This year, you stepped up. You invested in our community, donated your time, and supported events and programs that created lasting change.
With your investment in Mile High United Way, you have touched the lives of children, families, business owners, childcare providers, and schools across Metro Denver, instilling hope for the future for so many. Today, we would like to share the top 10 ways you rallied around our community in 2021.
10. You helped us answer over 100,000 requests for help in our 211 Help Center.
In 2021, we received 108,122 requests for resources including food, shelter, rent assistance, and more. It is because of your support that we can continue to answer the call for help and connect individuals and families to basic needs assistance. Learn More
9. You helped families get housing and supportive services
Whether it was supporting young adults who have aged out of the child welfare system, families who called 211 needing rental assistance, or participants in our Personal Investment Enterprise program, you supported people who were experiencing homelessness or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, and other critical situations.
8. You provided equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
This year, we teamed up with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver’s Early Childhood Council, Denver Preschool Program, HealthONE, and COVID Check Colorado to host equity-focused vaccine clinics to vaccinate over 1,400 people at our building. Watch Video
7. You invested in data and research.
This year, we conducted a research study with our partners on Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregiving – a form of childcare that half of the young children in Colorado depend on – to better understand the impacts of the pandemic on FFN caregiving and how we can better support providers and families. Because of your investment this year, we are also able to better understand our 211 data and the growing needs of our community.
6. You showed up.
In September, we united at our 23rd annual Women United Luncheon to raise $260,000 to support Mile High United Way’s programs and the advancement of women and girls across Metro Denver. In November, over 8,000 of you ran your yams off at the 48th annual Mile High United Way Turkey Trot, raising over $400,000 to support Mile High United Way.
5. You invested in education for students and families.
You helped families get the resources they need to not only support their child’s education but ensure their most basic needs are met. You supported technology training for students and parents and furthered social-emotional education. Through our United for Families and HIPPY program, you brought educational tools directly into families’ homes to support school-readiness for young children.
4. You volunteered your time to serve thousands of families.
Over the past year, 1,584 volunteers donated 4,244 hours to supporting Mile High United Way’s programs and community service projects across Metro Denver like our Back to School Bash, Denver Day of Service, National Volunteer Week and more! We also had 72 days of service with our corporate partners!
3. You helped small businesses thrive during a tough year.
Thanks to you, and partners like Wells Fargo and their incredible investment in our work, we were able to support more small women-and-minority owned businesses through our United for Business program and our microloan fund. Read more: Mile High United Way and Wells Fargo Power Small Business Growth in Metro Denver
2. You made the holidays bright for hundreds of families.
This month, at our annual Children’s Holiday Party, we welcomed over 400 families throughout the day to celebrate the joy of the season! The event featured a hybrid of socially distanced indoor and outdoor activities like games, arts and crafts, photos with Santa, and more. Thank you to our volunteers, sponsors, and staff for running toy drives, wrapping gifts, and so much more! View photos
1. You gave our community hope.
With you by our side, we served nearly 300,000 individuals in Metro Denver. Whether it is helping with food insecurity, rent assistance or childcare, we are proud to stand by our community, especially this year. Learn more about your impact in our 2020-2021 Community Report.
YOU made each of these moments possible. Every time you invested in Mile High United Way with your time or finances, you defined the power of a Community United. We can’t thank you enough for the difference you made, the lives you changed, and the futures you supported this year.
– The Mile High United Way Team
P.S. While we look forward to 2022 with hope, we know that our work is still needed more than ever. With your continued support, we can reach more families. Please make a year-end gift to Mile High United Way today. From making sure parents and their children have access to early care and education support; helping youth who have aged out of the child welfare system find stable housing and pursue their educational or careers goals; or making sure families can pay their rent and feed their children – you can change lives by making a year-end gift today.
