HISTORY

Realities for Children was incorporated in 1995 and has been funding the unmet needs of abused and neglected children in Larimer County since 1996. Currently this "Charity Oriented Business" funds and assists 18 different children's agencies and represents over 120 businesses. With its strong volunteer assistance base and community awareness, Realities For Children, Inc. has successfully created a network that produces an entirely new resource for children's agencies in the community to draw from when all other funding resources have been exhausted.

Realities For Children is an alliance of local businesses working together to serve the needs of at-risk youth. This private membership based organization is designed to generate funding for abused and neglected children through community awareness and education, sponsoring affilite agency fundraisers, special youth opportunities and emergency funding.

Previously, all financial assistance offered to the aforementioned agencies has come from grants, fundraisers and donations. Realities For Children is exceptional, in that it generates funding from advertising and promotional dollars. Local businesses support the concept by paying a monthly membership fee. Realities For Children then promotes and advertises these businesses, thus encouraging consumers to do their shopping etc. with these members to demonstrate their support.  Although Realities For Children is a Colorado non-profit corporation, it is not an IRC section 501c3 organization.  Therefore, membership fees cannot be claimed a charitable donations, but are generally considered a deductible advertising business expense.

Realities For Children is then solicited for assistance from organizations that work directly with these children. The process for receiving funds requires that the child requested for must be found dependant and neglected by the Larimer County Courts or involved in an established prevention program. Secondly, all other resources normally available have already been exhausted or are unavailable.

The members of Realities For Children help to provide funding and visibility to these youth and the agencies that serve them that they would not have received otherwise. 

Realities For Children has received several honors throughout the years. In August of 2006, Realities For Children was awarded the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month. Additionally in 2006,  RFC received the 'My Day I Survived' Award for outstanding contributions to children in our community from the Larimer County Department of Human Services and a Certificiate of Appreciation from the Larimer County Workforce Center for our commitment to the betterment of the community through our involvement as a Work Site for the Work Experience Program and given the Quarterly Outstanding Volunteer & Service Award from the Larimer County Department of Human Services Children, Youth & Family Division. Realities For Children has been and currently is a member of the Better Business Bureau (1996-2007). In 2005 of the Monthhonored Larimer County's business of the year in 1998 by being awarded the Liberty Bell Award for outstanding Legally Affiliated Organization by the Larimer County Young Lawyers Division. In 1999 Realities For Children, Inc. was nominated for the Larimer County Guardian Award, which recognizes outstanding service to individual child victims and commitment to the multidisciplinary team concept in our community's response to child abuse. The Founder of Realities For Children, Inc. was honored by The Colorado Junior Chamber of Commerce as an 'Outstanding Young Coloradoan' in the State of Colorado for the creation and implementation of the Charity Oriented Business concept. In the year 2000 Realities was recognized in the nationwide register of Who's Who of Businesses. Realities For Children was nominated for the 2001 Loveland Business of the Year and in 2002 was honored with the Congressional National Leadership Award for assistance and leadership in promoting a pro-business agenda and fiscal responsibility. In 2004 the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce named Realities For Children to the 100 Best Businesses list. In 2005 Realities For Children has been listed as one of the Top 10 Businesses Making a Difference in Colorado by the Colorado Business Journal, and most recently the members of Realities For Children received the 'My Day I Survived Award' from the Larimer County Department of Human Services. In 2006, Realities For Children was honored as the August Business of the Month by the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and was recognized by the Larimer County Department of Human Services with the Shining Star Outstanding Service Award.

In addition, Realities For Children has been recognized by former Fort Collins Mayor Ray Martinez, former Loveland Mayor Kathy Gilliland, Estes Park Mayor John Baudek, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden, former District Attorney Stu Van Meveren, Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton, former Governor Bill Owens and former Governor Roy Romer who stated, "It is the efforts of programs like this that combat the very serious problem of child abuse. Working together we can make a difference in the lives of our communities' children in need, and make Colorado the best place to raise a child."

