With the calendar soon rolling over to November, the tradition of formally giving thanks rises in our consciousness. The vandalism and burglary at Sports Garage in early October offered us a king size portion of gratefulness, first and foremost, for the people. Offers to help us get back on our feet, physically and emotionally, poured in from far and wide. The final Gravelanche ride of the year is quickly approaching, and the moment could not be more perfect for pay that spirit of gratefulness forward, by transforming the final ride into a “Gratefulanche” fundraising event.
Sports Garage will be hosting the second event in our Gravelanche series on November 2, with an adventure including dirt roads, trails and canyons. Paired with our ride adventure on roads, trails, and canyons, we are collecting donations for two of our favorite local nonprofits — the Check-In Foundation and I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County. All riders are encouraged to participate in the fundraising competition, and the organization that raises the most money from Gravelanche riders will receive a $500 matching donation from Sports Garage.
I Have A Dream Foundation Boulder County and the Check-In Foundation provide vital resources for two issues that we feel matter deeply: Education and Mental Health Awaremess. Get to know our nonprofit partners and potential recipients of the 2019 SG Gratefulanche Matching Donation.
“Our mission is to increase awareness about the connection between traumatic brain injury and mental health,” said Adam Tannenbaum, board member with the Check-In Foundation and a mental health professional and educator. “Any time someone experiences a TBI or a subclinical closed head injury, it causes breakdown in brain function that leads to decreased mental health. More significant issues include suicidal ideation and thoughts of wanting to die.”
The foundation focuses on two main goals: breaking the stigma of talking about mental health and depression; and helping people connect with others for support. “That connection and engagement is one of the biggest protective factors in the promotion of mental health,” Tannenbaum said. “We definitely see decreases in depression and suicidal thoughts. Especially if it’s already within the sport they love.”
Check-In was founded in 2016 by Colorado mountain biker April Page, after she lost her partner, Clay Watson, to suicide. Years before, she’d lost her brother the same way. “A year after Clay’s death, I did a mental health course and realized that I missed all the red flags, the signs. The people like me who are left behind, we play that scenario over and over for so long, wondering if ‘what if I said this, or said that.’”
It’s common for people with closed head injuries to experience changes in personality, and this symptom is often misunderstood by others. “I just didn’t ask questions, because I didn’t know what was going on.” By the time Page figured out that Watson was in ongoing physical and emotional pain, “In his head, he was already past wanting to figure it out. He didn’t want to survive anymore.”
As tough as it was, the loss of the man she loved showed Page her purpose in life. “I can’t let Clay’s voice and my brother’s voice and so many others’ voices go unheard. I think they’re screaming at the top of their lungs, and if no one hears them, when they’re dead, they’re gone forever. I want to connect people to the resources they need.”
As part of this goal, Check-In maintains a slate of mental health professionals across Colorado to help those in need, as well as a fund to assist athletes who have financial barriers to seeking help. The organization supports community mountain bike events such as the Golden GiddyUp, puts on events of their own, and holds group rides open to all skill levels. They also partner with the Colorado High School Cycling League, working with coaches, parents and teens to understand warning signs and foster communication. “Athletes have a hard time asking for help,” Tannenbaum said. “There’s a culture of just getting back on the bike and not saying, ‘This is what I’m going through.’” We want them to feel comfortable talking to their families or friends about it.”
The I Have A Dream Foundation Boulder County is the local affiliate of a national organization that most people are already familiar with. Their mission is to empower children from low-income communities to succeed in school, college, and career, through academic, social and emotional support. Once kids are enrolled, that support will go with them to college, including post-secondary financial assistance.
Most students start early, ideally in the first grade. Along the way, they receive a broad range of support that includes tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, enrichment, life skills, parent partnerships, college preparation, scholarships and more. As a result, 90% of Boulder County Dreamer Scholars graduate high school, as compared to 71% of other low-income students. And 85% of Dreamers go on to post-secondary enrollment, while only 43% of low-income students do so.
“The comprehensiveness of this program is what really works,” said Jessica Sharley, development manager. “That long term relationship that takes them all the way through their education process is unique and valuable.”
In spite of the perception of Boulder County’s affluence, the student achievement gap is surprisingly high. This gap is the academic performance measured between students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and those who don’t; and in 2018, the county’s gap was the second highest statewide.
“We are the largest affiliate in the country,” Sharley said. “We are adding a class every year, while some affiliates have never started another one.” Last year the group served 625 students directly, another 185 through partner organizations, and 41 alumni stayed engaged on some level.
Sharley herself can relate to the Dreamers. Her family is from Puerto Rico, and while her parents assumed she would go to college, “it was a scary, unsettling experience. I had to figure it all out for myself. I can see a lot of myself in these students, because it’s a totally unfamiliar experience for them. The kinds of experiences we can share with our students, where they attend pre-collegiate programming and spend time on campus, it’s so important. We hear from our alumni that these experiences are so vital for them, to help them go to college and get through.”
Everything is provided free of charge to Dreamer students. “We are supported entirely by donations, grants, and volunteers. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the achievement gap in Boulder County, and that’s a pretty ambitious goal. It’s really necessary for us to be sustainable and keep adding kids as long as we need to, so the financial piece is important.”
It is very easy to participate in Gratefulanche, whether you are riding or not. Use any of the following three connections:
1. Make a donation to your chosen organization through Eventbrite.
2. Venmo to @Gratefulanche-2019. Make sure to note either “Check-In” or “Dreamers” with your Venmo.
3. Cash in the Jar on November 2nd at Gravelanche
We’re excited to include our entire Gravelanche community in giving thanks this November.