Our Charity Partners, 2012

Howard Dental Center       Jeffco Mounted Search a Rescue       Project Angel Heart

Howard Dental Center

Howard Dental Center was founded in 1994 as a collaborative effort between dentists and dental educators who were concerned about the lack of oral health services available for people living with HIV/AIDS. We are a nonprofit dental clinic that provides comprehensive and integrated oral health care services to adults, youth & children living with HIV and AIDS. Just what does that mean? Research in the past decade has increasingly linked oral health (what's going on in your mouth) to the overall health of your body. This becomes more critical for people living with HIV and AIDS, whose immune systems are already under attack. We recognize that treating dental problems benefits our patients' general health.

And it works! In 2010, we treated over 850 patients (a 37% increase over 2009). Our patient no-show rate has dropped from 25% in 2000 to 10% in 2010 because they see the benefit taking care of their teeth. And we watch our expenses closely. So far in 2011, for every dollar spent in expenses (including administrative and fundraising expenses), we produced $1.18 worth of services (based on the market rate for the services we provided).

Over 95% of our patients are living in poverty. They are not able to afford the dental care necessary to live a healthy life. We rely on individuals, special events, corporations and foundations to provide the funds that allow us to continue to offer the excellent oral health care our patients need.

Jeffco Mounted Search and Rescue

Jeffco Mounted Search and Rescue is a mounted horse unit trained in first aide, CPR, land navigation, personal and equine survival and other outdoor skill. Augmented by radio and GPS, we use horses which enable us to search large tracts of land. We are designed to complement, not replace, services provided by law enforcement, volunteers on foot or all-terrain vehicles. JMSAR participates in different trainings through out the year. Some of the training's include challenging rides throughout the mountains of Colorado, mock searches and mock wild land fires with animal evacuation. Some of these training's will include other agencies all working together. We are committed to the safety of animals as well as people.

JMSAR also volunteers their time helping other organizations succeed with their events. Some of them include Second Wind Walk/Run for Teen Suicide Prevention, Evergreen Rodeo and Jefferson County Schools Outdoor Lab.

Project Angel Heart

Mission: Delivering nutritious meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illness

Charles Robbins and dedicated members of the Denver community founded Project Angel Heart in 1991. They were determined to ensure that those living with life-threatening illnesses were receiving proper nutrition - vital in the fight against disease. Project Angel Heart initially served 12 clients from a single, donated pan of lasagna.

In 2010, Project Angel Heart delivered 415,681 meals to 1,886 clients, at no cost. During twenty years of phenomenal growth, our goal has always remained the same: to provide nutritious meals for men, women and children coping with life-threatening illness to improve their quality of life.

Support from the community has been unwavering since those first meals were delivered in 1991. Our delivery zone has expanded from 150 square miles of central Denver to encompass delivery boundaries that includes 750 square miles of metropolitan Denver and 150 square miles in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. Such growth would not have been possible without our corps of dedicated volunteers. Last year, more than 2,800 volunteers donated more than 49,000 hours of their time preparing food in the kitchen, driving 69,025 miles to deliver meals to clients' homes, helping in the office, and assisting with fundraising events.

For over 800 clients served each week, Project Angel Heart embodies stability and hope by providing nutritious meals, free of charge and specifically prepared to meet the nutritional needs of each individual client. Life-threatening illness can drain a person's energy and finances, threaten their dignity, limit their independence, and leave them feeling alone and vulnerable. Project Angel Heart provides life-saving nutrition necessary for physical, emotional and financial health.

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