Impact. This is why people in the US continue to maintain volunteer numbers far beyond those of any other country. According to the United Nations Volunteers’ 2018 Volunteering in America report, more than 77M Americans volunteer in their communities and beyond – each year. Philanthropy is about making a difference, and one of the ways Read More →

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April is National Volunteer Month. Volunteers have always been critical to the success of our communities, but the events of the past year have really brought that into focus. Our ability to be optimistic about 2021 is, in part, significantly impacted by the work of our volunteer force. Since last March, volunteers have stepped into Read More →

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April is National Volunteer Month, a time to highlight and honor the work that is accomplished every day by volunteers in our community.  As I reflect on the meaning of volunteerism, it occurs to me that the concept is a lot broader than some people recognize.   During the fall holiday season, there is a Read More →

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This article appears in the April, 2015 issue of The Modern Gladiator. I am a new columnist for this magazine, and the subject matter seemed appropriate to publish here as well. Volunteerism is something that Americans do very well. Research has consistently shown the US to be among the most generous countries in the world Read More →

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Last weekend I was at a birthday party for a friend. I met a guy there who told me that I look like Samuel L. Jackson. Now, I am not really a “celebrity look-alike” guy. Back in the 80’s, my longtime friend Jeff Barkema swore that I looked like David Robinson, who was at that Read More →

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Many of us would not be where we are today if it were not for a hook up. It might be the friend of a parent who makes a call to get us into a competitive university. Perhaps we are trying to get admitted into an exclusive club and we call upon a member to Read More →

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As is my custom at the end of December, I have been reviewing my goals as well as my outcomes for the year. Since I also have a short attention-span, additionally I have been daydreaming and reviewing past years and decades. Yesterday my teenage son asked me ‘what some of my favorite TV shows were Read More →

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Organizations today rely heavily on donors who make one or more gifts each year either through the mail or online. These donors are often critical to nonprofit success because they can often be used to keep the lights on, pay for support staff, and defray overhead costs. Sometimes we make the mistake of failing to Read More →

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The recent Colorado floods have caused devastation of property, loss of life, and economic distress for thousands in Colorado. I join my fellow Coloradoans in sending best wishes and support for all who have suffered loss. I am so proud, however, of the way our community at-large has stepped up to help their neighbors. We Read More →

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Last month I was watching Law and Order with my teenage son. One of the characters had committed a relatively minor infraction and was sentenced to Home Detention for 3 months, wearing an ankle monitor. We got into a discussion about ankle monitors and KJ asked me ‘if the person cut the ankle monitor off, Read More →

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