet has some kind of community support aspect to it. For example, if your company is cleaning up Colfax Avenue, let me know about it!

A special note to Colorado nonprofits: Whether you realize this or not, I already follow your tweets VERY closely. If you are following me, I watch your tweets to find things to retweet. If you are not following me, I don't retweet you! (And you probably aren't reading this anyway if you aren't following me!). But, I will ALWAYS retweet things that you need to have retweeted. If I have missed an important tweet, make sure you let me know.

I just wanted followers to know what I want to retweet. If you have retweeted me in the past, I put you on my Colorado Interacters lists, and I look at those lists to find great news about you that I can retweet. But again, if I missed something important, please let me know!

Thanks! Send me your tweets @ConnectColorado - not DM's. Be sure to include LINKS if it is something that people need more information about or if donations are involved! Give me all the info people want to know.

Happy tweeting Colorado!

Colorado Twitter Users Give Thumbs Up to Local Charities

Followers of @ConnectColorado recently gave testimonials about their favorite Colorado charities. The purpose of gathering this information is to help others to find reasons to support local charities, through the experiences of others. Here's what they had to say:

Follower @futurismguy recommends The Gathering Place (@TGPDenver ). He says he supports them because "1. They do a great job by all accounts. 2. They have the Enterprise Zone tax credit. 3. I've noticed that politically conservative men often have a distaste for helping women in need. This disgusts me and makes me want to do the opposite."

Follower @2whlfun recommends Trips for Kids Denver/Boulder (@Tfkdenver ) because TFK connects over 1,000 underserved youngsters to cycling and the great outdoors each year.

Follower @indygive recommends Citizens Project (@citizensproject) because, "They work toward equality in the city of Colorado Springs and educating the public on why it's important."

An employee of Imagine! (@ImagineCOinfo) in Lafayette recommends the organization in saying "I've worked at Imagine! for 28 years and have seen first hand the impact that Imagine!'s services have had on people with developmental disabilities to support them to be successful citizens. There are thousands of good organizations in Colorado however, and I cheerfully support others too."

Follower @jhamps recommends Boulder County CareConnect (@CareConnectboco). She says, "CareConnect is a life-line for older adults and adults with disabilities in Boulder County. Many clients do not have loved ones nearby to help with everyday tasks that most of us take for granted. By providing volunteers to deliver groceries, drive clients to medical appointments and perform minor home repairs CareConnect allows members of our community the opportunity to remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible."

Follower @alainagreen24 recommends Jewish Family Services (@JFS_Colo)
She says, "I'm biased because I work there, but it is a great organization because it helps more than 23,000 people each year from all faiths, incomes, races, etc. at difficult times in their lives!"

Follower @FireBug501 recommends Women's Resource Center in Larimer County (@WRC4Larimer) , "Because of the impact they have on their community, helping women pay for early detection of breast and cervical cancers."

Follower @Cactus_Mike recommends Big City Mountaineers (@bigcitymtneers) saying, "Having volunteered with BCM, I have had the joy of witnessing the transformative power of nature on the lives of young adults. This is a fantastic organization that enriches lives, broadens horizons and instills critical life skills."

Follower @lauralje recommends Mission of Mercy (@onechildmatters). She says, "Because their works makes a drastic difference in the lives of children."

Follower @clkinkel recommends Denver Hospice (@DenverHospice). "I respect and admire the mission of the Denver Hospice to provide comfort, compassion, and expertise to not only patients in their care but their families and community as well. I believe the Hospice embodies a philosophy of living and embracing each day we are given."

Follower @WestCOCongress recommends the Gill Foundation (@Gillfoundation) because of their "commitment to building progressive infrastructure, appreciation for diversity, and stewardship of community."

Follower @cpat71 recommends Water for People (@waterforpeople). "They help communities in developing countries to build and maintain infrastructure for clean, safe drinking water and sanitation. A huge need, which has far-reaching effects on improving every aspect of life."

Follower @lindseykatapski recommends Center for Native Ecosystems (@NativeEco) because, "They do a fantastic job of connecting, protecting, and restoring wildlife and wild lands in the Southern Rockies!"

Follower @daviescreative recommends Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (@nilmdtsHQ). He says, "They provide an amazingly important service completely free, and all of the service providers (I'm one) donate their time and expenses."

