Fighting Hunger. Feeding Hope.

Yard House - Round It Up America!

2012-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

We're so proud to partner with Yard House - Round It Up America! Just last week we accepted an outstanding gift of $10,000 as a result of their national promotion. Customers are invited to round up their Yard House bill to the nearest dollar with the proceeds benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies and other food banks around the country. This $10,000 check is over $2,000 more than last year's gift! Thanks to Yard House for their support of FBR! 40,000 meals will be provided as a result of your generosity.

Pam, Damian and Family

2012-01-31T14:19:00.001-08:00

Pam's husband works full time as a tow truck driver. She babysits in their home. They have 3 sons and they both work hard. Very hard. But it's not enough to pay the bills, pay their mortgage, buy food and pay for insurance for the family. They can't do it all, no matter how hard they try and how determined they are to make it on their own. We met Pam at a local food pantry where she goes to get food, knowing she'll be treated with respect and dignity. The pantry meets one of their basic and most essential needs and allows them to focus on paying their mortgage and keeping the lights on. Insurance is offered through her husband's employer, but at a cost they can't afford right now. When we met them, Damian had a nasty cold , but as Pam explains, "Who's willing to see a child who comes uninsured?" Unless it's an emergency, they're left without good options.

And yet Pam and Damian smile genuine smiles. Their family focuses on giving back to those who are supporting them through this trying time. She wants her boys to grow up with an appreciation for lending a hand to their community.

Click here for Pam's first hand account of what lead her family to needing food assistance. We think you'll agree that it's worth your time and it's worth sharing.

Congresswoman DeGette Making a Difference

2012-01-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

We were honored to host Congresswoman DeGette and a group of her staff at our warehouse this month. The congresswoman sits on our Celebrity Council and is wholeheartedly invested in our cause of fighting hunger and feeding hope. Volunteers are desperately needed this time of year, so their willingness and interest in spending a few hours with us was welcomed. They pulled orders for our agency partners and put a significant dent in the work that needed to get accomplished that day.

THANK YOU to Congresswoman DeGette and her gracious staff! We appreciate everything you do to give back to the community you represent.

Fighting Hunger for the Love of Football

2012-01-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl is readily approaching! Like all of Denver, we're pumped to be heading into the second round of the playoffs. And that's worth celebrating! In line with gearing up for the Super Bowl, we all have the opportunity to fight hunger for the love of football and the NFL. Help Taste of the NFL kick hunger this football season by participating in the Kick Hunger Challenge! The General Mills Foundation has scored first with their incredible donation of $100,000. Now the challenge is on across the country!

Taste of the NFL and the General Mills Foundation are challenging all football fans to help raise enough money to match this initial donation. That would total $200,000, or 1.2 million meals, to help end hunger in our country. Food Bank of the Rockies needs your help! If you have $10 burning a hole in your pocket, please consider donating to the cause. 100% of that donation will be given to Food Bank of the Rockies!
The title of “Kick Hunger Challenge Champion” will be announced during Super Bowl week and we would LOVE Denver to be given that title! Together we can help feed one in seven Coloradans who struggle with hunger every day. It's crunch time. We're currently at $1,140 and would love to reach $5,000! Please take the challenge today and spread the word!!!!

Click HERE to make your donation today.

Broe Group Giving Back

2011-12-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Special THANKS to Broe Group, who recently gifted us with a check for $35,730! Pat Broe did a 5 to 1 match for his employees and the results showed just how generous one company can be! Their gift will provide nearly 143,000 meals for our neighbors in need! Awesome.

Bill and Billy

2011-12-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

We met Bill Sr. and Billy at Crossroads Church Pantry a couple weeks back. Bill Sr. recently injured his back for the 3rd time working at a lumber yard and was told by his doctor that he needs a change of vocation. His wife works full time to help support the family. They've been waiting for 30 days for his workers comp to kick in, but haven't started receiving checks yet. He and his wife looked at each other that morning and realized that it was time to reach out for help. So, after a pep talk from his wife, he walked through the doors of this pantry and asked for help for the first time. He said it was the most humbling and the most difficult thing he has ever had to do.

Never did he and his wife think that they’d find themselves asking for assistance. In fact, a number of months ago, they started a foundation to help people with clothing and food. Now they’re the ones needing help and have put their foundation goals on hold. Bill holds on to his faith and is confident that someday he’ll use this humbling experience as a story of growth and hope. He is so in awe and grateful at what he was able to take home for his family as a result of FBR. Both Bills walked away with smiles and we walked away humbled by a story that is so close to home.

Watch Bill Sr.'s story below....

Paul Stastny's Take on Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

Our Avalanche friend, Paul's, message to our supporters on Colorado Gives Day.....

"I’ve recently joined forces with Food Bank of the Rockies as a part of their Celebrity Council. The work this organization does to fight hunger in Colorado is remarkable. There are a ton of worthy charities in our state, but I couldn’t think of a more beneficial cause than feeding our neighbors. Everyone deserves to eat. The food bank makes sure that folks have food on their tables for every meal.

I'm sure you've heard references to Colorado Gives Day over the past week. Community First Foundation has partnered with FirstBank again in an effort to aid local non profits. FirstBank is committing $500,000 to match donations made on December 6th. Last year, this entire campaign raised an outstanding $8.7 million. Food Bank of the Rockies pulled in over $80,000 of that total, which will provide over 320,000 meals for our neighbors in need. For one day, that’s pretty amazing.
On December 6th, Colorado Gives Day is offering the opportunity for all of us to give back to Food Bank of the Rockies and I urge you to consider a gift to this worthy charity. Every dollar donated turns into 4 meals and 96 cents of every dollar goes directly to their programs. On behalf of my friends at Food Bank of the Rockies, I want to thank you for doing your part to fight hunger and feed hope in Colorado! I’m proud to be a part of this generous and loyal community."

Click here on December 6th to donate!

Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

If you've had the radio or TV on in the past couple of weeks, chances are you've heard about Colorado Gives Day. It's a day that we, and many other Colorado non-profits, are so excited about! Read below for Denver Post journalist, Kristen Leigh Painter's summary of this on-line fundraising event.

"Tuesday's Colorado Gives Day might be considered the blitzkrieg of do-good, online giving. Designed to make philanthropy competitive and to make charitable donations skyrocket, the event harnesses grassroots efforts, a sense of urgency and social-media marketing.

Beginning at midnight tonight, people are encouraged visit GivingFirst.org and donate money to Colorado nonprofits before the clock strikes midnight Tuesday. The Colorado event is among a handful nationwide.
This new trend in fundraising attempts to motivate giving through a single, concerted effort. It has gained traction during the recession and post-recession years as corporate contributions have declined.

The goal of last year's inaugural event, organized by the Arvada-based Community First Foundation, was to raise $1 million. The tally hit $8.4 million with gifts from 12,540 individuals.

"The folks here just thought there was a real need to increase the philanthropy since the economy was so bad," said Caitlin Jenney, spokeswoman for the foundation. "The generosity of Coloradans exceeded our expectations."

The second annual event has more than 900 area organizations and charities participating, up from 539 last year.
"The whole point was to inspire and unite in supporting local nonprofits. Everyone's online these days," Jenney said. Jenney said young adults are among the prime targets. The website is a one-stop shop that encourages transparency, with financial statements, descriptions and bar graphs. The participating nonprofits compete against each other for prizes.

FirstBank is giving $500,000 as the event's corporate sponsor, with $300,000 going to the Incentive Fund, which will be divided among the organizations based on the success of their fundraising Tuesday. The remaining $200,000 will cover processing fees and new "High Five" and "Bonus Bucks" prizes for hitting benchmarks, such as high performance or impressive improvements."

Last year, Food Bank of the Rockies was fortunate enough to raise over $80,000 as a result of this one day of fundraising! We're hoping to bring our total up to $100,000 this year, so visit http://bit.ly/uEAsLY to make your donation!

A Record Shattering $1,143,190!

2011-11-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Dom and Jane and the Mix 100 crew have been blessing us with their annual Dom and Jane Charity Marathon for 13 years running. The total of money pledged through this 2 day radioathon grows every year. And we're ecstatic to report that the trend continued this year...an unbelievable amount! 13 years ago, we never would have imagined raising over one million dollars - but that happened! And then some!

Between Mix 100 listeners and generous FBR corporate partners, $1,143,190 was raised, providing 4,572,760 meals to our neighbors in need. We're still floating with excitement at the thought of how great an impact this Charity Marathon will make in our community.

Not only is this event a blast for everyone involved, it leaves a lasting impact throughout the year. THANKS to Dom, Jane, Jeremy, Kaylee, $100,00 match donor,Salah Foundation, volunteers, donors and all those involved in making this year's Charity Marathon a raging success!

Our friend Fred from the Salah Foundation surprised Dom and Jane with a $100,000 match gift!

The spectacular view from the Mix 100 studio!

RBC Wealth Management is a dedicated supporter and friend in the fight against hunger.

Spicy Pickle stopped in to talk about their exciting, new partnership with FBR!

We can't say enough about Daniels Fund and the support they've provided FBR throughout the years!

Community College of Denver showed their support by answering phone call after phone call after phone call.

Walmart bends over backward to do their part in fighting hunger in our great state and across the country!

Where would we be without our amazing friends at King Soopers? They provide an unmeasurable amount of support through donations of food, funds and time.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is no stranger to fighting hunger. They're unbelievably generous to FBR and those we serve!

Target - an amazing corporation that gives back in countless ways to our community! THANKS for all you do!

The one and only, Steve Spangler, graced Dom and Jane with his scientific genius and kept everyone on their toes.

It wouldn't be Charity Marathon without our friends from Panera Bread! They've become a part of the food bank family through and through.

Whiting Petroleum...you can read all about their amazing hunger fighting tactics in a previous post!

Thank you to Child's Bakery for providing this fabulously appropriate cake for our Mix 100 friends!

FBR's past Board Chair, Doug Wilhelm, represents CoBank each and every year! They don't hold back when it comes to fighting hunger!

If you're on Facebook, you've read a whole lot about our friends at Natural Grocers. They're constantly looking for creative ways to support us and succeed at everything they attempt!

Steven stops by the live remote and donates every year. Thanks to Steven and all those like him who make the Charity Marathon a success!

Kevin Seggelke speaks on air throughout the two days and can't say enough about the generosity of Dom, Jane and all those at Mix 100.

Charity Marathon goes Platinum, raising over $1 million meals in one year! This platinum record is a very small token of our appreciation.

#28, A Hunger Fighting Chef Extraordinaire

2011-11-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

Tyler Wiard, Executive Chef, Elway's Cherry Creek

“I’m proud to be able to call Colorado home and to put my love for food to work in here in Denver. When Food Bank of the Rockies asked me to participate in their Celebrity Council, I couldn’t think of a better way to serve this generous community better than working through a hunger relief organization. The work Food Bank does for those who can’t afford to eat healthy food is outstanding. I’m excited to join forces with them in finding ways to give back to those who need a helping hand.”

About Tyler:

The road to the ELWAY’S CHERRY CREEK kitchen for Executive Chef Tyler Wiard began in Boulder, Colorado working alongside local chef legends John Platt and David Query on the line at Q’s Restaurant in the Hotel Boulderado. After a stint at Jax-Boulder, another Query restaurant, famed Denver restaurateur Cliff Young recruited Tyler as the opening executive chef of his Napa Café where Tyler’s imaginative, exciting and superbly balanced food drew raves from critics.

Two separate stints as executive chef at Mel’s, the brainchild of wine man and consummate maitre d’ Melvyn Master and his wife Janie, provided Tyler with the chance to experience the culinary world while doing guest chef work at Aqua with Michael Mina, Citronelle with Michel Richard and Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio with David and Stephen Rosenthal. Separated by his 2 years at The Fourth Story, Tyler’s 7 year stretch at Mel’s came during it’s lofty position as Cherry Creek’s hottest spot and Tyler twice scored Top Denver Chef honors from 5280 magazine for his exquisite menus and flawless execution. Two invitations to cook at the James Beard House were amongst the highlights of his Mel’s experience.

While at the helm at Elway’s Tyler has garnered numerous accolades including critical acclaim in nearly all of Denver’s print publications, multiple television appearances and even a feature in Food Network chef’s Paula Deen Magazine. For four consecutive years, Tyler has returned to the “Carnegie Hall for chefs” with Denver’s top chefs to cook at the prestigious James Beard House. Tyler beat out 22 other chefs from across the country to take top prize in the 19th Annual Taste of Elegance, a national competition sponsored by the National Pork Board. A tireless supporter of local charities, Tyler appears in numerous fund-raising events each year on behalf of Elway’s Cherry Creek including the hottest party of the summer, the multi-chef slider competition Hot Rocks Griller Challenge in the Elway’s backyard successfully raising thousands for the mens’ programs of the Denver Health Foundation.

Tyler lives in Denver where he and his wife Jennifer welcomed their daughter Lilliana into the world in February 2011.

Hunger Fighting Chili

2011-11-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

Companies often ask us for effective hunger fighting ideas to use with their employees. Ideas that will boost morale, incorporate fun and team work while making a significant impact on the community. When these inquiries arise, we point to a company who, year after year after year, amazes us with their innovation and employee dedication. We point to the fine folks of Whiting Petroleum.

Where do we begin? Over the past six years, employees of Whiting have raised $283,333.44! They formed a committee dedicated to fundraising ideas, events and details. This committee has organized company Olympics, bake sales, auctions, tail gating parties, chili cook offs, pot lucks etc.

Most recently, we visited the 14th floor of their office building for a massive chili cook off event. Over 100 employees lined up to taste 12 employee crafted chilis, corn breads, dips and desserts. 4 judges, including our own CEO, Kevin Seggelke, tasted each chili and voted on the best of the best. Diners donated to FBR for their lunch and raffle tickets were sold for restaurant gift cards, with all the funds going to FBR. It was announced that nearly $25,000 had already been raised through multiple employee events and Whiting would be matching the total raised.

We feel like members of the Whiting family - and a family it truly is. We can't say "THANKS" enough to this company and the vital role they play in fighting hunger in our communities. Your dedication does not go unnoticed!

Kevin has tough job on days like this!

#27, Go-To Sports Guy

2011-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Vic Lombardi, Sports Anchor on CBS 4 News

“I love Colorado. It’s home for me and the people here are like family. The fact that so many Coloradans are hungry day to day is just not right. It’s an honor for me to be a part of an organization trying to alleviate this horrible problem and make life easier for so many of my neighbors in need. I would encourage folks to give back to fight hunger in whatever ways they can.”

About Vic:
He was 10-years-old and watching a local newscast … “It just clicked” says CBS4 Sports Anchor Vic Lombardi. He says he grew up in Colorado always wanting to work in Denver TV. Born on Denver’s North Side in 1969, Lombardi interned at CBS4 as a student and later joined CBS4 in June of 1998. He graduated from Holy Family High School in Denver, attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and graduated from Notre Dame University in 1991.

