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Dedicated Girl Scouts volunteer Susan Alvillar is dressed in a vintage 1953-56 Girl Scout uniform while she holds a variety of Girl Scout cookies.

Your Guide to Giving your Time and Money

Create a Legacylocal guide to giving

2014

2 Create a LegaCy www.BeaconSeniorNews.com March 2014

By Melanie Wiseman

The most common definition of legacy is “a gift by will, especially

money or other personal property.” Ask anyone who is passionate about

their volunteer work or the agencies they volunteer for, and you will get a very different definition.

Leaving your legacy is also passing on meaningful service and support, which makes a difference in the life of someone else, inspires others to serve, or provides the gift of having been a positive role model.

A legacy of musicBetty Rosenwald, 71, moved to

Grand Junction with her husband in July 2013. After attending a Hope- West presentation at a Newcomers Club meeting, it didn’t take Ros-enwald long to combine her pas-sions into valuable service.

“The Lord led me to work with the elderly and ill,” Rosenwald said. “My mother passed away and my father was in a nearby nursing home for 16 years. I would go see him and visit with other people, too.”

Music is Rosenwald’s other passion. She has played the piano since she was a child and is self-taught on the hammered dulcimer.

“I heard the dulcimer played eight years ago and thought it had such a beautiful sound,” Rosenwald said. “I got one and taught myself to play.”

Rosenwald shared her music with the residents of her father’s nursing home and recognized how much they appreciated it. She now com-bines her two passions by being a HopeWest volunteer patient compan-ion. She currently visits with two hos-pice patients.

“I feel blessed in knowing these people and their history,” Rosenwald said. “You don’t know how you’re going to affect their lives, but you

see the joy on their faces when you spend time with them.”

Rosenwald has appreciated the tremendous support HopeWest gives its volunteers.

“We encourage anyone who is interested in being a volunteer to just reach out,” HopeWest Marketing and Communications Specialist Alyssa Hampson said. “We want to create a volunteer opportunity that’s unique for them. We love to visit with po-tential volunteers and match people with what their interests are. There is no commitment up front.”

HopeWest offers many volunteer options and a lot of flexibility. There is extensive training so all volunteer questions are answered and they un-derstand the HopeWest mission.

Volunteer needs include respite care, administra-tive, special events and Heirlooms for Hospice, to name a few. According to Hampson, the greatest need is for patient and family support.

“There is great appreciation by the patient and their family that you have been there

for them,” Hampson said. “It should be a pleasure to know you have been there during this important season of their life.”

A legacy for younger generations

Susan Alvillar, 62, has been in-volved in Girl Scouts since she was six years old. Growing up in a small Iowa town, she had been in Girl Scouts 12 years when she graduated from high school.

“That was back in the day when we wore our Girl Scout uniforms to school on troop meeting days,” Alvillar said.

Girl Scouts provides meaningful and fun programs and activities for girls and volunteers to grow as lead-ers. For more than 100 years, Girl

Leaving a legacy of volunteering

HopeWestCO.org • 970-241-2212

AT HOPEWEST WE NEED U!VOL NTEER

We hope you’ll join us – opportunities include Heirlooms for Hospice Upscale Resale Shop, Administrative Office Support

or Patient and Family Support.

“Today’s youth are more connected to

things than to people. It’s time that they

go back in time and learn from each

other.”

March 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Create a LegaCy 3

Scouts has inspired girls to take action in making the world a better place by build-ing courage, confidence and character.

“Girl Scouts gave me the tools to be successful,” Alvil-lar said. “I credit them for my being a good business person.”

As was the case with Alvil-lar and most Girl Scout adult volunteers, they get involved when their daughters’ troop needs a leader. Today, the Girl Scouts gives the leaders a lot of tools and tips for success. Colorado alone has 7,500 adult volunteers working with more than 28,000 girl members.

“I have been a leader of Brownies, Juniors, Cadets and Seniors,” Alvillar said. “I’ve seen the value of Girl Scouts in the lives of so many girls and young women. Girl Scouts gives them critical thinking and teaches them how to make decisions.”

Today, Alvillar is an operational volunteer, leading the president’s cabinet.

“Our main goal is to reconnect with our alumni,” Alvillar said. “We invite our alumni to do service, mainly through service history con-nection, gathering amazing stories of how as scouts or leaders, the Girl Scouts have impacted their lives. We want to plant more seeds.”

Girl Scouts offers volunteers flexi-bility to meet their needs but enough structure for them to find their niche. Program speakers are needed to share life experiences that the girls can learn and be inspired from.

“Today’s youth are more connected to things than to people,” Alvillar said. “It’s time that they go back in time and learn from each other.”

Alvillar’s most inspirational experi-ence was going to the home of Ju-liette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts.

“She was a brave single woman who started Girl Scouts over 100 years ago before women’s liberation,” Alvillar said. “That’s what inspires me today. I truly believe in the movement.”

A legacy of compassionImagine experiencing the worst

day of your life alone. Then imagine this same day, but being supported by someone with a compassionate heart, who truly cares and wants to listen.

Volunteer Victim Advocates in Mesa County law enforcement agencies provide this valuable service.

“It makes you feel good that you helped in some small way when they really needed someone and no one was around,” retired physician Gerry Geske, 76, said. “Sometimes people have nobody.”

In 2002, Geske took citizens acad-emy classes to be more informed about law enforcement.

