Presented by the Denver Business Journal, the Corporate Challenge gives businesses across the state the opportunity to help Colorado Gives Day break its fundraising record

Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 15, 2015 – Community First Foundation and FirstBank today announced a call-for-entries for the Colorado Gives Day Corporate Challenge presented by the Denver Business Journal. Launched last year, the Corporate Challenge pits companies against themselves in a fun and friendly competition to raise money for the more than 1,700 Colorado nonprofit organizations participating in Colorado Gives Day, on Tuesday, December 8.

By setting an employee-participation goal, companies across the state can join the Colorado Gives Day movement and contribute to what has become one of the most important and successful annual fundraising efforts in Colorado. Companies are invited to register for the challenge by taking the following steps:

1.) Sign up for the Corporate Challenge by visiting ColoradoGives.org/CorpChallenge, or by contacting Community First Foundation at 720.898.5900.

2.) Participating businesses challenge their employees to make a donation on Colorado Gives Day with the goal of achieving 100 percent participation. Each company receives a “toolkit” that helps communicate their participation to their employees and the public.

3.) Employees can schedule donations to the nonprofit organization of their choice beginning November 1. Companies can track their progress towards their set participation goal via a live leaderboard on ColoradoGives.org/CorpChallenge.

“We make significant contributions locally because we know that nonprofit organizations are integral to the social fabric of Colorado, our home state,” said John Ikard, president and CEO of FirstBank Holding Company. “In addition to being the right thing to do, our participation in Colorado Gives Day serves as a point of pride for all FirstBank employees. On behalf of Colorado’s critical nonprofit sector, we are calling on all companies to take part in the Corporate Challenge and help spread the spirit of philanthropy across our great state.”

Presented by the Denver Business Journal, the Corporate Challenge is just one component of Colorado Gives Day, an annual statewide movement created by Community First Foundation and FirstBank to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. Since its inception in 2010, Colorado Gives Day has raised $83 million for Colorado nonprofits, including a record-breaking $26.3 million in 2014, raised awareness for the state’s nonprofit sector, united Coloradoans in a common goal to strengthen the state’s nonprofits, and educated communities on the benefits of online giving.

“Expanding Colorado Gives Day to include businesses is a natural progression of this amazing day of giving across our state,” said Dana Rinderknecht, director of online giving at Community First Foundation. “We are excited to have more local businesses join the movement and build upon the excitement created last year.”

“Rally (now a part of CA Technologies) was pleased to participate in the very first Colorado Gives Day Corporate Challenge,” said Geri Mitchell-Brown, director of corporate social responsibility at CA Technologies. “Our employees were energized and enthusiastic about this event, which is a great way to build a sense of community and commitment to giving back within our organization. We look forward to another successful year.”

For more information about the Colorado Gives Day Corporate Challenge presented by the Denver Business Journal, contact Community First Foundation at 720-898-5900 or visit ColoradoGives.org.

About Community First Foundation
Since 1975, Community First Foundation has been helping generous donors and innovative nonprofits come together to improve the quality of life and create positive change in Jefferson County, the Denver metropolitan area and beyond. We serve as a connector, partner, collaborator and resource to fuel the power of community for the greater good.

About FirstBank
FirstBank operates more than 120 locations in Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank is the largest locally owned banking organization in Colorado, serving more than 650,000 customers. Since 2000, FirstBank has contributed more than $49 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. FirstBank is unique in that a majority of its stock is owned by management and employees. For more information, visit efirstbank.com.