A speech by Christine Benero, president and CEO, Mile High United Way given at the Denver Metro Chamber’s State of The City event on Aug. 5.

In less than thirty days, the world will turn its eyes toward Denver in a unique confluence of history and politics and community.  In what promises to be a tremendous showcase for our city, our state, and our Rocky Mountain roots, we will welcome with tremendous pride and open arms our second national party convention in as many centuries.

And what the world will see is a place – a community that is extraordinarily special.  A community that is evidenced by the people in this room…A community that comes together across sectors and across the region to do what our founders came for – to build a better place – a better opportunity – a better life.

Some 150 years later, that’s still the dream that people in Denver are striving for.  The means to put a roof over their heads, to provide for their families, to achieve economic security, and to create a life full of opportunity for themselves and their children.

We are a city young at heart, rich in history and strong in our beliefs.  Which is why – this moment in history – is the perfect moment to take stock, to take account, and to take action.  To continue to ask the hard questions, and find the tough answers, about where we are and where we want to go.

Is this the community we want it to be?  Is this the Denver we want, the Colorado we want, for ourselves, our children, and for generations to come?

We come here today, all of us in this room, not because we’re afraid of those questions, but because we want to find the answers.  And we want to find those answers, as we always have, together.The non-profit sector is incredibly strong – and productive. Thank you Charley Samanski and the Colorado Non-profit Association for the data – and for your leadership.  The sector is strong not only in the services we provide – but also as a key part of Colorado’s economy.  As of last year, there are now 19,000 registered non-profits in Colorado.  And 1300 have budgets greater than 1 million dollars, making the non-profit sector the third-largest industry in the state.

Non-profits in the Denver-metro region alone generated $8 billion in revenues and held $13.6 billion in assets.  Collectively, Colorado’s non-profits spent $4.2 billion in wages and compensation and accounted for more than 5 percent of the state’s gross state product.  And in net terms – Colorado non-profits add $2.1 billion in net economic impact.

On Average, Colorado’s 1.2 million volunteers dedicated 160.7 million hours of service per year (between 2005 and 2007).  The estimated economic contribution of the volunteer hours served is $3.1 billion annually

We are a growing sector because we are needed. Is there a way for us to be more efficient and to leverage each other? – absolutely. 

But the sector is stronger because of this spirit of partnership with the business community, with our elected officials and the people of Colorado.

And yet – there are challenges.  And the facts of our community do not reflect the vision of this room.

There are deep valleys of struggle in our community from which people cannot escape.  We know, because of the research of the Colorado’s Children Campaign .

Over the last six years, Colorado has the fastest-growing rate of child poverty in the country, which right now is 18 percent of kids living in poverty.  That is not the vision of a better place any of us hold.

We know that our public investment in education, be it K-12 or higher education, is among the lowest in the country.  That is not the vision we hold for our children.

And we know that one in five households—working households—don’t earn enough to pay for basic yet vital everyday expenses.  And that is not the vision of anyone who loves this community.

I raise these issues, not to criticize – but to challenge.

If we want the better community - which I know personally this room does – we are going to have to do more together.

And yet we have unprecedented examples of what happens when we do … do more together.  Denver’s Road home is a bold example. 

With the leadership of an extraordinary pioneer in his own right – our Mayor, the courage of the foundation community and countless business partners and non-profit service providers we have had an 11% percent decrease in overall homelessness and a 36 percent decrease in chronic homelessness in just two years.   That is unheard of.
There are so many other examples we could recognize to show how much is being done.  But is it enough?

And that remains one of our challenges. Colorado has the 5th highest personal income in the country, yet we rank 36th in charitable giving.

This is an opportunity where we need to inspire others and show that we can do more together. 

If the average Coloradan gave as much as the average American, we could increase charitable giving by $243 million.  $243 million more dollars.

Think about that for just moment.

Think about the child care assistance that would mean, the after-school programs, the financial literacy and workforce trainings, and all of the other support that is so critical to every family and to our community’s success.

If there was ever a time to push forward and not pull back, this is it.  The time is now.

Denver has a history of firsts.  Maybe it is that western spirit.  But there is something here that I don’t believe exists anywhere in the country.

The Mile High United Way was the first United Way in the country. In 1887 Frances Wisebart Jacobs took a look around - and took it upon herself to reach out and start the organization that today I am so privileged to be a part of.

She didn’t do that alone, but she led the effort to do more together—unafraid to touch those who were ill, unafraid to reach out and help, and unafraid to create a better community.

I am not sure she would recognize what she began.

Today Mile High United Way works with more than 100 partnering organizations, government leaders and policymakers, over 800 local businesses large and small, and, of course, nearly 50,000 individual donors. 

When you talk about what makes a community great – School Readiness, Youth Success and Self-Sufficiency – you share that vision with us.  And you help us lead the way.  Whether you’re investing in United Way, or one of the hundreds of partners we work with, or one of the incredible nonprofits in this state, we all know that it is an investment in Denver, an investment in Colorado, and an investment in our collective future.

So when I say, “We can do more together,” it’s not an empty slogan, it’s a fact.  We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.  And what that future looks like compared to the facts of today – is in our hands.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words, it is expressed in the choices one makes.”  What choices are we going to make – together?

We need to exercise that same kind of fearlessness, that same sense of urgency, and that strong desire to work together to make our community better.

We can seek a future unseen, take action toward goals unrealized, and seize on the spirit of a community that is unrelenting in its pursuit to be better.

Because we truly can do more together.

Thank you so much for your leadership and all that you do everyday.

Now – before I leave – I have the distinct honor to present the United Way’s highest award to the company who understands what it means to do more. 
The Champion of Hope Award.

I am so very proud to present this year’s Champion of Hope Award to Qwest. Accepting on their behalf is Ric Padilla, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility

Ric, we are pleased to present this award to you honor all of the tremendous work that Qwest and its employees have done in Colorado.  Qwest’s record-breaking gift to Mile High United Way in the amount of $1.4 million is the largest single gift we received in the 2007-2008 campaign.  It’s a gift that continues to help thousands and thousands of Denver area families through our School Readiness, Youth Success and Self-Sufficiency initiatives.  Nationwide, Qwest has increased their giving to United Way s to more than $4.2 million.

On behalf of all of our partners and all those who we serve, we thank Qwest for all you do.  You are truly a shining example that we can do more, together.