Author Archives: OtterCares

OtterCares 2012 Silver Heart Award: Randy D

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2012 marked the inaugural year of awarding our prestigious Silver Heart Award to an OtterBox employee who embodies the spirit of OtterCares. We are proud to introduce our very deserving recipient, Randy D. Randy is very active in the community and is also an OtterCares Ambassador. He continually goes out of his way to engage fellow Otters in community service work and has a incredible heart. Read more about Randy and why he volunteers:

What organization(s) do you volunteer with? I currently volunteer for Respite Care, Larimer County Animal Shelter, Catholic Charities, Junior Achievement, Pack2School, and Ft. Collins Natural Areas.  In addition, I try to help on any projects through OtterCares and their ambassadors program that fits my schedule.

Randy receiving the Silver Heart Award from Nancy & Curt Richardson

Why do you volunteer? Volunteering gives me the opportunity to give back to the community in many ways.  I have met many people I now call friends through my volunteer experiences.  To be honest, volunteering does more for me than I do for the organizations I assist.  Every event is self-fulfilling and rewarding!!

What do you enjoy most about volunteering? The smiling faces on those you help.  The joy and happiness you witness is indeed priceless.

What is your fondest memory of volunteering? My interaction with the kids at Respite Care’s Respitality Night was life-changing for me.  The love and courage exhibited by these kids would be an inspiration to anyone!

Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering? Jump in head first and embrace the rewards and self- satisfaction derived from helping others.  Once you start to volunteer it will become part of your own fabric and daily culture.  Each of us has some spare time that could be directed toward volunteer efforts.

 

What “New” Will You Do This New Year?

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The excitement of a new year sparks the hope of new beginnings and the desire to make an impact on the world.  We at OtterCares thrive on making an impact in new and unique ways. As we embark on this hopeful new year, we want to know: what “new” will you do this year in order to make an impact on the people around you?  Maybe you will run a marathon for the first time to raise money for a cause.  Maybe you will volunteer for the first time or join the board of a non-profit.  Whatever your new beginning is, we want to hear about it.  Fill your blank canvases with hopeful ideas and let us know what “new” you will do to impact your world this year.

Happy New Year from OtterCares!

Tri-Town Youth Center Gives Teens Free, Safe Hangout

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With the opening of OtterBox’s newest facility in Frederick, Colorado last month, the OtterCares Foundation was looking to get more involved in Weld County. When we learned about That Place, we knew it was a perfect fit with our mission!

After moving to the Tri-Town (Frederick, Firestone, Dacono) area two years ago, That Place founder Calico Neu was disappointed to find that there were no safe, free places for teens to hang out after school. Because many parents in the area commute to jobs in other cities and towns, teens are often on their own to find entertainment after school. So after a year of planning and research, Neu decided to launch That Place, where teens can get homework help, participate in service projects, engage in fitness activities, and just hang out before or after school.

The center, which is located in the west gym next to St. Theresa Catholic School in Frederick, officially opened on September 3 and is run entirely by volunteers. OtterCares funded a computer lab with four MackBook Pros, six iPad 2 tablets and an HP printer, to provide students with access to technology that will advance their education.

OtterCares believes that all children and teens should have access to fun, safe activities and is proud to support That Place and other similar organizations. For more information about That Place, visit their website at http://thatplacecolorado.com/.