Giving Back: Local and Global Compassion
“A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)
Part of MorningStar’s chosen responsibility as a company, and as individuals, is to invest our time and talents in charitable projects within our own city and around the world. In this, Founder Ken Jaeger takes a decided lead.
Ken is passionate about helping the poor in Third World countries. From his earliest days in Colorado, he was deeply impacted by abject poverty internationally. Ken resolved then to use any success he might achieve in combating despair with hope.
Since 1985, he has made trips of mercy to Juarez, Mexico; central Mexico; Honduras; Sudan; Kenya; and South Africa. In 2008, he directed his energies to the orphans of Puerto Cabazas, Nicaragua. To this remote village Ken now leads building teams three times a year through a sponsorship with Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO, of which Ken has long been a member. Last year, two MorningStar staff joined him in Puerto Cabazas, and for Christmas 2012, Ken brought down not only his own children but also St. Nic(!) gifts from our residents.
Click here to view an article that appeared in The Denver Post on December 22, 2012.
More on Ken’s work in Nicaragua is found within these short videos:
Much closer to home, our volunteerism around the city includes:
• Pregnant Teen Shelters
• Battered Women Shelters
• Soup Kitchens
• Colorado’s Chefs Association
• Colorado Health Care Association
• Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado
• Denver Senior Coalition
• Gerontology Society
• Rotary Clubs
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Colorado
• P.E.O. International
• Bessie’s Hope
Residents make sack lunches monthly to help feed Denver’s homeless. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Residents Giving Back
“I’m more of a giver than a receiver. So I like to help the MorningStar staff brighten the lives of Memory Care residents. With a hammer in one hand and a stapler in the other, I’ll show up to decorate Reflections (our memory care neighborhood) for some holiday. I get such a great feeling from this.” (Resident and Founder’s mother)
Our residents have lived lifetimes of service of others. They know better than any of us how satisfying it is to serve. Residents in our Sunshine Club think up new ways to brighten lives under our roof or out in the bigger world. Some travel to an elementary school weekly to help children who are struggling to read. Others enjoy making quilts and packing lunches for the homeless, and even help our staff plan group activities. On another day, we may just grab a bouquet of balloons and visit our Reflections Neighborhood, assemble care kits for soldiers, or write encouraging notes to schoolchildren.
