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UNITE FOR LITERACY 
is a great organization that makes books available to children in the United States and around the globe. They provide no-cost reading material to emergent readers – both young kids and those learning a second or third language.
A great concept for a charitable non-profit, right? Sure. But these folks have a unique for-profit business model that’s part of an emerging trend in companies which do good while making money.
I had a chance to talk this week with Unite for Literacy’s CEO, Michael McGuffee. He, Mark Condon and Kurt Hoeven started this company a couple of years ago, based on 20 years of powerful experience working with families who live on Native American reservations. They saw firsthand what happens when kids lack a connection to written language, whether English or their mother tongue.
J OSH MILLER 
is a pastor who is starting up a new church in Fort Collins, St Thomas Church. He brings a wealth of experience and amazing energy, so I have confidence that he’ll see success with this venture.
I first met him at a local Chamber of Commerce event. How unusual is that, right? It’s almost as if business relationships can’t at all be associated with spirituality.
So of course I just had to find out more.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA 
is a community-minded financial services company in the US. Founded in 1883, they are structured as a 501(c)(8) “Fraternal Beneficiary Society,” a category I’d never heard of. This is a designation for organizations which are primarily intended to provide insurance-type benefits to their members.
Modern Woodmen has a rich legacy of service, including widows and orphans, those suffering from the Tuberculosis outbreak a century ago, education, and eye care.
I had a chance this week to talk with John Weidenfeller, the local Regional Director in Northern Colorado. He’s been with the organization for ten years now, opening up the Fort Collins office a few years ago. He’s a strong supporter of the values of this company, and has committed himself to leading a group which is aligned around those principles.
DOUG, WYNNE and CORKIE ODELL started their brewery in 1989 in the outer reaches of Fort Collins. 
The Odell Brewing Company is now one of the top craft breweries in the area, distributing to ten states in the region.
There’s a distinct passion for producing high quality beers. But that’s just the beginning of the story.
I had the opportunity to speak with Karla Baise recently, the company’s community outreach coordinator. This isn’t just a simple PR position, it’s actually a critical part of the company’s business strategy.
Here’s a great example: When I met with Karla, she had a couple of ladies stop in with big bags of fresh herbs from The Gardens At Spring Creek. Read the rest of this entry »
The Values-Based Business 