We are flattered to be included in Matt Dunne’s list of highlighted nonprofits this holiday season “that make a difference.”

The Spectrum Ride was a terrific event, held at Dorset Park yesterday. We lucked out and had perfect weather. More than 100 riders participated in helping make our first annual Spectrum Ride a success. Thank you to all the sponsors, riders, and volunteers. A big thank you Sam Quinn who coordinated this event!!

For more photos, check out photographer Emily Nelson from the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BT&Dato=20090628&Kategori=SPECTRUM&Lopenr=906280802&Ref=PH

Check out the photos from last weekend’s Project Prom. There are portraits courtesy of Glenn Moody Photography and candid dance floor shots by Brent Harrewyn Photography.

Click here to get started: http://www.glennmoodyphotography.com/prom/index.html

 This weekend Spectrum held our first annual Project Prom at Higher Ground. This was great evening.  (Photo credits: Brent Harrewyn Photography)

Here are a few photos from the Burlingon Free Press: B-Scene (Ben Sarle, photo credit) To see the all 18 photos, click here. Comcast Cares Day was a complete sucess. A big thank you to all the Comcast employees that volunteered to help fix up our buildings, clean and shampoo the carpets, replace the fence at our Youth Co-op on Murray Street.

We were on Ch 3 – WCAX several days in a row last week about our Empty Bowl dinner. Below is the transcript from one WCAX piece:

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Empty Bowls to Support Spectrum

Burlington, Vermont – March 12, 2009

Over a hundred people took part, Thursday evening, in the fourth annual Empty Bowl event to benefit Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

For a donation of $35 people got to eat soup from local restaurants, out of bowls made by local potters. At the end of the night they also got to take the bowls home.

Spectrum provides support, job training, and meals for at-risk youth in Vermont.

“I think what we do is very important in Burlington because Burlington is the downtown really for the rest of Vermont, we have kids from all over the state who come into Burlington and need the services we provide,” said Spectrum director, Mark Redmond.

Last year the non-profit provided over 5,000 meals to more than 500 youth. Supporters said it is a worthwhile cause. They called the event “fun and unique.”

“There’s a high need,” said Sonja Laiho. “The food’s good, bowls are great, and it’s a good time so why not.”

Bianca Slota – WCAX News

Comcast employees delivering boxes of food to drop-in center (506 lbs total). Thank you to everyone that pitched in and made this a successful food drive!!!

Last night, 125 people attended our Fourth Annual Empty Bowl Dinner and silent auction fundraiser. First of all I want to thank Charlie Papillo for emceeing the event and doing a great job. I also want to send a big thank you to all the community members who made this sold-out event a complete success – and to Comcast who was our Presenting Sponsor.  They also used the occasion to announced a $30,000 gift to us to fund our job readiness/training program for homeless youth.   

WCAX-CBS was there to capture the action: CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

I will post photos from the event soon. Stay tuned…

I was on the NewsTalk620 Charlie & Ernie show this morning with Pam Mackenzie, Area VP of Comcast. Charlie Papillo is volunteering to be the emcee of our signature event, our 4th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner and Silent Auction. This event is completely sold-out and will be held at the First Congregational Church tomorrow night in Burlington. Comcast is the Presenting Sponsor and is a Spectrum’s newest community partner.

Comcast has gone above and beyond, they donated 506 lbs of food to our Drop-in Center to help our free meal program. I helped carry in boxes of food this morning with Comcast employees and my staff (watch WCAX-CBS news tonight) to see the full story. Comcast has also generously funded our Job-Skills Training Program for $30,000 over the next three years.