What's happened is really simple. People. Folks. Every-day Americans are not just asking, but doing things that help their communities.

The "I Love U Guys" Foundation has a unique opportunity to do the same. With the incredible support of a hard core, hard love community, ILUG has helped a number of people and organizations. Now we're standing up.

As in the past, a portion of this year's Emily's Parade proceeds will support local programs and High School Graduate scholarships. Both college and trade school.

We've also started our own initiative. The National School Safety Collaborative. An application of real world internet technologies bringing schools, parents, citizens and first responders together. On line and in person.

We hope to get it close, first time out. But realize that sometimes you have to tear it down to build it right. We've met with schools, law enforcement, experts, parents, citezens, committees, and more committees. And in every case, folks who care.

So we have a vision. Use technology to bring participants together. Schools and parents and citizens and law enforcement and responders all have a voice. Our commitment is to bring the talents and contribution of these voices together. Because our definition of technology isn't fences and cameras and metal detectors. Our definition is communication, awareness and action.

Local Actions
Bailey-area programs and non-profits wishing to request funding may click here for guidelines.

National School Safety Collaborative
The "I Love U Guys" Foundation is evaluating the development of a database program to facilitate the process for schools to devise effective, logical safety plans. Implementation requires a Needs Assessment; research to identify resources currently available and gaps in information. On completion of the assessment, we'll post the results. After processing the results, The Foundation will begin the development of a pilot application.

Scholarship Program: Platte Canyon High School
We are developing a program for students to self-fund ongoing scholarships through entrepreneurial efforts. If we reach the expected success level, we'll document a model for the program and make it publicly available.

The "I Love U Guys" Foundation awarded $2,500 in Kindness scholarships to Platte Canyon seniors in the 2007 and 2008 graduation classes. The Foundation has also renewed the 2007 scholarship award for a second year. Our goal is to extend these scholarships through their college years. We also administered the awarding of two scholarships provided by Columbine High School. A $500 Kindness Award was given in 2007 and again in 2008 to a PCHS teacher who "Most exemplified compassion and caring," as voted by the students.

Colorado Kindness Day
"The warm glow we get from helping others is not just a good physical feeling — it is the energy of a healing grace that moves between the giver and the receiver and blesses both. You cannot strive for a healthier, more spiritual life if you keep yourself separate and apart from life around you. The journey of the 'self' also involves the journey of the 'other'."
– Caroline Myss, "Invisible Acts of Power"

The "I Love U Guys" Foundation will work toward initiating a Colorado Kindness Day, and ultimately a National Kindness Day. The goal of this action is to remind ourselves and others of those around us. Like any exercise, it becomes easier with repetition.

A6: The Anonymous Six
There were seven heroes in the classroom at Platte Canyon High Schoool. And a coward with a gun. The Anonymous Six are still with us. Please respect their grace, beauty and privacy as these young women continue with their lives. It is OK to let some details of that day fade. Our inaugural event, the 1st Annual Emily's Parade raised over $70,000, which was transferred to the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) was privately administered for the benefit of the six girls who survived the Platte Canyon High School shooting.

Programs That Matter

Our criteria are simple. Demonstrated measurable success. The "I Love U Guys" Foundation supports these organizations and their efforts. We encourage you to find out more about their stated goals and achievements.

Organ and Tissue Donation: A Greater Gift than Money
The Keyes family worked extensively with the Donor Awareness Council and Donor Alliance, both through legislative efforts and by increasing awareness in the community. Their efforts inspired Colorado legislators to renew the Driver License division's participation in both donor registration and community contribution. The renamed Emily Maureen Ellen Keyes Organ And Tissue Donation Awareness Fund is a tribute to Emily's gift.
www.donor-awareness.org
www.donoralliance.org

Bridges to Peace: works with youth and adults in violence prevention, healthy relationships, leadership, and issues of respect (of self and others). We provide numerous opportunities for youth education and action, staff development, parent involvement, and community activism. Programs include Peer Leadership, Conflict Communication and Dating Violence Awareness, Sexual Assault Prevention, and we tailor our services to the needs of each group. Through classroom education, community forums, professional workshops and individualized consulting, we help others facilitate positive change and to build environments where they feel respected, supported and empowered. www.bridges2peace.com

Colorado UpLift: a non-profit organization in Denver dedicated to building long-term, life-changing relationships with urban youth. UpLift provides a unique, holistic approach to meeting the needs of at-risk students through five program areas: In School, After School, Adventure, College and Life Options. The focus is on long-term relationships as the UpLift staff follow students from grade to grade until they graduate from high school and move into their young adult years. Through in-school lessons, after-school activities, and time spent together with the UpLift staff, kids learn character education and life skills they need to become positive, productive citizens. With an average graduation rate of 90% from high school and 95% of graduates continuing on with higher education and solid careers, Colorado UpLift is proud to have impacted thousands of students since its inception in 1982 and is looking forward to continued future success. www.coloradouplift.org/

Step13: one of the most effective programs that deals with street people, the most complicated segment of the down and out. At Step13 approximately one in three residents gets off drugs and gets their life back on track. Step13 nurtures in each resident independence, individual responsibility, self-sufficiency and industriousness. We give a guy as long as he needs to turn his life around. If a resident can stick with this program long enough, he becomes a self supporting, contributing member of society just like the rest of us. About one in three do. That's not bad considering that a recent government study found that for alcoholics and addicts receiving government benefits, 99 out of 100 never kick the habit and never get a long-term job. www.step13.org