Has online begging become the new economy? Mark Ebner, a writer interviewed in a recent New York Times article, sure thinks so. The article, titled “GoFundMe Gone Wild” discusses the recent onslaught of social media campaigns to raise money for increasingly less worthy causes. The author of the article, Judith Newman, admits that the trend began with a focus on sincerely admirable causes, like paying medical bills for a suffering loved one or funeral expenses for a deceased relative, but she aptly notes that the campaigns have gone haywire. Facebook feeds are now filled with friends, exes,... Read More

In an extraordinary act of generosity, Feed the Frontlines began raising donations to help feed frontlines employees and restaurants and has already beat their goal of $550,000. “We are getting donations from the community, [those] are going directly toward meals for local restaurants which are obviously struggling during these times,” explained Vikas Reddy, a local entrepreneur in Boulder who, along with his friend, Kyle Judah, came up with the idea locally and helped organize it. Meals are purchased with the money from local restaurants, and some money is given to the restaurants as well... Read More

One of the most personally and communally harmful social problems facing the US, including Boulder County, is that of domestic abuse, also known as physical and sexual violence. It is a problem that annually affects millions of victims nation-wide. It is one that crosses all races, social and economic backgrounds, cultures, and relationship types. Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior used by one partner in a relationship to establish and maintain power and control over the other person. This behavior can be exercised either emotionally or physically. SAFE SHELTER OF ST.... Read More

Boulder, as a home for start-ups, entrepreneurs and smart, innovative people, may seem like a welcoming place. It’s a place where technology companies can draw world-class talent with the promise of a high quality of life and perks like the ability to bring your dog and your bike to work. If you look at the career pages of any of Boulder’s prominent technology companies you begin to see a common theme. Boulder is a wonderful place to live because, though people are driven to create good work, they care about things other than work too. The people care about giving back and the companies care... Read More

Pay It Forward Friday is Back for the New Year!  This weekend, send us your best outdoor adventure photo to enter in a chance to win one of three great prizes, courtesy of Crystal Ski Shop! Grand Prize: Full tune with ironed on wax, a $50 value 2nd place: Full demo ski rental, ski or board, a $35 value 3rd place: Nordic Snow Shoe Rental, a $12 value Crystal Ski Shop was founded in 1976 by CU alumni.  Since then, the owners have all been CU alumni.  Current owner and CU alumni Justin Burger is all about paying it forward.  He has agreed to make a big contribution for our Pay It Forward... Read More

You don’t need a reason to celebrate with coffee but the holiday season is a great time to give the gift of coffee. Whether you’re shopping for the backpacker or the urban dweller in your life, my coffee gift guide has got you covered.   Camper’s Coffee Gift Guide: Stumptown’s Voyager Brew Kit is the perfect present for the coffee enthusiast who is also an outdoor adventurer. While pricey, it does come with a ton of supplies—a manual grinder, coffee dripper, mug, and a bag of Stumptown’s Hair Bender blend are all included in this excellent kit.   AeroPress Coffee Maker is... Read More

Boulder is about to make history with Ironman Boulder: the world’s largest triathlon. How large is this triathlon, you ask? Well, let’s look at the numbers: -There are more than 3,000 athletes competing in the triathlon, exceeding the number of athletes who competed at Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympics (2,873). -It’s a 140.6 mile race, which is considerably longer than the distance from Boulder to Aspen (99 miles). -There are also more than 3,000 volunteers, which is roughly 3% of Boulder’s population. -There will be 15,000 feet of fencing which, if measured vertically,... Read More

Hello Boulder! I am so excited to become a part of the team at About Boulder™. After meeting with founder of our company, it was obvious that we shared a passion for encouraging people to give back to their communities. Towards that end I have joined the team as the Director of Giving. My first task is the creation of this blog, which I am calling: Boulderthropic. In this column I will set out to discover how local individuals, groups, companies and organizations are contributing to the wellbeing their fellow citizens, restoring the environment, contributing to the mind trust, and encouraging... Read More