With a Realities For Children membership, you can benefit our communities less fortunate children, increase your business visibility and make current and future clients proud to support a local business that helps children in need. Look at what people are saying:

“On behalf of the Larimer County Department of Human Services I would like to extend my greatest appreciation to the members of Realities For Children.  Everyday in our community children are identified as being in harms way due to the neglect and abuse they are subjected to.  At times it is disheartening to see so many kids and families suffering.  It takes a community not a single agency to develop solutions to help kids and families. Realities For Children has truly made a difference in the lives of so many.  Thank you for supporting our efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”                 
Angela Mead, Deputy Division Manager –
Larimer County Department of Human Services

“The Triumph Awards are amazing in that they not only help the youth that need the help today, they are also helping to build a better future for generations to come, bravo to you and what you have done for your community.”
Robin Williams – Academy Award Winner

“If you want to change a life, the Triumph Awards is the place to invest.  These kids need all of our help.”
Stu VanMeveren - Former Larimer County District Attorney

“The Triumph Awards allow the youth to see their successes and see that success supported by our community.”           
Susan Kaul – Larimer County Child Protection Supervisor

“The Triumph Awards provide life changing opportunity for the recipients as well as hope and inspiration for all survivors of childhood abuse.” 
Ronda Buck – Principal, New Vista Academy

“Realities For Children offers Larimer County children and families a wonderful, flexible network of practical support. It is a unique and incredibly successful organization.  The Triumph Awards recognize the success of youth who have overcome great obstacles, and helps them to build a future.  The emergency funds provide children and families with specific, one-time support to help them stay on their own two feet.  Most importantly, Realities For Children is a catalyst for sharing and cooperating among the social service community and the business community. Realities For Children is awesome!” 
James Becker -  Executive Director,
Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development.

"Lutheran Family Services of Colorado greatly appreciates our longstanding service partnership with Realities For Children.  Countless children and families served through our foster care programs, adoption services, family education programs and disaster response services have been strengthened their generosity and concern for the vulnerable.  Businesses Members of Realities For Children are truly a blessing to this community!                        
Jim Barclay - President/CEO, Lutheran Family Services

“Realities For Children and Wingshadow have worked together in many ways though the years to impact the lives of children who have been discarded or overlooked by society. Without Realities For Children and their business members, many children and teens would not have some of the basic necessities that most of us tend to take for granted.”
 Steve Bolton – Founder, WingShadow

“Realities For Children has been one of the greatest resources for Alternatives to Violence clients.  This funding has assisted a great number of our clients and it is easily accessible in a crisis or emergency situation.  No emergency fund has made itself more available and reliable for this purpose than has the Realities For Children Emergency Fund.”           
Allison Hade - Executive Director, Alternatives to Violence

“The Realities For Children Emergency Fund is one of the most phenomenal opportunities and most creative I have ever heard.  It has made such a difference in my career with Human Services because you have set the pace for humanity and respect for all children.” 
Pam Swerer – Larimer County Department of Human Services

“Thank you Realities For Children, for your ongoing help in responding to human need and all you do to bring help and hope to children and families.”  
Kim Raise - Program Director, Lutheran Family Services            

“They come to your aid when all other resources have been exhausted.  When you think there is nowhere else to turn, Realities For Children is there.” 
Barbara Baldovin  - Foster Care Coordinator, Jacob Center

“Dear Realities For Children, Thank you so much for helping.  You have helped to restore my faith in humanity and in this work, that says a lot.  I doubt you will ever know how much of a difference you have made.”                                                        
Larimer County Department of Human Services, Caseworker

“It is great to be a part of an organization that advocates for the abused & neglected youth of our community.  We are so appreciative of the funding, exposure & awareness you enable us to provide even more kids in a one-to-one mentoring relationship.  Thank you, Realities For Children!”                      
Amy Sheele - Partners Mentoring of Larimer County

“Realities for Children has been a great support to CASA of Larimer County and the Harmony House Visitation Center over the years.  CASA and the Harmony House serve children who have been abused and/ or neglected or are caught in the middle of difficult family conflicts. It is crucial for the community to be aware of and support our at-risk populations and we appreciate that Realities For Children has made that connection with the businesses and people of our community.”
Lynn Oesterle-Zollner – Executive Director, Harmony House/CASA

 

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