Every member at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce is making an investment in transforming the future of our region. You are putting more and more Coloradans to work in really great jobs, and that alone is changing lives for generations. But, the commitment of our members goes even deeper than your own organizations – you provide expertise so others can learn from you as they build their own dreams; you provide insight into policy and how it will affect your lives, your teams and your companies; and you help market our state around the world to others who want to do business in Colorado – in essence, our investors share a vision that is creating the future of our state.
The investment of each member is critical to allowing us to do this work, and we’re thrilled to announce that we have a new Trustee joining the Chamber and its affiliates: VF Corporation.
The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, which leads our work to attract and keep great companies, worked for more than a year to bring this Fortune 500 headquarters to our community. We couldn’t be happier that VF Corporation is now making such an important investment in the work of the Chamber, Metro Denver EDC and our Leadership Foundation – and in our entire state.
You know VF Corporation and its brands (and you’re probably wearing some now) – from The North Face to Smartwool. What you may not know about them is their commitment to sustainability, their dedication to developing strong, diverse leadership and their sense of responsibility to community. VF Corporation saw how Colorado and its workforce matched those values, and we cannot wait to welcome them to our state and to the Chamber.
As a Trustee, VF Corporation joins longstanding investors: CenturyLink, FirstBank, HealthONE, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy. Let’s get to know each of them:
A leading provider of voice, video and data services, CenturyLink keeps us connected at work, at home or on the move. Giving back to help strengthen and improve our communities is a significant part of who they are. CenturyLink supports the passions and interests of their employees, and empowers them to be a positive influence in the world.
FirstBank is truly a homegrown business, starting from humble beginnings in 1963 and slowly growing to more than 750,000 customers with over 115 locations in Colorado, Arizona and California. They have donated countless hours and more than $65 million to charitable organizations since 2000, and they’ve helped make it easier for everyone to give, by championing Colorado Gives Day – a 24-hour giving initiative to increase philanthropy.
HealthONE hospitals have offered trusted care to Coloradans and the Rocky Mountain region for more than 135 years, and the HealthONE system is the largest health care system in the metro Denver area with more than 10,000 employees. In addition to the work HealthONE does to keep so many Coloradans healthy, they focus their community engagement efforts on mental health support for the underserved, assistance to families with young children and support for education, with an emphasis on health care careers.
From its stagecoach days to helping its customers find financial success, Wells Fargo has played an important role in our past, present and future. In 2018, the company donated more than $12 million through 236 grants to local nonprofits, schools and community organizations to help the communities and people of Colorado. Wells Fargo concentrates its local philanthropic contributions on addressing urgent community issues such as affordable housing, small business growth, economic equality and inclusion and access to education.
Xcel Energy is pushing innovative sustainability practices from right here in Colorado. About to enter their 150th year serving Coloradans, they today provide service to more than 1.4 million electric customers. By encouraging smart energy use and bringing more renewable energy to their system, they are leading the transition to a clean energy future and have set an aspirational goal to achieve zero-carbon electricity by 2050. And that’s getting a lot of attention, including as a Green Business of the Year finalist for our Business Awards.
Thank you not only for your investment in the Chamber and our affiliates, but in your commitment to our state.
Kelly Brough is the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber.
