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The big news for the Denver Broncos this season is the burgeoning 21-year relationship with Empower Retirement. It’s not all about the renaming of a stadium and the mutually beneficial agreement. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium does offer a certain reaffirmation of life’s possibilities. Appropriately, there’s already concrete evidence that both parties take community involvement seriously.

The Bronco’s season-opening activities showcased just such commitment. September 14th’s 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s included strong Empower employee participation. During the pre-game ceremony on September 15th, the retirement services provider presented a $123,165 check to the Alzheimer’s Association. In honor of the late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, $25,000 of those funds was contributed in partnership with the Bowlen family.

Empower and Broncos Joint Effort Benefits Community

Empower Retirement’s compensation for its field namesake finances the Broncos facility’s sizeable upkeep and maintenance expenses. It also provides an opportunity to expand each party’s already significant community outreach.

While the following was part of both Empower and the Broncos’ catalog of organizations they support, their combined forces strengthen that platform. The use of the stadium and the proceeds from crowd-drawing events, such as Taste of the Rockies benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies. Likewise, the area’s youth participate in on-field activities

Empower’s Commitment to the Denver Community

Empower has offices in Kansas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Colorado. As an incentive to encourage employee community involvement, the company matches “volunteer hours and funds up to $5,000 per associate per year.” Additionally, the company allows up to 16 hours of paid time annually to volunteer. The Colorado team substantially outpaced the other states to clock a total of 9,396 hours in 2017.

In addition to those named above, individuals on the Colorado team of Empower also contributed their time, effort, and resources to the following nonprofits:

Denver Broncos’ Community Engagement

As a club, the Broncos’ is active in community outreach. Individual players are also involved in projects that hold special purpose for them.

  • Habitat for Humanity – over 225 hours spent in service by staff members, executives, and players in 2018
  • Metro Denver Boys & Girls Club – the PLAY 60 Challenge sponsored 900 children
  • Denver Rescue Mission – teammates and staff served more than 550 meals
  • Fight like a Bronco cancer awareness campaign
  • Futures Football partnership with area high schools
  • SHIELD616 provides first responders with protective kits and raises community awareness
  • FEEL Movement — former linebacker Brandon Marshall and the Denver Broncos donated $50,000 to assist Denver youth and their families
  • Year-round events to honor the military
  • Rose Andom Center’s Holiday Shoppe – supported 95 children in 2018

Individual Broncos Player’s Community Involvement

Bradley Chubb                                  The Chubb Foundation

Todd Davis                                          A+ Living

Chris Harris Jr.                                    Chris Harris Jr. Foundation

Kareem Jackson                               Kareem Jackson Foundation

Ron Leary                                            Ron Leary Reach Foundation

Von Miller                                           Von’s Vision

Emmanuel Sanders                         Emmanuel Sanders Foundation

Dymonte Thomas                            Dymonte Thomas Community Foundation Inc.

In addition to examples of individual players investing in their own foundations to support community needs, Broncos members donate time off the field to support others’ initiatives. Many team members used their time off before the start of training camp to invest in civic-minded activities.

  • Home Run Derby at Coors Field before the Colorado Rockies took the field. The benefit was sponsored by UC Health Training Center. Janovich and his teammates raised $100,000 toward The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
  • Matt & Sonja Russell scholarship donors to their alma mater, Colorado University.
  • Phillip Lindsay’s visit to Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs provided a summer high point for many.
  • Juwann Winfree hosted a free youth camp.

With such commitment to community engagement exhibited by each organization as well as individual players, combining forces can only mean continued positive support.

If you or a loved one is in need of support in Douglas County, Colorado, there are a number of nonprofit organizations that provide seniors with resources and information. Volunteering to assist the seniors in your community is a rewarding way to engage with those around you.

Sometimes, seniors who want to stay in their homes require transportation services or just companionship. Investing a few hours each week is a minimal commitment when you consider how much it contributes to one’s quality of life and enhances the fabric of your community.