Before landing a job in his hometown, Lombardi worked as a sports reporter in South Bend, Indiana, Austin, Texas, and Phoenix, Ariz. Already, he is a 23-time Emmy Award winner; 13 of which are for Best Sports Anchor, which he has won 10 years in a row. Vic has now added a radio show to his repertoire. You can listen to Vic Lombardi and Gary Miller every morning, Monday through Friday, 7-9 am on 102.3 The Ticket when they’ll be interviewing all the movers and shakers in Colorado sports.

The most exciting stories he’s covered? Lombardi says the 1998 Super Bowl. “Need I explain?” he asks, as well as the 1994 World Cup. Lombardi says living and working in Denver means everything. “I’m home again with my family.” Vic is married to Terri, a Denver schoolteacher. They have one son, Dante, and two daughters, Alexis and Isabella.

Lombardi also spends a lot of time with his large Italian family. His father came to the United States from Italy with a sixth grade education and became very successful here. That, says Lombardi, provides a great deal of inspiration. Vic says his biggest challenge in life was landing his job in Denver, and his greatest disappointment was not getting the job earlier.

Terrell Surprises Mobile Pantry Recipients

2011-11-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

To kick off a new partnership between the Terrell Davis “Mile High Salute” Bar-B-Que Sauce and Safeway, they partnered with FBR on Wednesday to host a surprise barbeque at one of FBR’s mobile pantry sites. Mobile pantry recipients showed up to pick up their food boxes and were treated to barbeque chicken and fixings, prepared by Safeway and Davis. Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock also stopped in to surprise those picking up boxes of food for their families. It was an exciting day for us and for our neighbors in need!

Thanks to Safeway for organizing a terrific event, to Terrell for benefiting us through your delicious Bar-B-Que Sauce and to Terrell and Mayor Hancock for taking time out to volunteer at our Mobile Pantry site. It was a real treat! You can find Terrell's famous sauce at all Safeway locations in Colorado!

#26, Mr. Funny News Man

2011-11-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Tom Green, Morning Anchor, Channel 2 News

"Food Bank of the Rockies plays a critical role in our community every year, but in these tough times we need to do even more to help them make the difference in the lives of those who need it most. The Food Bank is one of the most efficient charities I've ever seen. They can turn both cash and food into many meals for those in our community who need it most. Donations to FBR are one of the most effective ways to make a difference in the metro area, and beyond."

About Tom:

Tom Green anchors the Emmy-award winning Daybreak on Colorado's own Channel 2, the morning show which airs on KWGN from 5-9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Tom is a news and sports veteran within the Denver market, with almost 30 years experience and 10 Emmy awards.

Tom made the transition to news anchor when he joined KWGN after three years as the main sports anchor at KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver, CO. Tom's experience also includes play-by-play, color and sideline reporting for ABC and Fox Sports, hosting a national game show (Sports On Tap) for ESPN. Tom also was radio host for KKFN-AM where he inaugurated shows featuring then-Nuggets head coaches Doug Moe and Dan Issel. Previously Tom was sports anchor for more than 13 years for KUSA-TV ( NBC) in Denver, CO after working for ESPN.

In addition to 10 Emmy awards, Tom was named the Colorado Sportscaster of the Year 4 times by the National sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Holy Huggies!

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

If you walked into our warehouse right now, you'd be overwhelmed with diapers! Literally, you'd be tripping over them. Clean diapers of course. Yesterday, FIVE semi trucks pulled into our parking lot, loaded with Huggies diapers. 800,000 Huggies diapers!!!!!!!! You read that right. 800,000 diapers! All waiting to be distributed to our agencies who work with little ones. A whole lotta' local moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas will have one less expense to worry about. Here's what Huggies has to say about their gift, which was delivered to 11 additional states across the nation. Can you imagine how many diapers were donated if we received 5 truck loads just in Denver?

Joanne Samuel Goldblum, MSW, Executive Director of The National Diaper Bank Network (left) pictured with representatives of FBR Member Agencies, Baby Haven and Little Giants

"Diapers are a basic need for children in the United States and are essential to their growth and development. The problem – a third of American families struggle to afford diapers for their children. To support the launch of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), a non-profit organization with a mission to raise awareness of diaper need, Huggies Every Little Bottom is donating 12 million diapers this holiday season to moms and babies in need. Huggies and the NDBN will be traveling to 12 cities in 12 days, delivering a total of 12 million diapers along the way. Denver was selected as one of the 12 cities and received 800,000 diapers to help local families in need.

In a recent study, 34% of American families cut back on basics such as food, utilities and child care to purchase diapers for their children. An adequate supply of diapers can cost over $100 per month. Food Stamp Programs and WIC do not cover the cost of diapers. The vast majority of licensed day care centers do not accept cloth diapers, and require parents and caregivers to provide a steady supply of disposable diapers. Most people living in poverty do not have affordable access to washing facilities. Furthermore, most coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers for health and sanitary reasons."

How do we say THANKS to Huggies for this incredible donation? It is SO appreciated and will go an incredibly long way for Coloradans in need!

KS 107.5 Kickin' Some Serious Food Drive Bootie

2011-11-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

KS 107.5 has been doing their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for years. And our agency partners have reaped the rewards of the generosity of this radio station and their loyal listeners. It's amazing to watch how many people roll in with boxes full of food! Tony V parks his KS-mobile at 2 locations per day and invites listeners to come by with food. And that they do. Tons and tons of food. And yesterday, Bronco, DJ Williams, donated 55 turkeys to the drive! Perfect timing for Thanksgiving next week! We've been stopping by to say "thanks" and get some photos throughout the week and wanted to share those with all of you!

Thanks to KS 107.5 for yet another year of this awesome food drive. We'll post a grand total for pounds donated once it's all wrapped up!

$10,000 = 2 Totes of Hope Children Sites!

2011-11-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

2 weeks ago, when we launched our "Facebook Fans Feeding Tummies" campaign, we hoped to raise $5,000 to start a new Totes of Hope-Children site. We were eager to see what our Facebook fans would come back with! Today, we couldn't be more excited to announce that our rock star fans raised $10,000 - double of what we originally asked for! We'll now be able to support TWO Totes of Hope-Children sites as a result of the generosity of our followers!!!!!

This successful fundraiser follows a Facebook campaign where Natural Grocers donated $1 for every new "like" our page received. We hoped for 500 new fans and were floored with the final result....1,327!!!!!! We continue to be humbled by the dedication of our donors and social media fans. What an amazing way to reach out and spread the word about hunger in our community. THANK YOU!

Coors was in the House

2011-11-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

The United Way and Miller Coors plays an incredibly active role in our community! We were fortunate enough to welcome a group of Miller Coors volunteers, through United Way, here this past week. And to top it off, they created this fantastic video, documenting their experience with us! Check it out HERE.

We can't thank these two groups enough for their dedicated to fighting hunger!

#25, A 9NEWS Hunger Champion

2011-11-17T06:29:00.000-08:00

Mark Koebrich, 9NEWS Anchor

“All of us at 9News are deeply committed to the cause of food security. We support Food Bank of the Rockies and their mission to keep families and at need individuals from going hungry. With 1-in-7 Coloradans struggling with hunger, the need has never been greater, the mission has never been more urgent.”

About Mark:

Mark Koebrich joined Channel 9 in September 1981 from WLKY-TV in Louisville, Kentucky. Koebrich came to 9NEWS as the Southern Bureau reporter in Colorado Springs. Later that year, Koebrich helped launch 9NEWS 6:00AM with Bertha Lynn, Larry Camp and Krista Bradford. Koebrich anchored the early morning news for six years and was then assigned to anchor 9NEWS at 12:00pm and 9NEWS 4:30pm with former staffer Linda Benzel.

Mark Koebrich is now the anchor for 4 o'clock @ 9NEWS and 9NEWS at 5, 6, and 10 pm. He is also the 9NEWS Consumer Reporter. Koebrich's enthusiasm for each project assigned has merited him a variety of experiences. In 1986, Koebrich was a finalist for NASA's Journalist in Space project. In 1988, Mark was loaned from 9NEWS to the Grant Tinker-Gannett program "USA TODAY - The Television Show" as a national correspondent. Beginning in 1992 until its last telecast in September 1994, Koebrich hosted "Good Afternoon Colorado" weekday afternoons on Channel 9. "Good Afternoon Colorado" launched a spin-off craft, hobby and collectibles program for the Discovery Channel daytime lineup called "Start to Finish." The program aired on Discovery for eighth seasons.

Koebrich has covered the Olympic Games in China, Salt Lake City and Atlanta for both NBC News Channel and KUSA. He spent three weeks in the jungles of Guatemala following a group of Kentucky doctors and nurses, and he followed the Denver Broncos to four Super Bowls. He has won a dozen Emmys for his work, including awards for best spot news coverage, best anchor and best documentary.

Koebrich is a native of Illinois and graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He received a degree in Journalism with special emphasis in radio and television with a minor in speech and public relations. His television career was launched in Terre Haute, Indiana at WTHI-TV as News Director/Primary Anchor from 1974 to 1978. Koebrich moved to WLKY-TV in Louisville, Kentucky serving as Bureau Chief before coming to 9NEWS.

Koebrich gives a great deal of time to local charities and is a popular program speaker. He and his wife, Cathy, have two grown children.

#24, A Little Opie Goes a Long Way

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Jake Schroeder, Front Man of Opie Gone Bad

“I’ve partnered with Food Bank of the Rockies for the past few years and plan to continue in that partnership for years to come. The work they do in fighting hunger in our own communities is outstanding and I can’t think of a cause more worthy than providing a basic necessity that none of us could live without. I’m honored to lend my voice to both advocate for such a worthy organization as well as entertain their supporters at various events throughout the year.”

#23, a Lovely Lady & Hunger All Star

2011-11-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

Kathie J, Morning Show Host on KS 107.5

"Before KS1075 started partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies for the KS 1074 food drive, I had no idea how many children and adults Food Bank of the Rockies feeds. I don't think most people are aware that churches, schools and other food pantries rely on Food Bank of the Rockies for their own supplies to give to people in need. I’m honored to be on the Celebrity Council because I want everyone to be aware of the issue of hunger in our communities and how easy it is to help.”

About Kathie J:

Kathie J is co-host, along with Larry Ulibarri and Kendall B, on Denver’s #1 morning show, the KS1075 Morning Show. The show has aired for over a decade and has been consistently ranked #1 in the station's target demographic. Kathie J grew up on Thornton and had an early passion for volunteering. She was active in Girl Scouts and Student Council throughout her school years. In college, she was a Domestic Violence Ambassador for the El Paso Courts. She has also volunteered weekly at local Denver area animal shelters for over 10 years. Her relationship with Food Bank of the Rockies began with the yearly KS1075 Food Drive for Food Bank of the Rockies.

The Dynamic 4 Duo, #21 & #22

2011-11-14T06:30:00.000-08:00

Jim Benemann & Karen Leigh, Anchors on CBS 4

Photo by Hans Rosemond

“In good times and bad, there is big demand on Food Bank of the Rockies to feed hungry people in our community. Without Food Bank and the generous Coloradans who support their vital mission, many people would not be able to provide food for themselves and their families. Their mission of fighting hunger and feeding hope comes down to basic human dignity. The staff and volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies serve up dignity and hope with every box of food distributed.”

About Jim:

Emmy-award winning journalist Jim Benemann and Karen Leigh are co-anchors of CBS4 at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Jim is an outstanding journalist and an exceptional communicator. His passion for his work and his commitment to this community make him one of the most respected broadcasters in Colorado. Jim’s anchoring and reporting background has included major assignments on local, national and international stories.

He established a broadcasting bureau in Washington D.C., where he covered Capitol Hill, political campaigns and sent home reports from Cuba, Korea, South America and Europe. Jim is a Chicago native. He attended Colorado State University, earning a degree in broadcasting in 1978.

His TV news career began in Davenport, Iowa but Jim and his family have always felt at home in Colorado. Prior to returning to CBS4 where he anchored in the early 1990′s, Jim worked at Denver’s KUSA-TV and at KGW-TV in Portland, Ore. In his spare time, Jim likes spending time with his family, golfing and getting into the beautiful Colorado back country.

About Karen:
CBS4 Anchor Karen Leigh is thrilled to be in Denver and at CBS4. “From the moment I arrived at the airport I noticed something special about the people here,” Karen said. “Everyone looks you in the eye, greets you with a smile and is quick to chat. There’s warmth to the folks here that I’ve been looking for in a community. I already love this place!”

Karen joined the CBS4 News team in 2008 as anchor of CBS4 news at 5pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, and 10pm from WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she served as an Emmy Award winning morning show anchor since 2004.

Prior to WCCO, Karen worked for two years in her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas as the 5 and 10pm weekday anchor for KTHV-TV. She spent most of her career reporting in the field from WKRN-TV in Nashville, Tennessee where she won two other Emmys – one for reporting live in the field and the other for a hard news series.

And most recently, Karen added another Emmy to her resume, picking up one locally for anchoring a Beating the Recession special in 2009. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Arkansas State University. Karen says: “Since finding my home in Colorado, my blessings just keep coming. I have not only fallen in the love with the people here, but I met and recently married Colorado native Jim Peros, and together we have an amazing daughter named Elle.” Karen enjoys spending time at home with her family and doing anything outdoors. Karen is passionate about family, work and helping the community.

Announcing #20, Congresswoman Diana DeGette

2011-11-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Congresswoman Diana DeGette

“Keeping our families healthy has been a primary focus of my time in Congress, and that commitment is borne out of the same commitment Food Bank of the Rockies demonstrates day-in and day-out: that access to safe, healthy food is something every American deserves. In these difficult economic times, many families who perhaps never thought they’d need the services of a food bank are struggling to put meals on the table, and the Food Bank of the Rockies goes a long way to filling that need. They deserve our thanks, and perhaps more importantly, our assistance for everything they do for the people of this region, and that is why I am honored to work with Food Bank of the Rockies to help in the fight against hunger.”

About Congresswoman DeGette:

Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette is serving her 8th term in Congress as Representative for the First District of Colorado. As a member of the powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce, an exclusive congressional committee with vast jurisdiction over health care, trade, business, technology, food safety, and consumer protection, she is one of the leading voices in the health care debate in this country. She also serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which conducts the oversight of, and investigations into, issues falling under the jurisdiction of the full committee. As a member of the Democratic leadership, she played a vital role in the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, has fought for tough food safety legislation, and was a key player in crafting a comprehensive consumer product safety bill.

