Vanguard Skin Specialists and Clara are excited to announce the winners of this year’s Give Thanks.

Give Thanks is our way of honoring and thanking charities in Southern Colorado. We had a record number of charities apply this year, and we had an outstanding list of finalists.

These are organizations that work in the communities where Vanguard has offices: Cañon City, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, La Junta, Parker, Pueblo and Woodland Park. They focus on helping children and/or families in need.

This year’s winners are. . .

 Vanguard Impact Award ($10,000 grant): Selected by Vanguard Skin Specialists for a charity that has made a lasting, meaningful and sustainable contribution to vulnerable members of a community where Vanguard has an office.

IMPACT AWARD WINNER:

Safe Families for Children exists to prevent child abuse, child neglect and ultimately children being separated from their family through foster care. When a family in poverty experiences a crisis and does not have a supportive community to lean on, children suffer the most. The Safe Families for Children model empowers volunteers from local churches to come alongside struggling families by forming a targeted and personal “circle of support.” As a result, children are kept safe, parents receive needed support, and family units are strengthened.

Clara Share the Merry Award ($10,000 grant): Selected by Clara for a charity that empowers women or children in the Colorado Springs community.

 SHARE THE MERRY WINNER:

As the only organization dedicated solely to supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) in El Paso and Teller counties, TESSA works to develop a community free of violence where all people can thrive. TESSA serves over 15,000 clients each year, providing advocacy, safe housing, legal support, children’s programming, educational opportunities, and clinical services to individuals and families recovering from DVSA.

People’s Choice Award ($10,000): Selected based on the total number of votes received on social media. Voting took place through Facebook from November 5 to November 29.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:

Royal Family KIDS is a ministry to foster children – ages six to twelve – that serves kids through a weeklong summer Camp and school year-long Mentoring Club. Our local chapter, RFK Colorado Springs, is part of a larger organization now For The Children. We’re one of over 240+ chapters in the US and an additional twelve countries. In June, we celebrated Camp year ten and our eighth Mentoring Club season and look forward to Camp 2022 from June 7-11.

All remaining finalists will receive a grant for $500. Congratulations, and we are grateful for the impact that all these charities make.

We GIVE THANKS for these organizations and volunteers!

ABOUT US

 Vanguard Skin Specialists is a dermatology and plastic surgery practice with 9 locations across Southern Colorado. Vanguard’s mission is to make a positive impact on patients, community and world.

 clara is the aesthetic retail skincare division of Vanguard. All profits or 20% of sales (whichever is greater) are donated to causes that support women and children here and around the world.