An anonymous person recommends Operation Homefront of Colorado (@OHColorado) because, "It supports our Military!"

Follower @AlphaOmegaAcct recommends Lights for Life (@LightsforLife ) She says, "They recycle Christmas lights to support kids with cancer - I cant think of a better use for Christmas."

Follower @flatlanderesque volunteers for and recommends Metro Denver Partners (@DenverPartners).

Follower @CBix4 recommends OpenWorld Learning (@OpenWorld_Learn). He says, "It is the best after-school program in DPS. They focus on a whole-child approach using technology as a tool to get kids excited about learning."

Follower @eedesign recommends Womens Bean Project (@womensbean ). She says, "Women's Bean Project teaches skills to break the cycle of poverty. Bean mixes are DELICIOUS! For 15+ years we've enjoyed those mixes!"

Follower @dana_rinder recommends Junior League of Denver (@jldenver ) because they provide great training!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey! Please Retweet this post and let your charities know they were highlighted!

Colorado Cares!

Followers of @ConnectColorado have been extremely helpful by voting for local charities to win thousands of dollars from contests. You can have a tremendous impact on our state, just by taking a minute to click and vote for charities in these contests. Here is a list of the Colorado organizations that are currently in the running for contests. Please help them out! Bookmark this page because I will be updating it regularly. (Colorado nonprofits, send me a tweet with your contest information and I will add it. ONLY organizations helping Coloradans, please).

New! Get $100,000 for Lutheran Family Services

Lutheran Family Services of Colorado is a faith based, non-profit human service agency helping children and families during their most challenging times. We have been committed to serving all people, regardless of race, religion, gender or age since 1948.

Vivant is giving away $100K to the charities with the most votes per-region. Endorse Lutheran Family Services! Vote here: http://ow.ly/50PUP

Get $25,000 for SOS Outreach
SOS Outreach was founded in 1993 in Colorado’s Vail Valley. As a nonprofit organization, SOS programs build character and self-esteem in youth through outdoor activities and the SOS curriculum. SOS served 5,190 youth in 2009-2010 and offered 18,553 total program days. This year SOS is projected to serve 5,500 youth in 15 states and New Zealand.

SOS Outreach is in a contest run by the Keg Steakhouse and Bar. Vote for them once a day until June 14! Vote here: http://fb.me/GlfGvpbx


Get a share of $2.5 Million for Trees Water People!
Trees, Water & People is improving people's lives by helping communities to protect, conserve and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term well-being depends.

TWP is in a contest with Chase Giving. They won $25,000 in the first round and are now on to the second round where the top 100 charities will share in $2.5 Million.

Vote for them daily May 19-25 Vote here: http://bit.ly/jS3b2F

Get $500 for one of three charities:
My Colorado Project is running monthly contests based on photo and other submissions. The winning charities receive $500. Right now, there are 3 charities in the running:

Epilepsy Foundation - Help support the Epilepsy Foundation's summer camp and brings smiles like this to the faces of many of our youth. It's a sound investment in our future!

The Gathering Place - The Gathering Place is Denver's only daytime drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. They provide an average of 5400 meals a month.

The Children’s Hospital Foundation - In 1978, The Children’s Hospital Foundation was formally established as a separate charitable 501(c)(3) organization dedicated solely to advancing the mission of The Children’s Hospital. The Foundation has three purposes:
1. Educating and engaging the community on the hospital’s behalf
2. Fundraising for the hospital
3. Investing funds raised on behalf of the hospital

VOTE HERE for one of these three charities until May 31 (You can only vote once): http://www.mycoloradoproject.org/contest/volunteers-action

Get an award and potential sponsors for Denver B-Cycle
Denver B-Cycle is working to bring bike-sharing to Denver.

B-Cycle is in a contest on Challenge.gov which is raising awareness about bike-sharing – something so many of my followers are interested in.
“Like” their entry here: http://healthylivinginnovation.challenge.gov/submissions/2499-denver-b-cycle

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!

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!

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:

• Sponsors such as hole sponsors - see information sheet


• Silent Auction Items


• Golfers! - see registration form

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

___________________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________________________

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:

• Wine donations


• Event sponsors


• Attendees are welcome! Click Here for Tickets!

View a full sponsorship information packet for this event

___________________________________________________________________

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:

• 11 cases if mixed wine donations from Colorado wine distributers specifically (this is an urgent need)


• Event sponsors - see the event sponsor sheet


• Attendees are welcome! Buy tickets here

Look What You've Done!