“Being an advocate was one of the volunteer opportunities they of-fered,” Geske said. “It was a natural fit. As a physician, I dealt with people and ways to relieve their suffering.”

Geske has been an advocate with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years.

“Don’t be afraid to do it,” Geske said. “The training will teach you how to handle various situations and you shadow an experienced advocate before going out on your own.”

Mary Harmeling and Tracy Baker are the victim services coordinators for the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sher-iff’s Department, respec-tively. With 45 volunteers in Mesa County, they are looking to double this num-ber to meet the needs of the community.

“People need you,” Baker said. “They are hurting as the result of a crime or some other trauma, and you can be there with them so they’re not alone. They may be the victim of a crime such as domestic violence or a robbery, or have experi-enced trauma from a suicide or other unexpected death.”

Harmeling said law en-forcement officers are com-passionate, but have the role of interviewing and

investigating. “We need trained civilians to

stay with the victims for support,” Harmeling said.

“Sometimes people are more receptive to receiving help from a civilian,” Baker added.

Volunteer advocates ensure safety and inform victims of their rights and provide community resources to help them in their situation.

When Molly Huska, 69, began looking for volunteer work after re-tirement, she was looking for some-thing different and exciting as a way to serve the community.

“Helping victims had a great ap-peal to me,” Huska said. “Just being there to help them through a tough time. Often the victims are very thankful that someone took the time to be there with them.”

Huska has been an advocate for three years.

“You need to be a people person,” Huska said. “Obviously, you can’t be judgmental. You have to empa-thize with them and offer them a shoulder.”

“What you need to do is just lis-ten,” Geske said. “It’s not what you say. It’s just being there.” ■

How can you leave your legacy?

If you have any doubt that there is a volunteer need you would enjoy or would match your skills, talk with Mesa County RSVP Volunteer Manager Ruth McCrea.“We are like a volunteer employment

agency, being that we help individuals 55 and older stay healthier and live longer by offering volunteer opportunities in over 90 member agencies,” McCrea said.Volunteer opportunities include tutors,

mentors and companions, along with administrative, fundraising and handy-man work, to name a few.“Volunteering fosters an atmosphere

of growth and volunteers have stronger relationships with others,” McCrea said. Volunteering helps people find purpose

and contribute to something bigger than themselves. “The personal growth and satisfaction

you will receive from volunteering will not only change your life but impact the lives of others,” HopeWest Director of Volun-teer Services Diane Dickey said.

Betty Rosenwald leaves her legacy of music to HopeWest clients when she plays the hammered dulcimer.

Why wait?

Call RSVP at 243-9839.

Call HopeWest at 241-2212.

Call Girl Scouts at 242-4461 or visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/joinnow

Contact Harmeling at the Grand Junc-tion Police Department at 549-5290 or maryh@gjcity.org

Contact Baker at Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at 244-3275 or tracy.baker@mesacounty.us

For more volunteer oppor-tunities, pick up the 2014 BEACON Senior RESOuRCE Directory.

2O14 PMS 660

C 90M 50Y 0K 0

C 0M 25Y 100K 0

PMS 123

Res uRceDirectOry

mesa County

Res uRceDirectOry

“It’s the yellow pages for Mesa County seniors.”

4 Create a LegaCy www.BeaconSeniorNews.com March 2014

By Elaine Johnson-Craig

There’s nothing quite like the human-animal bond. Our pets

love us as we are, unconditionally. They’re playmates, soul mates—and sometimes bed mates! They make us laugh and they lick away our tears.

We can’t imagine life without them, and they probably can’t imagine life without us. Our pets need us to take care of them. When we can’t do that anymore, our cat or dog becomes homeless. That’s when caring and committed caregivers like the staff and volunteers at Roice-Hurst Hu-mane Society step in as the safety net for those animal companions until they can be re-homed.

When you’re doing your estate planning, think of your own pets and what might happen to them after your passing. What if family or friends are unable or unwilling to

There are two main ways to cre-ate a legacy and leave a lasting,

positive mark on the world: giv-ing of your time and giving of your money. Different people follow these paths in different ways. To a local nonprofit, each person and each path is equally valuable and appre-ciated. At Habitat for Humanity in Montrose, our supportive individuals and groups of people, such as local businesses, deserve and receive our eternal gratitude.

Many people begin their journey toward giving back by volunteering their time, talents and skills to help an organization achieve its goals. At Habitat for Humanity of Montrose County, we welcome volunteers with open arms and provide opportunities to serve in a variety of ways, such as helping with construction of homes, planning and attending special events, and working at the ReStore.

Although it is true that time is

care for them? The only option might be your local shelter, and you would want that shelter to be a thriving facility able to provide for your pet until a new family is found, no matter how long that takes.

For the past 51 years, Roice-Hurst (a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit) has saved and re-homed thousands of cats and dogs. Without the support of donors past, present and future, their life-saving mission could not con-tinue. By remembering Roice-Hurst in your will or other estate planning, you can change the lives of homeless pets in your own backyard. Whether you can help just one animal or can consider a memorial endowment, you’ll be leaving a life-saving legacy and paving the way for the next gen-eration of kindness to animals.

For more information, call Elaine at 244-8594. ■

money, sometimes—and for some things—only the “real thing” will do. A nonprofit also needs a constant and steady stream of money to fund its ef-forts and be successful in its mission. Fortunately, giving money to a non-profit such as Habitat for Humanity is a two-way street of giving and receiv-ing. You get great benefits, too, in the form of tax deductions as well as the satisfaction of putting your money where your heart is, as 100 percent of your donations go to Habitat pro-grams because the ReStore pays for overhead and administrative costs. We offer a variety of ways to help us fund our humanitarian programs during and beyond your lifetime. Call the Montrose Community Founda-tion at 249-3900 to learn more about planned giving options to Habitat through its endowment fund.

It’s easy to choose your best path for giving by calling us at 252-9303 or visiting www.habitatmontrose.org. ■

Your love of animals today can save homeless pets tomorrow

Leave a legacy for Habitat for Humanity of Montrose CountyEliminating poverty housing,

changing lives,one family at a time.

Proceeds from our ReStore pay for allof our overhead and operating funds. Therefore, 100% of your gift goes directly to building homes.

How you can help...Donate Volunteer

1601 N. Townsend252-9303

Locally owned and operatednon-profit organization.

March 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com voLunteer of the year 5

By Cloie Sandlin

The BEACON will announce the winner of Volunteer of the Year at Beacon-

Fest on April 17. With so many wonder-ful volunteers to choose from, we need your help. We are leaving it up to you, dear readers, to vote for the 2014 BeaconFest Volunteer of the Year.

Last year, we received thousands of votes for the Volunteer of the Year. It goes to show that our readers really are passionate about local volunteers. Here’s how the voting will work:

Step 1: The easiest way to vote for Volunteer of the Year is on our website. Go to: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com.

Step 2: Click on the box that reads: “Choose this year’s Volunteer of the Year.”

Step 3: Choose your favorite volunteer from the drop down menu, enter your email address and submit. The online voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 13.

You can also mail in the published ballot on page 7 of this insert. (We will only accept ballots that are mailed to us.) Ballots must be received by April 14, so plan ahead! Mail your ballot to:

BEACON Senior Newspaper P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502

The Volunteer of the Year is someone who goes above and beyond his or her usual duties and responsibilities in order to make a difference in the lives of oth-ers. This year, we received 15 amazing nominations. Since we have so many deserving and dedicated volunteers in the area, my only advice to you when voting for the Volunteer of the Year is “good luck.”

Here are the 2014 Volunteer of the Year nominees:

Vote for Volunteer of the YearKAron CArleyNominated by Spence Bergner, volunteer with Operation Inter-dependence

Karon is the president of Op-eration Interde-

pendence and devotes so much time and effort in assuring everything is done correctly. Karon is a dedicated person who believes in doing for oth-ers. OI is a group of volunteers who meet each week to pack donated items to send to our troops around the world.

Sue relf-SChneiDerNominated by Sheli Apodaca, Gray Gourmet Meal Sites

Sue has been a volunteer with Gray Gourmet

for five years. In that time, she has worked at the Ratekin Towers meal site two times a week, where she delivers the food and serves it to the diners. A diner from this meal site also nominated Sue for Volunteer of the Year. This really speaks volumes to Sue’s excellence as a volunteer. Her kind, welcoming greeting to each diner is an example of demon-strating true Gray Gourmet hospital-ity. Thank you, Sue, for all you do for Gray Gourmet. You are greatly appreciated.

Tom leeNominated by Gai Wildermuth-Gunter, Commu-nity Food Bank

Tom Lee start-ed volunteering at Community Food Bank about

18 months ago. He came to help out at the foodbank through RSVP. He has offered, from day one, to come

when I call. I schedule volunteers for the food bank a month at a time and occasionally I have a last-minute need. Tom has always been able to come to the rescue.

He is available to drive the food-bank truck to pick up purchased food from a variety of our communi-ty partners, as needed. He has helped the food bank decrease its food costs by more than 50 percent through his suggestions for local bulk sources for pinto beans, quick oats, dry milk and rice. As the result of those substantial savings, the Community Food Bank has been able to remain financially solvent in the midst of a 20 percent increase in client visits in these tough fundraising times for nonprofits. The Community Food Bank Board of Directors and I want to let Tom know the huge positive impact his food sourcing suggestions have made. Also, as program coordinator, it is my duty to schedule volunteers and to know that Tom “has my back” has been a great relief. Tom, thank you. You make a huge difference!

hermie fox & Gerry CoffeyNominated by Chelsea Jensen, HopeWest

Hermie came to HopeWest through the urg-ing of her sister, Teri Roth, and planned on help-ing in the office. After orientation, she decided to be a patient care volunteer and assisted in the office. It was when she was

introduced to bereavement support that she found her niche and Hope- West found a caring, loving volunteer to be a companion for grieving family members and friends.

Hermie’s gentle presence as she co-facilitates our grief groups and makes

phone calls to those left behind after a death has created a healing balm across HopeWest. When a staff mem-ber asked a young boy about his fa-vorite part of the family grief group, his answer was, “Hermie.” Nobody could have expressed it better!

Hermie and Teri’s sister, Gerry, is also a volunteer for HopeWest. It’s difficult to put a value on a volunteer like Gerry, who not only gives her time, but also embraces the mission of HopeWest with dedication, grace and compassion. Gerry understands what patients and families are expe-riencing, demonstrating an empathy and wisdom that makes her a true treasure to our organization and com-munity. Always going beyond what is asked of her, Gerry epitomizes the perfect model of what we all want our volunteers to be. Her genuine kindness, positive attitude and help-ful hands make her most deserving of sharing this honor with her sister.

Hermie and Gerry are the embodi-ment of the saying, “They may not remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.”

roGer mArTin & CriSTeen freDriCKSNominated by Marsha Kosteva, Gray Gourmet Home Delivered Meals

Roger and Christeen are two sweethearts of Gray Gourmet. Roger started in 2009 as a home delivered meals driver for Gray Gourmet and he invited Christeen to join him a few

years later. Together they have an ongoing weekly delivery route in the Fruita area, but these two don’t just deliver a hot lunch—they take it to the next level.

6 voLunteer of the year www.BeaconSeniorNews.com March 2014

Each week, this married couple spends the extra time to visit with the homebound seniors they serve. They sit and listen to the stories from their past or offer a compassionate heart to a recent sadness or illness affecting their customers. Before leaving home, they fill their pockets with dog biscuits for the four-legged canine family members of Gray Gourmet.

“Call us anytime you have an open route” is something that we always hear from them. Undaunted by unfa-miliar territory, the couple has tack-led nearly every one of our 18 routes throughout the county. They often drive two to three times a week.

They bring a wonderful joyful spirit each and every day they serve. We salute them and value their extraor-dinary service to our program and to the community.

CArol ACuffNominated by Mark T. Carris, Grand Junction High School Teen Court Program

Carol has been assisting with the Grand Junction

High School Teen Court Program for the last six years. She attends every court session and works with the prosecuting teams in each of the four cases.

ruThmAry AlliSonNominated by Laurie Kollasch, Spellbinders of Mesa County

Ruthmary Al-lison is absolutely amazing and

vital to Spellbinders. For more than 10 years, she has actively told memo-rable stories in more classrooms than any other Spellbinder in our chapter. She is very popular in classrooms and many outside organizations. Instrumental in tackling more impor-tant issues, she has also served on the board of directors over a period of five years. (Most only serve for

three years.) She has implemented entertaining and educational work-shops for our membership each and every month. She helps recruit new members, screens those interested in training, helps develop the train-ing program, and acts as one of three trainers to teach new Spellbinders. She has been doing that longer than anyone else. Most notably, she does it all with a generous heart, a warm smile, music and laughter.

Tony & mArie mArTinezNominated by Cindy Lenahan, Mesa Manor

Tony and Marie have been faith-ful volunteers here at Mesa

Manor for many years. They visit al-most daily and bring many smiles to residents and staff. Residents are al-ways encouraged by their enthusiasm and their interest in motivating them to participate in all that is offered at Mesa Manor to increase their quality of life.

miKe folnSbeeNominated by Lisa Smith, Help Hospitalized Veterans

Mike has vol-unteered for the Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV)

craft program since 2008. His moth-er, a veteran, told him about the craft distribution program, how it helped her, and how we needed volunteers. Mike started by assisting in our distri-butions room. He quickly gained the admiration of the veterans, staff and fellow volunteers for his efficient and helpful manner.

As Mike became more acquainted with the program, he demonstrated great skills in constructing craft kits and numerous other hobbies. Mike was asked to add “Volunteer Clini-cal Assistant” to his title. He assisted with the Toys For Tots program for three years. Not only could he work the kits, but he was good at teaching

others about them as well.When HHV moved to our own

location, Mike insisted that he would follow HHV because he loved the program. HHV has truly benefited from Mike’s dependable, trustworthy and friendly service. He is able to fill in for our staff and he assisted with the launch of our new location, fill-ing shelves, and helping implement a new structure of distribution proce-dures. He’s our “go-to guy” whenever we need him. Mike has a friendly smile and is always willing to help, no matter the task. Mike works over 80 hours a month for HHV. I can’t say enough good things about him.

ClAyTon DAuSeNominated by the staff at Habitat for Hu-manity of Mesa County

From the moment Clay-

ton Dause walked into the ReStore three and a half years ago to inquire about volunteering, we knew he was a keeper. The level of enthusiasm Clayton has for his community is unmatched and he carries this dedi-cation to every organization he gives time to. As our ReStore greeter, Clay-ton’s warm welcome and contagious smile is a blessing to everyone who walks through our doors. Clayton spends two days a week inside the ReStore helping with our volunteers, greeting our customers and provid-ing top-notch customer service.

He spends his free time soliciting pastry donations from local busi-nesses to provide for our volunteers. He shares his love for Habitat and the ReStore, and doesn’t hesitate to recruit volunteers, find ways for us to be involved in the community, and strengthen our customer base.

Clayton sits on our Volunteer Advi-sors Committee and is dedicated to making sure we have ample volun-teers and that we provide the best experience for them. Clayton is always looking for ways that he can assist our day-to-day operations and develop ways to better serve the Re-

Store staff, volunteers and customers. Though we are one of many agencies Clayton is dedicated to, we are thank-ful that he chose to share his time and talents with us. We are a better organization because of him.

ChArloTTe mAeSNominated by the staff at Chat-field Elementary

Chatfield El-ementary would like to nominate Charlotte Maes

for Volunteer of the Year. Charlotte has worked as a volunteer

at Chatfield for seven years. She loves working with first grade students. She always has a smile and loves to work with the children individually. She views reading as a valuable skill for all children and wants all of them to succeed. She makes each child feel special and excited about learning.

Charlotte goes above and beyond her duties, as she also helps clean up in the lunchroom. For a volunteer who is 91 years old, she is not afraid of work!

The greatest thing we all notice about Grandma Charlotte is her posi-tive attitude. She has a smile for every staff member and is very generous and kind. We enjoy the treats she brings to share with the staff. She genuinely loves Chatfield and is so friendly. She is at school every day that she can be. The children and adults are so thankful for her.

Charlotte is very humble. She does not think that what she does de-serves recognition, but we do. What a great example of what a volunteer does for our school. Charlotte Maes is our Senior Volunteer of the Year!

linDA JohnSTonNominated by Becky Johnson, East Middle School

I would like to nominate Linda Johnston for Vol-

unteer of the Year. It is an honor that

March 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com voLunteer of the year 7

she greatly deserves. I first met Linda through the RSVP Senior Scholars Program and could hardly believe my luck when she came to volunteer at East Middle School’s library. She has been a true blessing for the staff and students at East. As a retired school librarian, she is an expert in all things library and has done a superb job helping with whatever is needed. Linda is skilled at book repair and has saved many books (and dollars) by bringing tattered, well-loved books back to life. She is cheerful and friendly and our students love her. Whether running the circula-tion desk, typing booklists, shelving books, labeling spines, or helping stu-dents find the books they need, Linda does it with a smile and a great sense of humor. Linda has contributed hun-dreds of volunteer hours at East. She always shows up promptly, and often stays late. She is truly East Middle School’s Volunteer of the Year and I think she should be the BEACON’s Volunteer of the Year as well!

JuDy mAThewSNominated by Shannon Freed, Roice-Hurst Hu-mane Society

After Judy Mathews retired from St. Mary’s Hospital, she

needed something new in her life. She loves dogs, so she began vol-unteering at Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

Judy is our small dog advocate at Roice-Hurst. She works with one to two dogs at a time from the moment they are brought to RHHS until she helps find their forever home. Often-times, the dogs have been through a lot and are very scared when they come to RHHS. Judy sits with them, calms them down, and assures them that they are in a good place. She has also been known to foster them if they are having a hard time in the shelter environment.

When potential adopters show an interest in Judy’s small dogs, she takes the time to talk with them and to find out about their home, life-

style, other pets and family mem-bers to determine if they are a good match. Each of these dogs are so special to Judy and she wants to be sure to place them in the best forever home possible.

In addition, Judy volunteers at off-site adoption and fundraising events whenever she can. She is invaluable to Roice-Hurst.

Dr. JAmeS rybAKNominated by Bambi Harmon, John McConnell Math & Science Center

Jim retired from Mesa State

College in 2005, where he was a pro-fessor of engineering and mathemat-ics. In 2008, he was recruited at the John McConnell Math & Science Cen-ter as a volunteer. His main responsi-bility is to perform maintenance on our exhibits. Currently, Jim comes in twice a week and has accrued over 2,100 volunteer hours—an average of 350 hours a year. We currently have eight college fellows on staff that Jim mentors. They create experiments for Family Science Nights and after-school programs, and often seek his assistance. His dedication and witty, friendly attitude exemplify our mis-sion to create excitement in science, technology, engineering and math. I consider Jim to be one of our most valuable resources and I look forward to having him on board with us as we continue our journey.

williAm wADeNominated by Doug Karl, Homeward-Bound of the Grand Valley

Bill has been a valuable asset to our organization

and has been instrumental in contrib-uting to our new plans for the reno-vations of the Family Center Project, which will include a new family and women’s shelter, in addition to 40 new units of supportive housing to

serve in reducing our homeless popu-lation in the Grand Valley.

Bill has been a member of the HomewardBound Board for the past year and half and has averaged ap-proximately 15-20 hours per week of his time and expertise to our organi-zation. Without the time, knowledge and skills that Bill has contributed and continues to contribute to Home-wardBound, it would not be possible to move our plans forward or achieve

the necessary fundraising.He also serves as a member of the

City of Grand Junction planning commission, a commissioner on the zoning appeals board, and is an advi-sor to Porter Homes, a local home building company.

Bill has tirelessly given his time and talents to our organization, in addi-tion to his other volunteer activities, for the betterment and growth of Grand Junction. ■

I T ’ s a s e a s Y a s 1 … 2 … 3With so many wonderful volunteers to choose from, we at the BEACON

need your help! All nominees are featured in this month’s issue of the BEACON with a short description of why they were nominated.

1. Read about each volunteer on the previous pages2. Pick your volunteer Karon Carley Charlotte Maes Sue Relfschneider Linda Johnston Tom Lee Carol Acuff Tony & Marie Martinez Judy Mathews Hermie Fox & Gerry Coffey Dr. James Rybak Roger Martin & Cristeen Fredricks Mike Folnsbee Ruthmary Allison William Wade Clayton Dause

3. Vote for your favorite volunteer online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.comor Mail this official ballot to: PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

The winner will be announced at BeaconFest, Thursday, April 17, 12:50 p.m., at Two Rivers Convention Center,

159 Main St., Grand Junction.

Please have all ballots submitted by aPril 14, 2014.

Volunteer of the Year Awards 2014Vote for Your faVorite

Two Rivers Convention Center, Grand Junction, CO

April 17, 2014freeadmission

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

8 Create a LegaCy www.BeaconSeniorNews.com March 2014

Although he was tall in stature and always had a story ready to share,

Ralph was one of those people you didn’t notice right away. His diligent work habits, craving for routine, and the way he made himself at home at the ReStore allowed us to mostly take note when he wasn’t around.

For two and a half years, Ralph showed up to volunteer at the Re-Store every day from before the store opened until after the store closed. He took pride in his duty as chief cus-todian. The parking lot was always pristine, the trash cans were never full, and customers were always treated to cold water. Although he suffered a life-altering accident at a young age, Ralph felt useful and fulfilled while doting on the ReStore. He poured himself into us and in turn, we did the same. It wasn’t until he fell ill a few weeks ago and passed away that we truly realized the im-pact he had on our organization.

By Teresa Ambord

It’s all over the news when a private foundation gives a big charitable

donation. In 2012, they gave $45.7 billion to good causes. Not bad! But it pales in comparison to how much in-dividuals gave in the same year—that $228.9 billion.

The amounts left to charity in their wills actually fell a little in 2012, but that total was still an impressive $23.4 billion.

Who gave?The most generous among us were

those 68 and older, giving an average of $1,370 each. They donated used and new goods and cash and gave their time to volunteer efforts. Mostly they donated to their places of wor-ship but also to social service groups (like those supporting the homeless and victims of disaster) and to educa-tional institutions.

Next came baby boomers (ages 49

As we sat down to digest ways to fill the void left in our hearts and our organization, we came to the conclu-sion that there was no way to fill the legacy Ralph left behind. Although the tasks he routinely completed appeared to be mundane and the stories he shared were repetitive, the pride he displayed in volunteering his time for us was priceless.

As we look around our organiza-tion, we see Ralph-like characteris-tics in all of our volunteers. We see passion, hard work and dedication. When you think about it, the time and energy people pour into an organization is truly what makes it prosperous. Giving of yourself can have the greatest impact. Without a doubt, Ralph’s legacy will be felt by all who call the ReStore their home. For information about volunteering at Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County, call 263-0858. ■

to 67), giving an average of $1,200 per year. The recipients of boomer generosity were similar to those of their elders.

Generation X (ages 33 to 48) gave an average of $732 per year.

And Generation Y (ages 18 to 32) gave $481 per year on average. These givers tend to be more skeptical, demanding accountability from those they donate to, and expect to see the direct impact of the donations they make.

Donation requests come in the mail, on the phone, on TV, and online. Unless you are personally fa-miliar with a charity, don’t give until you do a quick check to ensure the charity is real. Every national disaster causes a bunch of new bogus chari-ties to rise up. You can check their legitimacy at Charity Navigator by logging on to www.charitynavigator.org. ■

a ralph-like legacy at Habitat for Humanity

americans are a charitable bunch. Can you guess who gives the most?

The United States faces significant challenges in preparing students for jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In order to meet these 21st century challenges, our students need 21st century skills: critical thinking, information literacy, collaboration, self-direction and invention! The Center has a vision for preparing future generations to be competitive at the local and regional level as well as in the global arena by offering creative hands-on experiences, developing and providing resources for classroom use, providing training for educators, and developing innovative programs.

Please help us to touch the future by volunteering or through donations. Think of supporting the John McConnell Math and Science Center, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3). Thank you!!bharmon@mathandsciencecenter.org

www.MathAndScienceCenter.org

one volunteer at a timeThanks to the generosity of our volunteers, Habitatfor Humanity of MesaCounty is able to providelocal families safe, decent and affordable housing.and affordable housing.

Please support our mission by becoming a volunteer today!

March 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Create a LegaCy 9

I am not a victim... I am a survivor.Latimer House provides comprehensive and compassionate services to those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.• Safe-house and 24-hour crisis line serving all of Mesa County• Individual and group counseling• Advocacy, legal support and access to community services • Children’s services, counseling and support groups• Long-term support including transitional housing and employment assistance

To learn more or to make a donationto Latimer House call (970) 241-032424-Hour Crisis Line (970) 241-6704

LATIMER HOUSE IS A HILLTOP PROGRAM - MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN WESTERN COLORADO FOR OVER 60 YEARS

The statistics are chilling. One in four women has experienced do-

mestic violence in her lifetime. More than three women are murdered by their intimate partners in this coun-try every day. Between 3.3 and 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. There were more than 900 reported cases of domestic violence in Mesa County last year. Domestic violence is a very real crisis, shrouded in shame and secrecy that makes seeking help even more difficult.

Hilltop’s Latimer House leads the way in providing hope to the women, children and men affected by domes-tic violence and sexual assault in our community. Latimer House provides a broad-range of services and sup-port aimed at long-term solutions for those looking to move from crisis to confidence in their lives. These com-prehensive services target the many forms of domestic violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, econom-

ic and psychologi-cal abuse.

Latimer House operates the only domestic vio-lence emergency shelter in Mesa County. Housed in a large, Victo-rian building, it provides a warm and home-like sanctuary for those at greatest risk. Those most in danger arrive at Latimer House with nothing but their children and maybe their purses, needing the most basic of necessities. Generous community support assures what they need is available. The women and children are safe and find the support they need to begin planning a life free from violence.

Latimer House’s trained counsel-ors and staff provide advocacy and support, both for those in the com-

Latimer House provides hope and support for those affected by domestic violencemunity as well as those who utilize the emergency shelter. The com-plexities of do-mestic violence require a multi-tiered approach. The counselors work with the cli-ents to form short and long-term plans. They help

navigate the complex legal and safety issues many clients face. Counseling and support groups cover the many aspects of domestic violence includ-ing causes, effects and real world solutions. Transitional housing and employment assistance increase the chances for long-term success.

Over 50 percent of children in homes affected by domestic violence will be abused themselves. All will face emotional trauma that leaves them vulnerable and at risk for con-

tinued violence. Latimer House offers comprehensive children’s services, including counseling and support groups that aim to break the cycle of violence.

The services provided by Latimer House are vital to our community. Domestic violence does not discrimi-nate by age, gender or economic cir-cumstances. Chances are you know someone who has been affected by this violence. When you support Latimer House, you not only assure these services remain available, you also let those affected know they are not alone.

To learn more about Latimer House and how you can help, call 241-0324. If you or a loved one is suffering domestic violence, call the 24-hour crisis line at 241-6704.

Latimer House is one of 24 pro-grams operated by Hilltop in western Colorado. We are leading through action to make a difference for people of all ages. ■

10 Create a LegaCy www.BeaconSeniorNews.com March 2014

By Teresa Ambord

There is no mistaking the fact that Americans are a charitable

bunch. In 2012, we gave more than $316 billion, mostly from individual gifts, according to the Giving USA Foundation. That’s nearly a third of a trillion dollars. Even in our depressed economy, in 2010, 74 percent of us made some kind of charitable dona-tion. Yet only about eight percent do so by legacy giving.

Legacy giving is a gift made by be-quest. It can also take more complex forms, such as a trust or it can be

part of a life-income arrangement or endowment.

• A bequest, also called a legacy, is a directive made in a will to give a certain amount of money or property to a specified beneficiary. A bequest can be structured in various ways. It can be general and unconditional so that the recipient organization gets a predetermined amount. It can also be for an amount that remains after certain events take place (residuary bequest) or it can be an amount that is conditional (contingent bequest).

• A trust is an arrangement wherein

Support a cause? Leave a legacythe legal title to property is held by a trustee for the benefit of another.

• A life income arrangement is when money or property is left to an organization, with the stipulation that income be paid to designated beneficiaries for their lifetimes.

Nonprofits love legacy gifts be-cause this is the least costly way to raise money and it helps them achieve stability and sustainabil-ity. From your perspective, it’s not only a vehicle for supporting a cause close to your heart, but it’s also a way to re-duce your taxable estate. Whatever you leave by be-quest will not be subject to estate or inheritance tax. Those amounts are deducted from your taxable estate, and there is no limit to the amount that can be set aside by bequest.

but i’m not wealthy enough to have an “estate”

Everyone has an estate of some sort, because an estate is simply a list of what you own. Anyone can desig-nate a charity to be the beneficiary of a checking account or pension account, for the total balance or a specific amount. If everyone who is inclined to make charitable gifts dur-ing his or her lifetime were to make a legacy gift of even $100 upon the time of death, billions would be fun-neled easily into the coffers of critical not-for-profit causes.

So how do you go about setting up such a designated gift? If you have a will, contact your attorney or finan-cial advisor to discuss the possibili-ties. But of course, not everyone has the resources to pay these profession-als. If that is your situation, call the

charity that you wish to support, and ask to speak to the planned giving director. This person should be able to guide you through the process of ensuring that the funds go where you designate them.

Before sitting down with a profes-sional, make a list what you own. Don’t forget to include your retire-

ment accounts, stocks and bonds, real estate, and other valuable prop-erty like expen-sive jewelry and artwork. Next, decide which charities you wish to leave money or other assets to.

Note: Be sure to get the name of the charity ex-actly right. You may intend your gift to go to the

local branch of the Salvation Army, but if you do not specify the location, the gift will likely go to the national headquarters. Also, be aware that there is no shortage of scam artists out there. Some unscrupulous orga-nizations deliberately choose names that are deceptively close to agencies with highly recognizable names like the American Heart Association or the Red Cross, knowing that some in-dividual donors will mistake them for the real deal, and the poser organiza-tion will siphon off donations that were not intended for them.

Leaving a legacy gift in whatever form you choose is an easy way to help an organization you care about go forward, doing the good work that is meaningful to you. While it might not occur to most people to indulge in legacy gifts, America is a generous nation of individuals who support the causes close to our hearts. This is an easy way to do just that. Before you say no, give it some thought. ■

Leaving a legacy gift in whatever form you

choose is an easy way to help an organi-zation you care about

go forward, doing the good work that is meaningful to you.

March 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Create a LegaCy 11

based on a 117-year historyRecognizing that people have an

inherent nature to help others is the historical foundation of Volunteers of America from a national and local perspective. The organization began in the U.S. in 1896 when founders Maud and Ballington Booth emigrat-ed from England. When the charis-matic young couple set their sights for America, they were determined to create a solid and notable organiza-tion in a new country.

When thinking of potential names for their organization, one word remained prominent: volunteer. In those days, a volunteer was anyone who was committed to a mission or cause. It signified that the organiza-tion was comprised of people volun-tarily choosing to help others.

