We invite you to be part of the change.  You can give, you can advocate or you can volunteer.

 We invite you to be part of the change.  You can give, you can advocate or you can volunteer.

Thanks to Coldwell Banker’s Denver Century Ride, Mile High United Way received nearly $1,500 to support Denver’s Road Home. The inaugural race drew more than 1,300 riders and raised a total of $13,000 to non-profit partners, including Denver’s Road Home.

Denver’s Road Home is a call to action for foundations, corporations, communities of faith, persons who live and work in the community and homeless individuals to join the City and County of Denver and Mile High United Way as we work to end homelessness as we know it in Denver in ten years.

Thank you Coldwell Banker for your support of our community!

Hundreds gathered at Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday, June 30th, to join Mile High United Way in celebrating a year of advancing the common good and improving lives in our community.

The annual Celebration event marks the end of Mile High United Way’s fiscal and fundraising year, and serves as the official kick-off for the next.

It is also the stage from which Mile High United Way honors outstanding community partners. Each year awards go to amazing individuals, companies and corporations in honor of their compassionate, generous support of our community and of Mile High United Way.



This year’s winners included:

Anna Jo Haynes Care About Kids Award – Cheryl Caldwell
The Anna Jo Haynes Care About Kids Award recognizes an individual whose work with and for children within the early care and education community has exemplified the highest level of commitment.

Legislator of the Year – Councilwoman Paula Sandoval

The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding leadership in advocating for programs and services that advance Mile High United Way’s School Readiness, Youth Success, and Adult Self Sufficiency initiatives.

Champion of Hope Awards – 1st Bank, United Launch Alliance, CoBank and Grant Thornton
The Champion of Hope Award is the highest tribute for corporate community involvement for established workplace campaigns. The award honors companies that not only have run an outstanding workplace campaign, but also have demonstrated their commitment to the community in a comprehensive and tangible way though Mile High United Way.

Spirit of Hope Awards – Local Insight Media/The Berry Company, AlloSource and EMC Insurance The Spirit of Hope Award is the highest tribute for corporate community involvement for newly launched workplace campaigns. The award honors companies that not only have run an outstanding workplace campaign, but also have demonstrated their commitment to the community in a comprehensive and tangible way though Mile High United Way.

Mile High United Way was proud to honor these true champions of our community.

Celebration was also a time to honor Mile High United Way’s outgoing chair of the board trustees, Brad Busse, President of RBC Daniels, and to welcome the incoming board chair, Scott Binder, Senior Vice President – Colorado Region for Comcast.

“For the past two years, this community could not have had a better champion than Brad Busse,” said Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero, “and, how fortunate we all are that Scott Binder will continue to lead the way to help us advance the common good for everyone in our community.”

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Coloradans call 2-1-1 for help. And, now, you can help support this vital, statewide lifeline by simply checking a box.

Beginning in 2011, the Colorado State Income Tax Form will include a charitable check-off box to benefit Colorado 2-1-1. The issue was championed through the Colorado legislature by state representative Ellen Roberts (R) of Durango. And, on June 7, 2010, Governor Bill Ritter signed the measure into law.

"This gives everyone in Colorado an easy way to help their community,” says Stephanie Sanchez, director of operations for Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center. 

 Colorado 2-1-1 is the state’s premier clearinghouse of human services information and referrals. With one free call to 2-1-1, people in need of help are matched with local organizations that offer the assistance they seek.

"2-1-1 actually helps people find what they need more quickly and efficiently,” says Sanchez. “If they called on their own, research shows that they would spend precious time and call between seven and eight organizations before finding any help.”

The Colorado 2-1-1 network includes six call centers across the state including Mile High United Way 2-1-1 in Denver.

Through the income tax check off, Colorado 2-1-1 hopes to raise $75-thousand to help with operating costs and to grow the 2-1-1 system. Right now, 2-1-1 is completely funded through individual donors, the United Way, and local foundations. 

Look for the Colorado 2-1-1 check off on your 2011 Colorado State Income Tax Form!

Preliminary counts show that more than 800 men, women and children found support and resources to help put their lives back on track at Project Homeless Connect 9 at Coors Field on Saturday, May 22, 2010.

Project Homeless Connect offered a one-stop shop of services for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Services included eviction assistance, legal advice, a dental clinic, access to public assistance and much more.

Volunteers worked one-on-one with each individual and family to make sure that they received the services they needed.