(Photo by Jim Moore)

I thought it was high time for @ConnectColorado followers to know about some of the results you have accomplished for our great state as a result of interacting on Twitter. These are just things I know about! If you have others that came about because of something you saw on @ConnectColorado, please send me a DM and I will add it to this list!

• Your votes for Kids in Need of Dentistry (@KindSmiles)got them a grant for $20,000 to provide dental care for low-income children.
• Your donations and massive RT's for Colorado Gives Day #COGivesDay from @GivingFirst netted over $8 Million for Colorado charities.
• A twitter connection from @ConnectColorado helped the National Organization to End the Waiting Lists @NOEWAIT to find a documentary film maker.
• National Milddog Rescue @milddogrescue adopted out at least one former puppy mill dog.
• Local nonprofit consultant Janine Vanderburg @JVA_Consulting won a contest to provide training for baby boomers to help charities to raise money because of your votes and RT's.
• People affected by the #BoulderFire got information they needed because of your RT's -and probably direct help from some of you.
• Many of you have voted for my photo for charity, too! That contest ends at the end of the month and I need a LOT more "Likes!" Click here to vote!
  

Keep up the GREAT fun! Remember, I will RT anything that has to do with the good life in Colorado and especially charity. If you are part of a walk-a-thon or anything like that, let me know! Colorado charities who follow me know they can ask for a RT any time and I usually RT many of them anyway. I don't RT commercial stuff - but I will if it is connected to charity fundraising.

Thanks everyone!

The "Bottom" Line for Homeless Families

As a parent, I remember those days of potty training my boys that entailed lots of patience, plenty of consistency and encouragement, and of course, lots of M&M's for rewards. We'd make several trips a day to our bathroom right up the hall in our own house. That's how it is supposed to be, right?

But when you are homeless, there is no schedule. There is no ability to be consistent. In fact, there may not even be a bathroom readily available. Add to that the fact that you have no money.

So what happens when a homeless child who should be a long-time potty user isn't potty trained? Well, the "bottom" line is unimaginable for most of us - they walk around in soiled diapers for very long periods of time. This is not only unhealthy but also embarassing and completely uncomfortable!

Yesterday I was speaking to the good folks over at Denver Urban Ministries @DenUMhope about this problem. I am writing to all of you today to ask you to help DenUM build up their diaper donations to give to families experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty. DenUM needs large size diapers, sizes 4, 5 and 6. Maybe you could consider:
1. Bringing DenUM packs of diapers your child grew out of
2. Having a "bottom" line party and collecting diapers for DenUM
3. Telling everyone you know about the enormous need for diapers
4. Doing a diaper collection at your place of business

Last year, DenUM had some diapers they were able to give to families in need. Sadly, each family they served was only able to receive ten diapers. Can you imagine having to get by on ten diapers? People tend to give more diapers for newborns than older children, but it is those large diapers that are needed for those kids who are so sadly waiting for their potty training who need them.

If you are interested in helping DenUM, located on Colfax Ave. and Williams Street in Denver, please go to their website to see the days and times they can accept donations. Go to DenUM's website

Note that they also need many other food items!
Thanks!

Guest Blogger Wanted: Mental Health in Colorado

Recently on PBS, some professionals were interviewed about mental health in the U.S. and what people who knew the perpetrator of the Tucson tragedy should have done to help him. One expert said that citizens can call community mental health centers to report such a person. However, I am questioning whether or not that is true in Colorado.

@ConnectColorado is looking for guest bloggers who can write in response to the Tucson tragedy about how to access mental health services, how to help a person who is displaying mental health problems and not getting help and where citizens can call if they think someone needs help.

I will post your information on this blog and tweet it to the over 6,000 Colorado followers on @ConnectColorado. If you can contribute to this, please DM me. You have to be following me to DM me. If you are unable to DM, send me an @mention.
Thanks

Wanted: Social Good Filmmaker

I volunteer for an organization called the National Organization to End the Waiting Lists - www.noewait.net and @NOEWAIT on Twitter. I don't even know if this is possible, but I know I have many film people following on @ConnectColorado so I am going to ask.

