Marcia Mounsey Foundation

Halloween Tricks, Treats & Tunes

2009-11-02T20:01:00-06:00

North Denver Tribune: Students in costume play for annual Spookathon

On Saturday, October 24, thirty-four young music students showed off their Halloween costumes and musical chops for the 11^th Annual Spookathon at Café Café in the Sunnyside neighborhood. The recital is a seasonal feature organized by the Denver Area Music Teachers Association and the Marcia Mounsey Foundation.

"Giving our students the opportunity to perform in a setting that is different from the typical recital - one that is informal, fun and family friendly - is a great way to reward the hours of practice," said Jan Romero, a local music teacher who chairs the event. “The Spookathon is also a chance for young students to use their own musical talents to help other kids in our community, and a great way for us to reach out to local businesses like Café Café who generously volunteered to host us.”

This year marked the first time the Spookathon was held at Café Café, owned by Darlene Bochert. The coffee shop and breakfast stop opened in 2003, and has become a neighborhood favorite.

The Spookathon raised approximately $1,200 for the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, a neighborhood non-profit dedicated to providing musical and athletic scholarships for North Denver students. Since its founding in 1997, the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to neighborhood youth.

In addition to the Spookathon, the foundation sponsors an annual 5K/10K race at Sloan’s Lake in June.

“Several of the Spookathon performers were scholarship recipients,” said Kathleen Lance, president of the Marcia Mounsey Foundation board. “The philosophy of the foundation has always been to give neighborhood students, who have the talent but not necessarily the means, the opportunity to pursue their passions to the fullest extent. Getting a chance to see the students and the teachers together for the Spookathon makes it one of our favorite events.”

Cool Running in the Summer Heat--Sloan?s Lake Hosts the 10th Annual Northside Stride

2009-07-06T21:29:00-06:00

DENVER – On June 27, over 100 runners braved the heat of the first full weekend of summer for the 10^th Annual Northside Stride 5K/10K at Sloan’s Lake. Since 2000, the park has welcomed bibbed runners amid the normal Saturday crowd of baby strollers and dog walkers to raise scholarship money for North Denver students.

“This is the tenth time we’ve organized the race,” said Dr. Jeffrey Young, North High cross country coach and race sponsor. “I’m happy that after all these years, we’ve become a popular event with a regular following at Sloan’s Lake.”

The winners of the 2009 North Side Stride 10K were last year’s winner Omar Martinez of Denver (35:35) and Jen Sagat of Chicago (40:23). Finishing first in the 5K were former North High state champ Joseph Manilafasha (16:36) and Samantha Towne of Denver (21:47). Prizes and medals were awarded to top individuals according to age group and to the high-scoring teams. The race also featured a 400-meter children’s fun run.

After the race, competitors were treated to barbeque and a prize drawing, featuring donations from small businesses and restaurants around North Denver. Planned Pethood Plus, a neighborhood veterinary clinic which Young owns, hosted the BBQ.

Proceeds from the race will all go to benefit the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, a neighborhood organization that has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships for art, music, and athletic training to children in Northwest Denver.

“As North Denver has changed since I started coaching at North, I’ve been pleased to see how the neighborhood has become more runner-friendly.” added Young. “We’ve been proud to showcase Sloan’s Lake for road runners across the state, and we look forward to coming back next year.”

For more information about the Marcia Marcia Foundation and to see more photos from the race, visit www.marciamounsey.org. Complete race results can be seen at www.plannedpethoodplus.com.

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Gemelli?s Hosts Foundation Wine and Cheese Event for Second Year

2009-05-02T19:18:00-06:00

Denver—For the second year, friends of the Marcia Mounsey Foundation gathered on April 13^th at Gemelli’s Ristorante for the annual wine and cheese event. The reception also included a silent auction fundraiser made possible by the donations and continued support of North Denver businesses.

“We’re very grateful to Gemelli’s for hosting us again,” said Kathleen Lance, president of the foundation board. “The wine and cheese reception is one of our more fun and successful events, so we enjoyed being able to showcase the foundation in the heart of North Denver.”