U.S. Rep. DeGette is also the chief architect of legislation to expand stem cell research, which has been passed twice with broad, bipartisan support in Congress. The measure was vetoed twice by President George W. Bush – including his very first presidential veto. A life-long Coloradoan, U.S. Rep. DeGette is guided by traditional Western values. She’s also the author of the landmark Colorado Wilderness Act, which would protect and preserve pristine land across Colorado for generations to come. She has fought to enhance her constituents’ access to affordable quality health care, expand mass transit, improve transportation in the Denver area, clean up environmental waste sites, and improve opportunities for small business.

Mr. Radio, #19

2011-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Bret Saunders, KBCO Morning Show Host
Photo by Hans Rosemond

“Hunger has become an epidemic. We need to take care of one another and Food Bank of the Rockies makes sure that people are getting at least some of what they need in these difficult times. It’s my honor to be involved and I hope that you will help in any way that you can.”

About Bret:

Bret Saunders has been involved in Denver area radio for nearly twenty years, including a 14 year and counting stint as the morning show host at KBCO-FM. He began broadcasting as a teenager in suburban Detroit, Michigan in the 1980s before stumbling around various parts of the US in search of a distinct style, which still eludes him to this day. He likes ‘esoteric’ music, uncomfortable silences in conversation, and dachshunds.

Our Ave's Superstar, #18

2011-11-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Paul Stastny, Avalanche Center

Photo by Rachel Kemble

"I have lived a life so blessed that I have never worried where my next meal would come from, however many families are not as fortunate. Food bank of the Rockies strives every day to feed and nourish those in need. I am humbled and honored to be in the company of an organization that does so much for the community that does so much for me."

About Paul:

Stastny led the Avalanche with a career-high 79 points (20g/59a) in 81 games…His previous high was 78 points as a rookie in 2006-07…Stastny’s 59 assists were also a personal best, nine more than he had during that rookie campaign…Reached the 20-goal mark for the third time in four NHL seasons…Ranked first on the team in games (tied), points, assists, power-play points (9g/16a) and faceoff percentage (50%)…Took 1,703 total faceoffs, second most in the NHL (Sidney Crosby 1791)…Helped the United States capture the silver medal at the 2010 Olympics…Skated in all six games for the Americans, tallying a goal and two assists with a +2 rating while winning 54% of his faceoffs…Played in his 200th NHL game on Oct. 15 at Montreal…Surpassed the 200-career point mark with three assists on Nov. 4 vs. Phoenix…Recorded a seasonhigh four points (1g/3a) on Dec. 2 at Florida…Tied his career-high with a six-game assist streak from Jan. 9-24…Had points in each of his first nine games after returning from the Olympics (5g/11a), his longest point streak of the season…Collected back-to-back multi-goal games for the first time in his career March 11-14…Led the team with 20 points in March (6g/14a), the first Avalanche player with 20 points in a single month since Joe Sakic (20) in February of 2007. PLAYOFFS: Led Colorado in playoff scoring with five points (1g/4a) in six games…Collected two assists and won 14-of-24 faceoffs (58%) in Game 1 of the WCQF at San Jose on April 14…Scored a power-play goal in Game 4 (CQF) vs. San Jose on April 20.

Son of Hockey Hall-of-Famer Peter Stastny…His uncles, Anton and Marian, also played in the NHL…Older brother Yan is currently playing in Europe but has spent time with the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues…Is involved with Garth Brooks’ “Teammates for Kids.”…Actively participates in the Avalanche Player Clinics, teaching the fundaments of ice hockey to local youth players.

Local Motorists Fill Up Tanks & Fill Up Food Bank

2011-11-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

Food Bank of the Rockies recently partnered with Valero, an international manufacturer and marketer of energy products and power, for a promotion that knocked our socks off!

Valero launched “Fill Up to Fight Hunger” on April 4 to give motorists a chance to fight hunger in their communities simply by filling up with Valero fuel. For each 8-gallon fuel purchase made at a local Velero outlet, Valero donated $1 to Food Bank of the Rockies. This campaign took place across the country.

As a result of this generous promotion, FBR received a check for $112,000! That’s enough to provide 448,000 meals to Coloradans in need. We were thrilled with the outstanding success of this new partnership! In all, the campaign resulted in $2.9 million being distributed to over 125 food banks across the country. Amazing!

Thanks to Feeding America for sharing this awesome opportunity with us and to Valero for your dedication to fighting hunger and feeding hope!

Mr. Dave, our #17

2011-11-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

Dave Krieger, Denver Post Sports Columnist & KOA Radio Host

Photo by Hans Rosemond

"The last time Springsteen was in town, I remember volunteers from Food Bank of the Rockies manning the escalators at the Pepsi Center to accept contributions. I've always admired the ingenuity the Food Bank brings to the battle against hunger in Colorado, and in particular its important work to alleviate and prevent hunger in children. I'm delighted to do my part by accepting its invitation to be a member of the council."

About Dave:
Dave Krieger is a sports columnist for The Denver Post and a part-time host on KOA radio. He has been a Colorado journalist for 30 years, including 27 with the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News. Over that span, he has covered everything from the 1983 Denver mayoral race to Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals and Olympic Games.

Mose, Our #16

2011-11-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

Marc Moser, Radio Play by Play/Analyst
Photo by Rachel Kemble

“It’s such an honor to work alongside Food Bank of the Rockies, an organization I’ve come to respect and admire in such a big way. The work they do fighting hunger and the dignity that they do it with make them a top notch charity. Our community would suffer without the services they offer and it’s my pleasure to support them in any way that I can for years to come.”

About Marc:
Marc Moser is in his fifth season in the radio booth for the Avalanche on the Altitude Radio Network. Moser's ties to the organization date back to 1997-98, when he became the in-studio host and producer of all Avalanche radio broadcasts. He worked in that capacity for seven years until the end of the 2003-04 campaign. During that time, Moser was also a daily sports-talk show host and the host of the highly popular "Avalanche Talk" on the network flagship sports station.

Moser returned to the Avalanche broadcast team as a television studio host and analyst on Altitude in 2006-07 and left the world of daily sports-talk to move into the Avalanche radio booth in 2007. In addition to his Avalanche duties, Moser is also one of the television play-by-play voices of the Colorado Rapids of the MLS on Altitude and is a regular host and contributor to the “Golf at Altitude” and “Sports Summit” shows. During the off-season, he also assists various charities and organizations in public events and MC duties and is the annual MC for the Joe Sakic Celebrity Golf Classic and Joe and Debbie Sakic Bringing Hope to the Table Gala benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies.

Prior to his arrival in Denver in 1996, Moser was the Sports Director at KFBK Radio in Sacramento, Calif., where he was the play-by-play announcer for the California State University Sacramento football and basketball teams in the Big Sky conference and host of a nightly sports talk-show. He also served as sideline reporter and host of the Sacramento Gold Miners of the Canadian Football League and provided extensive coverage and reporting on the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. Moser has covered every major sport in the United States and Canada and recalls the on-ice celebration of the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup in 2001 as his favorite broadcasting memory.

An alumnus of CSUS, his resume also includes a 14-year stint as a NASCAR announcer at Colorado National Speedway, where he was named National Short Track announcer of the year, and various play-by-play duties for California and Colorado high school and college teams.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Moser resides with his wife, Patty, and daughter, Brooke, in Parker, Colo. A private pilot, Moser enjoys flying all over Colorado and Kansas as well as spending time on the golf course and playing the guitar.

Welcoming #14 & #15, Melody & Ken

2011-11-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Melody Mendez & Ken Clark, FOX 31 Morning Show Anchor & Traffic Anchor
Photo by Hans Rosemond

“As a Denver native I have seen the growth the city has gone through. Throughout the years one thing has remained the same; the big hearts of the people who call Colorado home. Times are very tough and families need basics like food. Joining the team at Food Bank of the Rockies and helping fill the basic food needs of local families is an honor.” Ken Clark

About Melody:

Melody Mendez is the co-anchor of FOX31's Good Day Colorado. She joined the KDVR team in August 2010. Her love of storytelling and constant learning makes journalism the perfect career for Melody. She cherishes every opportunity to meet new people and share their stories.

Before coming to Denver, Melody was a reporter/fill-in anchor for KOMO 4 News in Seattle, WA. While there, she was fortunate to witness the community band together after the slaying of four police officers in a Lakewood coffee shop, and covered the hunt for their killer. She often filed reports for their Spanish-speaking station, KUNS ( Univision). Melody loved her time in the Pacific Northwest - but is ready for the sunny days in Denver.

Melody is a graduate of Boston University's College of Communication, where she received the "Dennis Kauff Award" for excellence in journalism. After graduation, Melody headed south and began her broadcast career at WBBJ in Jackson, Tennessee. Her work as the evening anchor, reporter and Gibson County Bureau Chief helped launch the station to its spot as the highest rated ABC affiliate in the nation. During Hurricane Katrina, Melody led a major effort to get water to victims on the gulf coast. With her help, six tractor trailers full of bottled water were sent to those in need.

After 2 years in Tennessee, Melody was hired by WICD TV in Champaign, Illinois. She quickly worked her way up from General Assignment Reporter to Weekend Anchor. While there, she worked closely with the American Cancer Society and helped organize the Champaign County Relay for Life.

The daughter of an Air Force Pilot (and Air Force Academy grad), Melody has travelled the globe. Her job has brought her to small towns and cities across America. She is thrilled about her latest stop here in Denver and can't wait to be a part of the community. A native New Englander, Melody loves sports and remains a loyal Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins fan - no matter where she lives! When her Boston teams aren't in town, she looks forward to cheering on the Rockies at Coors Field and catching a Broncos game at Invesco. In her free time, Melody likes to travel, exercise, read, spend time on the water and visit family in Peru.

Melody is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

About Ken:

Ken Clark is traffic anchor on KDVR FOX 31's Good Day Colorado. He worked as traffic reporter for Good Day before becoming an anchor on the show. Prior to joining Fox-31 Ken worked at Premier Traffic. He was the airborne drive time reporter for 107.5 KQKS and 104.3 KJCD. Ken's career also includes working as an overnight jock for 103.5 KRFX. He also produced "Lou from Littleton" at 850 KOA and "The Peter Boyles Show" at 630 KHOW.

Ken began his career as operation manager at 91.9/ 93.9 KDUR in Durango, CO. He received Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fort Lewis College.

A Quick Call Can Make A Long Lasting Impact

2011-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you have a couple minutes to send an email or make a phone call, please read ahead! Your help is needed.

The Senate has passed its version of the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations Bill which provides $176.788 million for CSFP as requested in the President’s budget. That amount will allow food banks across the country, including Food Bank of the Rockies, to maintain current caseload levels.

The bill will now go to the conference committee to work out the differences with the House passed version. The House bill only provides $138 million for CSFP. Any amount less than $176.788 million will result in caseload cuts from programs across the United States. Food Bank of the Rockies would be forced to cut our caseload by approximately 2,000 Colorado residents per month. That would be tragic for our neighbors in need and would mean those folks would need to find other means for receiving much needed food for their families.

The current continuing resolution runs out on November 18th. It is expected that a final spending bill will be completed by then. Please contact your Senators and Representatives today and ask them to support $176.788 million for CSFP as passed by the Senate.

The US Capitol Switchboard number is 202.224.3121. Or you can find your House Rep here and your Senators here. Please call or send them a quick note today!!!!!

ALREADY OVER HALF WAY THERE!

2011-11-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

How excited are we to announce that we're already OVER HALF WAY to our goal of $5,000 to start a new Totes of Hope- Children site through our Facebook Fans Feeding Tummies Campaign? SUPER EXCITED! Our Facebook friends, volunteers and other generous donors have pitched in over the past 2 days to raise the thermometer on this much needed campaing. And we're THRILLED with the outpouring of generosity we're seeing in this short time period. Can you imagine how much we'll raise over the course of 2 weeks if we've already raised over $2760 in 2 days? Maybe 2 new sites will be provided......

From our food bank family to yours, KUDOS and THANKS! Click HERE to become part of this campaign and please spread the word!

Announcing Member #13...Lindsey Vonn

2011-11-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Lindsey Vonn, Olympic Ski Racer

"Colorado is near and dear to me. I understand that there are many Coloradans who don't always know where their next meal is coming from and I can't imagine the feelings that are associated with fearing hunger. I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I can offer support for those in need and through Food Bank of the Rockies, I hope to offer my talents and voice in fighting hunger and feeding hope for so many Coloradans who need food assistance."

About Lindsey:
Lindsey Vonn has established herself as the most successful female ski racer in American History. She is the only American woman to have captured downhill gold at the Olympics and the only American woman with three World Cup Overall titles. Vonn’s victories include an Olympic Gold and Bronze medal, 33 World Cup wins in four disciplines (downhill, Super G, Slamon and super combined), as well as two World Championship gold medals.

Vonn began racing in Minnesota at the age of two, before moving into Erich Sailer’s renowned program at Buck Hill. She commuted to Vail to train for a few years, before her family decided to relocate. En route to the World Cup, Vonn excelled at every level including Junior Olympics, Trofeo Topolino, Whislter Cup, Junior Worlds, NorArms and Europa Cup.

Vonn has become one of the most recognizable female athletes in the United States, gracing the covers of publications such as ESPN: The Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Fitness Magazine. Vonn resides in Vail, Colorado with her husband.

Celeb Council Members #11 & #12

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Anne Trujillo & Mike Nelson, Nightly Anchor & Chief Meteorologist for 7NEWS
Photo by Hans Rosemond

"This is a tough time for so many families in Colorado. The mission of Food Bank of the Rockies has never been so important. We urge everyone to do what they can to help support this vital service."

About Anne:
Anne Trujillo co-anchors 7NEWS at 3, 5, and 10 p.m. Anne started her broadcasting career at a Denver radio station. From there, Anne moved on to television stations in Scottsbluff and Omaha, Neb., before returning home to Colorado in September 1984 as a 7NEWS general assignment reporter.

Anne is an award-winning broadcast journalist. Her reporting and anchoring work has been recognized by the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, the Colorado Broadcasters Association, The Associated Press, and Women in Communications. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Throughout her career, Anne has been very active in the community. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Kempe Center, and is chair of the Advisory Council for Escuela de Guadalupe, a K-5 school in Denver. She is also a member of the Latino Outreach Committee of the Denver Art Museum and the Food Bank of the Rockies Celebrity Council.

In addition, Anne serves on the board of "WINS," Women's Initiative for Networking and Success, a McGraw-Hill Companies initiative to provide skills for advancement to women within the company.

Anne has also received numerous awards for service to the community from Mi Casa Resource Center, RAAP, Rape Assistance and Awareness Program, Museo de las Americas, and LAEF among many others. Anne is married, has two children, and still makes her home in Littleton, Colo., where she grew up.

About Mike:
Mike Nelson joined 7News in June of 2004 as Chief Meteorologist. Prior to his position at KMGH, Nelson served as Chief Meteorologist for KUSA-TV from 1991 to 2004.

