Get Involved

It takes a lot of peopleto hold a day like this.

Runners, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, blood donors, and people who come and stand with us. Every one of those is a job, and every one of them is open.

Every job it takes

Some of it takes a morning. Some of it takes a stamp.

Day of Resilience · July

Run or walk the 5K

The Hero's Journey starts across from the theater and finishes inside the memorial garden. Walk it, run it, or push a stroller through it.

Day of Resilience · July

Volunteer

Setup, water stations, wellness activities, teardown. A few hours, and the day does not happen without it.

Find this year's signup ↓

Each July 20 · afternoon

Give blood

On the day itself, the community turns remembrance into something usable. Type O is the urgent need — it is what trauma teams reach for — but every type is wanted.

Find this year's drive ↓

Businesses & organizations

Sponsor the day

Sponsors are why the Day of Resilience is free to everyone who shows up. We will send you the details.

Talk to us →

Wellness vendors & makers

Be a vendor

Food, makers, wellness practitioners, community organizations. If you want a table at the festival, tell us what you would bring.

Ask about a spot →

Any day · anywhere

Make cranes

Write a message, make a crane, mail it. It gets woven into a wreath and sent to a community in the aftermath of tragedy.

Show me how →

Saturdays · Aurora

Spend a Saturday

Cranes, Coffee & Community at Milly's. Sit down, make something, talk to people. Once or every week — both are the same welcome.

See the details →

Any amount · anywhere

Give

Gatherings, wreaths, postage, and outreach to communities who have just joined this. 100% of it goes to the mission.

Support the work →

Every July · Aurora Water-Wise Garden

The Day of Resilience

A morning of live chalk art, wellness, music, food, and a whole lot of people in one garden — built around the Hero's Journey 5K. It is free, and everyone is welcome. No ticket to attend; registration is only for the run.

This year's schedule, volunteer signup and RSVP ↓

Private · not open to the public

Each summer · three days · Colorado

Survivor Gathering with The Rebels Project

A private healing retreat bringing together people from communities impacted by mass shootings — for connection, peer support, and shared healing. Hosted by survivors, for survivors.

It is closed on purpose, and the location is shared only with confirmed participants. It is open to survivors, family members, and others directly impacted — not to the general public.

Limited travel assistance may be available for people who could not otherwise get there.

Questions: Generalinfo@rebelsproject.org → Dates, travel assistance form and details ↓

Open to everyone

Every Saturday · 11 AM – 1 PM

Cranes, Coffee & Community

At Milly's Community Café. Come and sit down as a Paper Crane Peace Maker — make cranes, work on peace projects, and spend a couple of hours with people who are doing the same thing.

Alongside cranes for the wreaths, the table makes paper crane peace charms — small symbols of healing to pass on. No experience needed; somebody will teach you.

Stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time. Bring a friend. Come once or come every week — all of it is the same kind of welcome.

What else is coming up

Blood drives, community appearances, and one-off gatherings. Click any of them for details.

7/20 Memorial Blood Drive

July 20, 2026 1:45pm - July 20, 2026 6pm

Each year, our community honors the lives forever changed by the Aurora theater tragedy by turning remembrance into action. One meaningful way we do that is through the 7/20 Memorial Blood Drive, where every donation has the power to help save lives.

This year's need is especially urgent for Type O blood, the universal blood type used in emergencies and trauma situations. If you have O-negative or O-positive blood, your donation can make an extraordinary impact. Of course, donors of all blood types are encouraged and deeply appreciated.

As a thank-you, donors ages 21 and older will receive a complimentary beer tasting wristband, while donors under 21 or those who prefer not to drink beer will receive a free lemonade to enjoy at the Day of Resilience event on July 25, 2026.

Join us as we honor the 13 lives lost, the 70 people injured, and everyone whose lives were forever changed by giving a gift that can help someone else.

Cranes, Coffee & Community

Join us any Saturday at Milly's Community Café as a Paper Crane Peace Maker, where we gather in community to fold cranes, connect with one another, and share quiet moments of remembrance and hope.

