Last year, I had the opportunity to contribute an article to ICOSA Magazine, a website that we launched the new online version of earlier this year.

Check out the full article here.

I currently sit on the Board of Directors of a Denver-based organization, Ethiopia Reads. Earlier this year we completely revamped their website (gratis) and have been working on some additional marketing & advertising strategies to get the organization the exposure it deserves.

Yesterday afternoon I got a very nice email from Google entitled, "Welcome to Google Grants!" with a nice little welcome packet. 

As a grantee, Google provides us with a competitive $120,450 in advertising budget per year through their Google Adwords product. This is pretty awesome. 

I have some new ideas coming for the ER website as well as how we are going to rock out this campaign. So excited. 

If you are unfamiliar with the Google Grants program and are affiliated with a non profit in any way, you should check it out.

We first came across the Cunningham Foundation in 2006 when Steve and I were officing out of our house across the street from Strings Restaurant. They were the very first organization that we ever said, "hey, why don't we donate you a website". So we did that in 2007, ended up going to Ethiopia with them that year and then again in 2008, and helped put together their first Hope Ball in 2009.

So many of the connections, experiences, and friends that we have now can be traced back to us making that decision to give back 4 years ago. That brings us to 2010 - we just wrapped up the 2nd Hope Ball event and it was incredible.

The collaboration that took place to get 180 people in a room together all dressed up to learn and support the Cunningham Foundation was absolutely magical. We had about 10 artists that donated works, Colorado Ballet gave us tickets with a backstage pass, Accommodations Vail donated 2 nights and a spa package in Beaver Creek, and countless other giving folks contributed items. 

Governor Bill Ritter made an appearance and emphasized how important the work Noel & Tammy are continually doing as well as the ripples of inspiration and change they have made by inspiring others.

Yours Truly, Tammy Cunningham, & Governor Bill Ritter

We flew my close friend Max Dean (college roommate now famous) and his girlfriend Brenna Whitaker to perform, wow. Vesta Dipping Grill, Jing, Strings, 240 Union, and d Bar Desserts all provided the deliciousness for the evening. 

I could go on and on about this great event, but at the end of the day, I just want to say thanks to all those that made it happen and that we dearly appreciate your support.

Myself and Steve getting some appreciation

Today we are launching the second annual HotPress Website Giveaway, in which a Colorado-based non-profit will receive a Website and hosting services valued at $10,000.

Designed to recognize those organizations committed to improving our local and global communities, the HotPress Website Giveaway will award a Colorado non-profit with a custom-built Website with a complete suite of online marketing tools that non-profits need to reach donors and supporters. In addition, the recipient organization will receive a year of free support, training and hosting.

How It Works

To participate in the HotPress Website Giveaway, individuals must fill out an online nomination form at www.hotpressweb.com/giveaway and describe how the free Website will help the non-profit further its mission. People can nominate their own organization or another deserving non-profit. HotPress Web staff will then select five semi-finalists and share each organization's story on the Giveaway web page. Finally, HotPress Web will hold an online voting process in which the public will select the $10,000 Website recipient. Finalists and the winning recipient will be announced on the Giveaway web page and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotpressweb.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. MST on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. The contest is open to any 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization with operations based in Colorado. For complete details on the HotPress Website Giveway, visit www.hotpressweb.com/giveaway.

HotPress Web traveled to Yetebon, Ethiopia with the Cunningham Foundation to document the story of the Foundation's work with Project Mercy, Mother Teressa's AIDs Orphanage, and sustainable development.

HotPress Web donated the Cunningham Foundation website and online marketing services valued at over $10,000 in the last 6 months.

Managing partners in the business, Brent Weaver and Steve Thiel, went to Ethiopia for 10 days with the foundation in order to document the story with a journal, photos, and video.

The trip consisted of Noel and Tammy Cunningham, two bead artists, 5 high school students, 2 college students, a RN, a massage therapist, a computer specialist, and the two online marketers.

The main projects that were documented were Quarters for Kids International which raises annually about $50,000 and the HOPE Bracelet Project which has raised over $350,000 since 2003.

Photo of Steve Thiel and Brent Weaver in Ethiopia

Photo journal from the trip