Mike received his degree in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1976, he began work at Weather Central, a private weather consulting firm specializing in forecasts for ski areas, agri-business, power utilities, and the Wisconsin TV network as well as over 40 other radio and TV stations nationwide. Nelson was appointed executive vice president of Weather Central in 1979 and supervised a staff of 14 meteorologists.

While in Madison, Nelson partnered with fellow meteorologist, Terry Kelly, in devising a computer weather graphics system for television. This system, called LIVELINE, remains the most widely used television weather graphics system in the world; over 500 TV stations use this system.

In 1985, Mike and his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he served as Chief Meteorologist at KMOV-TV until 1991. While in St. Louis, Mike was a member of the American Meteorological Society's Board of Broadcast Meteorology and was one of six meteorologists that select candidates to receive the AMS Seal of Approval for Television Weathercasting.

Mike has won 14 Emmy awards for Outstanding Weather Anchor. In 2001, he was recognized by the Colorado Broadcasters Association as their "Citizen of the Year" for his volunteer work in Colorado schools. Mike enjoys sharing his knowledge of the weather with young and old, visiting nearly 100 schools, clubs, and service organizations each year. His Tornado Dance is a much anticipated event!

Mike has also written a local best seller, "The Colorado Weather Almanac."

Celeb Council Member #10

2011-11-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

Murphy Huston, Host of the Murphy & Denise KOSI 101 Morning Show

"It's an honor for me to be a part of the Celebrity Council for Food Bank of the Rockies. I so respect all they do for people in need. I hope I can help further the cause of fighting hunger."

About Murphy:
Murphy has been doing radio in Denver for 25 years, 14 on KOSI. He is married to Carol and they raised their 4 children here and now have 4 grandchildren. Murphy has been very active in the community and has the 7 Everyday hero award and several others. For years he was the face of the Colorado Lotto by doing their weekly drawings on News 4. He thoroughly enjoys doing radio where is lone goal everyday to to put a smile on some one's face....."If I can make your day a little better then I'm a happy man." He is truly a "HOMER" when it comes to the local sports teams and is still trying to figure out his golf game.

Celeb Council Members #8 & 9

2011-10-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Dom Testa, Co-host of the Dom & Jane Morning Show on Mix 100

Not pictured: Jane London - photo to come soon!

"We're always known that Food Bank of the Rockies does incredible work with more than 1,000 agencies, and we've seen firsthand how they impact lives. But when we actually spent time at their facilities, and saw the spirit in their staff and volunteers, it made us appreciate the real people who dedicate each day to making a difference. We're fortunate in Colorado to have an organization that is fueled not only by generous donors, but by passionate believers in the power to change lives."

About Dom:

From the time I was a teenager I knew that I wanted to do two things: goof around on the radio, and write. So that’s exactly what I’ve done. Starting at age 16, I’ve been able to do the radio part, and it has brought me here to MIX 100. I began hosting this show in 1993 (jeez, has it really been that long??), and it’s still a blast every morning.

The writing has always been a big part of my life, but really took off a few years ago. Now, my award-winning book series for young adults has been acquired by Tor Books in New York, and they are launching the Galahad series worldwide.

I also visit schools and host writing assemblies and workshops. Plus, when I’m in front of the kids, I always talk about the foundation I created called The Big Brain Club. Its primary goal is to help kids overcome the peer pressure to dumb down. Plus, there are tons of writing tips and exercises to help kids exercise their brains. Check it out at http://www.bigbrainclub.com/. Thanks for spending your mornings with the Dom and Jane Show!

About Jane:
I’m happy to have been part of The Dom and Jane Show for over 10 years, here on MIX 100. I grew up in Michigan and attended Central Michigan University, where I managed (between visits to the bar) to get a degree in Journalism. My career began as a radio reporter and I was able to cover a couple of presidential elections, which was a lot of fun for me. I morphed out of news and into a ‘morning radio personality’ and worked as a talk show host for a few years, before moving to Denver and MIX 100.

I’ve been married to my husband, Prince Charming, for almost 20 years. We live in the hills and spend most of our free time in the mountains, near Winter Park, where we ski, hike, bike, and catch up on sleep. We have a cat, named Gus and a Jack Russell Terrier, named Chili, who is without a doubt, the Cutest Dog in the World!

If you listen to The Dom and Jane Show, you know that I tend to say what’s on my mind, and I credit my parents for producing four independent, free-thinking (and speaking) children. That’s not to say I didn’t get punished for my smart mouth on occasion! My mom once told me, as a child, that I’d never keep a job if I continued to be such a smart aleck. Good thing I didn’t listen to that advice.

Dom and I are very proud of the success that we’ve been able to achieve as the morning hosts on MIX 100. Thanks so much for listening!

Celeb Council Member #7

2011-10-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Matt Morris, Recording Artist

"As an artist, I'm given the unique opportunity to share what is meaningful to me with a large, sometimes international audience. Now I'm honored to use my voice to bring awareness to something local. Food Bank of the Rockies provides an amazing service to communities across Colorado, and I stand by them in the movement to end hunger. No one should go to bed hungry in the Land of Plenty."

About Matt:

What is it that separates Matt Morris from so many other recording artists? When you peel back all the layers - the diverse moods, styles and topics he sings about - there is one common denominator: They reflect Matt's dedication to living and writing about a meaningful life.

His album, Everything Breaks Open, was produced in Austin, Texas, and in Los Angeles by Charlie Sexton and Tennman label founder Justin Timberlake - two names you wouldn’t intuitively expect to team up in the studio. “Charlie and Justin can be seen as representative of different sides of my music,” Morris says. “There is an earthy, rooted, sometimes melancholy side to some of my writing that is in line with Charlie’s personality and approach. There is a playful, high-energy, soulful side that speaks to who Justin is, as a person and producer. The two people are very different from one another, but they both have impeccable instincts.”

Morris has known Timberlake since the early 1990s, when the two were child co-stars of that era’s edition of “The All New Mickey Mouse Club.” Morris was on the show for four seasons, from 1991-1995. Even before what was popularly known as MMC, Morris was a stage savvy performer. His father is country artist Gary Morris, former Broadway actor and once one of country’s biggest stars. His parents divorced when he was young; he lived with his mother in Denver, but on summer vacations, he would often join his father not just on the road, but on stage.

In addition to Timberlake, Morris’ friends and contemporaries from the show included luminaries such as Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Keri Russell, Ryan Gosling, and JC Chasez. While many of his cohorts leveraged their Disney Channel exposure to successful pop and acting careers, Morris craved teenage normality, and the family headed back to Denver. “At 15, all I really wanted to do was hang out, get my learner’s permit, and not work” Morris says. “I didn’t want to be a celebrity; I wanted to be a kid." During the summer between his Junior and Senior years in high school, Matt worked as a volunteer health activist for the non-profit organization, Amigos de las Americas. He worked in a remote village in Paraguay, South America, teaching hygiene to locals and assisting with sanitation. Matt’s experience with Amigos was a precursor to the work he would do as a partner artist with the Flobot’s non-profit, FightWithTools.org, an organization committed to providing support on many levels to communities in need.

Morris reunited as a collaborator for some of his fellow Mouseketeers as they pursued their music careers. Morris and Aguilera co-wrote five songs on her Stripped album, including the hit “Can’t Hold Us Down”; they also wrote Kelly Clarkson’s hit, “Miss Independent.” Morris teamed up with Timberlake to craft “The Only Promise That Remains” – a duet performed by Timberlake and Reba McEntire for the Reba Duets album. The pair also wrote “(Another Song) All Over Again” produced by mega-producer Rick Rubin, for Justin’s 2008 FutureSex/LoveSounds.

“To write for another person is to channel that person’s artistic vision,” Morris says. “I work to become aligned with their intentions, and allow my words to speak as close to their perspectives as possible. I think that’s why it is so easy for me to write with Justin, and why my time with Christina yielded so many songs. I know them; we have a shared context.”

Morris’ own music occupies a time and space entirely different from the songs he has collaborated on. In 2003, Matt released the DIY album, UnSpoken, and over the last couple of years has toured with Grammy award winners The Indigo Girls and Joan Osborne. In 2008, he performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, which spawned a five song EP - Backstage at Bonnaroo and other Acoustic Performances. All these years of work paved the way for When Everything Breaks Open, which was conceived in a Middle Eastern restaurant in New York City. “Justin had just performed on “Saturday Night Live” for the first time, and I was there to support him and watch the show. At dinner after the show, he told me he was going to start a label of his own, and that he wanted to sign me as his artist. He said he was going to help me share my music with the world, and I believed him.”

On When Everything Breaks Open, Matt Morris has grown from an award-winning songwriter to a multi-talented recording artist with one of the most ambitious albums of 2010.

Celeb Council Member, #6

2011-10-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Amber Johnson, Editor of Denver Post's Mile High Mamas

"I've had the opportunity to serve in food banks all over the world but since becoming a mom, I feel especially passionate about helping combat child hunger. I'm so impressed with the programs at Food Bank of the Rockies and I feel honored to be conjoined with them."

About Amber:
Amber Johnson is so passionate about motherhood that she teamed up with The Denver Post to build a community around it. Mile High Mamas is Denver's leading social media community for moms and Amber regularly organizes events that pair local mom "Influencers" with organizations in need. Of course, her favorite event ever was when she teamed up with Food Bank of the Rockies to help bring awareness to child hunger.

Amber was selected after a nationwide search to be Microsoft's accredited blogger at the 2010 Vancouver Games. She works as a social media strategist at Pixo Web Design & Strategy and has been named as a Brand Enthusiast for companies such as Park City Mountain Resort's Snowmamas.com, Nintendo, Windex and Feld Entertainment. She is also a family travel writer and has been blogging at her personal blog Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck since 2003 and was received numerous blogging awards including being honored in Westword magazine’s Best of Denver edition.

She is originally from Canada but spent a number of years working as a publicist for Utah’s ski and outdoor industry whilst moonlighting as a radio personality and travel writer. She relinquished her wanderlust life to marry the real love of her life nine years ago. She and her husband Jamie have two kids ages 5 and 7. Well, actually three offspring if you count Jamie's obsession with growing The Great Pumpkin, for which Amber and Jamie were featured on the premiere on NBC's The Marriage Ref.

Celeb Council Members #3 & #4, Trista & Ryan Sutter

2011-10-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Trista & Ryan Sutter, Stars of ABC's The Bachelor

"When we were approached to be involved with Food Bank of the Rockies, we didn't hesitate. As parents, we want to teach our children to give back and thought this would be a perfect way of showing them to do so, through example."

About Trista:
Now a Vail, Colorado resident with her husband Ryan, Trista Sutter (formerly Rehn), was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. After receiving a Bachelor Degree in Exercise Science from Indiana University, she went on to earn a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Miami. She enjoyed Miami so much that she ended up calling it home for five more years, with four being spent practicing pediatric physical therapy at Miami Children’s Hospital, and two as a Miami Heat dancer.

Looking for something new and exciting, Trista applied for a new show called “The Bachelor”. After being chosen to appear as one of 25 bachelorettes on the ABC hit, she achieved overnight fame as the runner-up who was not ultimately picked as The Bachelor’s dream girl. Not being chosen proved to be the best thing that ever happened to her, because she was then asked to become the first Bachelorette. On this spin-off, she not only met the man of her dreams in handsome firefighter Ryan Sutter, but said “yes” to his televised marriage proposal that 26 million people tuned in to witness. After a long engagement they planned a dream wedding with the industry’s best for a special TV wedding that they shared with the millions that had watched their love story unfold. Until recently, they were the only couple from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” to actually tie the knot, and one of few to even remain together. As icing on the proverbial cake, they welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Maxwell Alston Sutter, into the world on July 26, 2007 after 2 long years of trying, then were doubly blessed with a precious baby girl, Blakesley Grace Sutter, on April 3, 2009.

In addition to her involvement on the Bachelor and the Bachelorette, Trista is also known for her participation on the first season of the Emmy-nominated, “Dancing with the Stars”; blogging for E! Online and Buzz.com; hosting roles including Good Day Live, The View, Miss America, VH1’s All Access, and “Trista and Ryan’s Honeymoon Hotspots” on the Travel Channel; appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Fear Factor, Ellen, The Tonight Show, Howard Stern, According to Jim, and Less than Perfect; a column in Redbook entitled “My Life as a New Wife”; a diaper bag line called “Trista Baby” and multiple features in People Magazine, Maxim, MOM magazine, In Style, Good Housekeeping, TV Guide, In Touch, Life & Style weekly, and US Weekly. She is currently a stay-at-home-and-work mom who is now a designer for a successful direct sales company called, Vintage Couture.

About Ryan:
Personal: Birthplace – Fort Collins, Colorado, Currently Residing – Avon, Colorado, Alma Mater – University of Colorado at Boulder – School of Environmental Design.

Interests: Skiing/Snowboarding – “Shane would do it.” Mountain Biking – “Deep within is the grit, guts and determination to move mountains.” Triathlon – “Anything is Possible.” Mountaineering – “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” Environment – “I sing of her glory because I live by her grace.”

Professional:Lieutenant, Town of Vail Fire Department, Engine Company One. – www.vailfire.com, LEED Accredited Professional and Member U.S. Green Building Council, Former Board Member – Eagle County Alliance for Sustainability, TV Personality, Spokesperson, Model

Sesame Steps Up to the Hunger Plate

2011-10-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

We recently partnered with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, and Walmart in hosting a community screening featuring portions of Sesame Street’s newest prime time special, Growing Hope Against Hunger, featuring Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams Paisley, and the Sesame Street Muppets. The screening showcased the program and provide educational opportunities for families around the issue of hunger in America. We previewed this program at Altura Elementary School in Aurora, where over 97% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. FOX 31's, Ken Clark, emceed the event (thanks Ken!).

The special aired on Rocky Mountain PBS on Sunday, October 9. The special helped raise awareness of the widespread issue of hunger and provide simple, empowering strategies to families who aren’t sure where their next meal will come from-and to others who want to help. Lily, a new Muppet character who relies on a food pantry for her family's meals, was introduced. She and Elmo become fast friends and talk openly about the prevalence of hunger in America. Watch a portion of the programs here!

In Colorado, 22.7% of kids under 18 are deemed food insecure. Of those 271,660 children, 43% do not qualify for government assistance and rely on food assistance from Food Bank of the Rockies and their 1,003 agency partners. We were thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic event to raise awareness and show kids that they're not alone in their struggles with putting food on the table.

Celeb Council Member #3, Natalie Tysdal

2011-10-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Natalie Tysdal, Co-Anchor "Everyday" on FOX 31
Photo by Celebrity Council Photographer, Hans Rosemond

“I do my best to teach my own kids to think with what we call a ‘loving heart’. Working with the Food bank of the Rockies is one way of doing that in the community. It’s a pleasure to work with people who care deeply about the well being of others.”

