Community Impact
The Dalbey Education Institute is glad to be able to provide support for many charitable foundations and causes, both in the local community in the Denver metro area of Colorado and worldwide.
Founder and CEO Russ Dalbey has a personal belief that we all have an obligation to lend a hand to others and “give back” when we’re able, because we truly are members of an interconnected worldwide community. And when we help others by donating our time, experience, or wisdom, we invariably benefit ourselves as well.
Here is a collection of some of the Dalbey Education Institute’s recent contributions to worthy organizations.
A sincere appreciation from the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver
“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver is very fortunate to have the Dalbey Education Institute as a supporter, which employs more than 300 people who are engaged in the business of helping others reach their full potential. Russ Dalbey has built his business on the idea that through a process of goal-setting and hard work, people can better their lives, achieve things previously thought impossible, and generate the income to provide safety and security for their families. It is Dalbey's optimism and belief in the potential of others that makes him so special and his business so successful. And it is his willingness to invest in disadvantaged people that makes the Dalbey Education Institute an extraordinary member of the Denver community and a model of modern philanthropy.”
— Chris McGee
Director of Corporate Giving, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver fundraiser auction event
What do Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Pat Bowlen (owner of the Denver Broncos), and Russ Dalbey have in common?
They were all in attendance at this year's Boys & Girls Clubs “Youth of the Year” Gala event on May 2nd at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, lending their support to a non-profit institution that helps deserving youth. The Dalbey Education Institute was one of only two “platinum”-level lead sponsors for this gala event.
In addition, The Dalbey Foundation - the charitable arm of the Dalbey Education Institute - supplied a unique auction item to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs. Valued at $5,500.00, Russ Dalbey donated a custom-fit, team-issue ParkPre racing bicycle with top-of-the-line components. The auction winner also received a Successful Living team-issue riding uniform, as well as the chance to ride with the Successful Living professional racing team, headed up by Steve Hegg, 1984 Olympic Gold medalist and former pro cyclist.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver foster values and beliefs that fall directly in line with the principles of the Dalbey Education Institute - they encourage disadvantaged youth to believe in their potential, strive for their dreams, and take the necessary steps to gain the skills they'll need to succeed in life.
This year's Boys & Girls Clubs Gala event raised more than $500,000 to provide quality educational and support programs for at-risk youth in the Denver metropolitan area. Russ and Cathy Dalbey are very proud to have been a part of this charitable cause.
The Dalbey Education Institute's involvement with this year's “Youth of the Year” fundraiser celebration is just one of the many ways that Russ and Cathy Dalbey give back to our local community.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs “Youth of the Year” program and event, please visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver website.
Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver Bicycle Donation
Just in time for the holidays, Dalbey Education Institute CEO Russ Dalbey donated 100 bicycles and helmets to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
Pictured above with the 100 donated children’s bicycles are (from left) Steve Hegg, 1984 Olympic cycling gold medalist and team director for Russ Dalbey’s Successful Living professional cycling team (www.teamsuccessfulliving.com); Steve Martinez, director of the Owen branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs; and John Stalick, CFO, the Dalbey Education Institute.
Dalbey was once a member of the U.S. Olympic Development Cycling Team and sponsors the Successful Living Professional Cycling Team. His love for cycling and desire to give back to the community led him to make this donation.
“Receiving the gift of a bike changed the direction of my life when I was young, and I’d like to see every young person get the same opportunity I did. However, many members of our community have difficulty affording a bicycle,” Dalbey said. “I’m glad we can now give back to the community and provide 100 deserving members of the Boys & Girls Clubs with new bikes for the holidays,” he said.
Kids in the Boys & Girls Club earn “Club Bucks” for doing homework, helping out around the club or other activities. They are able to spend their Club Bucks at the holiday parties to purchase gifts for themselves or others. This year, each club will receive several of the donated bicycles for this program.
“Most years we’re fortunate to have even one bike at each holiday party. Thanks to Russ and the Dalbey Education Institute, each branch will have several bikes available for the kids. We’re sure these will be some of the most popular items up for bid,” said Kathy Luna, chief operating officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
DEI makes $10,000 contribution to dedicated Red Cross volunteer
When Hurricane Katrina attacked the Louisiana coast in 2005, the directors of the Dalbey Education Institute wanted to help. And while there were certainly many relief organizations ready to accept financial donations, Russ wanted to make a direct impact to someone especially deserving… a contribution that wouldn’t be lost in corporate misappropriation.
