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Colorado Springs Businesses that Give Back — And Ways You Can, too!

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Colorado Springs Businesses that Give Back — And Ways You Can, too!

One of the best feelings is giving back to one’s community — at least, that’s what many of our Pikes Peak region attractions say. Social responsibility is important to business owners in Colorado Springs. They are proud to donate to nonprofits in the Pikes Peak region because they care about our community. 

You know who else loves to do good things in the world? You! No, we’re not spying on you (that would be weird), we just know that the fact you’re reading this right now means that you, too, care about supporting your community. It could be working for an environmental cause, participating in conservation efforts or helping those in need. 

Take a look at how these top attractions are helping our city — it is sure to lift your spirits and show you how meaningful your admission ticket really is. And, if you’re feeling inspired, we’ve shared a list of local and regional nonprofits that support causes right here at home in our community. A double dose of do-gooding goodness!

Adventures Out West Fundraiser Fridays

Some local businesses give back by offering local organizations a fun and exciting way to gather donations. Adventures Out West offers Fundraiser Fridays, a chance for you to gather a giant group and raise money for whatever cause you feel passionate about. It’s a fundraising method that’s totally unique (and amazingly awesome). How does it work? First, you send in your application to Adventures Out West with your cause and other important info. Once approved, you and your fellow cause supporters raise a minimum of $1,000 selling admission to an evening of ziplining and campfire fun (bring stuff for s’mores). 

Up to 70 people can attend your selected Friday, which gives you lots of room to arrange your price point (of course, less people means more time on the line for attendees, so plan accordingly). Then, you simply show up with your collected funds and Adventures Out West will give every single penny back in a check to your cause. Yes, they give 100% back. We cannot stress enough how amazing (and rare) that is! It’s a fundraising opportunity like no other in Colorado Springs. 

Ways You Can Help

Want to be a charitable champion like AOW? If you can’t take advantage of their fundraising opportunity, why not support some local outdoor nonprofits that are meaningful to the Pikes Peak community? Here are a few other local nonprofits where you can share the love:

Mercy at Miramont Castle Helps Families in Need

Miramont Castle partners with the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Community Partnership for Child Development (Head Start), and Catholic Charities to provide a magical evening to struggling families in the Colorado Springs community. During the Christmas season, the folks in these groups get together to plan a sumptuous dinner in Miramont Castle’s Great Hall. Each special family is selected and sent an invitation to the evening, where they will enjoy a dinner and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. But the best part of all is when Santa comes to visit the children of these families. Volunteer “elves” spend a whole lot of time selecting gifts based on a secret list provided by the parents, which means each kiddo receives meaningful gifts meant just for them. Last year, 53 Colorado Springs children celebrated Christmas at Miramont Castle!

Ways You Can Help

Would you like to help Miramont Castle make Christmas magical for kids in need in Colorado Springs? You can email Miramont to discuss donating directly to the cause at [email protected] or you can support their two “partners in kind” with a donation.

Community Partnership for Child Development: Devoted community partners providing early childhood education and family support throughout the community.

Catholic Charities: Caring advocates for unhoused or vulnerable individuals and families in the Pikes Peak region. 

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Helps the Kids of Canon City and More

The Royal Gorge Bridge is known for donating thousands of dollars in special gifts to local charitable events. You know those silent auctions at charity galas or the raffle prize at a local nonprofit event? The items have to come from somewhere and that somewhere is generous local attractions like the Royal Gorge. They’ve provided admission tickets to the park, special ride passes and even overnight stays in the region. 

During the month of April, they partner with Bank of the San Juans to help the Boys and Girls Club of Canon City by asking for donations with their season pass sales. And their food and retail partners participate in a receipt round-up, with guests having the option to round up the total of their final bill and have that extra change go to support the Boys and Girls Club. With thousands of visitors to the park, those seemingly small donations really add up — there is no “small change” when you’re working to make a difference for others.

Ways You Can Help

You don’t have to wait until April to help out the Boys and Girls Club. You can donate now and help them boost their year-end giving using the handy link below. Just don’t forget to pay the Royal Gorge a visit in April when they launch their spring giving campaign.

The Boys and Girls Club of Fremont County: Inspiring young people and supporting their growth and development. 

The North Pole Loves Supporting All Kids and Their Families

If you thought an amusement park dedicated to Santa Claus would be great at giving back — you’re totally right! We’d expect nothing less from the seasonal home of one of the most generous and jolly folks around. The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop has a lot going on in the philanthropy department. Like other attractions in the region, the North Pole donates thousands of park passes to fundraisers and local charities, which helps them raise money for their causes. 

