COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM - 2026 RECIPIENT OVERVIEWS

Affinity Ranch: Affinity Ranch's Brave Hearts Youth Wellness Program provides equine-assisted experiences that help youth ages 5–18 build emotional regulation, coping skills, confidence, and resilience through hands-on interaction with therapy horses.

Art Students League of Denver: The Westwood Visual Art Education program provides BIPOC youth in Southwest Denver with free visual arts programming, mentorship, and culturally responsive instruction that fosters creative expression and a strong sense of belonging.

Berthoud High School: Berthoud High School (Thompson R2-J School District) is launching its sanctioned girls high school flag football program.

Careers in Construction Colorado: Careers in Construction Colorado equips high school students with hands-on training, industry-recognized pre-apprenticeship certifications, and job placement connections that prepare them for careers in the construction trades.

Colorado Consortium for Earth and Space Science Education: The Engineering Pathfinders program engages underserved Pikes Peak region students in hands-on engineering and STEM exploration through immersive camps and after-school programming that build technical skills and STEM careers interest.

Comp-U-Dopt, Inc.: Comp-U-Dopt's Pathways workshops equip opportunity youth in Denver with digital literacy, career exploration, and professional readiness skills, preparing them for high-demand industries and credential attainment.

Denver Public Schools – Extended Learning & Community Schools (ELCS): ELCSports is expanding access to flag football at Title I elementary schools in Denver while developing a paid student referee pipeline for high school students that builds leadership skills and addresses the youth sports officiating shortage.

Educating Children of Color: Educating Children of Color's Leadership Academy equips high school students with mentorship, postsecondary exposure, leadership development opportunities, and service-learning experiences that promote academic success and career readiness.

George Washington High School Athletics: George Washington High School (Denver Public Schools) is expanding access to its girls flag football and boys tackle football programs by providing updated equipment and training resources to increase participation and support safety and skill development.

Latinx Therapist Project CO: The Latino Youth Mental Health Workforce Pathway Program prepares Latino youth in Denver for behavioral health careers through work-based learning, mentorship, and career navigation that supports entry into high-demand mental health professions.

Mancos High School Varsity Cheer: Mancos High School (Mancos RE-6 School District) is expanding equitable access to its cheerleading program by removing financial barriers to participation, including costs associated with uniforms, safety equipment, and program fees.

Mountain Backpacks: The Mountain Backpack Program provides underserved students in Jefferson and Clear Creek counties with weekly backpacks of easy-to-prepare meals and healthy snacks to reduce food insecurity and support school engagement.

Ogallala Commons: Ogallala Commons equips rural eastern Colorado students with immersive career exploration, entrepreneurship training, and paid internships that build postsecondary readiness and pathways to local workforce opportunities.

Prodigy Ventures: Prodigy Ventures provides young adults ages 18–24 with paid apprenticeships, industry-recognized certifications, and leadership development through its coffeehouse workforce training model, supporting economic mobility.

RedLine Contemporary Art Center: RedLine Contemporary Art Center's Youth Art Mentoring and EPIC Arts programs provide Denver youth with social-emotional learning, mentorship, and public exhibition opportunities that strengthen belonging and academic engagement.

Robbie’s Hope Foundation: Robbie's Hope Foundation's Teen Ambassador Program equips high school students with mental health education, coping strategies, and peer leadership training to strengthen emotional wellbeing and connection within their school communities.

Smart Bellies: Smart Bellies' Kids Weekend Food Program delivers weekly bags of nutritious food directly to the homes of underserved students in Summit, Lake, and Park counties, ensuring reliable access to meals when school is not in session.

Southern Colorado Community Action Agency: The Project Venture program provides rural middle and high school students with culturally responsive after-school programming that combines outdoor recreation, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to strengthen wellbeing, engagement, and positive youth development.

The Greenway Foundation: The Greenway Foundation's Greenway River Rangers program equips underserved Denver high school students with hands-on environmental education training and paid summer employment that supports STEM career pathways and a professional environmental educator certification.

The GrowHaus: The GrowHaus' Seed2Seed program engages teens in food justice education and leadership development that promote healthy habits, community connection, and exposure to career pathways.