The event was organized and made possible by support from:

Denver’s Road Home Mile High United Way Concerts For Kids Comcast Cares

Colorado Rockies Denver Department of Human Services University of Denver Metro State College of Denver

Check back soon for an update on those served and to see photos from the event. In the meantime, take a peek at this Project Homeless Connect 9 video.

Denver-area businesses and organizations invite you to shop, ride and enjoy some great entertainment and support services for the homeless at the same time!

Denver’s Road Home, the city’s ten year plan to end homelessness benefits when you take advantage of any of the following offers:

Rocky Mountain School of Dance
Kids Helping Kids Performance
Paramount Theater, Downtown Denver
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Click here for tickets and info

Lehrer’s Flowers
Order beautiful bouquets online
Portion of purchase price goes to Denver’s Road Home
Click here to order

Denver Century Ride
Father’s Day, June 20, 2010
Portion of each registration benefits Denver’s Road Home
Click here to register 

Savvy
Online coupons to local merchants
Each redeemed coupon equals $1 to Denver’s Road Home
Throughout month of June 2010
Click here for coupons and info beginning June 1^st

Since its inception in 2005, Denver’s Road Home has:

Each year the Denver Business Journal  honors quote “a diverse group of young, dynamic business leaders whose efforts in the office and in the community are shaping the future of the Denver area,” with Forty Under 40.

And, this year, two Mile High United Way donors and volunteers are among the elite group.

Marc Beasley is Executive Vice President at Lockton Companies LLC. He is a long-time United Way supporter and member of the Tocqueville Society. Marc has a passion for youth mentoring and is an active volunteer in Mile High United Way’s mentoring partnerships and collaborations.

“I have been involved with Mile High United Way since 1999 as both a donor and volunteer. The organization allows me to support two specific areas that are most important to me, namely early childhood development and youth mentoring and after school activities. I appreciate the opportunity Mile High United Way has given me to be involved and have an impact in our community,” says Beasley.

Oluwagbotemi (Temi) Dada also made the coveted Forty Under 40 list. He is an Associate Broker with Jones Lang LaSalle, and at 26, the youngest honoree.

Temi is the professional development chair for Mile High United Way’s Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) and leads a committee of 10 ELC members. He also completed the metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Impact Denver leadership program which is a 34-hour, 6-month program focused on civic engagement, metro/regional issues, and leadership development.

He says he was ‘flabbergasted’ when he heard he made the list.

“I want to thank the Emerging Leaders Council and the Mile High United Way family for affording me the opportunity to chair its Professional Development Committee, because it has been a great learning experience, while helping make differences in peoples’ lives. I believe to be an effective leader, one needs to learn to serve,” says Dada.

Mile High United Way congratulates Marc and Temi! Their contributions to our community and Mile High United Way are both priceless and powerful.

On a blustery spring afternoon in the Governor’s residence in downtown Denver, Colorado foster youth received a long-needed boost to help them on the road to self-sufficient lives beyond foster care.

With a stroke of his pen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed into law House Bill 1059. The bill waives the requirement for foster youth to complete an affidavit of liability before taking driver’s education.

Up to this point in time, Colorado youth in foster care were routinely denied the opportunity to receive the classroom portion of driver’s education. The reason: many of these young men and women had no one in the way of a biological parent, legal guardian or court appointed custodian willing to accept the responsibility and liability of signing the paperwork (affidavit of liability) that would allow foster youth to take the course.

The bill signing, (Ritter’s first in the Governor’s residence), was the culmination of months of work by foster youth, advocates from Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap program and law makers. Now, the barrier to driving and having a driver’s license is gone and Colorado foster youth have one less challenge to overcome on their journey to becoming independent, self-sufficient members of the community.

Building on its 123-year history as a trusted steward of community resources, Mile High United Way proudly announces plans for more than $6 million in direct investments in 112 Denver-area nonprofit organizations working to achieve lasting, measurable results in the interrelated initiatives of School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self-Sufficiency.

It’s all part of Mile High United Way’s Community Impact Plan and includes some long-established agencies on the Denver scene and some newer, innovative organizations with proven successes.

“Mile High United Way is in the business of improving people’s lives through the collective generosity of our community,” says Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero. “Impact Investments is one step in furthering that collective generosity through a strategic and focused plan to advance the common good in our community.”

The Impact Investments process began with an open call for proposals following extensive community research and input affirming that the three initiatives align with community need. Funding recommendations were determined through a thorough review process conducted by panels of Mile High United Way stakeholders, community members and volunteers, and approved by the Mile High United Way Board of Trustees. Of the 112 organizations receiving funding, 56 are first-time recipients.

