Good News Friday!

May-27-2022

Donors

Whether it be employees, clients, donors, business partners, family members, or just someone who comes across a fun photo on our social media, Imagine! strives to enrich the lives of all who come into contact with our services, and our community-driven mission. You could be involved with Imagine! for ten years, or ten minutes, either way, we want you to feel inspired and motivated to create a world of opportunity for all abilities. Which is why it’s always heartwarming and rewarding when the community returns the favor and gives back to Imagine!.

Matthew Bristol is a former Imagine! employee and recently chose Imagine! to be the recipient of targeted donations through his ultimate Frisbee club team, Colorado Summit. When purchasing tickets online, there will be an optional note section where you can add "BRISTOL" in full caps, by doing that 10% of your ticket sales will go toward Imagine!’s mission.

Matthew started working for Imagine! at age 15 as an assistant instructor, helping the children and teenagers in our School Age Services to learn new skills, gain independence, make new friends, and much more. In fact, several of the participants who Matthew worked with were also classmates who walked down the same high school hallway as him. “This job helped me be more accepting of everybody, and to understand that not everyone is coming from the same place, same mindset,” said Matthew. He spent his summers with Imagine!, adventuring all over Colorado while making a big difference in the Imagine! clients’ lives, and became a full blown instructor once he turned 18.

At 21, Matthew explored other options and ended up studying biology in Florida. The caregiver in him never receded and he picked up a part time job as an activities coordinator for an elderly care center. “I liked working in healthcare still, but it just never felt the same to what I felt when working at Imagine!,” said Matthew. He made his way back to Colorado several years later and continued to pursue direct care, he even worked another Imagine! Summer Camp in 2018, until one day he felt an inward pull toward Special Education and having an impact in the classroom.

Fast forward to today, Matthew recently graduated from UNC Greely (online) with a Masters in Special Education, and currently teaches at Nederland High School. He lives in Broomfield with his wife and two little boys, and slings the disc on the side!

“I started playing ultimate when I was 21, and some of the guys on the team have been playing since they were 10,” laughs Matthew. He hangs back and protects their end zone as a handler on defense. Playing their home opener on May 28 at DU’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Field, Matthew is excited to lead his team to victory and, at the same time, support Imagine!’s mission.

Thank you, Matthew, for your support and good luck this season!

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