Brian Hall is branch president of Valley Bank & Trust’s Westminster branch. He is a graduate of Bear Creek High School in Lakewood and obtained his business administration degree from Western State College in Gunnison, Colo. Hall has been an active volunteer with the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce, the Metro North Chamber Broomfield Optimist Club, Westminster 7:10 Rotary Club, BEDC board of directors and Bal Swan Children’s Center board of directors.
Anythink foundation
The Anythink Foundation supports innovation and creativity in Adams County by raising private funds for special programs and projects at Anythink. This support helps the library continue its mission to “open doors for curious minds” as a dynamic center for engagement.
How you can help
It’s through the help of individual donors like you that the Anythink Foundation is able to fund innovative projects and programs. Supporting the Foundation is easy.
Donate
Set it, and forget it! All it takes is $2 per month. Click on “donate now” to set up automatic payments. Even a small amount makes a big impact.
Or, make a one-time donation online or at your local Anythink.
What We Support
Funds raised by the Anythink Foundation support programs and services in four key areas:
- Capital projects
- Public art
- Expansion of collections
- Exceptional programs, activities and computer education
Nature Explore
The Anythink Foundation, along with Adams County Open Spaces, and generous individual donors helped to launch the first Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Anythink Wright Farms in Thornton, Colo. These unique outdoor spaces connect children with nature in a way that supports creativity and learning. With spaces for making music, performing, building, and playing, the Nature Explore outdoor classroom is a natural extension of the play and exploration that happens within the library walls.
Eric Litwin
Best-selling author Eric Litwin, known for his delightful Pete the Cat children’s series, engaged hundreds of kids and adults at Anythink locations district-wide with his songs and stories. His interactive performances – made possible through the support of the Anythink Foundation – brought together parents and kids with songs, dances, hugs, laughs and learning moments.
This is Who We Are
Anythink’s collaborative public art project “This is Who We Are” partners community members with local artists to create public art pieces that represent the fabric of the community. The first project launched at Anythink Bennett in December 2011 with the help of funds raised by the Anythink Foundation.
This unique project brought people together to create an incredible art piece that lives on in the library. Plans are underway to launch similar projects at each of Anythink’s locations. Through individual contributions and the help of the Anythink Foundation, each local Anythink will include a piece of art that reflects the spirit of the community it serves.
Who we are
Formed in 2009, the Anythink Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 developed to raise private funds for Anythink Libraries. The Anythink Foundation helps Adams County residents and the library to shoot for the moon and tap into their best selves. By supporting initiatives that help enhance people’s quality of life, Anythink becomes more than a library; it becomes a destination.
The projects funded by the Anythink Foundation fall outside of the scope of the district’s normal operations. Initiatives like Anythink’s public art projects, creativity labs, special programs and more are eligible for funding through the Anythink Foundation. And at Anythink, there’s never a lack of new ideas sprouting.
The Anythink Foundation Board is made up of volunteer board members who are leaders in their fields throughout Adams County.
Brian Hall
Chair
303-460-7209
bhall@valleybankandtrust.com
Georgia Way
Vice Chair
303-906-3598
georgiaway@findawayhome.com
Georgia Way is a broker associate with Your Castle Real Estate. A Pennsylvania native, who migrated to Colorado in 1992, Way is actively involved with the North Metro Chamber of Commerce as an ambassador and former Leadership alumni. She also serves on the Prairie View High School Advisory Committee.
David Bell
Treasurer
303-291-5207
dbell@stifel.com
David Bell is a managing director with the financial firm Stifel, Nicholas and Company. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, where he received his bachelor's degree in business education and marketing. Mr. Bell resides in Westminster, Colo., and is currently listed in the "Who's Who Registry of Global Business Leaders."
Kyle Kreischer
Secretary
303-450-1665
kylekreischer@colo-law.com
Kyle Kreischer is a senior associate attorney with the law firm of Donelson Ciancio and Goodwin, P.C., based in Broomfield, Colo. After receiving his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law, Mr. Kreischer attended Vermont Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude and received a Masters of Laws in Environmental Law (LL.M.) and completed his thesis, entitled: "The Effect of Citizen Participation on the Listing of Species under the Endangered Species Act: An Empirical Regulatory Analysis." Kreischer focuses his current practice in the following areas of law: commercial litigation; commercial banking, including collateral management and commercial loan restructures; real estate; and environmental law.
Chris Blackwood
303-929-7102
blackwoodc@pfm.com
Chris Blackwood serves as a Director for PFM Asset Management, LLC in Denver, Colorado. His practice focuses on providing investment advisory services to governments throughout the western United States. He has expertise in developing investment policies, structuring investment portfolios and providing presentations to governing boards.
Prior to his current position, Blackwood served as portfolio manager and administrator for two local government investment pools and provided oversight on separately managed accounts. He also was chief financial economist for Boettcher & Company and senior economist to the governor of Colorado. Blackwood is a past board member of the Denver Association of Business Economists and is Vice Chairman of the Board for the Rangeview Library District Foundation. He is a frequent speaker at governmental organizations including the CGFOA, CML, Colorado County Treasurers Association, CASBO and the Special District Association of Colorado. He has authored a number of newsletters and books related to public finance and investment advisory services for government entities.
Blackwood holds a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado and has received Executive Education certificates from the University of Denver and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds FINRA licenses: series 7, 52 and 66.
Kevin O’Connell
303-999-6648
kevin.w.oconnell@gmail.com
Kevin O’Connell is a retired telecommunications executive whose 30-year career spans across everything from sales to information technology to treasury operations with Qwest (now CenturyLink), Telcordia Technologies (now Ericsson) and AT&T. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in finance. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he moved first to Chicago and finally to Denver in 1994.
O’Connell is an active volunteer with Rotary International, serving as an assistant governor in Rotary District 5450 in Central Colorado and as the district chair of annual giving for the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He is a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Brighton Early, and is the Rotary youth exchange officer for the Rotary clubs of Brighton.
O’Connell is an active ambassador for CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties, and recipient of the 2012 CASA Ambassador of the Year Award. O’Connell also serves on the Board of the 27J School District Education Foundation as director and treasurer.
For more information or questions about participating on the Anythink Foundation Board, email us at foundation@anythinklibraries.org.