While Mile High United Way plans to invest $6 million through the Impact Investments process, the organization received 280 proposals requesting many times more than the resources available.

“That great expression of need in our community and the reality of scarce resources in these challenging economic times make the thoughtful and targeted use of donor dollars more important than ever,” says Benero. “At Mile High United Way, we take seriously our responsibility of making every charitable dollar count toward making the greatest possible impact in the lives of people who need our help.”

When combined with more than $23 million of support in 1,200 nonprofit organizations, given through other programs and initiatives, Mile High United Way’s total support for the metro Denver community is expected to be more than $29 million.

”It’s an honor to be part of an organization that is truly advancing the common good,” says Brad Busse, chairman, Mile High United Way Board of Trustees. “The entire community benefits when young children enter school ready to succeed, when youth graduate from high school prepared for continued education and when families achieve economic self-sufficiency.”

See the entire list of Impact Investments’ community partners click here.

Read what the Denver Post and Denver Business Journal are saying about Mile High United Way’s Impact Investments.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, two Denver business giants have stepped forward to lend a hand. Employees from both Qwest and PCL Construction rallied to raise money with amazing results.

PCL employees put their dollars together with a corporate donation for a total of $104,042.00! The money is being put to use through the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund to provide support for relief operations aimed at helping those impacted by the earthquake with basic necessities and long term recovery.

Qwest employees also gave from their hearts. More than 1,500 Qwest employees gave a total of $104, 680.34, which will go both to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund and the Red Cross to provide urgently needed resources for the people of Haiti.

Both PCL and Qwest are major supporters of Mile High United Way. Through their annual giving campaigns they help support vital programs and services that help local individuals and families thrive through our three interconnected areas of focus- School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency.

There is no better indicator of the needs in our community than the hundreds of thousands of calls that come into the Mile High United Way 2-1-1 Call Center  every year.

“2-1-1 is the single point of contact for those in need in our community,” says 2-1-1 Operations Manager Stephanie Sanchez. “But, it is also the single point of information on what those needs are on an ongoing basis.”

With a database of more than 6,000 community services and 1,500 agencies delivering services, 2-1-1 referral specialists connect callers to the help they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each call is recorded, basic information taken and a representative sample is later surveyed to see if the 2-1-1 referrals they received resulted in them getting the help they needed.

“We know what’s happening out there in our community from the number of calls we answer and the kinds of referrals we give out,” says Sanchez. “We can tell from day to day and month to month how community needs are changing.”

Rental assistance, utility assistance, shelters and transitional housing and food consistently rank among the top four needs of callers to 2-1-1. And, over the past year, there has been a marked increase in the number of callers who say they are homeless for the first time and in need of help.

“Without 2-1-1,” says Sanchez, “those in need would have to spend precious time they do not have scouring phone books and going from one agency to the other in search of the assistance they need.”

Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center offers each caller an average of three referrals to agencies and organizations that specialize in meeting their specific needs. The call is free and so is the online search for services.

“This job is tough and amazing at the same time,” says Sanchez. “Tough because of the many heart-wrenching stories we hear each day, but amazing because we are able through 2-1-1 to give people hope and help.”

United Way’s 2-1-1. A central point where anyone can get help, give help and where we can all turn to learn about the ever changing needs in our community.

Check out 2-1-1 monthly call statistics. 

Read a 2-1-1 success story. 

***Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center is one of six in the state of Colorado.***

Don’t Give Till it Hurts
How to choose a reputable charity

The holiday season is also the season of giving for Coloradans looking to support their favorite nonprofit organizations, like Mile High United Way. With more than 18,000 charities in Colorado to choose from, how do you know which is reputable and which is not?

There are many charity “watchdog” groups, both national and local, who have defined systems of measuring the effectiveness of charities. Here we will highlight the most highly-regarded services to help you make sure your money is well-spent.

On a national level, services are offered by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Guidestar. Each of these groups has a website where you can easily search for your charity of choice, see their rating and, in most cases, review the charity’s financials and other documents. Each also provides tips to help you make an informed choice about the charity you support using data and other factors.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance — http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/

Founded in 2001, the Wise Giving Alliance was formed when the National Charities Information Bureau merged with the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Foundation. According their website, “the merger partners offer over a century of combined experience in charity evaluation.” The Wise Giving Alliance evaluates charities based on their “Standards for Charity Accountability.”

