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Upcoming Events at Scholars Unlimited

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Discovery Tours:

If you want to see our programs in action … learn more about the kids you’re helping … and meet some of our scholars … then a Discovery Tour is the opportunity for you! We’ll be offering lots of Discovery Tours this summer, and will post a schedule soon. In the meantime, if you would like to attend a Discovery Tour, please email Kelly Craugh at kcraugh@scholarsunlimited.org.

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Summer Program Expansion

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Twelve schools. More than 850 students. And a fresh approach to STEM education. An exciting summer of learning is underway!

Thanks to our new partnership with Denver Public Schools’ Summer Academy, we’ve been able to expand summer programming this year.  At six school sites, Summer Academy students can enjoy a full day of summer learning this year – because we’re providing afternoon enrichment and recreation to Summer Academy students. Plus, siblings of Summer Academy students are participating in our traditional full-day program, with literacy in the mornings, then enrichment and recreation in the afternoons.  This dramatic expansion of DPS’ Summer Academy was made possible thanks to the mill levy increase approved by Denver voters in 2016.

Of course, we’re also providing our full-day summer program at six other schools, thanks to funding from our 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, the state’s Tony Grampsas Youth Services program, Colorado Health Foundation, and donors like YOU.

At three school sites — College View, Farrell B. Howell and Whittier K-8 – we’re working in partnership with Denver’s Office of Children’s Affair and host of corporate sponsors, led by Jacobs Engineering Group, to present the Next Generation City Builders program.

At these sites, each afternoon’s enrichment block features numerous planning activities, design challenges, and hands-on STEM activities – all related to city planning and design. “We’re excited to be a part of the Next Generation City Builders program,” said Diana Romero Campbell, president of Scholars Unlimited. “The curriculum is educational and engaging, and it is enabling our scholars to learn about ‘real-life” applications of science, technology, engineering and math while they participate in really fun, hands-on/minds-on activities.”

Want to learn more about Next Generation City Builders? Read more here. Or check out this video.

 

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Celebrating 25 Years

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So many people in Colorado remember 1993 as the year that major league baseball finally arrived in the Mile High City. Fewer recall that a new burrito joint called Chipotle opened on Evans Avenue that summer.

But we remember 1993 for something else. MORE That was the year that Cyndi Kahn and Paul Hamilton, the principal at Hallett Elementary, put together a summer reading program for 20 struggling readers.

The success of that program — coupled with growing recognition of the links between poverty, poor academic achievement, and youth violence – spurred the creation of Summer Scholars.

And the rest is history.

To launch our 25th Anniversary Celebration, we have a video message from Diana Romero Campbell, president of Scholars Unlimited.

Want to join us for a Discovery Tour … see our programs in action … and (best of all) meet our summer scholars? Choose a date and location here.

Ready to learn more about our 25th Anniversary Celebration? Here are the details.

And finally, don’t forget: If you make a gift in honor of our 25th Anniversary and it will be matched, dollar for dollar, by a generous anonymous donor. We hope you’ll choose to celebrate our first 25 years with a contribution – especially since your gift will go twice as far! Donate HERE!

 

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25 Stories: Ivan Tec

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Recently, we got re-acquainted with Ivan Tec, a recent grad of East High who participated in Scholars Unlimited’s summer and after-school programs back when we were still known as Summer Scholars. Ivan participated in our programs over a span of four years when he was a student at Dora Moore. During one of his summer’s with us, Ivan was named the Cyndi Kahn award winner for Dora Moore — and all of our Cyndi’s Scholars (as well students who earn the Jessica Pearson award) receive a $200 scholarship upon their high school graduation. So Ivan and his dad visited us, and shared how Summer Scholars’ programs helped Ivan achieve success in school – and more. Watch our video here.

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Literacy Plus!

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Start with a book. Add curriculum extensions. And help kids build literacy skills plus much more.

Have you heard about Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus? That’s the book selected for this year’s Youth One Book, One Denver (YOBOD) – and in addition to being a fun read, it has provided learning across multiple subject matters.

The book’s main character is Aven Green, who was born with no arms, but has never let her “lack of armage” deter her from doing anything she sets her mind to. When Aven’s father accepts a new job as manager of Stagecoach Pass, a rundown theme park in Arizona, Aven has to leave behind her comfortable life in Kansas. After arriving in Arizona, Aven must adjust to a new environment, negotiate a new friendship with Connor, a boy with Tourette’s Syndrome, and solve a mystery after discovering clues within Stagecoach Pass.

Insignificant Events is an engaging story that has captured the imaginations of our summer scholars. And it has provided opportunities for learning across multiple content areas. Check out our photo essay to learn more.

  • The daily literacy block includes small-group tutoring -- one teacher per six students -- enabling teachers to provide highly personalized instruction.

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Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 5th.

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Colorado’s annual celebration of philanthropy brings together thousands of donors, who give collectively on one day to make a huge impact in our state. Last year, 52,982 people made financial contributions to 2,104 Colorado non-profit organizations – and together, they contributed nearly $34 million!

