As a former news anchor and associate producer at CNN, Nancy Fitzgerald began her career covering unthinkable tragedies and heartwarming triumphs. It is these stories that inspired her to discover how she could make a difference, how she could really help people in great need and ultimately launch the Butterfly Foundation. It all started when one family she met while covering a local news story tugged at her heartstrings. She was able to fundraise for this family and those efforts made a life-altering impact on them and their local community. She saw what one small act of kindness could do and it inspired her to do more.

Over the last 14 years, the Butterfly Foundation has provided support for those suffering from medical issues, cancer survivors, widows, families and children who have been struck by life’s misfortunes by aiding in the rebuilding of their lives. “It all started with one ask, one small donation to a family in dire need and it spiraled from there. I couldn’t get enough of giving,” shares Fitzgerald.

But in 2014 while building the foundation, Fitzgerald tragically lost her husband Patrick in a bike accident that left her stunned from the sudden loss and completely grief-stricken. “It was unthinkable that this man who was so full of life and love would be killed. It’s still unthinkable, but I’ve learned to coexist with the loss and ask for help.” Through her pain and sadness, Fitzgerald put one foot in front of the other to help others, and in doing so, she helped herself.

In 2020, Monica Torres was only 19 when her mom died of COVID-19 and she was left to care for her eight siblings. She was struggling to pay the water bill let alone anything else but her school counselor reached out to the Butterfly Foundation, which—with the help of Fitzgerald’s friends at Denver 7—were able to raise over $60,000 to help Torres and her siblings get back on their feet.

“We are here to help bridge the gap between tragedy and triumph. Whether it’s paying off a car payment, nominating teachers who make a difference, supporting the mental health of first responders or working with families recovering from the Marshall Fires, Fitzgerald and the Butterfly Foundation are making a difference. Their goal is to help one family per quarter and increase that number annually.

THE BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION
7257 S. Tucson Way, Centennial
720-709-7927
coloradobutterlfyfoundation.org

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The Butterfly Foundation and MAD Greens Louisville host complimentary dining and community support event for those affected by the Marshall Fires.  

Click Here to view a recap of the event!

Denver, CO – The Butterfly Foundation, in partnership with MAD Greens Louisville, co-hosted a complimentary dining and support event for those affected by the Marshall Fires on Saturday, January 29th. This special dining and community support event aims to help MAD Greens Louisville make their reopening a success, support free lunch and dinner for the victims and the fire/first responders of the Marshall Fire, and provide gift cards from local restaurants and stores to all attendees who were affected. As our goal was to support the families of the 1000+ homes that were lost, we raised over $30,000 in funds and in-kind donations of gift cards in $25 increments to give to each member of the family that attended! Representatives from FEMA,  the Small Business Association, and the Danielle Shannon Agency: Allstate Insurance were onsite to help answer questions.

The concept for a community event began after The Butterfly Foundation learned of the news of the Marshall Fire and how many people would be displaced due to the damage. The Butterfly Foundation supports Colorado families who have experienced tragedy, and therefore began strategizing the most effective way to lift up and support those affected. The event gained traction when Sandra Jones, Board Member, spoke to her neighbor John Montgomery, father President of MAD Greens and part owner of MAD Greens – Louisville, and learned his business had been temporarily closed due to the fire and they were anxious to reopen. Sandra mentioned The Butterfly Foundation’s intention to host a community support event and suggested a partnership, in which both organizations could give back to the community and shine a bit of hope on an area preparing for a comeback.

We send out a special thank you to our event supporters from caring organizations such as the Aurora Rotary Club, Creative Planning, MDC/Richmond American Homes and The BBF’s Who Care Fund, as well as many favorite local restaurants such as Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, Noodles and Co., The Dairy Block, Maven Hotel, Jimmy John’s, Mod Pizza, The Post Chicken & Beer, Sweet Cow Ice Cream, and Illegal Pete’s. 

The Butterfly Foundation has created a special grant program to support those affected by the Boulder County Fires. Donations to support these efforts can made here.

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About MAD Greens

At MAD Greens, we’re a place where healthy tastes delicious, you can be you, and where we don’t take anything too seriously…except food and your satisfaction.

Life’s madness: work, family, crazy schedules, weird things going on in the world. And of course, trying to be healthy. Everyone wants to eat healthier – better – just ask them. But all too often, that sounds like a lot of sacrifice, confusion and a whole lot of no fun. But we are here to change some minds (and some habits) (and maybe some bodies along with it). At MAD Greens, we say, embrace the madness. It’s coming no matter what, so laugh at the absurdity, hug your kids even when they’re driving you nuts, and eat a salad that is made with so much wacky attitude and authentic passion, that suddenly healthy eating doesn’t feel like hard work.

That’s embracing life’s madness. How about we start today — say, around lunchtime?

Since our inception in 2004, we’ve been intent on disrupting the status quo: healthy, fast and fresh food should be mainstream, not the alternative. We’ve created chef-inspired salads that will actually fill you up (without putting you in a food coma), warm grain bowls with craveable flavor combos, and satisfying wraps that are as on-the-go as you are.

AC Restaurant Group, a Coors family company, acquired MAD Greens in 2013 with an eye on growth. Under the leadership of Darden Coors and John Montgomery, MAD Greens expanded its madness to Phoenix, Arizona and Austin, Texas and tripled the number of locations.

In 2019, MAD Greens joined forces with Snappy Salads, a Dallas-based salad-centric restaurant, to create Salad Collective. This consaladated group brings together fast-casual concepts with a shared commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients, amazing culinary experiences and excellent customer service.