Charity Navigator — http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Also founded in 2001, Charity Navigator focuses not only on the financial strength of an organization, but also how sustainable its programs are over time. The organization uses a number-based rating system. For three years in a row, Charity Navigator was named “One of the Best Services to Make Life Easier” by Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine.

Guidestar —http://www2.guidestar.org/Home.aspx

Guidestar has been evaluating charities since 1994 (back then it was called Philanthropic Research Inc.). Guidestar does not rank charities; it combines the information that is provided to them by nonprofits with data from other sources to come up with a comprehensive overview of each charity.

Locally, there is a new resource that pools the knowledge and reach of local government and other organizations to evaluate local charities.

Checkthecharity.com — http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/charities/check_the_charity.htm

Checkthecharity.com is a newly-formed partnership that links the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, the Colorado Department of Law, the Colorado Nonprofit Association and The Denver Post’s Season to Share. The site’s purpose is to “promote Colorado charities and to inform and protect donors.”

And, (shameless plug alert), giving through Mile High United Way is another way to ensure you are giving to a reputable charity. Whether you choose to support one of Mile High United Way’s three initiatives of designate your gift to a charity of your choice, you can rest assured that your dollars will be used efficiently. Mile High United Way is consistently rated highly by charity watchdog groups and we also ensure that every organization we partner with or fund is efficient and making the most impact with your dollars.

Now, more than ever, we know that you have to be selective with the choices you make about which organization to support. Hopefully, this guide will give you some tools to make informed decisions so that together, we can continue to build a stronger community.

It all started five years ago when Mayor John Hickenlooper hosted the first PJ Party benefiting Denver’s Road Home at the Residence Inn Denver. Since then, the party has become THE event of the season, raising nearly $1 million to date. These funds have been used to develop more than 1,500 units of housing and prevent 2,232 seniors, families, and individuals from becoming homeless while helping those experiencing homelessness find new hope and independence. In an effort to increase awareness and resources, Denver’s Road Home decided that wearing your PJ’s during the day could be a fun way to do it and so they created PJ Day.

PJ Day is coming up on January 28, 2010! Talk it up in your neighborhood and with your employers and schools and let us know how you plan to participate and have fun while making a difference in your community. For more information about how to get involved, buy tickets to the PJ Party in downtown Denver, or how to become a sponsor please visit www.pjday.org or call Lisa Betchey at Mile High United Way at (303)561-2354.

Make your holiday gift to Mile High United Way today.  Donate.

Record Numbers Turn Out For MHUW Turkey Trot



A record 9,603 men, women and children (many in costume!) crowded Washington Park in Denver for the 36th Annual Mile High United Way Turkey Trot. That’s the highest number of Turkey Trot participants ever!

Presented by BBVA Compass Bank, Mile High United Way’s Turkey Trot is an annual family Thanksgiving Day tradition. This year, with the help of our thousands of trotters, Mile High United Way raised more than $300,000 to support vital programs and services within our three interrelated areas of change: School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency.

“Great weather, wonderful people and a fantastic show of collective community support for Mile High United Way and our community partners working every day to make life better for us all,” said Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero. “The fun we had here today will go a long way toward improving the lives of so many families and individuals in our community and for that we say, thanks.”

Race Results:
The top three finishers for women and men in the 4-mile timed race include:

Women’s 4-Mile Run
Cassie Slade, Highlands Ranch, CO 22:38
Shannon Payne, Colorado Springs, CO 23:07
Paige Higgins, Littleton, CO 23:31

Men’s 4-Mile Run
Greg Reindl, Denver, CO 19:57
Charles Hillig, Jr., Denver, CO 20:11
Tyler Pennel, Golden, CO 20:16

Oldest Finisher-
Paul Orkild, 81-years-old, Lakewood, CO 51:32

Youngest Finisher-
Joe Martinez, 3-years-old, Lincoln, NE 32:18

States Represented- 48

Foreign Countries Represented- 5

Thanks to everyone for spending a part of their Thanksgiving holiday with us and for giving back to our community through Mile High United Way.

CoBank Pledges $250,000 To Mile High United Way

Mile High United Way proudly announces that it has received a $250,000 matching grant from CoBank designed to spur increased levels of giving from companies and individuals throughout the Denver metro area.

