December 2015

Different Ways to Explore the Blog
By Dan Burke, 22 December, 2015

A smiling woman displays items she is about to deliver

The holiday season is always a busy time as well as a family time, and it’s no different with our family.

Travel Instructor Steve Patten always volunteers to take a hand helping with Christmas cookies. He and student Natalya look sharp in matching red aprons.

While many were preoccupied with Cyber Monday, we brought in our tree and decorated it in the meeting room. Cookies were baking in all three ovens in the kitchen. Even Travel Instructor Steve Patten donned a red apron to help out. Meanwhile, out at the front desk, Robert solemnly presided over the drawing of names for the Secret Santa exchange as he does each year.

By Dan Burke, 21 December, 2015

We at the appreciate your support! As a result of Colorado gives day we raised over $20,000. These funds will make it possible for us to serve more kids this summer in our Confidence camp and will also provide us with funds so that we can meet more seniors who are losing their vision and show them that they can still enjoy their lives and be independent.

Our message got out to the Denver Metro area as we also appeared on 9News the morning of December 8 in seven segments with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, showcasing our students and staff running the NSCD Moves obstacle course, as well as working in the shop and talking about seniors.

There are so many ways that we receive support from all of you from financial assistance to telling others about the center so that they can find the training, confidence and community that they need to move forward in their lives.

By Dan Burke, 20 December, 2015

Senior points to the furry white fringe of the Christmas stocking as a man holds the red toe
Judy shows Dan the stocking she sewed for her great-granddaughter.

While we received exciting coverage on 9News at the Center along with National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) for Colorado Gives Day, and tracked our total as it rose, Tuesday, December 8 was a lot like every other day at the Center. That is, business as usual while potentially life-altering – one small step at a time.

By Dan Burke, 7 December, 2015

9News will be with us at the Center for Colorado Gives Day tomorrow morning! Our long-time collaboration with National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) will be spotlighted between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on 9News. The NSCD Moves obstacle course will be featured in a couple of segments, with Center students and staff in action!

Be sure to tune in tomorrow morning to see NSCD and the Center, and don’t forget to make a donation on

Student leans far to his left on the quad-angled steps

By Dan Burke, 7 December, 2015

The uses innovative techniques to teach proven blindness skills to our students, but the secret to our success is the confidence our students gain in themselves – the confidence to take aim at their dreams and hit their mark!

December 8 is Colorado Gives Day, and you can help our students hit their mark with a donation on our CO Gives page at

Your donation on Colorado Gives Day qualifies for the $1 Million Incentive Fund offered by Community First Foundation and First Bank. The receives a percentage of the CGD total!

Take aim at success!

Take charge with confidence!

Give where you live!

Colorado Gives Day

December 8, 2015

By Dan Burke, 2 December, 2015

The “Shared Visions” exhibit at Arapahoe Community College’s Colorado Gallery of the Arts on November 19 and 20 was a big success, featuring numerous multi-media and very tactile paintings by students in Nathan Abels’ painting classes, as well as pottery pieces from joint activities between Center students in Ann Cunningham’s art classes here and those in classes taught by Katie Caron, Ceramics Coordinator at ACC.

In addition, the cooperative activities and exhibit were featured on the Breaking YouTube channel in two videos. See what Maureen has to say and what she experiences: