We readily admit that while golf isn’t our game, we don’t mind cheering on those who are actually skilled at the sport – especially when it’s for a good cause. We were lucky enough to do just that at the 18th annual Brad & Erna Butler Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting Bright Beginnings. Under blue skies at the Valley Country Club in Centennial, we watched 100 enthusiastic golfers, including media celebrities Tom Green and Penny Parker, compete in a four-man scramble format.

Bright Beginnings’ hardworking staff

The tournament is a key fundraiser for Bright Beginnings, which visits parents and caregivers of children from birth to three to give them the tools and skills they need to help them maximize their child’s development.  In 2014, the organization plans to complete more than 20,000 visits to families across Colorado. The majority of parents we serve are considered low-income with multiple risk factors that can impact their child’s trajectory to be school ready. 

We were thrilled to support the tournament by recruiting sponsors, gathering donations for gift bags and prizes and publicizing the event in local media outlets. You can watch Blacktie Colorado’s coverage of the event here.

The tournament, which also featured hole contests and an awards ceremony, is named for Bright Beginnings co-founder Brad Butler, former chairman of Procter & Gamble, who with his wife Erna, tirelessly and generously advocated for bettering the lives of all children. This year, the event raised $43,000 to support Bright Beginnings’ programs.

We look forward to keeping you posted on Bright Beginnings’ programs and future fundraising activities. For more information on the organization and all the great work it does, click here.

At The Stasko Agency, we get to work with some of the region’s most innovative and inspiring companies. And over the past few months, a few of our clients have been recognized for their achievements.

In October, Little Man Ice Cream Owner Paul Tamburello received the Georgia R. Imhoff Philanthropist Award from Blacktie-Colorado. The award, given every two years, honors a special humanitarian and recognizes his or her work in the community.

A Colorado native, Tamburello is devoutly committed to various efforts that are beneficial to the communities they serve. Little Man is named for Tamburello’s father, who was small in stature, but big in heart. Making a difference in the world was his legacy, and Little Man is Paul’s way of keeping his father’s legacy resilient. Through its “Scoop for Scoop” program,  Little Man helps fight hunger in developing nations. For every scoop of ice cream Little Man sells, one scoop of rice or beans is donated to a community in need.

Paul Tamburello and Little Man staff deliver rice to Cambodia

The company also supports organizations focused on education and childhood welfare by offering time, financial assistance, knowledge and homemade ice cream.

In addition, Tamburello is a co-founder and board chairman of the GrowHaus, a non-profit indoor farm, marketplace and educational center in Denver’s Elyria Swansea neighborhood and board member of LiveWell Colorado.

Local residents tour the GrowHaus

The Georgia R. Imhoff Philanthropist Award was named for the late Blacktie-Colorado co-founder, who supported a large number of Colorado charities, many committed to caring for women and children.

Congrats Paul!

Zocalo Community Development also deserves congratulations for landing a 2013 Mayor’s Design Award for 2020 Lawrence, it’s LEED Gold certified apartment project in Denver’s Ballpark community. The multi-family development was one of 15 Denver projects honored for excellence in architecture design and place-making by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock at an awards ceremony November 6th.

The innovative apartment building boasts an array of “green” features, including Energy Star-rated appliances, high-efficiency water fixtures, low-e windows and flooring and other finishes made of recycled and locally-sourced materials. The 10-story apartment complex is also the first in Denver to offer composting and an electrical vehicle charging station.

Zocalo is busy completing Cadence Union Station, the 220-unit apartment community at 17th and Chestnut street and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that project win a few awards as well.

We’re so proud of all Zocalo and Paul have accomplished and consider it an honor to work with such pioneering Colorado entrepreneurs.