Generosity, Community and Helping this Holiday Season
The Holidays mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For most, it’s a time centered on the family. For some it’s a time of giving. For everyone, it’s a time of year that should remind you why it’s so important to be a part of a community. Whether that community is religious, familial or friends, it’s a time of year that we reflect.
Through this reflection comes betterment. The holidays are truly a time to marvel at all the good mankind is capable of. With this in mind, Fresh Start Denver would like to urge you to partake in the season wholeheartedly this year. We have a Giving Tree, sponsored by East West Urban Management, set up for the community of Sun Valley located at 1610 Little Raven Street.
Giving a gift is a gesture we are all familiar with this time of year. For the child you decide to get a gift for, it certainly means more than the material involved. It’s a way to include them in the feelings of gratitude and joy we all seek this time of year. While giving gifts is but a small portion of what the holidays are about, by sharing something material, you perpetuate the emotional wealth associated with the holidays. Wealth in joy, wealth in community and wealth in belonging.
You can also sponsor a child by providing a monetary donation of $25, which will provide them with three months of involvement in the Sun Valley Sports Program at the Rude Recreation Center. This includes coaching, practices and games, all of which enrich the child physically and familiarizes them to working with others to accomplish goals.
In addition to the Sun Valley Giving Tree, Fresh Start will also be hosting a second annual Sun Valley Holiday Party on December 12th from 5:30-8:30. It’s our way of honoring the parents and Sun Valley Kids who have been active in the Sports Program in addition to demonstrating a commitment to community and school. We are pleased to say “thank you” to the folks, who in spite of many challenges continue to meet with Fresh Start and visualize their brighter future.
Though the holidays are not about gifts alone, showing a little generosity will go a long way toward helping these families realize their goals.
Fresh Start Lemonade Day a Huge Success
Winning Stand
In the warmth of the June sunshine the children of Sun Valley poured lemonade for thirsty passers by. The event took place June 3rd from 10am to 2pm. In those few hours, much was accomplished for the participants of Lemonade Day as well as the community they came to represent, Sun Valley. The concept of a lemonade stand is not new, but using it to teach the children in our communities how to conduct good and honest business is an approach that is. Perhaps the idea has always been under the surface of each lemonade stand. The difference in the Lemonade Day approach lies in the fact that each step is explained and applied to business terminology. This gives the participants more insight into the finer details of running a successful business.
Fresh Start recognized the value in teaching the youth of Sun Valley skills that they can carry for a lifetime, which is why Lemonade Day was a perfect avenue for teaching skills and setting the youth of Sun Valley up for a successful future. Fresh Start staff and volunteer mentors worked with thirteen Sun Valley children. They worked in teams of three, ensuring that each child got the opportunity to learn in a small team environment. Lemonade Day took place all over the nation and children from all walks of life got a chance to participate. Fresh Start set up their stand at Riverfront Park in a greenbelt that sits at the corner of 15th and Little Raven.
The sun was bright, and the lemonade, cold. The smiling children of Sun Valley sold various flavors of lemonade, each innovative and delicious. Judges tasted the lemonade and interviewed the participants on their goals and what they learned. The Coconut Sports Lemonade was the big show stealer, winning Best Tasting Lemonade. The recipe is available on the Fresh Start Facebook page, Coconut Sports Lemonade Recipe. The award for Best Tasting was $ 1,000, which will be used toward the Sun Valley Sports Program. Though the scholarship is a huge financial win for Sun Valley, the real prize the children took home was the skills they learned. With these skills, they can pave their own way toward success in the face of adversity. Learning to work on a team and produce a wonderful product was an experience that offered them a skill set they will use for a lifetime.
The winners of Best Tasting with the Judge
Sun Valley Participant
Delicious Lemonade
Lemonade Day is Tomorrow!
Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the Lemonade Day function at Riverfront Park to benefit the children of Sun Valley! Don’t forget to swing by, support a very important cause and enjoy a little Lemonade. Stands will be up at 10:30am and will be open till 2:00 p.m. Lemonade costs 1$. Come by the Fresh Start table to learn about how to help the kids of Sun Valley out even more!
Here is an informational video to help you all learn a little more about Lemonade Days.
We can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!
Cheers,
Fresh Start
Want to Change the World, start right here in Denver!
Make a difference this holiday season by donating to the Fresh Start Holiday Gift Drive!
Sometimes the troubles of the world seem so big it’s hard to know where to start or how to make an impact.
Maybe a good place to start is right in your own neighborhood!
Fresh Start Inc. is working with the Sun Valley Local Residents Council to provide assistance and support for deprived families and youth in need here in Denver. The community Fresh Start is currently focused on is the Sun Valley neighborhood located in the Central Platte Valley.
Please take a moment to help a Denver family or youth this holiday season.
To learn more about recent Sun Valley Initiative Events click here.
Please share this via Facebook or Twitter and help us spread the word about this wonderful Holiday Gift Drive.
Sun Valley Trick or Treat Street
…..more treats than tricks!!
