John Marks Templeton (1912-2008) was not only a brilliant investor and founder of the Templeton Mutual Funds but also an amazing philanthropist who epitomized wisdom in that liminal dimension between money and spirituality.
Since 1972, the £1,000,000 Templeton Prize—greater in monetary value than the Nobel Prizes—has honored individuals known for their exemplary spiritual contributions.
Past Templeton Prize winners include Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, and even a Colorado State University recipient: Holmes Roston III, CSU Distinguished Professor and Presbyterian minister whose research in and passion for respect for nature helped establish the field of environmental ethics.
Sharing Templeton’s passion for this liminal dimension, I became involved with the Good Neighbor Garage two years ago. I love that this faith-based non-profit provides a sustainable, “green” solution that stretches the value of cash and car donations.
By participating in Colorado Gives Day on December 4, you will help Good Neighbor Garage provide even greater leverage of your cash donations. Thanks to FirstBank, which will match all donations made on Colorado Gives Day, your gift will be doubled.
What impact will your gift make?
- Good Neighbor Garage provides cars and repair services that meets the basic need of transportation, thereby changing the lives of Front Range families. Let me introduce you to two of these families:
Yvonne Pugh, a single mom, now has dependable transportation for her family.
Jewell Striplin is not only raising her three daughters, but also her two nieces. GNG helped her get a van to be able to take her large family to their activities.
- Provides not only a receipt for your federal and state tax deductions, but also Denver Enterprise Zone state tax benefits.
- Supports the only Colorado-based non-profit exclusively focused on transforming donated cars and cash into transportation solutions.
- Invests in repair services, laying the foundation for a self-sustaining business model.
WIIFM?
Like John Templeton said (The Templeton Plan, p. 140), when you give, you get to be part of a virtuous, upward spiral of giving Thanks.
As you give, know that every dollar is multiplied by giving on Colorado Gives Day Dec. 4, will be “stretched” to provide more cars than otherwise possible, and will accelerate our ability to get cars repaired fast enough to meet the demand. Your dollars are stretched because you receive a deduction for your gift. Your dollars are stretched as families in our community are blessed through your generosity. And, as our stories show, these express their thanks to you for your generosity.
Where is Good Neighbor Garage located?
Good Neighbor Garage
9200 W. 44th Avenue
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
720-941-5897
Who leads the Good Neighbor Garage?
Marc Veldhuisen is both the founder and Executive Director of Good Neighbor Garage. He’s an outstanding visionary who manages the team that refurbishes donated vehicles and then matches them to qualified recipients. Check out his car care tips.
Toolkit:
To keep us in the spirit of Gratitude, I encourage you to participate on December 4, 2012.
It’s easy. Why not preschedule your gift? Begin your online donation now and select “Schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day.”
As the holiday shopping frenzy descends on the country, it is so easy for Gratitude to quickly melt into Greed—even over the perfect gift for a loved one.
The matching donations are only offered on December 4. As you participate, please consider supporting the one-of-a-kind Good Neighbor Garage out of Wheat Ridge. (Disclosure: I serve on the board of Good Neighbor Garage.)
Thank you, all!
