Bringing Hope, Restoration, and Life to
Single Moms and Children.
About
Welcome To Be the Gift
Be the Gift is a local nonprofit in Colorado that believes some of the greatest heroes of our time are single moms who give their lives to raise their children and provide for them. With their limited income and all their time poured into their kids, single moms sometimes struggle to maintain and repair their home. Be the Gift’s team of project managers and community volunteers work together to provide home repairs for single moms as a gift. We give them a safer, healthier and more functioning home in which to raise their children.
Other Things We Do!
We are available to speak, inspire and present the work we do for your group, service organization, church or business wherever they assemble next.
Meet Our Team
Marilyn Johnson, co-founded Be the Gift with her husband in 2008 inspired by a deep need in their community to support single mom homeowners and their children through essential home repairs. What began as a simple act of kindness for a neighbor has since grown into a mission-driven organization serving families across numerous neighborhoods, offering practical home repair and, just as importantly, hope and encouragement to families facing hard times.
For Marilyn, this work is deeply personal. She finds great joy in coming alongside single moms, listening to their stories, seeing their strength, and letting them know they’re not alone. She’s continually inspired by the volunteers who give their time, talent, and heart to make a difference. “When we all come together with one common goal, something truly beautiful happens,” she shares. “Every day with Be the Gift is a new chance to bring peace, light, and maybe even a little laughter into someone’s life.”
She is the proud mother of two grown children and an adorable grandson. She finds rest and renewal at the beach and in the mountains and cherishes life in the beautiful state of Colorado.
Katie has been an integral part of Be the Gift since its very beginning. She works closely with our single moms, connecting with them not just through home repair projects, but also by showing them they are seen, valued, and never alone.
Katie thrives on building relationships—whether she’s networking, sharing the mission of Be the Gift, or organizing and running Be the Gift's events and fundraisers. She has a passion for bringing people together to serve and support families in need. Her goal is to involve as many people as possible, believing that Be the Gift offers a tangible and impactful way to show kindness and care.
After witnessing the overwhelming need for these families, Katie knew she had to be part of the solution. She’s thrilled to be on the Be the Gift team, using her gifts to make a difference.
A Colorado native, Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends, socializing, and traveling the world in search of her next adventure.
Sky joined Be the Gift in the summer of 2025 and brings both heart and creativity to her role. In her daily work, she builds and nurtures meaningful connections between Be the Gift, single moms, and volunteers. She’s also the imaginative force behind the organization’s social media content—making outreach feel vibrant and authentic.
As someone raised by a single mom herself, Sky naturally understands the importance of stepping in where help is needed. Her passion lies in creating spaces where volunteers, single moms, and their children feel seen, valued, and empowered. Home repairs? That’s just one more way she shows care and builds community.
When she isn’t building community at Be the Gift, Sky’s happiest chasing Colorado’s sunsets through her lens—or lighting up the lives of youth at her church.
Ryan began working with Be The Gift in 2024 as our Program Coordinator. Ryan spent his High School years in Loveland and has known the founders of Be the Gift since then. He has over 10 years of experience working with a nonprofit organization in leadership roles.
He also owns and operates a variety of businesses in lawn care, landscape, and varied home improvement services. Ryan has been married for 19 years and has five kids.
Ryan is excited about meeting new single mom’s, and engaging the community, volunteers, and businesses in assisting with the mission of Be the Gift. He believes that by serving, we can all make an impact in others’ lives while we ourselves are just as changed and making a difference.