By Chris Mygatt

This has been an unusually rough summer for Coloradoans.  A time that we normally spend enjoying lighthearted events like hiking, fishing, cycling and bar-b-cues, has instead been filled with tragedy and loss.

A few weeks ago, wildfires burning out of control in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs forced thousands of our clients, customers, neighbors and friends from their homes.  This included 10 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agents who, with only minutes to prepare in some cases, left behind their homes and all personal possessions.  When they returned with their families, they found they had lost everything.  In all, hundreds of homes were destroyed by the fires, leaving families absolutely devastated.

Tragedy struck again weeks later in our beautiful city of Aurora.  The entire country seemed to feel the pain of the innocent lives that were lost and the support was overwhelming.  I began receiving numerous calls and emails from Coldwell Banker agents and staff, sharing their concern and compassion and asking how they could help.  That’s where the idea of Colorado Day of Service – a day when we could all come together to help our local communities – was born.

On Wednesday, August 1, hundreds of our agents, staff and their families donated their time and effort at several sites in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.  Projects included volunteering at Habitat for Humanity Restores, organizing food and filling trucks at a local food bank, stocking shelves with donations at the Fort Collins Fire Relief Distribution Center and organizing emergency disaster materials at the Colorado Springs Salvation Army.

It was incredibly touching to see such enthusiasm for helping our neighbors.  The day was a complete success!  And this is just the beginning.  We’re following up Colorado Day of Service with a powerful dance and music show called Up with People.  It will be held on Saturday, August 11 and a portion of ticket sales will benefit victims of the tragic Aurora shootings.  Anyone interested in more information is welcome to visit www.upwithpeople.org/DenverB2012.

To say that this has been a devastating time for so many Coloradoans would be an understatement.  But we know Coloradoans are strong and will soldier on.  We just hope with our help their future is looking a bit brighter, one step at a time.

Chris Mygatt is the President of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Colorado.