'Small Town Big Heart' campaign nears 40% of goal

A campaign launched by Niwot businesses to raise $100,000 for Marshall Fire victims is more than one-third of the way to its goal after just three weeks. According to organizers for the "Small Town Big Heart" fund, a combination of donations, benefit concerts, and other local events has brought in $38,504 since late January, a testament to the community's generosity.

"This town rocks," Colorado Landmark realtor Deborah Read Fowler said. "What's so cool about it is we're seeing residents and business owners and schools joining in to do something. It makes me cry every day."

To date, the fund has collected $337 in on-line donations, $2,089 from the ski gear sale at the Après Ski pop-up event (held in conjunction with Niwot High School on Jan. 29), $2,150 from a poker event, and $23,928 from the first three February benefit concerts, held at local restaurants: Prime Rib Night at Niwot Tavern (Feb. 1), Brit Pop Night (Feb. 3) at Niwot Wheel Works, and a wine pairing dinner at Farow (7916 Niwot Rd.). The latter, held Feb. 10, earned a total of $13,065, after Porchfront Homes matched the first $5,000 in donations. The fund also got a boost with a $10,000 donation from the Left Hand Giving Circle, a local charitable organization that uses pooled resources to make donations of time and money to area nonprofits.

"Although Left Hand Giving Circle was founded with the mission of helping members of the St. Vrain Valley community, we could not sit by and watch the devastation in Superior without jumping in to help," LHCG president Virginia Dutkin said. "We were delighted to find out that Niwot had created its own fund to show support to wildfire victims, and thanks to our members' generosity, we were able to make a sizable donation while still maintaining enough in reserves to continue our 2022 plans for funding nonprofits in the St. Vrain Valley."

If you've missed your chance to attend one of the recent events, Fowler said not to worry, new theme nights and benefits are being added to the slate through the spring and summer months. Up next on her calendar is the Symphony Brunch at Cimmini's (300 2nd Ave.) on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For $25, guests will be treated to live classical music by Boulder Symphony musicians, while enjoying brunch selections including french toast or pancakes with choice of a breakfast meat, a cottage cheese parfait with avocado toast and specialty coffees and hot chocolates. Guests can also bid on items at a silent auction, and The Adjustatorium (135 2nd Ave.) will be matching up to $1,000 in donations.

Fowler said the campaign is also planning a "Grand Auction'' at the upcoming Lucky Niwot Day (March 12), with items up for bid ranging from gift cards to luxury vacation packages; they are also asking local businesses to donate 12% of their Lucky Day profits to the fund. Other upcoming events include the Five Kingdom Dinner, in conjunction with Slow Food Boulder County; Euchre night, a "dueling-pianos" night, quiz night, and bingo night. The fund will also be a recipient of Tip Jar donations at the upcoming Rock & Rails concert series, which collected more than $30,000 for local nonprofits in 2021.

"We've only just started," Fowler said. "That's the crazy thing-we've got a lot more fun to have."

Indeed, though raising money is the chief goal of the "Small Town Big Heart" campaign, fun is the other operating principle for Fowler, who said that "bringing people together" in the face of such devastation has been another important benefit of uniting to support our Boulder County neighbors.

"Right now, the world is a pretty tough place to be in, and I think people are finding it hard... So we're trying to keep it upbeat and positive. People are ready to get together, and just have some fun, and raise a lot of money too."

To purchase tickets for the Symphony Brunch at Cimmini's, visit Eventbrite. To make a direct donation to the "Small Town Big Heart" fire relief fund, visit ColoradoGives.org. All funds raised are administered through the Community Foundation of Boulder County and will be used to directly help families in need. If you or your company would like to add your event or fundraiser to the campaign, or host an event, or if you would like to make a matching donation, contact Deborah Read Fowler at [email protected].