In the end, DEI donated $10,000 to the family of Gail Adolph in the most devastated part of the Mississippi Delta.
Gail Adolph, a smiling grandmother with a slow Creole drawl known to many as simply “Miss Gail,” had been a dedicated volunteer for Red Cross relief efforts for years. Despite suffering from arthritis, this former EMT headed up the first-ever disaster education and relief program for her remote parish.
“Miss Gail” pioneered disaster preparation campaigns for her community. She assembled a staff of nearly 100 volunteers and personally worked more than 120 disaster relief cases. Over five years, Gail Adolph took care of her network of families through five hurricanes and tropical storms as well as three tornadoes.
But even “Miss Gail” wasn’t ready for Katrina’s unprecedented destruction. And this time, Gail Adolph and her family were victims, not volunteers.
Her house had been completely erased by Katrina, and she had no money. Gail and seven of her eleven siblings were homeless – seven families living as disaster refugees in a two-bedroom house in northern Louisiana.
For the first time in her life, the selfless volunteer and her immediate family needed help. So the Dalbey Education Institute agreed to help her rebuild her home – and rebuild her life.
With a donation of $10,000.00, the Dalbey Education Institute played a small part in creating a new future for Gail and her family… one deserving group of people who exemplify the ideals of teamwork and community.
“I can’t even begin to explain how grateful I am,” Gail said. “It’s all been so terrible, but you’ve all been wonderful… just wonderful. Thank you.”
Russ Donates 65,000 Pounds of Holiday Turkey to Denver Rescue Mission in ‘Two for One’ Challenge
In November of 2006, Russ issued a challenge via a live TV broadcast to local businesses and individuals to help provide a holiday Thanksgiving meal to the needy, pledging two turkeys for each of the first 1,000 donated to the Denver Rescue Mission’s annual Thanksgiving food programs.
This year, the Mission was thousands of turkeys behind its goal of 4,000 frozen birds for the holiday season. So Russ decided to do something big to encourage others to help out, extending his original pledge and bringing the total charitable gift from the Dalbey Education Institute to over 5,000 turkeys, or approximately 65,000 pounds of frozen poultry!
The RedBird turkeys were be served at the Lawrence Street Shelter and distributed to poor and needy families in the metro Denver area through other non-profit agencies.
“This is a difficult time of year for many, and especially for those struggling day to day,” said Brad Meuli, president of the Denver Rescue Mission. “We are extremely grateful for the support of Russ and hope many other Coloradoans will follow his lead.”
For more information about the Denver Rescue Mission, visit www.DenverRescueMission.org
3rd Dalbey Education Institute Computer Recycling Event
For the third time, Dalbey Education Institute coordinated with Executive Recycling of Englewood, Colorado to give our community an easy way to properly dispose of obsolete computer equipment.
Recycling just one computer system normally costs $25 or more, but on February 9th DEI provided the entire Denver metro area a safe and environmentally-responsible way to dispose of any unwanted equipment… for free.
At the Dalbey Education Institute’s last recycling event, 14,000 pounds of hazardous waste was diverted from Colorado’s land fills. This time, a whopping 37,900 pounds of computer equipment was collected! This means that all of the highly-toxic materials like lead, cadmium and mercury in those 17 tons of hardware won’t end up contaminating our environment.
The event was so well attended that a line of cars extending down Church Ranch Boulevard grew as people waited to access our company parking lot and drop off their old computers.
FM radio station 99.5 “The Mountain” promoted the computer recycling event the week prior. Three local TV stations covered the story – KWGN TV-2, KCNC TV-4 and KUSA TV-9 to help spread the word about responsible disposal of office equipment.
Dalbey Employees Volunteer Time to Charitable Causes
The hardworking staff of the Dalbey Education Institute – acting individually and collectively as a team – are responsible the continued success of DEI’s customers possible.
But beyond being dedicated coaches and mentors at work, some of our employees also donate their time and abilities outside of the office. What they’ve discovered is that giving to others is well worth the effort.
Below are just a few examples of Dalbey Education Institute staff members who volunteer to serve their communities.
Robert K., Senior Business Start-up Rep
Robert has been a part of Eldora Mountain Resort’s outdoor program for disabled individuals for six years, donating at least one day of his weekends between December and March to working with the ESRP.
