About Us

One donations. 20 agencies. A whole community served.

The Empty Stocking Fund leads collective fundraising efforts to strengthen local health and human service agencies, empowering individuals in crisis to achieve lasting self-sufficiency.

The 2026-27 campaign will be held Thanksgiving Day through January 22, 2027.

Thanks to the generous support of our funding partners, The Anschutz Foundation, Gazette Charities Foundation, The Gazette, The Broadmoor, El Pomar Foundation and Pikes Peak Community Foundation, all campaign administrative costs are fully underwritten, allowing 100% of all donations to go directly to our partner agencies and the people they serve.

Every dollar donated to the Empty Stocking Fund grows up to 50 percent through matching grants.

Bruni Foundation – Matches $1 for every $10 raised up to $100,000
Chapman Foundation – Matches $1 for every $5 raised up to $75,000
El Pomar Foundation – Matches $1 for every $3 raised up to $200,000

Meet the Empty Stocking Fund Staff

Danielle Ramacciotti

Executive Director

Danielle Ramacciotti is an Executive Director whose career has spanned global development, education, and youth‑serving nonprofits—always with a focus on building systems, programs, and teams that create meaningful impact. Her leadership journey began with service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, an experience that shaped her belief in community‑driven change and ignited her commitment to mission‑focused work.

Danielle’s career includes more than a decade of executive leadership across major organizations. At the United Nations Foundation, she served as Executive Director leading three high‑profile global marketing campaigns focused on malaria prevention, adolescent girls, and childhood vaccines—initiatives that elevated critical global issues and mobilized widespread public engagement. She later brought her leadership to the Mapleton Education Foundation, where she expanded scholarship opportunities for high school seniors and strengthened community engagement through major events including a 500‑person annual gala and “Say Yes to the Prom Dress,” a program designed to remove barriers for students preparing for milestone experiences. Most recently, as Executive Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Danielle spent five years driving continuous improvement across enrollment, programming, and leadership in the Pikes Peak market, helping the organization reach more young people with high‑quality mentoring services.

Across every role, Danielle is known for her ability to create clarity, build trust, and strengthen organizational systems in ways that make mission delivery more effective and sustainable. She thrives leading teams through change, improving internal operations, and elevating programs through collaborative leadership. Danielle brings heart, discipline, and vision to her work, consistently shaping environments where teams feel empowered, stakeholders feel connected, and organizational impact can grow.

Danielle holds a Master of Education from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Miami University. She is married to a retired Air Force veteran and has two beautiful daughters. Their family loves traveling, hiking with their puppy Bruno, and visiting family on the east coast every chance they get.

Kelly Spieker

Program & Events Manager

A proud Colorado native and graduate of Pikes Peak State College, Kelly has always had a passion for storytelling and communication. She began her professional journey at The Gazette in sales, where she quickly distinguished herself with drive and determination. However, as she navigated the corporate landscape, she discovered a true passion for marketing and event-planning.

In 2022, Kelly took a brief hiatus from The Gazette to lend her talents to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs, an experience that further enriched her professional and personal growth. While at NAMI Colorado Springs, she worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support for mental health, a cause she feels deeply passionate about. She returned to The Gazette and Gazette Charities Foundation in February 2024.

Outside of her professional life, Kelly is a talented dot mandala artist, a skill that requires patience, precision, and an eye for intricate patterns. This artistic endeavor is not just a hobby but also a part of her entrepreneurial spirit. Kelly owns a small business called the Adopted Alien Project, where she showcases and sells her unique “projects.” She is an avid Colorado Avalanche fan and loves to attend rock concerts and watch competition cooking shows with her husband, Matthew, and relax with their two furbabies, Spike and Buttons.