With nearly twelve years in operation, the Marcia Mounsey Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in music and athletic scholarships to youth in Northwest Denver.

Jeff Young, head cross country coach at North High School and one of the owners of Gemelli’s, also organizes the Northside Stride. The April 13^th event raised approximately $3,000, which will support a new round of scholarship applicants in 2009.

“The restaurants, shops and boutiques on Tennyson and 32^nd Ave. were wonderful with the items they donated to the silent auction,” added Lance. “It’s inspiring to know that we continue to see a strong base of support even in a down economy.”

The foundation’s next event is the Northside Stride 5K/10K, scheduled to be held at Sloan’s Lake on June 27^th. The race is organized by Dr. Jeff Young, owner of Gemelli’s and head cross country coach at North High.

For more information on the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, visit www.marciamounsey.org, and for details, menu and hours for Gemelli’s, go to www.gemellisitalian.com.

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Northside Stride 2008: Starting Summer on the Right Foot

2009-04-22T21:46:00-06:00

Runners make their way to Sloan’s Lake for the 9th Annual North Side Stride

Read the story as it appeared on the front page of North Denver News.

DENVER – On Saturday, June 28, over 150 runners gathered once again at Sloan’s Lake for the annual North Side Stride 5K and 10K. The event has become a regular feature for the neighborhood since its debut in 2000, attracting runners of all skill levels.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Dr. Jeffrey Young, the track and cross country coach at North High School and owner Planned Pethood Plus veterinary hospital. “With overcast skies and a cool June breeze, it was weather made for racing.”

The winners of the 2008 North Side Stride 10K were Omar Martinez of Denver (34:48) and Samantha Martinez Towne of Grand Junction (44:44). Finishing first in the 5K were Brice Young of Boulder (16:08) and Esmeralda Martinez-Ramos of Grand Junction (19:12). Prizes were awarded to top-placing teams and individual runners according to age group. The race also included a 400-meter children’s fun run.

The race enjoyed the support from numerous sponsors from small businesses and restaurants around North Denver, who contributed awards that were distributed after the race in a prize drawing.

Proceeds from the race will all go to benefit the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, a neighborhood organization dedicated to providing scholarships for art, music, and athletic training to children in Northwest Denver.

“Ever since I started coaching, I wanted to host a road race in Northwest Denver, and to my knowledge, we’re the only event of its kind at Sloan’s Lake,” added Young. “I’ve been grateful to the steady neighborhood support since the beginning, and we keep seeing new faces every year.”

For more information about the Marcia Marcia Foundation and to see more photos from the race, visit www.marciamounsey.org. Complete race results can be seen at www.plannedpethoodposse.org.

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DAMTA News

2008-10-13T09:40:00-06:00

Thanks to the unique relationship that DAMTA shares with the MMF, I was honored to

speak at the Music Teachers National Association Convention this March, which was held

in Denver. As part of MTNA "Task Force for Community Outreach", I was proud to

present a slide show of our Spookathon performers, as I shared our 10 year history,

purpose, and system for running the event. We were the only group represented that

donated the funds directly back to the students for musical needs!

Local Restaurant Gives Back

2008-05-11T11:19:00-06:00

April 27, 2008

Denver—Friends and neighbors gathered on Saturday at Gemelli’s Ristorante, one of the new restaurants on the Tennyson strip, for a wine and cheese fundraiser to celebrate another successful year for the Marcia Mounsey Foundation. The reception included a silent auction featuring donations from local businesses.

“This is the second year we’ve organized a wine and cheese reception on this corner of 44^th and Tennyson, and we’ve had great fortune with this event, thanks to the support of our friends and businesses in the neighborhood,” said Kathleen Lance, president of the foundation board.

Since its establishment in 1997, the Marcia Mounsey Foundation has awarded more than $95,000 in music and athletic scholarships to students in Northwest Denver. The reception and silent auction kicks off the foundation’s summer fundraising season, which gears up in earnest this June with a Century Bike Ride in Ft. Morgan and the 9^th Annual Northside Stride 5K/10K at Sloan’s Lake.

