Kempe is now on My Colorado Project!




My Colorado is a vehicle to build community conversation, and encourage local community activism and strategic social investment.

My Colorado allows people to talk about social issues in their neighborhood, share news and information, create a plan to make change, engage their social graph, and monitor success within a platform which is modern and powerful. Through this network we hope to engage and encourage a new generation of philanthropists who seek not to make a transactional difference but a transformational difference.

No individual should feel powerless to influence change in their community. My Colorado is about seeing problems on your walk to work, reading about issues in your local paper, and sharing that information with other philanthropists and nonprofit partners to organize a response and deepen community engagement.

Click on the web link to view Kempe's profile
http://tinyurl.com/ckw364

Story of the Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child. In spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother, received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents.

In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother did something that has given us a symbol, around which we rally for the cause of child abuse prevention. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember “the bruised and battered body of her grandson” and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse.

In Bonnie’s own words: “The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child’s life!”
The act of one grandmother thousands of miles away leads us to this day. Just think what could happen if each one of us helped spread the word to a few of the people we come in contact with each day.

The Pepsi Center Gets their blue on!

Visit the Pepsi Center at
http://tinyurl.com/dyeu4n

Get Your Blue On for Kempe Kids!

The goal of The "Get Your Blue On" campaign is to create awareness around the critical issue of child abuse and neglect and to educate on how to prevent it from occurring.

When a child has been abused or neglect, there is a lasting impact on the life of that child. Abuse and neglect are associated with short- and long-term consequences that may include developmental delays, learning disorders, problems forming relationships, aggressive behavior, and depression.

Furthermore, survivors of child abuse and neglect may be at greater risk for problems later in life—such as low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, and criminal behavior. These affect not only impact the life of the survivor, but also the life of those who surround them.

Despite knowing these consequences, child abuse and neglect are tough topics for people to talk about. We see stories in the news about children suffering unspeakable harm ant the hands of their abusers. And we often want to turn our heads, because we are not sure what we can do to help. And that is why Child Abuse Prevention month is such a critical month to drive awareness about the issue and to let people know that there are ways that they can help.

The Kempe Foundation is collaborating with businesses, government leaders and Colorado citizens to spread the message during the month of April. We are hoping that again in 2009, through this aggressive awareness campaign, we will effectively complement the efforts of all our partners.

We plan to once again saturate the market with a multi-media public service campaign on this important message and engage the community to show support for child abuse prevention. The end of the month will culminate with the annual Kempe Foundation Benefit Event entitled STAND UP! With Josh Blue and Kathleen Madigan - scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009 at The Temple Buell Theatre at The Denver Center of Performing Arts.

For more information on the Get Your Blue On campaign for Kempe Kids, visit www.kempe.org

Child Abuse Prevention Month in the News

Channel 7: Local Fairy Godmothers Help Child Abuse Victims

Channel 7: Family Talks Openly After Facing Child Abuse

Channel 7: Families Struggle With Child Abuse In Tough Economy - Studies Show Child Poverty Can Lead To Abuse, Neglect

50 Kilometers for Kempe Kids

Valerie Zanon will be running the Moab Red Hot 50K+ race on February 14, 2009. While reaching for her finish line goal, running just over 34 miles across the beautiful southern Utah terrain, she will also be raising money for Kempe.

Valerie selected Kempe as the beneficiary of her run because of her love for children. She believes in the mission of The Kempe Center and work being done for abused and neglected children and their families.

Valerie is currently training for the race in the Denver metro area. She has been recreationally running for over 10 years. The Moab Red Hot is one of her longest races to date.

She is supported in her effort by her friends and colleagues at Imerica Life & Health Insurance.

Her fundraising goal for the race is $1,000 – really just 20 people donating $1 for every Kilometer!

For more information:
http://www.kempe.org/index.php?s=114

US Bank Grants a Happy Holiday Season To The Kempe Foundation

Despite the current state of the economy, holiday generosity is still alive and well in the Denver community. US Banks’ “Hugs for the Holidays” donates items to several local charities. For the past several years, The Kempe Foundation has been a beneficiary. Every holiday season, each US Bank branch gets a wish list from one of the charities and the employees purchase gifts on the list. The employees also create a holiday themed display for the gifts to sit under until they’re presented to the charities.

On Wednesday, December 10th, 2008, representatives from the charities were treated to a reception and presented with the collected gifts. Kempe received donations of children's clothes, board games, and stuffed animals. All of the gifts together were valued around several hundred dollars. “All of the employees were very nice and excited to support Kempe. We’re grateful for their generosity,” says Beth Stefl, Kempe Development Coordinator. During the reception, the displays created by US Bank employees were judged and awarded and all attendees enjoyed meeting and greeting one another. Also, US Bank organized a contest drawing for the charities. The charity selected out of the drawing won $1000. With great surprise and excitement, Kempe was the winner of the prize.

Although budgets are tight this year, US Bank has continued to be champions in the community by providing a great holiday season to families less fortunate. Generosity is certainly alive and well and clearly a part of the company culture at US Bank. Kempe is appreciative and honored to have such great support.

Kempe Champions and Build-A-Bear

What do you get when you mix a group of young professionals and a teddy bear factory? The Kempe Champs helping out the cause! On Tuesday, September 30th, a group of Kempe Champions got together to make some bears at the Build-A-Bear workshop in Cherry Creek Mall. The bears were used as table decorations for our annual Story Hour fundraiser on Tuesday, October 14th, and will be given to graduates of the Kempe Fostering Healthy Families Program.

The Kempe Champions objective and mission is to engage young professionals ages 21 to 40 to support the mission of The Kempe Foundation, which is to increase awareness, engage in advocacy, and secure and provide resources for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Established in 2008 as The Kempe Foundation’s network of young professionals, the Kempe Champions have become a key component in generating event attendance, awareness, and support among our young community leaders.

If you are interested in learning more about Kempe Champions, please contact Mae at desaire.mae@kempe.org

Hey Lady, what did that bear ever do to you?