About Natalie:
Natalie Tysdal anchors the news and talk show "Everyday" which airs at 10:00 a.m. on FOX31 Denver.

Prior to that, Natalie anchored the Emmy-award winning News2 This Morning. Since joining KWGN in 2002, the show was continually named Colorado's #1 local morning news program.

Natalie reported and anchored in Dallas,TX, Pensacola, FL, Mobile, AL, Twin Falls, ID and Lincoln, NE. She has covered major hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, moderated gubernatorial debates and interviewed political figures and Hollywood stars from around the world. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her feature, medical and investigative reporting.

Natalie started her career as a photographer and editor while attending the school of Journalism at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. With a degree in Broadcasting and minors in history, political science and psychology, she decided to become a producer which eventually led to jobs reporting and anchoring. In her words, "there is no greater compliment than to entrust a reporter with your story. It can be personal and sometimes difficult. I've learned about journalism from both sides of the camera as the subject of stories and the reporter. I choose my words very carefully and I treat every story with the respect it deserves." It is that sincere yet no-nonsense and honest approach that has won the hearts of many and gained the trust of viewers.

Natalie spends a great deal of time in the community, volunteering and speaking to charitable groups. Outside journalism, her passion is working with kids. She founded a committee that proposed and developed a new elementary magnet school in Colorado with a focus on critical thinking and responsible citizenship.

Natalie and her husband, Tyler, have an active home with two elementary-aged daughters and a little boy.

Celeb Council Member #2, Mr. Joe Sakic

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mr. Joe Sakic, Executive Advisor/Alternate Governor for Colorado Avalanche
Photo by Celeb Council Photographer, Rachel Kemble

"During tough economic times, Deb and I are even more passionate about fighting childhood hunger. No child should be hungry. They can’t support themselves and it’s important that we give back. With the help of Food Bank of the Rockies and the community, we can provide hope and much needed nutrition to Colorado kids and families."

About Joe:
Former Avalanche captain Joe Sakic began his first season as the organization’s Executive Advisor/Alternate Governor in 2011. He was named to his new position on March 25, 2011 and officially began his duties at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. In this role, Sakic serves as an executive advisor regarding all facets of hockey operations. He also represents the Avalanche at the Board of Governors Meetings as one of the Alternate Governors.

Sakic announced his retirement from the game of hockey on July 9, 2009, following a career that spanned 20 seasons and 1,378 games with the same organization. He wore the ‘C’ as team captain for 16 consecutive seasons (17 seasons overall), making him the second-longest serving captain in NHL history. Sakic led the Avalanche to two Stanley Cup titles (1996, 2001), which included the city of Denver’s first major professional sports championship in 1996. The Burnaby, B.C., native captured the franchise’s first Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2001, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1996, earned the Lester B. Pearson Award (NHLPA MVP) and Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) in 2001 and was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team on three occasions (2001, 2002 and 2004).

Sakic is the eighth-highest scorer in NHL history with 1,641 career points. He ranks seventh all-time in both playoff goals (84) and playoff points (188-tied), and holds the NHL record with eight postseason overtime goals. Selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the first round (15th overall) of the 1987 Entry Draft, Sakic is the franchise’s all-time leader in nearly every statistical category. With Sakic as team captain, the Avalanche/Nordiques captured an NHL-record nine consecutive division championships from 1995 to 2003. In addition to its two Stanley Cup titles, the Avalanche also won two Presidents’ Trophies and made six appearances in the Western Conference Finals during that time span.

Sakic’s #19 jersey was retired by the Avalanche during a pre-game ceremony on Oct. 1, 2009. Joe and his wife, Debbie, have three children: Mitchell and twins Chase and Kamryn. Joe and Debbie are active with Food Bank of the Rockies charity and Joe hosts his own charity golf tournament to benefit the Food Bank every summer in Denver. Sakic was awarded the 2007 NHL Foundation Player Award in recognition of his commitment and service to charities in his community.

ANNOUNCING...FBR's Brand New Celebrity Council and GOOSE

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

We live in an awesome state. And we're fortunate enough to have a rather impressive list of local celebs to call our own. A few months back our staff sat down and discussed how amazing it would be to join forces with a host of Colorado celebrities in the fight against hunger. And so we did. We drafted letters and reached out to celebs from all different talent areas. The response was overwhelming and incredibly touching. These dedicated Coloradans didn't hesitate to come on board and volunteer their name and time to fighting hunger and feeding hope.

We're SOOOOOOO excited to launch this Celebrity Council and will announce one member every work day for the next month. Check in daily and visit our Facebook page for all the fun! THANKS to all our Celebrity Council members for teaming up with us on such a vital issue in our community. We couldn't be more proud to have you all on board.

ANNOUNCING CELEBRITY COUNCIL MEMBER #1

Mr. Goose Gossage, Former Major League Pitcher & Hall of Famer
Photo by Celeb Coucil Photographer Rachel Kemble

“Colorado has a plethora of charities that do amazing work. One cause I fully support is combating hunger in our state. It’s shocking how many of our neighbors are hungry, but fortunately, Food Bank of the Rockies exists to make sure those folks don’t go to bed hungry. That’s a cause I can stand behind without hesitation. I’m proud to lend my voice through the Celebrity Council to encourage others to get involved in the food bank’s mission of fighting hunger and feeding hope.”

About Goose.....

Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname. Although otherwise known as "Rich" in popular media, to family and friends he is "Rick."

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was one of the earliest manifestations of the dominating modern closer, with wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor to go along with his blistering fastball. He led the American League in saves three times and was runner up twice; by the end of the 1987 season he ranked second in major league history in career saves, trailing only Rollie Fingers, although by the end of his career his final total of 310 had slipped to fourth all-time. When he retired he also ranked third in major league history in career games pitched (1,002), and he remains third in wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,556⅔); his 1,502 strikeouts place him behind only Hoyt Wilhelm among pitchers who primarily pitched in relief. He also is the career leader in blown saves (112), three more than Rollie Fingers. From 1977 through 1983 he never recorded an earned run average over 2.62, including a mark of 0.77 in 1981, and in 1980 he finished third in AL voting for both the MVP Award and Cy Young Award as the Yankees won a division title.

Respected for his impact in crucial games, he recorded the final out to clinch a division, league or World Series title seven times. His eight All-Star selections as a reliever were a record until Mariano Rivera passed him in 2008; he was also selected once as a starting pitcher. He now works in broadcasting. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Gossage lives in Colorado and is active in the community promoting and sponsoring youth sports. In 1995, the city of Colorado Springs dedicated the Rich "Goose" Gossage Youth Sports Complex, which features five fields for youth baseball and softball competition. He also owned a hamburger joint in Parker, Colorado, called Burgers N Sports.

He has written an autobiography, released in 2000, entitled The Goose is Loose (Ballantine: New York).
His son Todd is a professional baseball player who currently plays for the Sussex Skyhawks in the Can-Am League. Gossage coached the American League team in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game in Anaheim, CA on July 12, 2010.

At the Hall of Fame induction in 2008, Gossage expressed gratitude to a number of baseball people who had helped him through his career, and several times described his Hall of Fame week experience as "amazing". The inductions included Dick Williams, his manager at San Diego. After the ceremonies, the two of them sat together for an ESPN interview on the podium, taking audience questions and gently ribbing each other, especially about the upper-deck home run Kirk Gibson hit in the 1984 World Series.

Paper Plates & YOU

2011-10-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Through an initiative organized by Feeding America, we recently asked our agency partners to have clients receiving food assistance to write about their situations on paper plates. We received hundreds and hundreds of paper plates, filled with heart breaking stories and comments from our neighbors in need. Those plates were brought to our Senator's office to bring to Washington DC, along with thousands from other states. Can you imagine the impact something as simple as a paper plate might have?

Your voice is also needed to show Congress people care about our nation’s investment in anti-hunger programs! We're working to end hunger in our community. This work requires all of us to let decision-makers know we want them to stand up for those who need food. Join people across the country in speaking up for vital anti-hunger programs for low-income individuals and families.

This is a significant moment in the debate on federal deficit reduction. Congressional committees have until Friday, October 14 to provide recommendations to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction about where to find savings. If nutrition safety net programs are not safeguarded in the deficit reduction plan, this would lead to even more hungry people, particularly children, seniors and the working poor.

Programs like TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), which provides high-quality, nutritious food to food banks; CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program), which provides a monthly food box for low-income seniors; SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program), which provides households monthly benefits via a grocery debit card; and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), which serves low-income women, infants and children younger than 5 who are at nutritional risk, are essential to the well-being of our nation.

Your Members of Congress can influence the direction of deficit reduction talks in the next two weeks. Make a difference TODAY by calling your Members of Congress to deliver this important message: “My name is ________ and I am from (city, state). With the need for food assistance at unprecedented levels, I urge you to protect federal nutrition safety net programs like TEFAP, SNAP, CSFP and WIC in the deficit reduction plan. Please reject proposals that would increase hunger and harm vulnerable populations in our communities.”

In Colorado, call 1-877-698-8228 to be connected directly to Senators Bennet and Udall or to Barrasso and Enzi in Wyoming.

All Things Sakic

2011-09-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

It's a good weekend when we can report nearly one million meals raised over the course of 2 days. That was the case after this year's Joe Sakic Celebrity Classic and the Joe & Debbie Sakic Bringing Hope to the Table Celebration, sponsored by CoBank and RBC Wealth Management.

On August 25 and 26, sponsors and friends joined together for a picture perfect day of golf at the renowned Sanctuary Golf Course and celebrated the following evening with fabulous food, a fantastic auction and comedy by Bob Marley at the Marriott Denver Tech Center. This is the 14th year the Sakics have dedicated themselves to fighting childhood hunger in Colorado. With the addition of nearly one million meals provided, this duo has helped raise a total of over 15 million meals for Colorado kids in need. Simply outstanding.

Goose Gossage graced us with his participation again this year!

The Fray's, Joe King golfed with Altitude's Kyle Keefe and Marc Moser and Opie Gone Bad's Jake Schroeder.

Jake Schroeder and Randy Dalton of the Railbenders provided one-of-a-kind entertainment during dinner.

Bob Marley showcased side splitting comedy following dinner.

The event committee goes to bat, year after year, to make the events successful. Job well done crew!

THANK YOU to the Sakics, CoBank, RBC Wealth Management and all our generous sponsors and participants. FBR and all the kiddos we serve appreciate you more than words can begin to express.

Below are links to video recaps from both successful events!

Joe Sakic Celebrity Classic
Joe & Debbie Sakic Bringing Hope to the Table Celebration

MORE Ways to Fight Hunger - Donate Time!

2011-09-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

It's still Hunger Action Month! Time for more tangible ways to fight hunger and feed hope...

DONATE TIME:

11. Volunteer at our warehouse. We can utilize small and large groups!

12. Schedule a tour and learn more about the important ways FBR fights hunger and feeds hope.

13. Donate business services - we need printers, plumbers, tree trimmers, computer repair etc!

14. Get involved in our many events and promotions. Visit foodbankrockies.org for details.

15. Do a project with your kids about hunger in Colorado for school or community groups.

16. Download our Corporate Tool Kit for ideas to raise funds at your work place.

Ameristar, Going Above and Beyond

2011-09-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk recently kicked off their sponsorship of Food Bank of the Rockies’ Senior Totes of Hope™ Program! Ameristar is now the sole sponsor of this program providing totes of nutritious food, such as fruits, vegetable, low-fat dairy products and whole grain breads, to 570 low income seniors each month.

On Wednesday, Sept 7th, Ameristar staff arrived at FBR to spend time packing totes that they later hand delivered to Seniors at Westgate Towers, one of the sites receiving the Totes of Hope. This program is designed to provide food items that seniors typically don't receive or can not afford. This would not be possible without the support of Ameristar, which will donate $10,000 each year to support this program. Over the course of the past three years, Ameristar has donated $25,375 to FBR, which is equivalent to approximately 101,500 meals.

“Helping local senior adults is a focus for us at Ameristar,” said Andy Hamblen, Senior Vice President and General Manager. “It is truly an honor to fully fund the program and help so many people who need it the most.”

THANKS to Ameristar for their dedication to fighting hunger and feeding hope for a population that is so often overlooked. Their efforts will go a very long way for 570 Seniors who so desperately need food assistance.

10 Ways to Fight Hunger in Colorado

2011-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to get involved in the fight against hunger - both during Hunger Action Month and throughout the year! Here are 10 ways to get you started.

Raise Funds:

1. Become a monthly sustainer and give a little each month. Every $1 donated = 4 meals.

2. Text “food” to 90999 and $10 will be donated to FBR through your next monthly phone bill.

3. Trying to quit smoking? Donate what you’re saving on NOT smoking to FBR.

4. Donate unused sporting event tickets.

5. Leave a legacy by remembering FBR in your will and estate planning.

6. Pass up coffee or snacks for a week and donate what you would spend to FBR.

7. Drop your change into any local Panera Bread Operation Dough-Nation Box.

8. Donate stock to FBR.

9. Organize a “Jeans Day” at your work place. Anyone who donates $5 to FBR can wear jeans.

10. Help us build for a “rainy day” or major expense by donating to our Endowment Fund.

Let us know how you're fighting hunger during Hunger Action Month! Visit our facebook page to get involved in the conversation! http://www.facebook.com/FoodBankRockies

It's HAM Time!

2011-09-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's September already! We heart September here at FBR as it marks the beginning of Hunger Action Month, a nationally and locally recognized month of hunger awareness. We've been gearing up over here for offering our food bank family ways to help spread the word and raise funds to support ONE out of SEVEN Coloradans who don't know where their next meal is coming from.

Are you a fan of our Facebook page? Do you follow us on Twitter? Visit our home page for links to both social media sites so you can stay in touch, chat with us and offer up your own ideas on how to fight hunger and feed hope.

We'll post a series of "30 Ways in 30 Days" throughout the month, offering up easy ways to get involved during HAM. Stay tuned!

It's Been Proclaimed

2011-08-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed September, 2011 to be Hunger Action Month in Colorado. There will be a bustle of activity taking place throughout the month, so stay tuned!

How Noble

2011-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Our Monday was fabulous this week, due to the addition of 80 dedicated Noble Energy volunteers cruising around our warehouse sorting food, packing food, organizing food...you get the idea. On the same note, our Tuesday has been fabulous as well, given the check presentation that just took place. Noble gifted us with the equivalent of 100,000 meals for our neighbors in need!!!

The energy in our warehouse has been so much fun and our staff is incredibly grateful for everything Noble Energy is doing to fight hunger.

THANKS to Noble Energy for sharing your time with us and for the generous check presentation! It was a pleasure hosting you and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future!