NOEWAIT's social issue is that of people with developmental disabilities who are waiting for decades to receive services all over the country. I created a YouTube video for NOEWAIT which has gotten not only over 10,000 YouTube views, but has been played at several large conferences for people with disabilities and their families. I am obviously an amateur but the project was very successful.

I have this idea that we need a professional documentary film to be produced that follows the lives of people on waiting lists all over the country with the hopes that it could be aired on Public Television as well. The purpose is to help people to understand how devastating it is for the families who are waiting. NOEWAIT has collected large numbers of stories from various states including Colorado and could help the filmmaker to find the right families and individuals to feature.

I am wondering if there are any filmmakers out there who would take on a project like this - but the catch is of course we have no funding whatsoever to do it (sorry). I figured that an experienced filmmaker knows where to get funding, is that right? And experienced filmmakers also know how to get films shown on PBS, right?

If you think you can do something like this, please DM me on @ConnectColorado and I will send you my email address. If you are unable to DM me, follow the link to my website from my Twitter page and email me that way.

Give Twice for Christmas Colorado!

You can give twice this Christmas! The following is a list of ways to give back this Christmas in Colorado.

If you have something to add to this blog, DM me @ConnectColorado (you must be following me to DM me!) I will be updating as time goes on and tweeting it, too!

Photo by: John Lovekin @SanJuanJon

Volunteer and Donation Opportunities for Christmas:

COLORADO SPRINGS

Christmas for needy children: The Bob Telmosse Christmas Giveaway, 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. Mon. Dec. 20. Set up is this weekend at 117 W. Vermijo.
You can volunteer or donate toys and food.
http://santa-bob.org/
Twitter: @toysandturkeys

Colorado Springs Indy Give – Donations, Volunteers, Giving Stuff!
Give! is the Colorado Springs Independent's year-end multimedia and guerilla marketing campaign designed to generate funds, volunteers and applause for the important work local nonprofits perform.
http://www.indygive.com/
Twitter @indygive

DENVER METRO AREA

Care 4 Colorado Toy Drive for the Boys & Girls Clubs!
CBS4 in Denver is collecting toys at area King Soopers to benefit children at Boys & Girls Clubs in metro Denver.
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2010/12/05/care-4-colorado-toy-drive/
Twitter: @cbs4denver and @BGCMetroDenver

Bonfils Blood Center Gift wrapping fundraiser: 12/18 and 19. http://ht.ly/3pSp8
On Twitter: @bonfilsdotorg

Denver Urban Gardens – Adorable notecards as gifts (order online)
Denver Urban Gardens has garden-themed notecards designed by student community gardeners at Fairview Elementary. All proceeds go to Denver Urban Gardens Programs: http://dug.org/garden-note-cards
Twitter: @DUGtweet

Metro Volunteers – Holiday Volunteer Guide
Metro Volunteers produces a Holiday Volunteer Guide which is available on their website at http://www.metrovolunteers.org/. They tell me that many of these volunteer opportunities around the holidays do fill up quickly but they wanted me to convey to you that they don’t want you to get discouraged. There are many ways to volunteer during the holidays such as finding something in you neighborhood to do. Park clean-up, snow shoveling for a neighbor, bringing a plate of cookies to someone homebound are all great ideas. Watch their website for year round opportunities.
Twitter: @MetroVolunteers

FORT COLLINS

Christmas for @Turning_Point kids
Holiday parties for children served by Turning Point, a residential treatment center for kids 11 – 17 years old. Parties to be held Saturday, Dec. 18. The first is at the boys house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., located at 801 South Shields (across from Moby Gym), Ft. Collins. There are usually 25-30 boys. The second party the same day is at the Girl’s House from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m., located at 614 South Matthews St., Ft. Collins, CO. There are usually 16-20 girls. They also need help earlier that morning and/or the night before loading cars to help bring everything to the parties in Ft. Collins from a farm. Contact: Lisa Hatcher
(970) 686-7577.

STATEWIDE

Calendar Fundraiser: XXYY Project
Buy a 2011 calendar celebrating the lives of boys and men with XXYY Syndrome!
http://xxyysyndrome.org/shopforxxyy.html
Twitter: @XXYYProject

Buy gifts, give back to charity

The following companies give a portion of their sales back to charity. Buy your gifts at their stores and give twice!