Jeff Young, head cross country coach at North High School and one of the owners of Gemelli’s, also organizes the Northside Stride.

“I opened my veterinary clinic, Planned Pethood, here on Tennyson back in 1991, and I’ve enjoyed finding ways to give back to the neighborhood,” said Young. “The Marcia Mounsey Foundation does great work for kids in North Denver. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve organized the Northside Stride for eight years, and why I was glad I could offer the restaurant for the reception.”

For more information on the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, visit www.marciamounsey.org, and for details, menu and hours for Gemelli’s, go to www.gemellisitalian.com.

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?Heart and Ghoul?: Music students play dress-up, instruments at annual Spookathon

2008-02-20T22:03:00-06:00

North Denver News

Friday, 02 November 2007

On Saturday, the 9th Annual Spookathon once again demonstrated that there are more Halloween sounds than “boo” and “trick or treat.” The event, held at Peaberry Coffee on West 32nd Avenue and sponsored by the Denver Area Music Teachers Association (DAMTA), brought together 78 area music students donning Halloween costumes to perform music for a neighborhood audience.

“The Spookathon is a fun way for kids to showcase their musical talents—and their Halloween garb,” said Jan Romero, a local music teacher who helped organize the event. “This event has become a mainstay of the Halloween season for our students, and they look forward to playing their music for the community.”

The Spookathon benefits the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, a neighborhood non-profit dedicated to providing musical and athletic scholarships for North Denver students. Since its founding in 1997, the foundation has awarded more than $85,000 to neighborhood youth.

In addition to the Spookathon, the foundation sponsors an annual 5K race at Sloan’s Lake in June, wine and cheese tastings, and bike safety clinics.

“Some of the kids who play at the Spookathon are or have been recipients of Marcia Mounsey Foundation scholarships,” said Kathleen Lance, who is the president of the foundation’s board of directors. “This is an opportunity for current scholars to help raise money for future students, and for the community to recognize a musically outstanding group of young folks.”

Making Strides for North Denver

2007-10-09T19:51:00-06:00

North Denver News

Written by Staff

Monday, 09 July 2007

NORTH DENVER – On Saturday, June 23, 140 runners raced around Sloan’s Lake during the 6th annual North Side Stride. Founded by neighborhood veterinarian and North High coach Jeff Young, the North Side Stride is a community-sponsored fundraiser for the Marcia Mounsey Foundation.

The 2007 North Side Stride featured a 10k and a 5k course, and raised approximately $6,000 dollars for the Foundation.

“This race is on the map,” said Young. “What started as a neighborhood competition between friends has become a recognized road race, attracting elite runners from around the state to the heart of North Denver.”

The winners of the 2007 North Side Stride 10k were Kevin Clary of Gunnison (32:23) and Samantha Towne of Denver (39:00). The 5k winners were Keith Johnson of Littleton (16:54) and Esmeralda Martinez of Denver (19:50). Team prizes were also awarded.

Proceeds from the race will all go to benefit the Marcia Mounsey Foundation, a neighborhood organization dedicated to providing scholarships for music lessons and athletic training to children in Northwest Denver.

“We started this race in an effort to give neighborhood kids the same advantages as more affluent families,” added Young. “At the same time, it was a chance to bring runners and local sponsors together to support a fun event at a neighborhood landmark. It’s been great to watch the race grow, and we’re already looking forward to next year.”

Bikers ride 1,180 miles for MMF

2007-06-06T20:39:00-06:00

Riders have been riding, water bottles have been emptied and the Marcia Mounsey Foundation bike team is underway to ride the Windmill Classic. 12 riders will ride a total of 1,180 miles to raise money for the children of NW Denver. The fundraising goal is almost met, (we are $2,100 away from our goal of $12,000).

Thank you for all of your well wishes and support. If you have not had the opportunity to check out the team website, or to make your contribution, you still have time. Click here to view the website and support your favorite rider. (Once you are on the site, click on "Marcia Mounsey Foundation cycling team"

Again, thank you for all of your support, without your generous donation the MMF would not be able to scholarship children to excel in sports, music, and art.