Operating in the green . . .

raftresource areafor teaching

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The beauty of RAFT’s model is that practically all of the resources it provides start out as unwanted materials donated by Colorado companies. Then RAFT, its members, and community volunteers ingeniously transform them into engaging, hands-on educational activities.

• RAW MATERIALS In 2012, RAFT upcycled over 20,000 cubic feet of materials donated by almost 200 organizations and individuals.

• INTEGRATED ACTIVITY IDEAS Using the donated materials, RAFT’s innovative staff develops ideas that help students learn concepts and skills in science, math, engineering, art and literacy.

• VOLUNTEERS In 2012, over 400 volunteers donated more than 3,000 hours of time sorting materials and packaging them into engaging activity kits.

UNLOCKING THE MAGIC OF MATERIALS

RAFT embraces teachers as the primary catalyst for excellent

student outcomes and provides them with the affordable

resources they need – in a warehouse painted green! –

to bring the power of real, hands-on activities into their

classrooms. Educators around the world download over 650

free Idea Sheets containing easy-to-implement hands-on

activity ideas. At RAFT Colorado’s resource center, members

enjoy the convenience of Activity Kits - RAFT’s most popular

Idea Sheets pre-bundled with the materials to build them.

INSPIRING HANDS-ON TEACHING

“I love all the ‘stuff’ that you get, and it helps me enormously to do science and projects. The classes last summer were wonderful. “ – Joy (RAFT member)

“Our students love that we are able to offer so many hands-on activities. We are only able to do this because of RAFT.” –Sonjia (RAFT member)

Project idea

raftr e s o u r c e a r e af o r t e a c h i n g

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repurposereuserecycleraft!

ingenuitycreativityinspirationcommunity•

Helping teachers ignite learning

with materials donated by Colorado businesses

3. LAUNCH A GREAT IDEA*

1. VISIT RAFT

Where:

When:

RSVP:

Happy Hour @ RAFT Colorado 2875 Blake Street, Denver

(just up the street from Coors Field with plenty of free off-street parking)

Third Thursday of every month 6:30 - 7:30 pm

stephanie@raftcolorado.org

In one short (happy) hour, learn how a local non-profit

*this is not a fundraiser

repurposereuserecycleraft!

ingenuitycreativityinspirationcommunity•

Helping teachers ignite learning

with materials donated by Colorado businesses

3. LAUNCH A GREAT IDEA*

1. VISIT RAFT

Where:

When:

RSVP:

Happy Hour @ RAFT Colorado 2875 Blake Street, Denver

(just up the street from Coors Field with plenty of free off-street parking)

Third Thursday of every month 6:30 - 7:30 pm

stephanie@raftcolorado.org

In one short (happy) hour, learn how a local non-profit

*this is not a fundraiser

R A F T I N S P I R E S T E A C H E R S W I T H E N D L E S S R O W S O F M A T E R I A L S , C R E A T I V E P R O J E C T I D E A S , A N D A S T A F F W H O T R E A T S E A C H M E M B E R W I T H G R A T I T U D E A N D R E S P E C T .

CREATING “AHA MOMENTS” FOR COLORADO STUDENTSRAFT’s personal coaching, practical workshops, inspiring institutes,

and fun events are designed to help teachers incorporate hands-on

learning activities to personally engage students and extend their

learning opportunities and capabilities. RAFT professional learning

experiences help teachers “create a natural sense of wonder and

curiosity...for our students, as well as promote problem-solving and

learning in a dynamic

environment.”

– Kellie Lauth, STEM

Coordinator, Adams 12

School District

“It has been amazing to see what a repurposed material that costs next to nothing can do in the life of a child.” – Nate (RAFT member)

REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS BENEFITTING FROM RAFT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES:

Boys & Girls ClubAdams 12 Five-Star SchoolsKaleidoscope Before & After School ProgramSummer ScholarsRocky Mountain Early Childhood ConferenceUndergraduate Education Students

250K

132K

117K

24K211

1,048

1,280

2,556

Members

Students served (in thousands)

2009 2010 2011 2012

RAFT offers customized professional learning experiences at its resource center – and has plans to take RAFT on the road in 2013

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

MEMBERSHIP DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTY

Over 500 50-99 Less than 10100-499 10-49

R A F T I N S P I R E S T E A C H E R S W I T H E N D L E S S R O W S O F M A T E R I A L S , C R E A T I V E P R O J E C T I D E A S , A N D A S T A F F W H O T R E A T S E A C H M E M B E R W I T H G R A T I T U D E A N D R E S P E C T .

2875 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80205(720) 242-8833 www.raftcolorado.org

. . .while staying

in the black.

The generous contributions of financial donors, material donors,

and volunteers, combined with RAFT’s unrelenting focus on

responding to teachers’ needs in its operations, have created

a solid financial foundation.

Morgridge Family FoundationBalfour Senior LivingJames and Kris BenderMadison CarterThe Carson FoundationColorado Education AssociationComcastLawrence and Nancy CoolidgeBarry and Sonia DanielsenThomas DenisonDenver Museum of Nature & ScienceFirstBankFirst Western Trust BankBill and Karen Fisher

Mike and Amber FriesFoundation for Educational ExcellenceTom GamelTom and Ginger GariteTom and Margie GartGay & Lesbian FundKatherine GoldWalter IsenbergBrian and Nancy JohnsonDavid and Phyllis JohnstoneRachel & Taner KodanazDavid and Judy KoffLibby Anschutz Brown Foundation

Lockheed Martin Space SystemsEvan and Evi MakovskyCarol and Dirk McDermottMile High United WayMillerCoorsJay MillsMorgan Stanley Smith BarneyMaggie and Mitch MorrisseyZack and Amy NeumeyerRobert and Judi NewmanOn the Pulse LLCThe Piton FoundationDoug and Hazel PriceProLogis

Virginia and Scott ReimanKim and Rob RobertsSage HospitalityBernard and Kimberly SiegelMary and Ed SimonJane Lewenthal and Tomo TsukayamaU.S. BankUMBKatarina Van VeenPeter Van VeenStephanie WelshXilinx

F I N A N C I A L D O N O R S O V E R $ 1 , 0 0 0

All Recycling SolutionsAmcor PET PackagingBall CorporationColorado Container/Packaging CorpColorado Convention CenterColumbine Specialty ProductsDenver Art MuseumDenver Center for Performing ArtsElementsFrederic Printing CompanyGeneral ShaleGrape ExpectationsHunter DouglasMillerCoorsRR DonnellyStanley British Primary SchoolTables RestaurantUniversity of Colorado Health Sciences CenterWalMartWhole FoodsZero Landfill

M A J O R M A T E R I A L D O N O R S

R E P R E S E N T A T I V EV O L U N T E E R G R O U P SAnadarkoBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLCCherry Creek Transitions ProgramComcastHigh PointeIHSMercury Payment SystemsProLogisRMPCMAUrban PeakXcel EnergyXilinx

HELP US CREATE ENGAGING, RELEVANT, AND INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY TEACHER AND STUDENT IN COLORADO

Design by CW&H Graphics

Approximately 1/3 of RAFT’s revenue comes from membership dues and sales of products and services