The grant from Greenwood Village-based CoBank, the largest financial services institution headquartered in Colorado, has three components:

• $150,000 will be used to fund one-to-one matches for contributions of up to $10,000 from companies that have not supported Mile High United Way with corporate grants at any point over the past three years;
  
  
• $50,000 will fund one-to-one matches of any individual contribution of $50 or more (up to $500) received through the mail and online after December 1, 2009;
  
  
• And $50,000 will fund one-to-one matches for individual gifts of up to $5,000 in support of the Denver’s Road Home initiative. Launched in 2005, Denver’s Road Home is a 10-year plan led by the office of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to fight homelessness in the city. Mile High United Way serves as the fundraising and fiscal manager for the community-wide project.

The Youth Mentoring Collaborative (YMC) led by Mile High United Way is a key part of our Youth Success Initiative and matches thousands of metro area youth with mentors. Men and women who volunteer their time to provide a positive influence in the lives of boys and girls who may not have an adult role model and are quite often at risk of dropping out of school.

The YMC is succeeding in making a significant difference in young people’s lives by providing inspiration that improves their academic achievement, social skills, self-esteem and, ultimately, their future.

The collaborative includes 14 mentoring organizations serving youth in metro Denver. It is a forum for the exchange of ideas, best practices and resources among mentoring organizations and is making a difference in the lives of nearly 3,000 young people in metro Denver. Learn more about the Youth Mentoring Collaborative at http://www.youthmentoringcollaborative.org/or contact Katie Driggins at 303-561-2233.

Mile High United Way partners in the Youth Mentoring Collaborative:

23 years ago, Grant Holland, of Denver, awoke on Thanksgiving morning to a blizzard. But, instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, he got out of bed, laced up his running shoes and headed out into the storm.

His family told him he was crazy, but Holland was on a mission. As he drove through the storm, he remembers seeing other people dressed in shorts and running gear.

“It was quite a sight,” says Grant, “driving snow, bitter cold and bare legs!”

Only in Colorado, he thought. And, only for the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot at Washington Park.

The Thanksgiving Day 4-mile run and walk is a fundraiser for Mile High United Way and an annual tradition for thousands just like Holland. In its 36th year, the Turkey Trot attracts young and old alike to brave the unpredictable November elements for a good cause and loads of fun.

“To me it’s an unbelievable fundraiser,” says Holland. “The volunteers are fantastic, it’s a well-run event and I go away knowing that I’m helping others in my community who really need it.”

Proceeds from Mile High United Way’s Turkey Trot go to support partner agencies, programs and services delivering help to men, women and children through the organization’s three interrelated initiatives of School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency. Turkey Trot participants, like Holland, help Mile High United Way invest in the community to develop and support strategies and partnerships that create an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

“I’ve always said that if people from out-of-town were to witness the Turkey Trot and the energy and excitement people have for coming out on a holiday to support the work of Mile High United Way, they’d move to Denver the very next day,” says Holland.

Rain, ice, snow or shine, Holland says he looks forward to the Turkey Trot every year. Sometimes his family runs with him and sometimes he goes it solo. But, he says, in 23 years he has never missed it. Not even when he was far from home just days before Thanksgiving.

“One year I was in Africa on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but on Thursday morning I was running the Turkey Trot. Jet lag and all,” he boasts.

Mile High United Way salutes Grant Holland and the thousands of runners and their families and friends who have helped and continue to help make the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot a success. Click here for Turkey Trot details and registration information.

Families in search of help started lining up this morning at the Pepsi Center before the doors to Family Project Homeless Connect even opened! But, once they did the one-stop shop of services kicked into high gear serving more families and individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness than ever before. 

Here is a breakdown of the record-breaking number of people served:

Women’s Leadership Luncheon Highlights Foster Youth

This year, the luncheon benefitted Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap Program which provides support and services for foster youth in our community.  Learn more about Bridging the Gap.

CBS4’s Gloria Neal helped kick off the luncheon with a fashion show featuring Bridging the Gap program participants modeling beautiful designer jackets from Women with a Cause.

Next, Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero took to the podium to present Denver philanthropist, businesswoman and inspiration Barbara Grogan with the Frances Wisebart Jacobs Award for her outstanding impact on our community and women’s philanthropy.

Rounding out the luncheon, keynote speaker Victoria Rowell mesmerized the audience with her personal story of growing up as a foster child. Rowell is an actress (best known for playing Drucilla Winters on CBS’s The Young and the Restless), foster care activist and author of, The Women Who Raised Me.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors for helping to make the 2009 Women’s Leadership Luncheon a smashing success!

Overcoming grave obstacles is the story of Denver attorney, Steve Farber’s life. And that story, was the focus of his address to the audience at Mile High United Way’s 1st Tuesday Breakfast on September 1, 2009.

