The Denver Foundation Board of Trustees alumni group includes some of the most diverse, dynamic, and dedicated people in Colorado. Over the decades our alumni have gone on to shape the communities around us.
Today, we highlight Lisa Cook, a board alumnus, who started her journey with The Denver Foundation and whose experience bloomed into something so much greater.
Lisa Cook has been at the center of events in Denver for more than 40 years. She is a grandmother, professional event planner, co-owner of Affair with Flair, community volunteer, board member for a nonprofit senior community, and a thought leader. She is also a former board member of The Denver Foundation.
“I was on a trip with [former CEO of The Denver Foundation] Bob Lee, and he was telling me what The Denver Foundation was about, the incredible difference they were making in the community, how they made their grantmaking decisions. This was all new to me, and Bob asked that I consider joining the board of trustees. I jumped at the chance and really enjoyed my time. This was my first foray into this world,” says Cook.
Cook’s time with The Denver Foundation provided valuable experience and it would play a part in leading her towards a variety of new paths. Cook then had the chance to sit on the board of Shalom Park, a nonprofit that her father had started.
“I had an opportunity to be on the board with my father, and I jumped at that opportunity. Shalom Park is a senior residence home, and it’s a place that really honors people as they age. My parents taught me to be a builder in the community, and what it meant to have a giving heart. I watched my dad in action and his personal dedication and financial commitment to make the world a better place. My mom was instrumental as well, and taught me what it means to give back, and that your time is a valuable currency. Between both of my parents, I had some extraordinary mentors,” said Cook.
Cook remains on the Shalom Park board 15 years later.
Cook had a thriving career, was raising a family, but something was missing. After her father’s passing in 2015, she kept having the thought “It’s never too late, and there are always second chapters.” And that message was showing up throughout her life.
While Cook and her business partner Leslie Heins had excelled in the event planning industry, they were ready for their own second chapters, starting their nonprofit, Lotus Network. They tapped into the positive aging and women’s movements embraced worldwide and harnessed the power of building strong and meaningful connections to encourage all women to rise to their full potential.
“It started as a seed of an idea, with a bunch of women sitting around my kitchen table. Leslie and I started Lotus Network based on the premise that it’s never too late to reach your potential. And it has grown so much since then,” said Cook.
Lotus Network provides opportunities for women to create meaningful connections, personal growth and purposeful living through social and educational resources. They envision a world where all women, regardless of age, stage of life, geography or identity, feel meaningfully connected to a community and are empowered to find their unique purpose.
“We want to make sure that women are being heard. We want to help them tell their own stories and give them a place where they feel safe to do that.
This is a different kind of nonprofit. People are used to giving to others, but Lotus Network is about helping yourself first, so you can be there for others.”
- Lisa Cook
What started as a simple way to connect and uplift others has grown into something else entirely. Now supporting more than 2,000 women in 37 states, Lotus Network takes up a bulk of Cook’s time. “It’s a labor of love. Some months I volunteer up to 100 hours. My husband said I work harder now than I ever have before, and I guess that’s what happens when you are passionate about something.”
The ability to remain optimistic, to reinvent yourself, and to live with a “never-too-late” attitude has led Cook to this point, thanks to input from many places, and many experiences. What started as a chance encounter with a former Denver Foundation CEO of The Denver Foundation has grown into a lifelong participation in the world of giving. And she is a champion for others to participate as well. According to Cook, there are many worthy causes and reasons to share your time, talents, and treasure.
“The Denver Foundation fills in the cracks in the community that need filling. I met some incredible and generous people whose ideas were implemented and are making a difference. And there’s nothing like the heart of a volunteer. You go to sleep at night with the full feeling of making a difference. If you have time, there are so many nonprofits that could really benefit from the use of your hands, your mind, or your dollars. My volunteering helps me honor my parents by helping others, and there’s nothing that can replace that.”