Monkey Hugz – Golden, CO
Their baby registry allows you to donate 5% of the sales it generated to the non-profit of your choice. They also have a new promotion which will give 5% to a charity: http://fb.me/O9XILgJo and http://www.monkeyhugz.com/

Twitter: @MonkeyHugz

Project Sunshine (buy online)
Is donating Lia Sophia sales and Jewelry to the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program (RAAP) @RAAPDenver through January 31, 2011
http://projectshinecolorado.wordpress.com/highlighted-items-2/

Twitter: @ProjectSunshine303

Idea from ConnectColorado: If you have Kohl's cash sitting around, use it to buy some toys for children in need.

Wanted: One (or two?) Epic, Caring Colorado Companies...

Wanted: A company or two who would like to perform a random act of kindness for an incredible organization.

Yesterday was Colorado Gives Day, as many of you know. @ConnectColorado was helping to promote the event, and we were watching Colorado charities closely. One that stood out yesterday was the Boulder County AIDS Project @BoulderAIDS. They organized events, promoting themselves in every way imaginable. They were up until midnight tweeting at their final event of the evening. As a whole, this organization did such an amazing job. Even when it is not Colorado Gives Day, this organization goes out of their way to promote those who support them. They are very active on Twitter and they thank every company publicly.

Boulder County AIDS Project had a goal of raising $30,000 yesterday. They didn't reach their goal. Although their official tally isn't in yet, it appears they were short about $10,000 or so.

That's where you come in.

Would your company be willing to perform a random act of kindness by making up the difference for Boulder County AIDS Project? Not only will they thank you publicly on Twitter, but @ConnectColorado will as well - several times. @ConnectColorado has nearly 5,900 Colorado followers on Twitter. Your act of kindness will definitely be noticed.

While your donation won't be matched for Colorado Gives Day, it will top off a deserving organization that worked so hard to make the day a huge success.

If you can make up the difference, or part of it, tweet @BoulderAIDS and also @ConnectColorado. I know that Dan @BoulderAIDS is taking a little time off right now after working so hard these last few days but he will see your tweet. Once they receive your donation, we will tweet you up!

Thanks in advance, whoever you are. I truly hope someone comes through for them.

Renee

PS: I don't work for Boulder County AIDS Project. I just wanted to see them rewarded for the enormous effort.

Thoughts on Colorado Gives Day

Colorado Gives Day was nothing short of epic. While we are waiting for the final tally, at last count it raised $8 Million for Colorado charities by 8:00. The goal was $1 Million! Donations aren't the only benefit either. The massive amount of retweets and testimonials about the charities involved and the event itself raised awareness about all of the fantastic Colorado nonprofits that are making our lives better.

On behalf of @ConnectColorado and my company, CommUlinks of Colorado @CommUlinks, we want to thank all of our followers for getting involved. You put up with us flooding your timeline yesterday and helped make Colorado a better place.

@ConnectColorado will now move on to our usual business of tweeting about things that improve your lives and make Colorado such a great place to live. We may have one more thing to do related to Colorado Gives Day, but we will tell you about that later.

Thank you!
Renee & Jim

Colorado is Pulling it Out of Our...

Wallets!

Colorado has something to prove tomorrow on Colorado Gives Day. Our fantastic state ranks 38th in charitable giving among states.

Can we let that stand? No we cannot!

We have an opportunity tomorrow on Colorado Gives Day to bring our ranking way up. The goal of Colorado Gives Day is to raise $1 Million for charity. The Community First Foundation @GivingFirst has made it so simple for us, too. You can go to their site and schedule your donations to several charities if you want. You can search by city and give where you live. It is extremely simple.

On December 8, we also need massive tweets that include the hashtag #COGivesDay. Please tweet about your favorite charity involved with this special day and retweet anything you see that has that hashtag in it. If you see Colorado Gives Day spelled out, you can help by retweeting and adding the #COGivesDay hashtag.

How much do you think Colorado can raise?

Support Concert4Autism on Colorado Gives Day

Dear Followers:
Our friends over at Concert4Autism ran into a really big snag in applying to become part of Colorado Gives Day. They were not able to meet the deadline to be listed because their director had a heart attack. Now if that isn't a good reason, I don't know what is!

But they should still be included on this big day of raising $1 Million for Colorado-based charities.

Would you please consider going to their donation page and supporting them directly? People with Autism deserve your support. And Concert4Autism is doing something so great, that they need some attention, too.

Thanks so much!
Renee @ConnectColorado