Cool C.A.T.S. Club

Although Christmas Day is just a little over a week away, it’s not too late to spread good cheer and give back to the community through the Colorado Springs Independent’s 2016 Indy Give! Campaign! This campaign is unique, because it fuels giving to help the Pikes Peak Region’s notable nonprofits continue doing what they do best – serve the community. One neat aspect of this campaign is that it encourages younger generations to cultivate generosity by giving what they can – even $10 makes a difference. This year, The Arc Pikes Peak Region (The Arc PPR) is pleased to once again participate in this community effort; and, we encourage you to get in on the collaboration! Here are 5 reasons to Give! This holiday season:

1. Earn rewards. They say, “‘Tis better to give than receive,” but in this case, you can have the best of both worlds. When you donate through Indy Give!, you can enjoy the pleasure of both giving and receiving. This unique campaign allows you to start earning rewards when you donate as little as $25. From complimentary admission to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, to free tacos from La’au’s Tacos, to free beer and even a one-night stay at The Mining Exchange Hotel, these rewards are the gift that keeps giving. Click here to see what rewards you can earn by giving.

2. Get to know your community. More than 100 local businesses, foundations and individuals, as well as 337 matching grantors, collaborate to make Indy Give! a community effort. All of this synergy helps 72 local nonprofits reach their goals – helping to make Colorado Springs the great community it is! This class of organizations includes those that benefit children and youth, help animals in need, boost the arts, help preserve our natural spaces, help keep us healthy and more. Our community wouldn’t be what it is without the excellent work of these nonprofits.

3. Giving makes you happy. This study suggests that giving to others is a big happiness booster. In this study, students who were given an envelope containing $5 or $20 bills were told how to spend it. Those who spent it on others – donating to charity or giving a gift – were happier at the end of the day than those who spent the money on themselves. So, increase your happiness this holiday season by giving!

4. Be a breath of fresh air. We all know that the holidays generally have a big commercial focus – and shopping and consuming definitely has its place. But with all the focus on getting bigger and better gifts, giving to others can be a breath of fresh air. Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” So enjoy a breath of fresh air by giving to others this holiday season.

5. When you Give! to The Arc PPR through Indy Give!, you benefit Building for Change. Building for Change is a campaign to construct a new center for the Colorado Springs community, which currently lacks an inclusive environment where people of all abilities can come together to learn, socialize and interact. With 40 percent of high school transition program students ending up in jail or in day programs that do not meet their needs, and high poverty rates among families who have a member with a disability, this inclusive campus will help The Arc PPR expand its advocacy efforts, and bring together individuals of all abilities to help lower these statistics.

The inclusive campus will foster genuine inclusion, and all skills learned will be applicable in the community. The campus will help individuals with I/DD and their families thrive by learning crucial skills, and will include classrooms, a teaching kitchen and garden, a library and a computer lab. Life skill workshops will include hands-on training for safe, healthy cooking and nutrition, personal budgeting, resume writing, job coaching, proactive personal health and other life skill workshops. Additionally, This community hub will be open and accessible and available for use by partner organizations and businesses. You can take a peek at the inclusive campus by watching this video. And, when you donate through to Building for Change through Indy Give!, you’ll receive a copy of our 2017 calendar, “Local Heroes,” featuring models of all abilities who portray local heroes like William Palmer, Nikola Tesla and others. You’ll also receive a new or renewing membership to The Arc Pikes Peak Region, which includes a 15% discount card to Arc Thrift Stores.

So, this holiday season, we encourage you to take a moment to give back to our wonderful community through Indy Give! You can donate through the end of the year at www.indygive.com/thearc. We wish you and your family a very warm, bright and cheerful holiday season!