Brooke was featured as a Mile High United Way success story two years ago. At that point in time, she had just overcome the odds by conquering her drug addiction, escaping from domestic abuse and winning back her children. Click here to read about Brooke’s life today.
Lights On After School (LOAS) and the Waldenbooks® store at Cherry Creek Mall are teaming up to inspire a love of reading in young people throughout Denver. For the month of August, Waldenbooks’ customers are encouraged to purchase new books that will be donated to youth participating in LOAS, which provides quality after-school activities to youth in Denver Public Schools.
A list of recommended titles customers are encouraged to purchase to benefit LOAS is available at the Waldenbooks store.
Lights On After School is a partnership between Mile High United Way, the Denver Public Schools Foundation and the City and County of Denver, who work closely with Denver Public Schools (DPS.) The partnership provides funding and program support for enriching after-school activities that can include technology, arts, academics, athletics or youth development in a positive, safe environment for elementary and middle school students in DPS.
“Students who regularly participate in LOAS have better school attendance records and higher academic achievement,” said Art Rimando, director of Youth Success at Mile High United Way. “We’re excited that Waldenbooks is supporting this critical program that is an effective strategy for motivating and empowering youth to graduate from high school.”
Cherry Creek Mall is the official retailer of the Democratic National Convention. Traffic to the mall is expected to increase dramatically during the convention so Waldenbooks and LOAS will have a unique opportunity to engage shoppers with this cause and give to the community.
“We have many very caring customers who truly understand that books have the power to change the lives of children,” said Waldenbooks Sales Manager Scott Spineto. ”With this book drive, we are giving our customers an easy way to join with us to help the youth of LOAS experience the power of books and give back to our community.”
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. Read the rest of this entry »
A sneak preview of the film, Where God Left His Shoes, at City Park last Friday exposed the reality of family homelessness — a reality faced by hundreds of thousands of American families each year. The important film and catalyst for action created awareness and brought in a total of $53,023 with over 300 people in attendance. A $1,500 online donation was made to Denver’s Road Home after the movie was shown.
America’s Road Home, a national organization dedicated to ending family homelessness, led the fundraising effort with support from Mile High United Way and Denver’s Road Home.
“Denver’s Road Home applauds the support we receive from America’s Road Home in our efforts to end homelessness in Denver,” said Denver’s Road Home Project Manager Jamie Van Leeuwen. “The sneak preview helped us raise awareness and generate resources to advance our efforts in making sure that every man, woman and child has a place to call home.”
“We’re grateful to America’s Road Home for bringing this opportunity to Denver,” said Christine Benero, president and CEO of Mile High United Way. “This amazing film had a powerful message that put a face on the issue of family homelessness in our country. We hope that the film continues to inspire people to galvanize for this important cause.”
The award-winning film has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike in the US and was produced by Vulcan Productions.
We’ve all heard the rumors about Denver hiding the homeless for the DNC. Many organizations in our community are working tirelessly to end homelessness through Denver’s Road Home, and our work to help individuals who are homeless will not end during the DNC. So, check out the list below. It’s what you need to know and what the facts are. Feel free to blog your feedback.