Fruit Cups to Fight Hunger

2011-07-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Dole is kicking off their cross-country tour with a traveling fruit stand that will benefit Feeding America & Food Bank of the Rockies. This summer, Dole is taking its new Fruit Bowls® All Natural Fruit in 100% juice on a cross-country tour, making stops in 12 cities—including our own Denver. They're giving consumers an opportunity to sample the new product and Dole will be donating fruit cups to families in need in Colorado through FBR, based on the number of folks who visit the booth.
The tour visits Denver on Saturday, July 23 from 11-6 at Market Street Station, curbside closest to the train station. Dole will donate one cup of DOLE All Natural Fruit in 100% juice for every person who visits the fruit stand in person and an additional bonus cup for every Facebook “check in” on-site.
You can follow along online at www.Facebook.com/Dole and stop by the booth on the 23rd. Thanks to Dole for including Colorado in your outreach!

Christy

2011-07-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Christy and her husband took over the family painting company after her husband's father passed away suddenly. Once a lucrative business, the company fell on hard times with the troubled economy. Christy, her husband, young daughter and mother-in-law are trying to keep up on bills, but are struggling to put food on the table. They're currently waiting for food stamps and are trading services for painting as a creative way to make ends meet. Simply going out for painting bids is difficult with the price of gas. They're having a baby any day and worry about how they're going to manage all that life is throwing at them. Christy relies on a local food pantry to ease worries about feeding her family and is grateful for the help. This family resides in the 7th wealthiest county in the nation. Imagine that.

What are your plans for August 26th?

2011-07-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

If that Friday night has you wondering what to do, we'd love to greet you at the Joe & Debbie Sakic Bringing Hope to the Table Celebration, presented by CoBank and RBC Wealth Management. Meet our hunger champion, Joe, pose in a ShutterBooth photo booth, get your laugh on with comedian Bob Marley, bid on affordable and fantastic auction items, dine on fabulous food and fight local childhood hunger all the while. Could a Friday night be any better?

Check out this video from last year's Sakic events! Visit our event page for more information and to register today!

THANKS to our sponsors....RBC Wealth Management, CoBank, 1043 The Fan, 1st Bank, SM Energy, UMB, EnCana, TAG The Ahbe Group, Allied Insurance, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck and EKS&H.

Opie Gone Bad will once again grace us with their musical genius.

Mr. Joe Sakic welcomes guests and thanks our generous sponsors for their participation.

Our live auction is an experience in and of itself.

Photos: Tyler Jones Photography

Take your friends or significant other into the photo booth. It's complimentary and sooo much fun.

Christopher Apple Orchard (aka, Sonny Bono)

2011-06-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

Christopher Apple Orchard, aka, Sonny Bono, found himself without a place to call home last year. He's legally blind, was forced out of his apartment and had nowhere to go. He had never been homeless and had no idea what resources were at his disposal. When he discovered that the county he had lived in didn't have any shelters, he drove his trusty car to Denver and hoped for the best. This man went from being stable and self reliant to losing everything. And yet Christopher Apple Orchard is a ray of sunshine and is so incredibly grateful for everything hes been given.

Why is our job so vital? We provide food to places that people like Christopher rely on to survive. Watch his story - he captured our hearts immediately.

Your Help is Needed TODAY

2011-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Taken from Feeding America's website....

Action Needed: Call Congress about the FY2012 Budget TODAY!

On Tuesday, June 14, the House is expected to vote on the FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations legislation, which makes significant cuts to nutrition programs that are critical to food banks and the clients they serve. We are calling on all of Hunger Action Center advocates to help us demonstrate strong grassroots opposition to cutting TEFAP, CSFP, WIC, and SNAP. While we understand the need to balance the budget, cutting programs that bring hunger-relief to low income Americans is not the way to do it.

Call today! Help us track our impact by using our toll-free number, 877-698-8228. After a brief message you’ll be asked to enter your zip code to connect directly to your House member’s office. Once you are connected:

Tell them that you are a constituent and state the name of the town you are calling from.

Let them know you are calling about the FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations legislation.

Deliver this message:

As an advocate for the hungry and my local food bank, I urge you to vote AGAINST the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations legislation, which cuts funding for TEFAP commodities, CSFP, WIC and SNAP reserve funds. Cutting safety net programs is the wrong way to balance the budget. Instead, I ask that you work with your colleagues to pass a budget that addresses the deficit while safeguarding programs that protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

Season to Share

2011-06-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

If you live in Denver, chances are you've heard of and maybe even contributed to the Denver Post Season to Share, a McCormick Foundation Fund. A record-breaking total of $2,665,500 was raised this past year for 73 local charities, including Food Bank of the Rockies. We're thrilled to announce a $50,000 gift from this effort! 200,000 meals will be provided to our neighbors in need as a result of this outstanding program.

For every dollar donated by readers and community and corporate donations, 50 cents is matched by the McCormick Foundation. The Post and McCormick Foundation pay all administrative and promotional costs, allowing 100% of all donations to go directly to the designated charities. We have a special place in our hearts for all those involved in Season to Share. Thanks for including us once again!!!!

Visit the Season to Share website for more info!

Champions Fighting Hunger

2011-06-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

We're more than excited to announce a new partnership with our friends at Champion Windows! They recently launched a summer campaign coined “Close the Window on Hunger” to donate to local food banks all around the country. This summer they'll be donating 50 pounds of food to FBR for every appointment they run and another 100 pounds of food for each order placed. Last summer, their location in Colorado Springs did this and was able to donate over 150,000 pounds of food!

Nationwide, they're trying to donate over 2.5 million pounds of food. You can visit the campaign site – http://closethewindowonhunger.com/ to see how much they've donated. THANKS to Champion for stepping up to the plate. Without a doubt, you're champions in our world of fighting hunger.

Vikki

2011-05-23T14:35:00.001-07:00

Vikki was visiting a food pantry for the first time when we sat down with her. She lost her job during the summer of 2009, discovered she had stage 3 cancer in November of that same year and has since taken on the responsibility of caring for her disabled father. During their year of hardships, her husband’s work hours began dwindling and insurance costs went up. Vikki hasn’t been able to get adequate medical coverage due to her “pre-existing” condition. Following five months of cancer treatment, her family was forced to file bankruptcy in July, 2010. They are days away from losing their home and remain two months behind on bills and mortgage payments. They cannot find a way to catch up. Her four year old son is her driving force and it’s because of him that they finally came to the conclusion they need help. The food pantry she visited will provide one less worry for Vikki and her family.

One Check, 120,000 Meals

2011-05-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

THANKS to Nationwide Insurance Foundation for the $30,000 check donation last week! 120,000 meals will be provided to folks in need because of your generosity!

Stamping Out Hunger

2011-05-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Letter Carriers and Campbell’s Soup Company once again teamed up with Feeding America for the nation’s largest one-day food drive on May 14. Mail carriers picked up non-perishable food donations along their routes to help out FBR and other area food banks. Several volunteers, including groups from CoBank and Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, helped sort and box the items. It makes for a long day for our postal workers and volunteers, but it’s certainly a wonderful donation for our less fortunate neighbors. An outstanding 71,656 pounds were collected this year!

One Million Meals

2011-05-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

Colorado oil and gas companies have made a significant impact in the fight against local hunger over the past two years. In 2010, a group of leaders from oil and gas companies and professional organizations met to discuss ways to raise funds and awareness for FBR. The branches of support resulting from those discussions have provided over one million meals for our neighbors in need.

In 2010, 23 oil and gas companies joined forces for the 1st Annual Oil & Gas Grand Prix at The Track in Centennial, raising $8,000 for FBR. Just recently, on April 30, 2011, the 2nd annual O&G Grand Prix took place and the amount raised doubled, totaling over $17,000.

Brandon Day, Whiting Petroleum employee and Event Chair for the O&G Grand Prix says,

“I’m part of the initiative of fighting hunger in Colorado because it’s an easy way to give back to the community. The people that work for oil and gas companies are good hearted and genuine people. I know they enjoy giving back as much as I do. This year’s O&G Grand Prix was a great event and I know next year will be even better!”

In addition to these events, the AADE (American Association of Drilling Engineers) local chapter put their heads together and organized a 2010 summer food competition for 30 member companies and gifted FBR with over $15,000 as a result. The DAPL (Denver Association of Petroleum Land Men) organized their first Landrush 5 & 10K at City Park, bringing in over $5,000. Two additional groups, The Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, have opened their doors and publications to FBR, helping us reach out to their constituents to increase awareness regarding the issue of hunger in our community.

While dozens of oil and gas companies have been instrumental in the success of these initiatives, four companies have gone above and beyond in raising funds for FBR. Whiting Petroleum, Encana, SM Energy and Halliburton have each organized company events, promotions and fundraisers benefitting FBR, resulting in close to $200,000 raised. This equals nearly 800,000 meals for our neighbors in need.

FBR appreciates and admires the dedication and support from this network of oil and gas companies in our state. One million additional meals will reach our neighbors in need as a result of their generosity. We could not do what we do without support like this.
Below are photos from the 2nd Annual O&G Grand Prix event!

Beginner Champ, Syed from Encana.

Intermediate Champ, Frank of Weatherford

Our Advanced Champ, Will from Great Western Oil & Gas

The Grand Champ team from Great Western Oil & Gas took home the monster trophy!

Walmart Provides 400,000 Weekend Meals for Local Kiddos

2011-05-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 28, 2011, Walmart employees rolled up their sleeves to pack and distribute Totes of Hope™, filled with nutritious food for the weekend, to low-income children at Annunciation School as part of Walmart’s$100,000 gift to FBR.

$150,000 has been gifted to FBR’s Totes of Hope™ program through Walmart Foundation over the past two years. This gift provides 600,000 meals for children in some of our most impoverished communities. In addition, nearly five million pounds of food were donated to FBR in 2010 through Sam’s Club and Walmart.

“It’s tragic to realize many Colorado children go without food over the weekend when school meal programs are not available. Walmart’s gift to our community makes a significant difference in these young lives through their support of our Totes of Hope™ program. These organizations also support our Denver’s Table Food Rescue by donating millions of pounds of nutritious food. Sam’s Club and Walmart are helping us feed hope to thousands in need. We are extremely grateful for their generosity,” said Kevin Seggelke, Food Bank of the Rockies President and CEO.

42% of those served through our partner agencies are children. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Walmart, many of these kids can stop worrying about where their weekend meals will come from and can focusing on being kids.

Dorothy

2011-04-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

Dorothy retired from a local medical office years ago. She had worked hard and decided it was time to move on to the next phase of her life. Her son got sick shortly after and Dorothy became his care giver, which has pushed her financial situation to its limits. She receives government assistance once per month, but this has not been enough to adequately provide for her family. As a result, Dorothy relies on a local food pantry to get them through the month. Without this pantry, she would be forced to come out of retirement and find employment.

The food pantry Dorothy frequents has become her social network and support system. She volunteers three days per week wherever needed and has become like family to the staff and volunteers.

A Greener Food Bank

2011-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's only appropriate with Earth Day approaching to announce some exciting "green" news of our own! Gifts come in all shapes and sizes around here. Some folks donate funds, some car loads of food, some computers and electronic equipment. It's really quite astounding how much good will our neighbors share with us. This is especially true for the gift that we recently received through Energy Outreach, Xcel Energy and the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships.

In an effort to become "greener" and more efficiently utilize funds for feeding our neighbors, our 106,000 square-foot facility was recently gifted with more than $103,000 worth of weatherization improvements through Energy Outreach Colorado's Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP). This program provides free energy audits and efficiency upgrades for qualifying nonprofit facilities across the state. We consider ourselves blessed to have been chosen to receive these improvements!

Some of the work done includes 7 radiant heaters, pipe insulation, air curtains for walk-in coolers, occupancy sensors and faucet aerators and new refrigerators and merchandisers. All of this work will save us enough in energy costs to provide more than 28,000 meals for our neighbors in need this year alone!

This door assists in keeping cold air from reaching other sections of the warehouse.

7 radiant heaters make a significant impact on heating the dock area of the warehouse.

Air curtains create a vacuum of air, preventing cold air from our freezers and refrigerators from escaping the immediate area.

New energy efficient refrigerators were donated in multiple break areas of the facility.

We can't thank everyone involved enough for these generous improvements!

More info about Energy Outreach Colorado.....They're the only independent, non-profit organization in the state that raises money to help limited income Coloradans afford home energy. Since 1989, EOC has distributed nearly $123 million to fund energy bill payment assistance and energy efficiency upgrades for affordable housing. Energy Outreach Colorado relies on private donations, corporate contributions and foundation grants. It has received top ratings from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau. Energy Outreach Colorado, www.EnergyOutreach.org, can be reached at 303-825-8750 or at 225 E. 16th Ave. Ste. 200, Denver, CO 80203-1612.

Spaghetti Dinner for 250 Kiddos

2011-04-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Panera Bread recently announced that, through their successful Operation Dough-Nation Program, they'll contribute $36,000 to Food Bank of the Rockies’ for our Kids Cafe program at Shopneck Boys and Girls Club! This program provides hot meals, five evenings per week, to over 250 children attending the site.

Last week, Panera Bread kicked off their new sponsorship of this site by serving over 250 children a fabulous spaghetti dinner and Panera treats! The kids loved the food and went home with full stomachs. We can't thank Panera Bread and their customers enough for their continuing support of FBR and all those we serve!

10 Grocery Carts of Food Go a Long Way

2011-04-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

On April 5th, Safeway donated 10 grocery carts full of much needed food after an Easter Seals & Special Olympics bagging competition with local media celebs at a Denver Safeway store. Special thanks to Safeway for the 4th consecutive year of including us in this awesome event! The food certainly goes a long way.

Sharon

2011-04-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

This photo comes to us via Denver Magazine's Faces of Hunger photography contest....

Sharon stops by a local food pantry for her weekly box of food. She is incredibly thankful for the help provided by this pantry. It's so difficult to provide enough food for herself, due to the current economic situation.

Photographer: Holly Laing

The Heart of our Volunteers

2011-04-14T14:50:00.001-07:00

National Volunteer week is winding down. We celebrated our volunteers all week and want to whole heartedly thank all of you who donate time toward fighting hunger and feeding hope. This place wouldn't and couldn't operate without you.

While we're on the topic of volunteerism.....have you met Olive? If you've volunteered at FBR, she was most likely the shining face welcoming you, answering your every question, retreiving bandaids, rubber gloves, offering a cold beverage and ensuring that all our volunteers were being taken care of during their time with us. Olive has been with this organization since we opened our doors 32 years ago. Take a minute to watch the video below for her story and you'll get a glimpse of the passion she has for volunteerism and all those who donate their time with Food Bank of the Rockies. Volunteers are at the heart of our organization and at the heart of our volunteers is Olive.

Rita

2011-04-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

Rita's fiance passed away last June. And she lost her job shortly after. She and her four children have been trying to make ends meet ever since. Rita lost her car and she couldn't keep up with utilities, rent, gas...you get the drill. She's been on hold for receiving food stamps for months, so she comes to a local pantry for food and clothing for the kids. And for a sense of family. They try to make it without asking for help, but that's been pretty tough lately. But she smiles and laughs. And she makes it work for the sake of her family.