Farber grew up in Denver and went on to co-found the law firm of Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber. A successful attorney, philanthropist and father, Farber has always been a champion of giving back to his community. Yet, he says, his success and community profile never prepared him for the ultimate challenge of his life.

At age sixty, Farber’s kidneys began to fail. His doctors told him his choices were to have a transplant, go on dialysis or die. After much soul searching and deliberation, Steve accepted the gift of life from his son, Gregg. He also turned his experience into action by founding the American Transplant Foundation which seeks to eliminate the shortage of human transplant organs in the United States.

This month, Farber’s book, On the List; Fixing America’s Failing Organ Transplant System, is set for release.

Women's Lunch and Learn
Tom Downey

Taking advantage of “Teachable Moments,” was the theme of the Mile High United Way Women’s Lunch and Learn on Thursday, August 6, 2009.

The Lunch and Learn series is hosted by the Mile High United Way Women’s Leadership Council and sponsored by Comcast, PCL Construction, Deloitte, and Aetna.

Tom Downey, president of the Children’s Museum of Denver, a Mile High United Way partner agency, was the featured speaker.

More than three-years-ago, under Downey’s leadership, the Children’s Museum adopted United Way’s Born Learning Project, an educational campaign that shows how to turn everyday activities into opportunities to encourage learning. It’s built on the idea that while children are born learning, parents, grandparents and caregivers can encourage that learning in everyday moments.

Downey talked about how his staff encourages parents to teach their kids as they experience the hands-on museum exhibits. He also encouraged the audience to incorporate the Born Learning philosophy in their own lives with their own kids.

“In the car, at the grocery store, setting the dinner table. There are a wealth of everyday activities and moments where we can teach our kids to count, to read, to understand,” said Downey. “I urge you to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Find out more about Born Learning and the Children’s Museum of Denver at www.mychildsmuseum.org

Suncor Energy, a leader in giving to Mile High United Way, announces the Mile High United Way Suncor Fuel Certificate Giveaway!

For the third year running, Suncor will award five randomly selected Mile High United Way donors with gas certificates worth $2,000 each.  Simply make a donation to Mile High United Way through April 9, 2010 and you’re automatically entered for a chance to win!

Drawings for the winners will take place in December 2009 and then, again, in April of 2010.  

Build a stronger community by donating to Mile High United Way.  Click here for official contest rules. 

Mile High United Way Honors Donors
Celebrates Corporate Champions

More than 200 people joined Mile High United Way at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to celebrate outstanding corporate generosity and philanthropy. 

The annual ‘Celebration’ event honors outstanding workplace giving campaigns that annually raise money to support Mile High United Way and its community partners. 

The ‘Spirit of Hope Award’ is the highest tribute for corporate community involvement for new workplace campaigns. Two awards were given in this category.

• Nordstrom Cherry Creek - Employee campaign raised more than $24-thousand with 67% of employees participating.
• United Launch Alliance - Employee campaign, with 588 participants, raised more than $275-thousand.

The ‘Champion of Hope Award’ honors highly successful established workplace campaigns. The winners in this category include:

• Questar Market Resources, Inc.- 76% of Questar employees gave to Mile High United Way. The company matched employee contributions 2-to-1 for a total gift of $266 thousand.
• Ernst & Young, LLP- Their employee campaign grew 55% over the previous year. Total employee giving totaled $150 thousand.
• QWEST- Employee giving came to more than $1 million. QWEST and the QWEST Foundation provided an employee match to bring the total gift to more than $1.6 million.
• XCEL Energy- XCEL increased their employee giving campaign by nearly 30%. They provided a 100% match of employee gifts for a total of $1.35 million. 

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all of Mile High United Way’s corporate partners and workplace giving campaigns for your amazing support!

Mile High United Way has been metro Denver’s nonprofit community leader for more than 120-years, bringing together generous donors and community partners to collectively do what no one person can do alone.

Our approach is unique. Our plan is inclusive. Mile High United Way concentrates on helping people of all ages and in all stages of their lives through three interconnected areas of change: School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency.

Mile High United Way and our community partners work to make sure young children in metro Denver have access to quality early care and education, students have the support and motivation they need to stay in school and struggling families have help to gain financial stability, safe, permanent housing and the chance to thrive.

UPS Delivers Support for Mile High United Way

Top 5 Company Campaign Kicks Off New Year

The philanthropic wheels are turning at UPS in metro Denver as more than 2700 UPS employees prepare to kick off their fund raising season for Mile High United Way (MHUW).