Even more special is their work with CASA of the Pikes Peak region. The North Pole provides a Foster Children’s Festival each year, a special day for foster families and has done so for so long that the park can remember helping kids when there were actual orphanages instead of foster families for kids in need. They also work with organizations that serve special needs families. Families with kids on the autism spectrum can spend the day together in the park making new friends and enjoying the rides and activities. Other special needs groups are also accommodated through the North Pole’s charitable giving. Last, and certainly not least, they offer qualifying schools in low-income districts a day to visit the park, too.

Ways You Can Help

Are you a wannabe Santa looking for a cause? Why not take a page from the North Pole’s nice list and give back to CASA, too? 

CASA of the Pikes Peak Region: Providing critical support to victims of child abuse, neglect and domestic conflict in the Pikes Peak region. 

Conservation Counts at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the few accredited zoos in the United States that operates without a penny of tax support. That means they are completely funded by the generosity of donors and the income from admissions, memberships and grants. So, just by visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, you are directly helping the animals in their care. However, that’s not enough giving for the zoo, they do even more. 

A portion of every zoo admission goes to support worldwide conservation efforts. For example, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Member Conservation Grant (money from annual memberships) has provided emergency support for tortoises confiscated from illegal exotic pet markets in Madagascar. And funds from attending special elephant and rhino feedings, along with funds from Quarters for Conservation, helps Tsavo Trust, a nonprofit that protects wildlife in Kenya from poaching via technology like aerial surveillance. Speaking of Quarters for Conservation, more than $2 million has been raise since 2008 and it goes to all sorts of conservation efforts in Colorado and beyond.

Ways You Can Help

While going to the zoo is certainly the most amazing way to support their efforts, you can also offer support with a direct donation or by booking one of their unique animal encounters. 

Direct Donation: Directly supports the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo annual fund.

Memorial and Tribute Giving: Honor a beloved late family member or friend with special recognition while supporting the zoo’s important conservation goals. 

Custom Animal Experiences: Choose from a variety of unique, up-close encounters with a selection of critters at the zoo. The additional fees support zoo care and conservation. 

Garden of the Gods Trading Post Pledges $1 Million

That stunning natural wonder in the heart of the Pikes Peak region — Garden of the Gods — doesn’t stay pretty and pristine all by its lonesome. It relies on extra support from donations and volunteer work to remain a protected, important part of Colorado Springs’ outdoor recreation offerings. After all, it’s a completely free park, so it can’t simply rely on revenue for repairs, trail maintenance, clean-up and all the other things that are absolutely necessary to public, state and national parks. 

The Garden of the Gods Trading Post has long been a supporter of the park, personally donating money each year and collecting donations from the thousands of visitors who stop in at the Trading Post for gifts, Colorado souvenirs and snacks after a day roaming the rocks and trails. In 2018, they pledged to donate $100,000 each year for 10 years for a total of $1 million! Turns out its good donations that make good neighbors, not good friends. 

Ways You Can Help

While the most fun way to donate is to stop in for gifts and funds and stick cash in the nifty box that marks your state, you can also give back directly to the park’s philanthropic foundation.

Garden of the Gods Foundation: Improving and enhancing Colorado Springs’ world-renowned free interpretive park. 

The Cliff Dwelllings Support the Youth of Colorado Springs

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings has been a devoted partner to the Pikes Peak region for many years, supporting the community in a variety of ways. In addition to free admission passes, cliff dwelling items and other gifts donated to nonprofit fundraisers and auctions, the Cliff Dwellings also sponsor two school baseball programs: Palmer Ridge and Coronado. Certain Saturdays of each month, they host some incredibly special animals — wolves! 

Colorado Wolf Adventures visits the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and educates visitors on this beautiful keystone species, which helps with conservation efforts. And, each fall, they are a major sponsor of Koats 4 Kids, which provides warm winter coats to kids in El Paso County, a critical need in a state known for cold winters that sometimes hit sub-zero temperatures, not to mention heavy snows and even the occasional bomb cyclone.

Ways You Can Help

Follow the Cliff Dwellings’ lead in supporting Colorado Springs youth (and wolves) by donating directly to their favorite causes. And, pay them a visit sometime. You’ll see why it’s such a popular place for schools and families!

Koats 4 Kids: Helping kids in the Pikes Peak region stay warm in any wild weather Colorado chooses to toss our way. 

Colorado Wolf Co-Existence Fund: Dispelling myths and increasing awareness about the importance of wolves as a keystone species. 

Pretty cool, right? It seems like nearly everything fun in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region also helps out a variety of different causes! That’s just how our local businesses and local attractions operate, and we are proud to be a part of it. What are you waiting for? Get out and do some good by having fun!

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