Enjoying what many call
the philanthropic “party of the year,” over 700 individuals, including donors,
grantees, and volunteers gathered at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to
celebrate their connection with The Denver Foundation. Each year, the
Foundation highlights several projects or initiatives that have made a
significant impact on the Metro Denver community. This year, the celebration
included song, interpretive dance, and moving slideshows featuring many of the
hundreds of grantees that the Foundation supports. The program outlined the
Foundation’s new mission and strategic plan, while highlighting the creation of
the Inclusiveness Project and the 10th Anniversary of the
Strengthening Neighborhoods Program.
Featured on the program
was the Hallett Student Tutors Project:
a group of sixth-graders from Denver Public Schools who have started a tutoring
program for elementary school students. Also recognized were Sue and Ruth Stark
who together created a fund at the Denver Foundation to support graduate
students entering the field of geriatric social work. The Kepner Educational Excellence Program,
an academic achievement program that encourages students to excel in school by
offering incentive trips to Washington D.C. and several countries in Europe,
was also heralded for its success. The school’s graduation rate of 78 percent is
dramatically higher than the district average, and their CSAP scores are
consistently increasing over time.
“We were delighted to share the stories of so many creative people who
have taken the initiative to make life better in our community,” says Rich
Lopez, Chairman of The Denver Foundation Board of Trustees.
About the Foundation
Founded in 1925, The
Denver Foundation is a community foundation serving Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder,
Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. The Foundation is
dedicated to inspiring people and mobilizing resources to strengthen our
community. In 2007, the Foundation
received gifts of $71 million and gave grants of $65 million to thousands of
nonprofit organizations.
About Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative/Inclusiveness Project
The Denver Foundation
Board of Trustees created the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative
(ENII) in 2001 to help nonprofit organizations become more inclusive of people
of color. During 2007, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees voted to make ENII an
ongoing program of The Denver Foundation renamed the Inclusiveness Project.
About the Strengthening Neighborhoods Program
The Denver Foundation
Board of Trustees created Strengthening Neighborhoods as an initiative in 1997
and, in 2002, voted to make it an ongoing program of the Foundation.
Strengthening Neighborhoods has given over $2.2 million in grants to residents
in 10 partner neighborhoods to improve life in their communities.
