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We all know what a difference a fresh coat of paint can make in our living rooms. Magnify that by an entire building’s exterior, and you can start to appreciate the impact of Ireland’s Finest Painting Company‘s annual “Hard Times, Soft Heart” contest. This year, the program’s second, the Urban Farm at Stapleton was chosen from 73 nominees to receive a free facelift in late November—courtesy of four Ireland’s Finest employees and 50 gallons of paint donated by Benjamin Moore. (Last year’s winner was Curtis Park’s New Jerusalem Baptist Church, which opens its doors to shelter homeless women at night.)
In the coming year, approximately 3,000 children living in high-risk neighborhoods around Denver will enjoy the Urban Farm’s freshened facade—complete with a signature stripe of barn red—along with its 23 acres, 250 farm animals, and 20,000-square-foot Children’s Garden.
Get Involved: Know a person or organization that could benefit from the Hard Times, Soft Hearts program? Nominate them on irelandsfinestinc.com when the 2014 contest launches later this month.
Follow copy chief Jessica Farmwald on Twitter at @JessicaKF.