Little Andrea

2011-04-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

This photo comes to us via Denver Magazine's Faces of Hunger photography contest....

Little Andrea Espinoza waits in the food box line at the Community Ministry of Denver with her mother, Cecilia. Where would little Andrea be without resources like this food pantry? We don't even want to guess.

Photographer: Holly Laing

Rockies Home Opener Feeds Hope!

2011-04-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

Not only was April 1 the kick-off for the Rockies 2011 season, it was also the kick off for the National Letter Carriers Food Drive, which officially takes place at mailboxes around the U.S. on May 14!

Jim from Campbell's and Katrina from the Letter Carriers help out.

A sea of people decked in Rockies purple – a favorite color at FBR too - streamed into Coors Field on this gorgeous spring day. Thanks to Campbell’s Soup, 104.3 The Fan, KS 107.5 and all the other Lincoln Financial Media stations, fans flocked to our booth, exchanged cans and cash for cool t-shirts and fed hope to our community! Volunteers from Campell’s, the National Letter Carriers and several family members helped us collect donations before the game.

Campbell's has some pretty cute mascots!

It turned out to be a great day for FBR. We collected $1,266.15 in cash and coin = 6,331 lbs and 1,082 lbs of non-perishable food for a grand total of 7,413 pounds. That’s a lot of soup!! Huge thanks go out to everyone who donated food, time and funds!

FBR's Laura having fun.

Tyson Foods and King Soopers Team Up to Fight Hunger in Denver

2011-03-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

We knew it would be a good day at Food Bank of the Rockies when the Tyson truck pulled up and donated 29,000 pounds of premium chicken courtesy of Tyson Foods and King Soopers!

“We are so grateful to Tyson Foods and King Soopers for their long history of helping Food Bank of the Rockies and our partner agencies fight hunger in our community. This donation comes at a time when 1 in 8 people in Colorado struggle to meet their daily food needs. It is greatly needed and truly appreciated!” said Kevin Seggelke, President and CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies.

“Now, more than ever, food banks are stretched and stressed. People who have never been in need before have been hurt by the difficult economy and they are struggling to meet their families’ basic food needs. Together with Food Bank of the Rockies, and Tyson we will continue to support their mission in Fighting Hunger and Feeding Hope.” said Russ Dispense, President of King Soopers.

John unloads the frozen chicken at FBR's warehouse.

Tyson Foods has been an active participant in the fight against hunger for a decade, donating more than 78 million pounds of protein, or the equivalent of 300 million meals. The company’s current “KNOW Hunger” campaign is focused on helping more people understand and join the effort to eliminate hunger in America.

Rhonda Remy - King Soopers, Julie Reynolds - Empire Marketing Strategies representing Tyson Foods and Richard - Driver for Tyson Foods

Thank you Tyson and King Soopers for helping us fight hunger and feed hope!

More information on Tyson:
http://twitter.com/TysonFoods

http://www.facebook.com/TysonHungerRelief

http://www.tysonhungerrelief.com/

Terrell Davis Serves Up Hope at Food Bank of the Rockies

2011-03-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

Terrell Davis and members of his new team visited FBR today. They came with bottles of “Mile High Salute” Bar-B-Que Sauce to serve up with some kid-friendly fixins donated by our friends at King Soopers.

Young guests from Little Giants Preschool joined Terrell for lunch, autographs and some horseplay with Miles, the Denver Bronco Mascot.

A portion of the proceeds from each pallet of sauce sold in Colorado will go to Food Bank of the Rockies and our sister Feeding Colorado Food Banks. The sauce is available at King Soopers and City Market stores, and according to our tiny tasters, it’s “really yummy!”

Thank you, Terrell, for helping us fight hunger and feed hope. We salute you!

Food Bank of the Rockies staff, Miles and Terrell

7-Year Old Nathan Warms Our Hearts With His Gift

2011-03-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

The food bank received this letter yesterday:

"Dear Food Bank of the Rockies,

My name is Nathan. I earned this money by playing guitar at Pearl Street Mall. I received $37.48 by playing. I'm also inclucing 13 more dollars from my charity allowance.

Sincerely,

Nathan"

Photo by RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post, 3/1/2011

Nathan sent us a clipping of this photo from the Denver Post. He's laughing because a passer-by asked for his autograph.

The FBR team also thinks you're quite a Super Star!

Thank you Nathan for caring about others. You inspire us and we are very grateful for your wonderful gift.

Where's the Beef?

2011-02-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with the largest gathering of the nation’s cattlemen and women for their annual meeting in Denver, Greeley-based JBS USA and farmers and ranchers from around the country donated 16,000 pounds of beef today to Colorado’s Feeding America Food Banks. This is the largest single donation of beef Food Bank of the Rockies and our sister food banks have ever received!

Jim Baldwin, President & CEO of Feeding Colorado talks to television reporter.

Steve Williams, Debbie Lyons-Blythe and Kevin Seggelke

Kevin Seggelke, FBR’s President and CEO kicked off the press conference. Steve Williams from JBS USA, Jim Baldwin, CEO of Feeding Colorado and Kansas Rancher, Debbie Lyons-Blythe all spoke about this wonderful donation and the tremendous need in our community. “Compared to 50 years ago, there are half as many farmers and ranchers today feeding a United States population that has more than doubled,” said Debbie. “Our population will only continue to grow, so farmers and ranchers like me remain committed to feeding a growing population, by providing an affordable supply of high-quality, nutritious beef so that all Americans can have enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle.”

Afterwards, the group gathered at FBR’s loading dock to help unload the first pallet off the truck.

The donation will be shared between the five Feeding Colorado food banks and distributed to soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in each food bank’s service area throughout the state.

A hearty THANK YOU goes out to JBS USA, farmers, ranchers and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for providing and assisting with this awesome protein donation during these cold winter months.

Arvada Light Display Brightens the New Year with 18,000+ Meals!

2011-01-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

For the 5th consecutive year, Arvada residents Tom & Ed adorned their home with a multitude of lights for the holiday season. 37,000 computer-controlled lights synchronized to Christmas music delighted this year’s visitors.

Once again, Tom & Ed installed a donation box benefitting Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR), so people who come to enjoy the display can give back to those in need. This year they raised $4,660 –the equivalent of 18,640 meals!

Tom says, “The entire project is very labor intensive, but when we see the finished product, it’s all worth it. And when we look out the window and see the traffic and the eager faces of children with eyes as big as saucers, it gives us a nice warm feeling. In 2008 we decided that it would be an excellent idea to take donations for Food Bank of the Rockies.” Over the past three years, Ed and Tom’s visitors have raised nearly $12,000 to benefit FBR!

Thank you, Tom and Ed, for your kindness and helping those in need over the holidays!

Tom and Ed present their check to FBR CEO Kevin

Pound for Pound, We're Fighting Hunger

2011-01-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

Food Bank of the Rockies, along with Feeding America, General Mills and The Biggest Loser are excited to announce the 2011 Pound for Pound Challenge. The Pound for Pound Challenge is built around the incredible success of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and the timing at the start of the new year is perfect.

The program allows anyone to shed pounds along with the contestants by pledging their weight-loss goals at www.pfpchallenge.com. For every pound pledged, General Mills and other partners will donate 13 cents to Food Bank of the Rockies through Feeding America. It does not cost anything to participate and you'll be helping feed those in need throughout our community.

New this year, people can pledge to maintain a healthy weight and they can create or join a team when they pledge. This will allow companies, friends and social groups to compete against each other to see who can get the most people to pledge their pounds.

Join us in the Pound for Pound Challenge by creating a team and getting healthy & fit together in the new year! The 2011 Pound for Pound Challenge kicks off TODAY, January 5, during the season premier of The Biggest Loser.

Tune in tonight and visit foodbankrockies.org to make your pledge today!

Surprise Donation from Purina Makes the Holidays Brighter

2010-12-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Food Bank of the Rockies received notice of an early Christmas gift this year from our friends at Purina. For their $1 Million in ONE Day campaign, Purina sent out street teams to Denver, New Orleans, Miami and New York on 12/20/10 and gave randomly selected people an opportunity to donate $5,000, in their name, from Purina ONEbeyOnd, to their charity of choice from a list of options.

Food Bank of the Rockies was one of the charities on the list for Denver. FBR was fortunate to receive $35,000 – that’s 140,000 meals for our community!

What a wonderful gesture, Purina - we are so grateful. And a huge thanks to those kind people who selected Food Bank of the Rockies. Talk about a great surprise to end 2010!

Visit Purina's Facebook page to send a thank-you message or comment about the day and read the USA Today article here.

"Samantha"

2010-12-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

"Samantha" moved with her two kids to Colorado from Michigan a couple years back to be closer to her mom. For two years, life was great. Just like that, it all turned. We spoke to her this past April about what brought her to a Denver food bank we were visiting. Check out "Samantha's" story. I think you'll be surprised at how real her life story is and how close so many of us are to the position she's in. One month of no income. So often, that's all it takes.

Hunger is Everywhere...Even on the Tether Ball Court

2010-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

FBR is fortunate enough to be one of many Denver-area nonprofit organizations that receives funding through Season To Share, a McCormick Foundation. The FBR authored post below comes from their new Season to Share blog, showing the impact that can be made on the lives of those in need in our community through Season To Share. To learn more about Season To Share or to make a donation (all donations are matched at 50% by the McCormick Foundation), visit http://www.seasontoshare.com/.

"Remember being a kid and either being envied because you were really good at something or envious because someone else was? Bobby, (name changed), a sixth grader at a local Denver elementary school, is one of those kids who is really good at something. Tether ball. In Bobby’s school, if you rule the tether ball court, you are king of the class. No one could beat Bobby. One day, his teacher and a counselor observed he was losing on the court. They also noticed he didn’t seem to mind. Finally, they noticed that he began bringing a small carry-on to school. One afternoon, as he left for the day, they asked him what was inside. Bobby opened it up excitedly, proudly displaying sandwiches, fruit, chips, juices and other items, obviously from his classmates’ lunches. When his teacher asked him where he got all the food, he told her, “I let the other kids win at tether ball if they promise to give me something from their lunch. Then I take the food home so my family can eat.”"

Click here for the rest of the post...

KBCO Studio C Fights Hunger

2010-12-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

We're proud to once again be chosen as a recipient for the proceeds of KBCO's coveted Studio C album! On Saturday, December 4, FBR staff and volunteers joined forces with KBCO staff, representatives from Boulder Aids Project, Key Bank folks and endless lines of KBCO fans outside various Ultimate Electronics locations around town. The goal? Thousands of people line up overnight or at the crak of dawn to be first in line to purchase this compilation of one of a kind musical masterpieces. Fresh from Studio C. We were honored enough to spend time with KBCO talent and chat with folks who make this a yearly tradition. Many thanks to all our friends at KBCO for including us in this outstanding fundraiser. Our neighbors in need will reap the rewards of your generosity.

KBCO's witty Bret Saunders and the lovely Robbyn Hart set up shop outside the Park Meadows Ultimate Electronics location.

FBR's Janie & Gwen joined the masses at the Park Meadows remote.

The line. The endless line.

Key Bank provided coffee and breakfast food for the crowd to enjoy as they waited.

Childhood Weekend Hunger Needs Your Help

2010-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard about our Totes of Hope-Children program. So many of the kids we serve had very little to eat over the weekend when after school programs and clubs were closed. Mom or Dad often work multiple jobs and these kids were coming to school Monday morning, hungry and undernourished. Thus the Totes of Hope program was born, delivering backpacks of food that kids can take home on Friday, providing not only nutrition, but also peace of mind over the weekend.

Our friends at Feeding America just sent along an email, announcing some potentially very exciting news for weekend childhood hunger in America. Caryn Long, Senior Policy Counsel at Feeding America in Washington DC explained that the U.S. House of Representatives just passed the Weekends Without Hunger Act on December 8. The act was introduced earlier this spring by Dina Titus of Nevada and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

The bill would authorize a five-year pilot program funded with 10 million dollars for the USDA to apply toward weekend feeding programs in America. The USDA would provide commodities to programs serving low income kids – 50 percent or more of the kids in the program must be enrolled in free or reduced-price school lunches for the program to qualify for the funding. Currently, Food Bank of the Rockies' Totes of Hope program is privately funded, as are many backpack programs around the country. This would enable us to expand our reach to more kids in need in low income areas of our service area.

The challenge....the bill has passed the House and will now go to the Senate. If the Senate passes the bill, the pilot program will be authorized. If the bill fails to pass before the Senate adjourns, we will need to start from the beginning with the 112th Congress in January.

How YOU can help...tell your Senator to pass the Weekends Without Hunger Act. Call both of your senators and deliver this message:

“As my Senator, there is a very important way you can help the hungry before Congress adjourns for the year. Please pass the Weekends Without Hunger Act (HR 5012). Thank you.”

Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO)
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5852

Udall, Mark - (D - CO)
317 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5941

Collectively, we can make this happen!

Blowing Glass, Fighting Hunger

2010-12-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

PISMO Fine Art Glass, Colorado’s foremost gallery for glass art, joined forces with the “Colorado Project” to benefit FBR. PISMO hosted a reception and silent auction on October 8, 2010, at their Denver gallery in Cherry Creek North. The glass works that were auctioned were donated by more than two dozen artists participating in the Colorado Project. The participants included lamp workers from around the state and the nation. 100% of the proceeds from the auction were donated to us!

In its second year, the Colorado Project is a 501(3) non-profit organization whose primary mission is to unite glass artists through philanthropic events and causes. Over 300 glass artists participated in a weekend workshop this past July to collaborate in a non-competitive environment allowing them to share ideas and knowledge regarding their craft. Many of the auction items were made that weekend.

The works include a beautiful wall installation titled “Metamorphosis”. The piece is made in individual sections that measure a total of 37” high x 90” wide and emulates the transformation of a worm to a cocoon to a stunning butterfly. Five artists collaborated to make this piece – Darby Holm, Ryan “Buck” Harris, Adam Grafuis, Alex Ubatuba, and Eusheen Goines.

Representatives from the Colorado Project presented us with a check last week for a total of nearly $11,000 for both events! Special thanks to all those involved at The Colorado Project and all the artists who made this generous donation possible. Nearly 44,000 meals will be provided as a result of your hard work and dedication to fighting hunger and feeding hope.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization Passes!

2010-12-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

Great strides were made in national child nutrition last week. After what seems like years of government contemplation, the legislation finally passed! We're thrilled about the positive changes that will now be possible for America's kids...our future. See below for an article from the Huffington Post, written by Feeding America's Vicki Escarra.

"My southern roots have taught me that when someone does something for which you are grateful, you write a thank-you note.

