Mile High United Way will partner with five projects in neighborhoods throughout Metro Denver.
For Immediate Release — Thursday, February 24, 2022 – Mile High United Way announced an investment of $8 million in five transformational community projects. The projects include partnerships and projects with local organizations: Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap program, Warren Village, Mercy Housing, Lifespan Local and Family Tree.
These projects include physical spaces that will be built to serve various high-need neighborhoods throughout Metro Denver. The announcement comes as the organization celebrates its 135-year history as the first United Way in the world.
The projects include:
- Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap: Mile High United Way has acquired an apartment building that will allow us to provide housing to individuals who have aged out the child welfare system through our Bridging the Gap program. Participants will have access to safe and stable housing as well as onsite Independent Living Coaching.
- Warren Village: Warren Village recently acquired land in southwest Denver from the Denver Housing Authority to build a third “2Gen” campus. The facility will provide affordable housing, training and support services, and early childhood education for 74 single-parent families transitioning from homelessness. Mile High United Way’s investment will support the construction of a 100-seat early learning center on this new campus.
- Mercy Housing: Mercy Housing is proud to collaborate with the City and County of Denver and Mile High Early Learning for the mixed-use development of The Rose on Colfax in Denver. The development will combine 82 affordable apartment homes with an affordable, quality early childhood education center that will offer a community inspired, family focused property funded by Mile High United Way. The property is under construction and is anticipated to open Spring of 2023.
- Lifespan Local: In 2022 Lifespan Local will begin construction at Westwood Redeemer near Alameda Ave and Morrison Road. This community center will include early childhood education, a Denver Public Library branch, youth discovery lab, hydroponics, mental health supports, legal services, a community kitchen, event space and much more. Mile High United Way is incredibly proud to partner with Lifespan Local to support families in this neighborhood through these wraparound support services.
- Family Tree: The Family Tree GOALS (Generational Opportunities to Achieve Long-term Success) program serves families experiencing homelessness on a four-building campus in Aurora. One building is the future home of the early childhood education center. A key component of the program is a high-quality, affordable early childhood education center. The renovated facility will include five classrooms designed to serve approximately 70 children ranging from the age of 6 weeks to 5 years of age benefitting GOALS residents and the surrounding community. Mile High United Way is proud to partner with Family Tree to make this a reality.
“Mile High United Way believes that we are stronger as a Community United. These are long-term partnerships that will allow us to deeply serve each community where these projects reside,” said Christine Benero, President and CEO of Mile High United Way. “Mile High United Way will work with each individual organization to bring additional resources that will serve each community tailored to their needs, including the Mile High United Way 211 Help Center, early care and education training and so much more. We are grateful to partner with such incredible organizations who will help us deepen the impact in our most needed neighborhoods.”
The $8 million in funding is possible through Mile High United Way donors and the investment of philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott. Last year, MacKenzie Scott announced a $20 million investment in Mile High United Way. Last year, Mile High United Way immediately invested $5 million in neighborhoods to address urgent basic needs including childcare, housing and food. We also partnered with BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations to get resources where they are needed as well as investing in BIPOC organizations through capacity building, fundraising coaching, trauma-informed trainings, and evaluation.
“This gift has allowed us to be nimble as we address our community’s most urgent and long-term needs. It has also given us hope and the opportunity to leverage this incredible investment so we can continue to support programs and projects that positively impact Colorado’s children and families well into the future,” said Chelsea Carver, Chief Development Officer, Mile High United Way.
###
Media Contact
Shelby Morse
Mile High United Way
Shelby.Morse@UnitedWayDenver.org
C: 970.978.1733