He’s a Special Recreation Program instructor for disabled athletes – those who are blind, have developmental disabilities, like Down syndrome or cerebral palsy, or have limited motor skills, such as paraplegics and quadriplegics.
Robert has also been involved with Special Olympics events hosted at Eldora in the past.
“I believe skiing gives people a sensation like flying... it’s something many won’t experience any other way,” Robert explained.
For more information about ESRP, visit www.esrp.com.
Don C. and Mike B., CS Team Leaders
Don and Mike are volunteer coaches for a local sixth-grade football team. Mike was a participant in this program as a child; Don was involved in a similar youth football league in Lafayette, CO. As a result, they decided to give back to their communities and share their time and wisdom with some of today’s kids.
Don and Mike devoted 10-12 hours each week to their coaching efforts.
“Youth sports create leaders and encourage teamwork. Ultimately, we are hoping to prep the team to excel not only in football, but also in life, “ said Mike.
“It was a fun experience that gave us a different perspective on our leadership roles,” Don said. “Plus, I gave myself a better place to live by improving the lives of others.”
Jess D., Facilities Manager
Jess volunteers with Project Angel Heart, a local charity that has promoted the health, dignity and self sufficiency of people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, liver and kidney disease, and other life threatening illnesses for 15 years.
“Project Angel Heart is an amazing, Denver-born non-profit, and I am really excited to be able to help them out,” said Jess.
For more information about Project Angel Heart, visit www.projectangelheart.org.
Conrad G., Director of Software Development
Conrad is an active volunteer with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. He has been donating up to eight hours of his free time each week to assist this non-profit organization over the last year.
“As volunteers, we spend our time caring for the animals and going out with the ‘Pet Care Cruiser’ to find the adoptable animals homes. This is always a great time because we get to meet a lot of animal lovers like ourselves,” Conrad said.
“We are about to be trained as Adoption Liaisons, so we can more actively help people find their match with the adoptable animals.”
For more information about Humane Society of Boulder County, visit www.boulderhumane.org.
Dalbey Education Institute Sponsors Denver Rescue Mission Marathoners
In 2007, the Dalbey Education Institute worked with a group of 18 unlikely success stories by sponsoring a marathon team that will compete in the May 20th Colorado Colfax Marathon.
This isn’t your average group of runners, though. Many of these men are homeless and recovering from crippling addictions. These are individuals with very difficult pasts. But they’ve all committed to changing their lives through the unique “New Life Program” at the Denver Rescue Mission.
At the beginning of the year, these recovering addicts all set a goal with the help of mentor Russ Dalbey. And on May 20th, they hit the streets to attempt a feat that would have seemed impossible to them just a few months back: finishing a brutal 26-mile run through downtown Denver.
The Denver Post broke this amazing story in this online article:
www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5304942
The Dalbey Education Institute’s financial support and coaching meant the world to the individuals on the Denver Rescue Mission’s running team. Through these valuable contributions, the lives of many deserving and self-motivated individuals were truly uplifted and given a chance to make a new start.
The Dalbey Education Institute is continuing its support of this not-for-profit addiction recovery program in 2008. Information about volunteering for the Denver Rescue Mission is available online at www.denverrescuemission.org.
DEI contributes to The Real Medicine Foundation’s School Project in Sri Lanka
Half a world away from Westminster, Colorado is the Pallemalala region of Sri Lanka. This community suffered tragic losses when a tsunami hit during a busy market day, when one or both parents of most families were out shopping.
In just one day, many families were destroyed and countless children orphaned. One of the organizations that is there helping is The Real Medicine Foundation, a non-profit group that provides medical relief to communities affected by disaster, poverty, or war.
In 2006, the Dalbey Education Institute donated money to purchase the land needed for The Real Medicine to facilitate the building of a new Children’s Center in Pallemalala, Sri Lanka. The center will provide a permanent Day Care Center and Montessori School for the children of this and neighboring communities.
The following is a personal note from Dr. Martina Fuchs, the founder of Real Medicine:
“Thank you to Russ Dalbey and everyone at the Dalbey Education Institute for your amazing, generous contribution. Your donation is buying land for a new school and children’s center in Pallemalala in Southern Sri Lanka, providing education for the local children as well as income for the families who will work on the project.
Your sponsorship is making a huge difference for hundreds of children and families who lost everything in the tsunami. You are deeply appreciated and you should feel proud of your company.”