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Bessie's Hope

Bessie's Hope enhances the quality of life for nursing home/assisted living elders and brings generations together in mutually rewarding relationships by honoring the human spirit and providing life-enriching volunteer opportunities for youths, families, individuals, community organizations and businesses.

Our History

Bessie's Hope (formely Rainbow Bridge) began with a spiritual vision received by one of the co-founders. She heard a distinct voice repeating, "Bring them together, the young and the old", and she saw what was to become the work of Bessie's Hope. Inspired by her grandmother's tragic nursing home experience and by the loneliness she observed in nursing homes, Linda Holloway, and co-founders, Sharron Brandrup and Marge Utne, worked to create an organization that would bring community awareness and participation into nursing homes. Sharron and Linda began taking groups of children to visit nursing home residents in 1989. Evidence of the life-transforming benefit to both populations led to the formation of a 501c3 non-profit corporation in 1993. In the summer of 1994, Linda's and Sharron's original musical entitled "Rainbow Bridge, an Intergenerational Musical" was produced at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. It attracted tremendous media attention, both locally and nationally. In the fall of 1994, the Rainbow Bridge volunteer programs were officially begun.

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Our Board

Nancy BoldiszarVice President
Branch Manager, Bank of the West
Barbara DanielsAccountant
Denver Health Foundation
Lisa Danny-RobertsAttorney
Roberts & Roberts
Diane GoodDietary Manager
Rowan Community
Dr Eldon LaidigOwner
Personal Benefits Services
Dr Joel PeacockDoctor
Senior Care of Colorado
Pat RobinsonAsst to the Vice-Chairman/
CEO
Debra SalmansLife Insurance
Account Executive
Lou Walters Vice Chair Community Volunteer

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Our Programs

Fiduciary Responsibility

Bessie's Hopes pours 86% of all financial contributions right back into where they are needed most -- the programs.

Bessie's Hope relies upon grants, corporate donations, individual contributions and fundraising to ensure the continuation of our vital work.

Program expenditures include: training of all volunteers, facilitation and coordination of intergenerational visits, activity planning and materials, Volunteer and Group Leader Manuals; Reflection Journals for the youth; sing-along CDs; Partnership and Appreciation Certificates for all involved; correspondence; postage and program evaluation tools.

Bessie's Hope takes fiduciary responsibility very seriously.
Each year Bessie's Hope is professionally audited . Records available upon request.
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Bessie's Story

Bessie "Granny" Stephens
March 30, 1903 – December 12, 1996

By Bessie's Hope co-founder, Linda Holloway

People often ask, "How did Rainbow Bridge (now Bessie's Hope) begin?" In 1989, my grandmother (Bessie) entered a Texas nursing home due to the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. My grandmother and I had an unusually close bond. Bessie's Story

Our Staff

Sharron Brandrup

Executive Director

sharron@bessieshope.org

303-830-9037

Linda Holloway

Development Director

linda@bessieshope.org

303-830-9037

Jane Bustamante

Administrative/Program Coordinator

jane@bessieshope.org

303-830-9457

Darleen Stiny

Program Director

darleen@bessieshope.org

303-830-9035

Kelly Ragland

Program Coordinator

kelly@bessieshope.org

303-830-9035

Cathy Smith

Program Coordinator

cathy@bessieshope.org

303-830-9037