A Marathon That Does More
Colfax Marathon’s Charity Partners Program provides a platform for community involvement
By Rebecca Voll, Contributor
Park Hill neighbors will be running with the pack and cheering alongside the route as the Colfax Marathon winds through City Park, the Denver Zoo, along Colfax and under the graceful canopy of the 17th Avenue Parkway this May 18-19. Many of them will also be supporting local nonprofits through the Colfax Marathon Charity Partners Program.
The Colfax Marathon is supported by one of the largest group of charity programs of any race nationwide with 117 local charities represented. Charities who partner with the Colfax Marathon recruit runners to support their cause, who then fundraise for the charities. After the race, there’s a charity village in City Park where organizations host tents providing information about what they do – a great way to learn about the local philanthropic community.
“The race provides a platform for community involvement, awareness and support benefiting the community and charity,” says marathon ambassador Carlos Hill. “As a nonprofit, what we get from the race is the benefit of education, awareness, community involvement and fitness.”
Runners who would like to participate in running for the charity of their choice have many Colfax events to choose from: the full marathon, half marathon, urban 10-miler, a marathon relay in which five runners team up to spilt the marathon distance into shorter legs and a family-friendly 5k. Non-runners can still support their favorite causes by pledging funds toward someone running for a charity, volunteering at the race or cheering along the course. Runners and volunteers can register at ColoradoColfaxMarathon.org and select their charity of choice during registration.
With over a hundred great local nonprofits signed on as Colfax Marathon Charity Partners, how is a Park Hill philanthropist to choose? Here are just three of the many excellent organizations that have made a big impact in our neighborhood.
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG)
For more than 27 years, Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) has offered neighborhoods the essential resources for community gardens, including design and planning, construction, leadership organization, fundraising and long-term garden support. DUG currently operates more than 125 community gardens throughout Metro Denver, including nearly 35 school-based community gardens. DUG gardens have become a community focus for producing food, fostering neighborhood activities and hosting education programs for thousands of individuals annually.
“DUG is thrilled to be working with the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon as a charity partner for the first time!” said Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Christensen. “This effort will support DUG’s latest endeavor, The Horse Barn, a nonprofit shared space at 33rd and Arapahoe.” DUG also has multiple community gardens in the Greater Park Hill neighborhood. “DUG gardens have become a community focus for producing food, fostering neighborhood activities and hosting education programs for thousands of individuals annually,” Christensen added. To support DUG in their race to reach The Horse Barn, visit dug.org/rundug. To learn more about DUG, their mission and how to get involved or donate, visit www.dug.org or call 303-292-9900.
Denver Area Youth Services (DAYS)
DAYS exists to promote and provide a continuum of human services for children, youth and families. Each year, DAYS provides the following services to over 1,500 individuals in the greater Denver community: in-home therapy, substance abuse therapy, foster care, transitional services, enrichment activities, counseling, mental and behavioral health care, sexual health programs, HIV/STD prevention and parenting programs.
Among the many human services DAYS provides to youth and families is a program in Northeast Park Hill empowering young mothers to finish school and learn life and parenting skills. “The Kearney Street Program helps young mothers stop the transgenerational of abuse and neglect,” said Courtney Griffin, Program Director, herself a Park Hill neighbor. “Our young women possess a true commitment to parent their babies the way they wish they had been cared for themselves.” In their first year as a charity partner, DAYS will sponsor a team of youth participants to run along with staff and supporters. Choose DAYS when you register to run, or support their youth relay at coloradogives.org/TeamDAYS
Phamaly
Phamaly was the first theatre company in the country to exclusively cast actors with disabilities across the spectrum (physical, cognitive, emotional, blindness, deafness, etc.). The organization now serves as a model and catalyst for start-up theatre companies across the country that are utilizing performers with disabilities.
Phamaly is in its third year as a Colfax charity partner. “The race serves as an excellent way for our audience members, supporters, volunteers, staff and actors to come together in support of Phamaly Theatre in a fun way. It gets all of us off the stage and outdoors, and it doesn’t matter what your role with Phamaly is – just that we are all there letting people know how much we care about this fantastic organization,” said Executive Director Chris Silberman. To support Phamaly, run, donate, volunteer or attend their next performance, “Fiddler on the Roof” coming to the Denver Performing Arts Complex in July and August. Information at phamaly.org