“Christianity and philanthropy must go hand in hand,” Ballington wrote. “You can have philanthropy without Christianity, but you can- not have Christianity without philanthropy.”

As a social entrepreneur at the turn of the 20th century, Ballington had developed a true appreciation for what it took to keep his organiza-tion’s mission going. More important-ly, he recognized it was the philan-thropic spirit of others making the critical difference.

“Philanthropic effort…must not only be wise but prompt,” Ballington wrote. “There is a certain class of deserving and needy who never will be helped effec-tually unless helped now. Time is the great factor with them.”

The Booths constantly worked to raise money among those who had more to give and cast their net for support from coast to coast. They attended as many society events as possible, networking and raising awareness for their cause—“to go wherever needed and do whatever comes to hand.”

Making a difference on the Western Slope During the

Great Depres-sion, the Booths increased their efforts for assist-ing the millions of unemployed, opening soup kitchens and penny pantries. And still, their donors and sup-porters continued to give what they could during this economically chal-lenging time, knowing that every dollar would be stretched to the nth degree for the endless care of those in need, and eventually, inspiring the Volunteers of America tagline, “There are no limits to caring.®”

As the organization grew, new needs presented themselves and Vol-unteers of America leaders respond-ed. In war time, Volunteers of Ameri-ca set up canteens, overnight lodging and Sunday breakfasts for soldiers and sailors on leave and spearheaded salvage drives, collecting millions of pounds of scrap metal, rubber and fiber for the war effort.

Volunteers of America helped accelerate real estate development during the 1960s by taking part in numerous federal housing programs. Since 1968, Volunteers of America has developed over 300 affordable housing complexes in more than 30

states. Presently, there are seven independent se-nior housing com-plexes located in Western Colo-rado: Heaven’s View in Delta, Horizons Country Manor and Hori-zons West Mobile Home Park in Eckert, Grand View in Grand

Junction, and Centennial Towers, Cimarron Village, Meadowlark Court, and Pavilion Gardens (family hous-ing) in Montrose.

In the 1970s, Volunteers of America emerged as a provider of profes-sional long-term nursing care, seeing an opportunity to provide for older adults. Valley Manor Care Center was Volunteer’s of America’s first long-term nursing care community on the Western Slope, followed by Horizons Care Center in Eckert.

Experts from the field of aging ser-vices and government funding have currently painted a dark picture of fiscal health with limited support to human services organizations such as Volunteers of America.

But even with new policy changes and diminishing federal funding, many of the Volunteers of America professionals, like Regional Director of Operations Craig Ammermann,

have a positive view based on hope and the belief that even in the most difficult times, the Volunteers of America mission will not fail.

“People care too much about oth-ers to ever allow needs to go unmet,” Ammermann said. “Our case for giv-ing is simple. People trust that Volun-teers of America will put their gifts to the best use possible and create a positive outcome for those in need in Montrose and Delta counties.”

Ammermann oversees operations of the health care entities of Home Health of Western Colorado, The Homestead at Montrose, Valley Manor Care Center, Horizons Health Care & Retirement Community, Senior Com-mUnity Care PACE, and Senior Com-mUnity Meals. This inter connected range of health services includes home and community-based pro-grams to transitional and long-term care and are available to individuals at various stages of disability due to progression of aging or illness.

“Our compassionate spirit of com-mitment to the mission is upheld by our 600-plus local employees, who are driven by a cause greater than themselves,” Ammermann said. “Helping older adults celebrate life here in Western Colorado means we must create a sustained and trusted relationship with numerous support systems of individuals, governmen-tal agencies, and public and private organizations.”

For more than 117 years, Volunteers of America has garnered financial support from both the private and public sectors, but in the end, it is a matter of the heart. It is the compassion-ate, spiritual and priceless call to support a cause greater than oneself. ■

Bringing food, medicine and comfort to people not served by other charities, Volunteers of America opened its first location in Kentucky.

Ballington and Maud Booth founded Volunteers of America in 1896.

What Will Your Legacy Be?

Home Health of Western Colorado300 N. Cascade, Ste U9, Montrose, CO 81401

Phone: 970-240-0139

The Homestead at Montrose1819 Pavilion Dr. • Montrose, CO 81401

HomesteadAtMontrose.org • 970-252-9359

Horizons Health Care andRetirement Community

11411 Hwy 65, Eckert, CO 81418HorizonsRetirement.org • 970-835-3113

Senior CommUnity Care (PACE)2377 Robins Way, Montrose, CO 81401

SeniorCommUnityCare.org • 970-252-0522

11485 Hwy 65, Eckert, CO 81418SeniorCommUnityCare.org • 970-835-8500

Senior CommUnity Meals11407 Hwy 65 • Eckert, CO 81418

SeniorCommUnityMeals.org • 970-835-8028

Valley Manor Care Center1401 S. Cascade, Montrose, CO 81401ValleyManorCare.org • 970-249-9634

Your bequest or other planned gift of any size will create healthy futures for generations. Creating a legacy of volunteering your time instills hope and inspiration for others. Founded on the principals of “reaching and uplifting all people” Volunteers of America strives to continue to be a leader in creating innovative, compassionate and comprehensive responses to human needs. On the Western Slope, our continuum of health care services will be present

long into the future to support our region’s rapidly-growing senior population.

For more information, call one of our health care communities or programs below or visit

www.voahealthservices.org