The 2008 LoDoNA Ninth Annual Holiday Project has been very successfully completed, and the various projects were fully funded and remaining monies will be mailed to the multiple beneficiaries. Thank you to everyone for your participation as a volunteer, a donor, or both. Many, many people were the recipients of your kindness and generosity.
Business Involvement:
Crush Salon
Downtown Denver News
East West Partners
Elephant Corral
Jack Curtin and Len Austin, Front Range Services
Barbara Henderson, Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty
Kentwood City Properties
Amy Hunt, Stephanie McCoy and the staff at Meritage Funds
Paul Trementozzi and the staff at OZ Architecture, LoDo Studio
Diana Ward and many employees, Qwest IT Systems
J. Paulin and Gary Robie, Ready Care Industries
The Tattered Cover
Urban Lifestyles
Volunteer Leadership:
Overall Co-Chairs: Joyce Lozow and Christine Santucci
Various Project Co-Chairs:
Jane Brown & Joan Camozzi – Barth Hotel Birthday/Holiday Party
Peggy Cruger & Peggi Hunt – Bienvenidos Food Bank, Non-perishable Food Drive
Niki Smith – Colorado Coalitional for the Homeless “personal care” kits
Les Allen & Ayn Fox – Mother/Daughter Holiday Experience
Miriam Sims & Laura Zeigel – Urban Peak
Needy Family Captains:
Jan Montgomery – Acme/Volker Lofts
Ron Pino, Branch Manager – First Community Bank LoDo
Barbara Henderson of Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty
Alyssa Jahns and Laura Schlossman – Kentwood City Properties
Peggi Hunt & Carol Ann Rothman – Ice House
Joyce Lozow – John Deere Lofts
Benita Goltermann & Ann Poucher – RiverFront Tower
Betty Arca – Rocky Mountain Lofts
Vicki Godbey & Judith Lasher-Tidwell – Streetcar Stables
Debby Davis – Waterside Lofts
Brigid O’Connor
Kathy & Ray Rossi
Christine Santucci & Greg Hansen
Ann Heyler
Nina O’Kelley
Mary Ann Wadas
Benificiaries:
The Barth Hotel Birthday/Holiday Project was very merry. The residents enjoyed the birth cake, ice cream, punch and their goodie bag which each had a coffee mug, 2.2 fl oz. bottles of shampoo and body lotion, a lanyard and a few other items. LoDo resident, Pat DeCarli played holiday music on the piano.
The Bienvenidos Canned Food Drive netted more than seventy boxes filled with tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, mac ‘n cheese, tomato sauce, etc. Almost every loft and high-rise building in LoDo and the Central Platte Valley participated. For the third year in a row, Waterside Lofts had the most number of filled boxes – TEN. A special thank you to the Loft Representatives in each building who help so much!
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless men, women and children received EIGHTY “personal care kits” which consisted of a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, deodorant, lotion, shampoo and conditioner, and sets of hats, scarves and gloves – the later of which half were personally acquired by the staff at OZ Architecture, LoDo Studio. PLUS, additional items such as infant clothing, formula, diapers and wipes were collected by many employees in the IT Systems Department at Qwest.
Additionally, Niki and Paul Smith invited Paul’s investment clients from the former A..> Edwards to the second annual Holiday Party and secured much of the donated items plus cash donations.
Family Star Montessori & Early Head Start Book Donation at The Tattered Cover: an Angel tree was setup in the children’s section with either a child’s name or gender and age where customers could purchase books. The books were collected and then delivered to Family Star.
Jubilee Center Mother Daughter Holiday Experience: Seventeen young girls and some of their mothers went to Build-a-Bear in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center to select and clothe their bear. Later, everyone enjoyed lunch at Johnny Rockets where little gifts were passed out.
Needy Families from the Bienvenidos, Family HomeStead, Family Star & North High School totaling SEVENTY people from SEVENTEEN families received “wish list” gifts and food Gift Cards from Safeway. In most instances, volunteers purchased much need clothing, toys and books for children, wrapped the gifts and delivered the overflowing bags and Food Gift Cards to less fortunate families.
North High School students some who may be homeless or others who struggle financially received $ 50.00 Gift Cards to Target, thirty in all.
Urban Peak: approx. fifty at-risk teenagers who live in the shelter received new backpacks and movie tickets.
A touching Holiday story: J Paulin, a resident of the Ice House read the LODoNA Newsletter in November at breakfast on a Friday morning, went to work and asked his boss at Ready Care Industries if the company was willing to donate the ONE HUNDRED SEVEN CASES (26,700 items) of 2.2 fl. Oz. shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion that their hotel client refused. The boss, Gary Robie said yes and within two weeks the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless had 80 cases, the Gathering Place had 18 cases and the Barth Hotel had 9 cases. What a beautiful case history about what one can person can do!
Volunteers (and donors):
Jerry Arca
Betty Buchanan
Lynn & Fred Buschhoff
Janice Campbell
Robbin Card
Rita Cook
Ginny & Charlie Crowley
Mel Cruger
Pat DeCarli
Steve Davis
Mike and Traci Ellis
Janice Falkenberg
Karen Gerdes
David Glynn & Kevin Ottercrans
Linda Hamlin
Courtney Harrison and Chris Zlocki
Tara Holbert-Dikos
Rhonda Javernick
Karen Jenkins
Ruth Jordan
Marianne Kachulis
Katheryn Lansink
Bette & Steven Levine
Janey Lozow
Nancy Neusteter
San Ong
Julie Porter
Laura & Chuck Shifflet
Peter Stolinsky
Brenda Smith
Paul Smith
Lisa Steen
Mary Ann Wadas
Mary Lou & Gary Wetzel
The staff at The Manhattan
The Donors: too many to mention, but on file with the LoDoNA Treasurer