Locally, UPS is one of the top five workplace fundraising campaigns for MHUW, raising more than $900-thousand in 2008. That’s up more than six-percent over the previous year. Nationally, UPS is the number one company financial contributor to United Way.

“The United Way remains important to UPS because it’s important to our people,” says UPS Rocky Mountain Vice President of Operations Harry Shipley. “UPS employees don’t just give from their pockets, but from their hearts.”

In addition to dollars, UPS employees also give generously of their time and talents logging more than 35-hundred volunteer hours to our community over the past year. Around the world, UPS employees volunteered an incredible 1.2 million hours.

“In Denver, and across the country, UPS has remained committed to the United Way and communities that they serve, both financially and through volunteerism,” says Christine Benero, Mile High United Way President and CEO. “The ongoing commitment of UPS employees shows an understanding that in these tough times, it is even more important to provide needed support in our community.”

For more than 120-years, Mile High United Way has successfully tapped into the power of collective generosity to provide creative, long-term solutions to meet the most pressing needs in metro Denver.

Our approach is unique. Our plan is comprehensive and balanced, concentrating on helping people of all ages and in all stages of their lives through three interconnected initiatives: School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency.

Generous support from individuals and companies like UPS gives MHUW and its community partners the resources we need to make sure that young children have access to quality early care and education, students have the support and motivation they need to stay in school and struggling families have help to gain financial stability, safe, permanent housing and the chance to thrive.

Thank You UPS!

  2009 Kids Count in Colorado report by the Colorado Children’s Campaign

“By helping families lift themselves out of poverty, keeping them from falling into it, and addressing the needs of their young children, work supports like quality childcare play a powerful role in improving our children’s well-being.”  -  2009 Kids Count in Colorado, Colorado Children’s Campaign

As referenced in a recent Denver Business Journal Article , child poverty has increased 85% in Colorado between 2000 and 2007. This sobering statistic and many others have just been released in the 2009 Kids Count in Colorado report by the Colorado Children’s Campaign.

Mile High United Way’s three initiatives, School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency, address many of the core issues highlighted in the report. From quality childcare, to enriching after-school programs to educational and job-training assistance, Mile High United Way can improve the lives of people in all stages of their lives. Through our partner agencies and initiatives and with your help, we can change these statistics.

Please about Mile High United Way about how you can help us make a difference or donate now.

MHUW Donor Gives & Wins Suncor Giveaway!

“It was a total surprise, “exclaims long time Mile High United Way (MHUW) donor, Bob Kielan, after winning $2000 in gas from Suncor Energy.  

Kielan says he has given to Mile High United Way for 29-years through the workplace campaign at United Parcel Service (UPS). He is a member of the Leadership Society and has a special affinity for programs benefiting young children.

Suncor Energy offered the free fuel challenge to workplace campaign donors beginning in the fall of 2008. Each MHUW donor who gave through a workplace campaign through April 2009 was automatically entered for a chance to win one of five Suncor $2000 gas certificates. 

Bob says he never expected to win anything for giving back to his community. But, he sure is glad he did!

"I give to Mile High United Way because the money stays right here in my community making an impact in people’s lives and addressing the issues that I care most about,” says Kielan.

PCL Construction volunteers help make LOAS Olympiad a success!

On Thursday, May 7, Denver Public Schools, Mile High United Way (MHUW) and PCL Construction teamed up to host the second annual After School Olympiad event, in collaboration with the Lights on After School (LOAS) initiative.

More than 400 students from six Denver middle schools (Cole Arts and Sciences Academy, Kunsmiller, Lake, Morey, Rishel and Skinner) met for the second time ever to compete in an afternoon of kickball, basketball, tennis, soccer, an academic bowl, relay games, chess, Lego building and egg drop competitions, and a graphic arts wall at Skinner Middle School.

Lights on After School is designed to reduce middle and high school drop-out rates and increase academic performance in the Denver Public Schools through quality after-school programs for Denver’s at-risk youth. PCL Construction has committed $1 million over four years to the program, and serves as LOAS’ largest corporate sponsor, contributing to the more than 9,000 Denver students who have participated in the program to date. PCL also provided volunteers for the Olympiad event. 