On Saturday, October 28, 2011, Fresh Start in collaboration with City Councilwoman Judy Montero’s Office, the Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Xcel Energy, Sun Valley Local Residents Council, Rude Recreation Center, and the SW Community Collaborative Partnership (CCP) Center hosted a fantastic Halloween party.
The families and children enjoyed an afternoon filled with activities, food, beverages, games, bike riding, and stocking up on treats. Each child picked a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch after playing several games of musical chairs.
A HUGE Shout Out and THANKS to the Denver Police Department and Denver Fire Department for being strong and consistent supporters of the Sun Valley community. The children enjoyed hours of play at the DPD Bike Village. Everyone lined up and waited anxiously for their turn to wear a helmet and ride the course. The children did not want to stop riding. They also enjoyed checking out the Fire Truck filled with treats for the children.
We would like to express of sincere appreciation to our community partners:
- Little Caesar Pizza for the delicious pizza, bread sticks, and cookies
- Daffy Apples for the yummy candy apples
- Rude Recreation Center for the hot and buttery popcorn bags
- Xcel Energy for the generous supply of candy
- The Riverfront Park Community Foundation for the candy, cider, fresh veggies and fruit, and beverages
- Dr. Efren Martinez, DDS General Family Dentistry for the toothbrushes and dental floss your participation
A special THANKS to the Fresh Start Board of Directors who came and distributed candy, worked in the pumpkin patch, and served food. Thank you Kristina, Michelle, and Susan!!!
We love our Riverfront Park Community volunteers and want to thank Barbara Scarpella Reed for joining us and helping out!!
We salute DPD Officers Pacheco and Starbuck and our Denver Firefighters!!
To see more great photos from this event visit Fresh Start on Facebook.
Sunnyside Halloween Fun for Youth and Pets!
Dress up the pets and/or kids and come join Fresh Start and the Stand Up for Me staff at the Sunnyside Critter Costume Contest at Chaffee Park tomorrow, Saturday, October 29 between 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. for some Halloween fun!
Stop by our booth for coffee, hot chocolate and donuts and help spread the word about children in need of temporary foster homes.
This will be a blast and we are so pleased to help out with this Sunnyside United Neighbors event! Prizes will be given for cutest, scariest and most creative pet costume, as well as person/pet pair or group costume! Kids in costume will receive a candy/toy bag. $5 suggested donation to enter – $50 CASH PRIZE for “Best in Show”!
Chafee Park is located at 44th and Tejon in North Denver. Join us tomorrow!
Trick or Treat Street at Sun Valley
On Saturday, October 29th, Fresh Start in collaboration with the Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Councilwoman Judy Montero, Rude Recreation Center, Xcel Energy, Sun Valley Local Residents Council, Mercy Housing and the Denver Police Department District 1 will sponsor a “Trick or Treat Street” at the Sun Valley Opportunity Center.
Festivities begin at 2:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m. We are so excited to feature a Bike Village, Pumpkin Patch, Costume Contest, Candy Maze, Haunted House, Music, Dancing, Raffle Prizes, and Refreshments! Community Volunteers will supervise activites to ensure safety and fun for the whole family.
In addition, the Sun Valley Local Residents Council will feature a “Hay Ride through the HOOD” for a friendly ride in the neighborhood. Children will enjoy candy apples, popcorn balls, and fresh fruit.
We would like to send a special THANKS toLittle Caesar’s Pizza for the pizza and breadsticks everyone will love to eat. Each season of giving in the Sun Valley community is gaining more attention and community support which is making the holidays pleasant for everyone!
Sun Valley Sports Goes Year Round!
Fresh Start is extremely grateful and proud to be a partner with the Riverfront Park Community Foundation once again. In May 2011, the RFP Community Foundation provided a $2,000 grant for summer sports programs for Sun Valley youth. In addition, Mark Smith, RFP Foundation President, donated $1,000 of his personal funds.
In collaboration with Denver Parks and Recreation, Rude Recreation Center, Sun Valley Residents Council, SW Community Collaborative Partnership Center, and Councilwoman Judy Montero’s Office outreach began in June. 95 youth were recruited and participated on swim, t-ball, coach pitch, and soccer teams. The fist annual Sun Valley community picnic and t-ball tournament was on August 6, 2011. It was a great success. (add link to SV video?)
The sports teams concluded mid-August and school bells starting ringing throughout the neighborhood. Fresh Start contacted the Riverfront Park Community Foundation and applied for year round scholarships to keep youth engaged and active after school and on weekends throughout the year. Sports teams have been expanded to include: flag football, football, volleyball, and basketball. Fresh Start also requested funds for the 2nd Annual Sun Valley Picnic and Sports Tournament.
The Riverfront Park Community Foundation approved funding for 200 sports slots beginning October 2011 through September 2012 and the annual picnic for the summer of 2012. We THANK the RFP Community Foundation Board of Directors for their continued support and financial contribution to make Sun Valley and healthier and a happier community!!!
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