I heard someone call January “the month of Mondays.” You’re diving into the year just as everyone else is launching their new projects and activities. And they all want you to be involved!
Here at Prosperity Denver Fund, we’re no different. It’s certainly an exciting start to 2025, and I’ll get to that.
But first, I want to take you back with me to a warm morning in December on the Auraria campus. Even though it was the day before Christmas break, a few dedicated educators, staff, and students bustled around the Tivoli, and I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Lesly Marín, a freshman at Metropolitan State University studying special education. Lesly offered to meet me and CBS4 reporter Jasmine Arenas to share her story. Lesly grew up in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, attending Knapp Elementary and Lincoln High School. As a child, she spent time every summer with Horizons Colorado, an incredible program that helps students develop a love of learning and the skills to see themselves on a path to and through college.
Horizons receives funding through Prosperity Denver Fund, both for their work in high schools and for their collegiate scholarship programs. Hearing from Lesly about how she grew in the Horizons program from participant to assistant teacher, and now is on the way to build a career for herself in education, I went into the holidays completely inspired. Lesly, and the thousands of other Denver students like her who receive support from Prosperity Denver Fund, are the reason I’m so motivated about our work in 2025 and beyond, even after a “month of Mondays.”
Over the last few weeks, we’ve moved into our new offices, I’ve spoken with the City Council’s Safety Committee about our work, and we’ve interviewed some potential new staff members (announcements soon!). The highlight of the month was a gathering of nearly 30 representatives from our partner organizations who shared their ideas on evaluation, data, and our theory of change. We learned about how organizations are measuring their success, and how they’re using support from Prosperity Denver Fund to expand their efforts. Together, we’re going to be establishing a constellation of data points that will show our progress. More to come on that soon. In the meantime, I wish you a new year that starts with inspiration and builds from there. Thank you for joining us in the work to help students – and future Denver professionals! – like Lesly envision and create their futures.
With gratitude,
Rebecca Arno
CEO, Denver Prosperity Fund
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About the Denver Prosperity Fund
In 2018, Denver voters passed a ballot initiative known as Prosperity Denver. The ordinance called for a 0.08% sales tax (less than one cent on $10) which would be distributed in the form of reimbursements to nonprofits providing scholarships to Denver students. Prosperity Denver Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, manages and distributes this funding, contributing millions each year to eligible organizations.
