As an early adopter of legal marijuana and edible use, Colorado has learned a lot of lessons about safe storage and safe caregiving, and how to help caregivers take strides toward both…
Be a Point of Light for Children and Families in Colorado
As we head into the end of the year, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. And, now that we’re safely post-Thanksgiving, many folks are putting up lights and holiday decorations.
Holiday lights are a lovely metaphor for community. If only one house put up one single strand of lights, the night would still be exceptionally dark. But, when an entire street turns on their lights, we can feel the joy and closeness to each other. While each home may only constitute a single point of light, the collective effect of thousands of points of light is one of solidarity and hope.
Introducing the 1000 Points of Light Campaign
Between now and the end of the year, we are looking for 1,000 Points of Light for children and families in Colorado. Each Point of Light represents someone who financially supports our mission to strengthen families, communities and organizations to prevent child maltreatment. One hundred percent of funds raised will support effective programs that keep Colorado kids safe and strengthen families throughout the year.
This year, we’re asking you to become a Point of Light by giving $10. $10 might not seem like much, but if 1,000 people give $10, we’ll raise $10,000 to build brighter childhoods in 2023–and that can make a big difference in the lives of kids and families. It takes all of us working together to build brighter childhoods in Colorado.
Give $10, Get $5 Back
Whenever you give to Illuminate Colorado, your donation is tax deductible AND qualifies for a 50% tax credit. That means, when you give $10, you get $5 back on your Colorado state taxes through the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.
Tax credit-eligible donations support programs like Illuminating Child Care, which provides safe, loving, and high quality care to infants and toddlers where parents are getting the support that they need to strengthen their families.
To claim the credit, simply submit your copy of the completed Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Certification (Form DR 1317) with your tax return. We’ll provide you with the completed form once we process your donation.
And that’s it! You’ll get $5 back (or more, depending on how much you give), and your gift will go to build brighter childhoods in 2023 and beyond.
Meeting Parents Where They Are – Bringing Child Care with Us
Before any parent goes back to work, gets into treatment or tries to tackle any one of life’s challenges that may take them away from their child, they need to find child care. It’s a problem all parents can relate to, but solutions depend entirely on what access to child care looks like in your community. . . .
Amplify Your Donation
If you live in Colorado, you might have already heard about Colorado Gives Day. On the first Tuesday of December since 2010, Coloradans have come together to support the nonprofits that make a difference in our lives. Colorado Gives Day has grown to be Colorado’s largest 24-hour giving event, raising more than $362 million for nonprofits across the state since it began.
Colorado Gives Day is a powerful day of giving, but the support doesn’t stop with your donation. Thanks to the Community First Foundation, FirstBank, and other community partners from across the state, when you make a gift on our 1,000 Points of Light webpage between now and December 6, you will help us earn extra money from the $1.4 Million+ Incentive Fund. All participating Colorado Gives Day nonprofits earn a percentage of the fund, so the more we raise, the more we get!
Prevention Through Partnership
“Prevention happens in partnership” is a phrase often repeated by the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA), Dr. Melissa Merrick. As the Colorado chapter of PCAA these words rang especially true for us at Illuminate Colorado in 2021. As we began to emerge from the pandemic and find our new normal, only to experience resurgences and continued restrictions, the power of connection and innovation was continually underscored.
Despite the ever-changing environment around us, 2021 brought more partnerships, opportunities and successes to Illuminate than ever before, and your partnership and financial contributions to our work helped make 2021 a year of significant growth.
Since we are a nonprofit, we rely on your support to empower us to strengthen families, communities and organizations to prevent child maltreatment. Partner with us by becoming a Point of Light today.
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