Inspired by the tradition of paper cranes as symbols of peace and healing, each crane folded honors those affected by the July 20, 2012 tragedy in Aurora and continues the community tradition of cranes that have become part of the 7/20 memorial story.

During this time, we’ll fold paper cranes and also work on several meaningful projects that help share messages of remembrance and peace, including:

• Paper crane wreaths that will be sent to other communities affected by tragedy

• Paper crane peace charms that can be shared as small symbols of healing and hope

No experience is needed — we’re happy to teach anyone how to fold cranes. This is meant to be a relaxed, welcoming space where people can contribute, connect, and be part of something meaningful.

Feel free to stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time, and you’re always welcome to bring a friend. Sign up here

14th Annual Midnight Vigil

July 19, 2026 - July 20, 2026 1am

Join us for the 2026 Midnight Vigil, a deeply meaningful community gathering to remember the lives forever changed by the Aurora theater shooting, and to hold space for all survivors and supporters—near and far—who continue to walk the path of healing.

We’ll begin gathering on July 19th at 11:45 PM under the main shelter in the water-wise garden. At approximately 12:05 AM, we will begin a candlelight procession to the 7/20 Memorial, accompanied by the gentle sounds of a live violin performance. Shortly after midnight, first responders will hold their annual procession, concluding at the garden entrance—a powerful and emotional tribute to the lives forever changed.

We welcome anyone who wishes to honor the lives forever changed by the Aurora theater tragedy and stand in solidarity with all those affected by violence and tragedy. Whether this is your first vigil or you've joined us for years, you are welcome here.

Let’s come together with compassion, love, and light.

Day of Resilience 2026

July 25, 2026 8am - July 25, 2026 12pm

LIVE CHALK, WELLNESS & COMMUNITY FESTIVAL Featuring Beer Tasting + Sober Space

The Day of Resilience, inspired by the strength shown after the 2012 theater tragedy, is a celebration of healing, hope, and our shared humanity. This year, we are intentionally centering the day around wellness, meaningful connection, and healing through arts experiences.

This year's event takes place on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

The morning begins with stretching and mindfulness yoga at 7:30 AM. At 8:00 AM, the full Day of Resilience experience begins with DJ Sinna-G kicking off the 5th Annual “The Hero’s Journey” 5K Run/Walk led by survivor Zack Golditch. 5K participants who are 21 or older will receive a complimentary beer tasting wristband. To register click HERE

From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, guests of our 11th Annual Festival can enjoy: live chalk artists, view the memorial sculpture, participate in yoga / healing art activities / wellness experiences, take a garden tour - all while enjoying live music, food, our signature beer fest (,21+ Beer Tasting Wristbands available for any donation) a dedicated sober space, and our traditional lemonade stand honoring one of our youngest angels.

Rebels Project Survivor Gathering (Private Survivor Event)

July 24, 2026 - July 26, 2026

Upcoming Partner Event-Rebels Project Survivor Gathering

July 24–26, 2026 | Colorado

This year marks the 10th annual Rebels Project Survivor Gathering, a private healing retreat bringing together individuals from communities impacted by mass shootings for connection, peer support, and shared healing.

Hosted by survivors, for survivors, this gathering creates space to build relationships, honor each person’s healing journey, and strengthen a network of support across communities.

Please Note: This is a private event for survivors, family members, and others directly impacted by mass shootings from affected communities. It is not open to the general public.

Travel Assistance Available

Limited travel assistance may be available for eligible survivors who would like to attend.

If travel support would be helpful, you may complete the Travel Assistance Interest Form

Please note: Completing the form is only for those seeking travel assistance and is not required in order to attend. Event details and RSVP information will be shared directly with participants.

The people who make the day free

Nobody pays to attend the Day of Resilience. That is only possible because these businesses and organizations cover it.

Sponsor next year's day

Sponsorship covers the chalk, the music, the water stations, the sober space, and the fact that a family can turn up with nothing in their pockets and still have a whole morning. Tell us what you have in mind and we will send you the details.

Talk to us →

If you can't be there

Everything above asks you to be somewhere at a certain time. Plenty of people can't — because of distance, or health, or because a crowd in that garden is the last place they could stand to be. These two need neither.

Make a crane and mail it → Support the work