Winners for the After School Olympiad were: Lake, winning team champion in chess, and tying second in the egg drop; Morey, winning individual champion in chess, team champion in the academic bowl, third place in Lego building, third in basketball and team champion in tennis; Rishel, winning team champion and tying for second in the egg drop, third in the knowledge bowl, second in Lego building, team champion in basketball, team champion in girls soccer and second in boys soccer; Cole, winning third place in the egg drop, team champion in Lego building and third place in tennis; Skinner, winning second in the academic bowl, second in basketball, second in girls soccer, team champion in boys soccer, and second place in tennis; and Kunsmiller, winning third place in boys soccer.

Morgridge Family Foundation Gift For Literacy

The Morgridge Family Foundation has committed $500,000 to Mile High United Way to improve reading skills for children in metro Denver schools. The generous gift will fund the Reading Plus^® system in private, charter, public schools and in public libraries.

Just because a student can read out loud does not necessarily mean that they can read silently and comprehend what is on the page. Imagine being able to see how your child reads. Reading Plus^®  can show you. The innovative program assesses a student’s silent reading skills through the use of high tech optical tracking. The technology actually tracks eye movement as a student reads silently! The results of the assessments are then used to develop a program to build solid silent reading skills that form the foundation for educational success at all levels

We have always worried about the students in high school who are still reading at an elementary school level,” says Carrie Morgridge, Morgridge Family Foundation. “We believe Reading Plus provides essential support and critical intervention for struggling readers. Through this program, students and adults will be able to develop the literacy skills they need in order to be successful in their academic career and in life.”

Along with the gift to Mile High United Way and Reading Plus^®, the Morgridge Family Foundation is issuing a challenge to the community to become involved with the program. Collective giving through Mile High United Way multiplies not only dollars that are put to use, but the power those dollars have to achieve positive, lasting change in our community.

Plus, by giving to Mile High United Way and our School Readiness and Youth Success Initiatives , you can actually help the state of Colorado leverage federal matching dollars earmarked for education, child care and development.

Goodwill Industries of Denver
Honors Mile High United Way CEO

Mile High United Way CEO Christine Benero was asked to accept the inaugural Community Leader Award for her personal passion to improve the lives of others. Through her many roles as a leader in the Denver community with organizations like Denver's Road Home, Red Cross and Mile High United Way, she has always sought to bring our community together to solve a problem rather than any one organization trying to solve it on their own. She has been a pioneer, a change agent, an incredibly dedicated leader, and an inspiration to all.

The event was attended by over 700 business people and community members. Ms. Benero took to the podium with her trademark passion and enthusiasm and impressed the crowd with a truly eloquent speech.

Mile High United Way surveyed more than 100 partner agencies in January 2009 to get a snapshot of how they are faring in an uncertain economy. All of these community partners are human service nonprofits offering vital direct services including financial assistance, food, clothing, shelter, job training and more. Historically, these agencies are a reliable measure of just how severe an economic downturn is affecting a community.

The results show that increasing numbers of people are reaching out for help as unemployment increases and the economy continues its downward spiral. Our community partners are working harder than ever to keep up with the increasing demand while facing significant financial challenges of their own.

Financial donations, for most, are down. Their budgets are contracting. Many are taking measures to cut operating costs in order to continue to provide services. Some have laid off staff or are considering it. Some are dipping into reserves to keep their heads above water.

The snapshot, while not dire, is concerning.

Here are a few of the findings:

• More than 85 percent of Mile High United Way partner agencies responding to the survey report an increase in demand for their services in the last six months of 2008 due to the poor economy.
• More than 40 percent of Mile High United Way partner agencies responding to the survey report a drop in financial contributions. They have experienced decreases in all areas of giving including individual, corporate, and foundation financial contributions in 2008 compared to 2007.
• More than 50 percent of Mile High United Way partner agencies responding to the survey are working to cut expenses to make up for the revenue shortfall including:
  • Cutting spending on staff travel and supplies
  • Laying off staff
  • Dipping into reserves to cover budget shortfall

Click here for the full results of the 2008 Mile High United Way partner agency survey.

Donors can dial 2-1-1 or donate online to show support in our community’s critical time of need.

Mile High United Way CEO is One to Watch In 2009

Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero was tapped by both The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News for high-profile, holiday weekend stories.

The Rocky featured Christine as one of the 14 people to watch in 2009.  The article cited her as a smart, motivated and energetic leader who is setting the agenda as to how nonprofits need to change with the times.

The Denver Post put Christine at the top of the list of 9 people to watch in 2009! 

No matter how you cut it, Mile High United Way’s Christine Benero is out front and leading the charge. 

Read the articles:

Rocky Mountain News

Denver Post