We've been talking for months about the urgent need for a robust child nutrition bill and today, the Feeding America network gets to celebrate the passage of the long-awaited Healthy, Hunger-Free Families Act. The legislation will increase access to federal food programs for millions of children and improve the nutritional quality of the meals they serve. And for that, we have many, many people to thank...."

Click here for the remainder of the story....

2 Days On Air Provides 3.6 Million Meals

2010-12-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

If you're a Mix 100 listener, you're aware that the 12 Annual Dom and Jane Charity Marathon just raised over 3.6 million meals for our neighbor in need! How awesome is that? Our office has been a buzz with excitement. We look forward to this event each and every year and are taken back by how generous our community is! It's heart warming to hear people calling in to pledge donations from $5 to $1000. Each pledge goes a long way and is greatly appreciated by FBR and all those we serve through our partner agencies.

THANKS to Mix 100, Dom, Jane, Jeremy, Tizzy and all those involved in making Charity Marathon happen year to year. You're all an incredibly valued part of the Food Bank of the Rockies family!

Jeremy and Tizzy went to bat for FBR through their social media networks.

A Target rep chats with Dom and Jane about their longstanding partnership with FBR.

Greg Moss graced Dom and Jane with a visit.

FBR's Donna and Kristina hang out with the gang.

Walmart poses with Dom and Jane after chatting on air.

2 reps from Grainger stop in to talk about their gifts to FBR.

Excel Energy administers a program through their customers to benefit FBR.

Panera brings their famous Big Check from "Operation Dough-nation" to the station.

FBR Board Chair, Doug Wilhelm, talks about CoBank's dedication to fighting hunger.

King Soopers visits with Dom and Jane after talking about their generous efforts to fighting local hunger.

Morgan Stanley stops by to talk about their recent gift to support the Totes of Hope -Children program.

Daniel's Fund talks with Dom and Jane about their dedication to fighting hunger.

The beautiful view from the NEW Mix studio!

Whiting Petroleum pays their annual visit to the Charity Marathon.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who manned the phone banks over the course of the 2 days!

Natural Grocers pays the studio a visit to encourage listeners to participate in their Check Out Hunger promotion.

Filling Empty Bowls

2010-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Taken from a 12/1/2010 YourHub.com article:

You're invited to help fill "Empty Bowls" in our community. The annual Cherry Creek Schools Empty Bowls event, benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies, will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, December 9, in the West Cafeteria at Cherry Creek High School.

Handmade bowls made by ceramic students from Cherry Creek High School, West Middle School, Prairie Middle School, Belleview Elementary, Homestead Elementary, Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Elementary will be sold at the event for $10 and up. Each purchased bowl will include tasty soup. There will also be a silent auction including unique artwork, Direct TV for one year, and much, much more!

All proceeds go to Food Bank of the Rockies. Each dollar raised provides four meals through the food bank. In the past four years, the Cherry Creek Schools Empty Bowls event has raised more than $30,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies. The Empty Bowls are a reminder that there are always empty bowls in the world and in our own backyard. Hope to see you on December 9!

If you're interested in helping or donating silent auction items, please contact: Efong Yee at Eyee2@cherrycreekschools.org.

Holiday Light Show to Fight Hunger

2010-11-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

Arvada residents, Tom and Ed, are hosting their 5th Annual Holiday Light Display through January 7, 2011. 37,000 computer controlled holiday lights adorn their yard, trees, roof...you get the idea! This display is one that lights up the neighborhood and people's hearts as they take in the views and sounds of the season. Two 30 minute shows play on alternate nights and can be heard through 106.3 fm from the comfort of your car.

For the third year running, Tom and Ed are accepting donations in a box outside their home with the proceeds benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies. “The entire project is very labor intensive, but when we see the finished product, it’s all worth it. And when we look out the window and see the traffic and the eager faces of children with eyes as big as saucers, it gives us a nice warm feeling. In 2008 we decided that it would be an excellent idea to take donations for Food Bank of the Rockies.” Over the past two years, Ed and Tom’s visitors have raised over $7,300 to benefit FBR!

If you're in the neighborhood, or even if you're not, head over to Tom and Ed's house and check out how these Coloradans are using their talents and passion to fight hunger and feed hope.

When: November 25 through Friday, January 7, 2011. Weeknights from 5:00pm-10:00pm and weekends from 5:00pm – 11:00pm.

Where: 12177 W 58th Place, Arvada 80004

Saddle Up and Give Hunger the Boot

2010-11-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

The 17th Annual Network for the Needy Luncheon took place this past month. We look forward to this event each and every year! Network for the Needy is sponsored by the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado and is comprised of a group of dedicated and compassionate individuals from the hospitality industry who work together to create a delightful experience complete with delicious food, fun and original entertainment. Everything is donated, so 100% of the proceeds benefit Food Bank of the Rockies and its Denver's Table program.

Chefs from local hotels and restaurants put their best 'food' forward at this year's event. Each participating restaurant tempted over 550 meeting, event and conference planners from around the Rocky Mountain Region with their appealing appetizers, exquisite entrees and delectable desserts. Chefs also had the opportunity to compete for the best appetizer, entree and dessert prior to the main event. Our volunteer culinary judges chose the winning creations and their picks were announced during the program.

Nearly $20,000 was donated to FBR as a result of this year's "Give Hunger the Boot!" event! That equates to almost 80,000 meals to our neighbors in need. THANKS to everyone involved in making this event another outstanding success!

This room was bustling with hospitality folks sampling gourmet cuisine options.

Each restaurant set up their own unique booth display.

How could one resist these delectable cookies?

FBR's, Jose, was appropriately dressed for the Western theme.

A group of dancers provided entertainment for the crowd.

THE BIG CHECK!

Special thanks to the entire Network for the Needy committee! This event is a success because of your time and efforts.

Each year, a student designs the image that is imprinted on the awards. This year's winner is being presented with her special plate!

Reggie shows off the artwork of our talented winner!

One of our winning restaurants is presented with their award.

State of Hunger

2010-11-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

FBR held a "State of Hunger" press conference yesterday at the Colorado Nonprofit Association to address hunger on national and local levels. Panelists included Feeding America's, Eric Davis, Hunger Free Colorado's, Kathy Underhill, FBR's Kevin Seggelke and His Hands Christina Ministries, Johnny Davis. Each panelist spoke about their organization's challenges and discussed the reality of growing demand for food assistance. The Denver Post was a part of the conference and featured a front page story this morning.

Denver and the West

Colo. Food Banks See "Staggering" Increase in Need

By Colleen O'Connor
The Denver Post
11/18/2010
Colo. Food Banks See "Staggering" Increase in Need -
Colorado's five major food banks distributed more than 76 million pounds of food throughout the state last year, a 25 percent increase over the previous year, and experts expect worse to come. "Already, this fiscal year . . . is on pace for another 7 to 10 percent increase over the prior year, which makes that a 32 to 35 percent increase over a two-year time period," said Kevin Seggelke, president and chief executive of Food Bank of the Rockies. "That's just a staggering number.

Read the rest of the Denver Post's article here.

Morgan Stanley Fills the Plates of Colorado Kids

2010-11-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, local Morgan Stanley employees teamed up with FBR to fill over 100 Totes of Hope ™ for local kids in need and distributed the totes to children at Love Christian in Denver as they headed home for the weekend.

This volunteer effort comes as the financial services firm recently launched 'Fill the Plate,' a $5 million commitment to combat child hunger during weekends and after-school hours in Colorado and around the country. FBR will receive a generous gift of $120,000 over the next two years as a result of this dedicated effort!!!

While more than 200,000 children in our service area receive free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program, there are no targeted federal resources to supply meals to these children during the weekends. Our Totes of Hope™ program provides an innovative solution to this problem: backpacks filled with shelf-stable, nutritious food for children to take home when the weekend arrives. These free backpacks contain about nine pounds of wholesome food children can prepare themselves if necessary.

We applaud Morgan Stanley for making a positive impact for Denver-area children in need in the areas of hunger relief and obesity! Your generosity will certainly go a very long way in the lives of these kids.

Running, Walking, Strolling, Jogging...to Fight Hunger

2010-10-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Panera Bread hosted its fourth annual Panerathon 5K/10K race on Sunday, Sept. 26 with all proceeds benefiting FBR. This race continues to grow year after year, but this year set new records. In 2009, 430 people registered and this year, nearly 700 runners and walkers came out for the race! We were thrilled with this impressive turn out! As a result of this growth in participants, over 30,000 meals will be provided to our neighbors in need.

The race started outside the Panera Bread bakery-cafe in The Shops at Walnut Creek in Westminster, Colo. and wound registrants through the scenic trail system in the area. Murphy from KOSI 101 kicked off the festivities and welcomed runners and walkers across the finish line. Gift cards from Panera Bread and Road Runner Sports were given to the top overall male and female finishers and participants and their families enjoyed the post-race expo, including fun activities for the entire family and complimentary freshly baked bagels, pastries and sandwiches from Panera Bread.

One of our favorite aspects of this event is watching the kiddos participate in the free Kids' Fun Run, which takes place pre-race. The kids line up and get warmed up with the help of our trusty local Westminster firefighters.

It's hard to top the kids' enthusiasm, but the adults seem to have a pretty good time too. We thoroughly enjoy watching folks cross the finish line - some walking, some sprinting, some cheering, some hi-fiving, some panting, some laughing.

“Panera Bread is committed to supporting our local communities and the fight hunger,” said Craig Flom, regional operating partner for the Colorado Panera Bread bakery-cafes. “We want to thank the runners, walkers, adults, kids and dogs for joining us for Panerathon 2010 in support of Food Bank of the Rockies.”

Special thanks to these two ladies who win the award for longest distance traveled - they drove all the way from Kansas just to participate in Panerathon!

A Message from our Friends at Hunger Free Colorado

2010-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released new data on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the Food Stamp Program. In 2009, Colorado ranked last among the 50 states in participation. Less than 42 percent of eligible Coloradans are participating in SNAP/Food Stamps. Nearly 480,000 additional people in Colorado - the majority of who are children or elderly - could be accessing SNAP/Food Stamp benefits. These families and individuals are needlessly suffering from hunger.

In addition, Colorado has left more than $755 million in federal funds unclaimed due to low participation in the program. This is money that would have been brought into Colorado and spent in local food retailers. In fact, it is more than the annual revenue of 36 full-service grocery stores, which would have created jobs and generated additional economic activity. In a time, when individuals, families, and communities are struggling to make ends meet, Colorado cannot afford to be missing out on the benefits of this important program.

BACKGROUND INFO:
Last June we celebrated the signing of HB 1022. Colorado lawmakers signed this bill to improve access to food stamp benefits by forming community partnerships with an outreach plan and to expand access to families and individuals with some savings by removing the asset test.

In September, the State submitted a food stamp outreach plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The outreach plan is an opportunity to expand access to the SNAP/Food Stamp Program to hungry families in our state and bring in a federal match for any private funds devoted to this important issue. The plan submitted in September included funding for one outreach worker in Weld County. This is a start, but does not fully address the severity of the need to expand access to SNAP/Food Stamps throughout Colorado. Considering that some states have used the state outreach plan to leverage significant funds (California brought in $19 million in federal match this year alone), a more robust outreach plan can be created in Colorado. Hunger Free Colorado is committed to working with the state on expanding outreach efforts that will create meaningful access to the food assistance that our community needs.

HFC is disappointed to report that the State has not yet removed the asset test, as the law required effective October 1, 2010. The asset test requires that families with $2,000 in assets ($3,000 for elderly households or persons with disabilities), spend down their savings before they are able to access SNAP/Food Stamp benefits. This means that an elderly couple with a burial plot, or a homeless family saving up to put a deposit on an apartment, or a parent who needs a car to get to work, cannot access SNAP/Food Stamp benefits without selling their property or spending down their savings. The Colorado Department of Human Services has stated that they do not plan to implement this change until late January 2011. Eligible families are being denied the food assistance they need. As a result, Colorado's 64 counties are also out of compliance with the law.

ACTION NEEDED!

Call Gov. Ritter's office at (303) 866-2471 or Write to the Governor. The message is simple: Colorado Department of Human Services must comply with House Bill 1022 that Governor Ritter signed into state law and remove the asset test. Thank you for recognizing the importance of hunger issues in Colorado and for taking a moment to weigh in with the Governor on this important issue.

Please contact Kathy Underhill with Hunger Free Colorado (Kathy@hungerfreecolorado.org) with any questions.

1st Ever Oil & Gas Grand Prix

2010-10-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

A staggering one out of eight of our Colorado neighbors struggle to put food on the table. The Oil and Gas industry has come together to fight hunger and feed hope through FBR. As a result of this newly formed initiative, 23 oil and gas companies joined forces for the inaugural Oil and Gas Grant Prix, benefiting FBR. 130 racers and their loyal supporters met at The Track at Centennial on September 18th for a day of healthy competition. This first time event was an enormous success. With 130 drivers participating, over $10,000 was raised to fight hunger in Colorado.

Our top dog racers for the day were Damon Anderson, Josh Pinkert, Paul Majors & Keith Davidson. Special thanks to the following companies who made this day a gigantic success!

Whiting Petroleum, Shell Lubricants, Encana, SM Energy, Sanjel, Pioneer Exploration, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Baker Petroleum, Cummins Engines, Williams Energy, Noble Energy, El Paso E&G, Pure Energy, Suncor, Weatherford, Anchor Drilling Fluids, Gustavson Assoc., Fidelity Exploration, Enserca, Cal Frac, Berry Petroleum, Cearus/Blackstone, Questar, Mark J Energy & Team Petroleum

Another Picture Perfect Sanctuary Day

2010-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ameristar Providing Hope for Denver Seniors

2010-10-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Seniors are often a population overlooked, but in great need. FBR distributes Senior Totes of Hope™ to 5 sites, providing 376 seniors totes filled with nutritious food these seniors couldn’t otherwise afford. Ameristar Casino Resort Spa recently provided funding to add 50 seniors at Redeemed Ones Ministry to our distribution list. Heather with Ameristar was present at the kick-off on September 21 to visit with the seniors benefiting from this new program.

“We’re very proud of our partnership with FBR. We donate more than 500 pounds of fresh food per week to help support Food Bank’s “Denver’s Table- Food Rescue” program, feeding the less fortunate across Colorado and we’re thrilled to be able to fund two Senior Totes of Hope™ through FBR. Giving back to the community is part of our Ameristar values and corporate philosophy,” said General Manager Reggie Fullwood.

These folks bring smiles to our faces. Thanks to Ameristar for bringing smiles to theirs too.

Joe & Debbie Sakic Bringing Hope to the Table 2010

2010-10-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Music by Paul McCartney

Haven't seen enough? Check out this fantastic promotional Sakic event video, created by our friends at Zero Sun Pictures.