What does it mean to give $80,000 to community non-profits during the Holiday Season? We have found it means as much to those giving as it does for those receiving. Every year Vanguard Skin Specialists and clara by Vanguard participate in a campaign we call "Give Thanks". A mission that every individual at this practice holds near and dear to our hearts is the one where we make an impact on others; this includes the communities in which we live and work. Give Thanks is one of the ways in which we get the chance to do just that by directing the profits from our skin care sales at clara to local non profits the last half of the year*. 

The clara by Vanguard team members have a unique opportunity within the grant selection committees to choose a top applicant to award through our "Share the Merry" portion of Give Thanks. This is in addition to the other awards gifted through selection from the Vanguard Board of Directors, the always popular "People's Choice Award" - an organization is selected through the highest number of votes on our Facebook pages, and our Vanguard Team Committee made up of volunteers at the practice, as a few examples. Through careful review of each applicants entry and discussion among the selection committees, we have the challenging task of narrowing down the submissions to our top selections.

Judy shares what this Share the Merry $10,000 grant means to Friends of the Children here.

Because we focus on ways to support women and children locally and beyond, the clara team focuses on those non-profits in the Colorado Springs community, where we work and serve our aesthetics patients and skincare clients. This year, three team members participated in the selection and in person award presentations of our Share the Merry winner for $10,000, Friends of the Children, and the awarding of $10,000 to the People's Choice Award winner, Reclaiming Hope. Reclaiming Hope also won an additional $2000 as part of our "Thank You" category winners. (The picture at the top is of the Reclaiming Hope team and our own Madeline, Malaina, and Nurse Stephanie).

Malaina, clara by Vanguard Front Desk Specialist - "I am so thankful I had the opportunity to be a part of Share the Merry this year. Choosing which organizations to donate to was such an exciting process. After choosing the charities, we enjoyed many stories about the work these organizations do, we experienced what each organization is about through photos, and we toured their facilities. 

What I loved most was learning how the donations get used. It was incredible to learn how many lives that will change because of these funds. It was truly the best gift I could've asked for this holiday season."

Each of these winners are doing amazing work to be there in the lives of children in our community that are in need of special care at a time when it can change the trajectory of their entire lives. We encourage you learn more about their work through the links to the websites in this article. 

Please join us in celebrating the people giving their time and energy to such a wonderful effort of helping children in the specific ways that Friends of the Children and Reclaiming Hope are doing. 

Thank you for allowing all of us at clara by Vanguard to be a part of giving to these non profits through your support and trust in our products and advice throughout the year. You truly are changing your skin and changing the world with every purchase you make at clara. We couldn't do it without you. Best wishes to you and yours this New Year!

*Proceeds from the profits from the first half of the year are given to global organizations that aid in supporting women and children.