Colorado Gives Day is powered by Coloradogives.org, a year-round website that is focused on increasing philanthropy in Colorado. Thanks to Coloradogives.org, you can make an online gift to Scholars Unlimited — and more than 2,200 other non-profit organizations – 24 hours a day, any day of the year.

Again this year, there will be a $1 million incentive fund for Colorado Gives Day, thanks to FirstBank and the Community First Foundation. Every organization receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day also receives a proportional amount from the incentive fund, which increase the value of every dollar given on that day.

We hope you’ll be a part of Colorado’s annual day of philanthropy – and we hope you’ll include Scholars Unlimited in your giving!

You can even schedule your gift now, to occur on December 5th, in order to leverage the incentive fund. Just head to the Scholars Unlimited giving page, located here:

https://www.coloradogives.org/scholarsunlimited/overview

Then, click on the “Donate” button … enter your gift amount … click the “CO Gives Day” button … and check out.  Your gift will be processed on Colorado Gives Day, and boosted by the incentive fund.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Coleen Truax at ctruax@scholarsunlimited.org or 303-381-3746.

And as always, THANK YOU for supporting Scholars Unlimited – on Colorado Gives Day and throughout the year.  Your contributions truly make a difference in the lives of the at-risk young learners we serve.

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Gifts to Scholars Unlimited = Reduced Tax Liability

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As charitable donations, gifts to Scholars Unlimited can reduce your federal tax liability if you itemize your federal tax return.  In addition, gifts to Scholars Unlimited qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit (CCCCC), a state tax credit available to both individual and corporate Colorado taxpayers that reduces their Colorado state income tax liability by providing a 50 percent tax credit for cash contributions to qualifying child care providers — including Scholars Unlimited.

The effect of this credit? Half of your donation to Scholars Unlimited is offset by a reduction of your Colorado income taxes – and you are still be able to claim your full contribution as a charitable deduction on your federal and state income tax returns if you itemize deductions. A sample (based upon a 28 percent taxation rate) of the total effect on your taxes is shown below.

As always, consult with your tax advisor to determine how the credit will affect you personally.

Federal Income Tax Bracket 28%
Contribution to Scholars Unlimited $ 1,000.00
Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit (500.00)
Charitable Gift Deduction — Colorado state taxes (46.30)
Charitable Gift Deduction – federal taxes (280.00)
Related federal tax “add-back” effect* 152.96
Net “cost” of gift to Scholars Unlimited 326.66
Total tax savings of gift to Scholars Unlimited 673.34

* For federal tax purposes, lower state income taxes mean lower federal deductions.

We are deeply grateful to the many individuals, foundations, and businesses who contribute to Scholars Unlimited. Your support enables our organization to provide rigorous literacy instruction and enrichment programming to disadvantaged young students in our community.

If you would like to invest in our work and support the at-risk children we serve, just click here:  https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=17046

And on behalf of our scholars, thank you!

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Holiday greetings from our President

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Hello, friends of scholars —

My first five months as president of Scholars Unlimited have been a whirlwind of listening, learning, and wrapping my head – and heart – around our programs and the amazing people connected to this organization.

It is a rare gift to come into an organization that has such a long and rich history of success… and then find that the previous leader has created a sustainable organization with solid programs, evaluation tools and practices that enable us to measure our impact, and processes in place.  So I extend my thanks to Kathleen King for her seven years of dedicated service to Scholars Unlimited, and for leaving behind an organization that is strong and healthy.

For those of you who don’t know me well, I am a native of Denver and graduate of Denver Public Schools.  I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and I have spent my career in the nonprofit field, working in everything from advocacy to program development, volunteer development and training, as a director of an early childhood center, and of course, philanthropy.  I also have had the privilege of graduating from the University of Colorado, earning a master’s degree in non-profit management from Regis University, and this past summer successfully defending my doctoral dissertation at the University of Denver’s College of Education, in Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies.

However, that is just one thread of how I arrived here at Scholars Unlimited.  In my family, there is a saying that reflects an appreciation of those who have come before, that have made a path possible.  We say “on whose shoulders we stand.”

I stand today as a culmination of the hopes and dreams of others who have committed their careers to education, equity, and social justice.  My grandfathers were coal miners and field workers, and my grandmother was a homemaker and champion of her six children.   Each of my grandparents had education levels that did not exceed the grades we serve in our K- 5 programs today.  So my parents were trailblazers in their families, attending college to become educators who taught in elementary and high school classrooms.  They raised my sisters and me with a profound sense of responsibility to pay it forward, to push through difficult times, and to dream big

Since joining Scholars Unlimited, I have been reminded daily that this organization has a dedicated staff and a wide circle of deeply committed supporters, all united by our common goals: To help struggling learners become proficient readers. To enable under-resourced students to experience new things. And to help vulnerable young children develop an unwavering belief in their own unlimited potential – regardless of their zip code.

And with every visit to every school we serve, I get to see how we are working together to make a difference in the lives of children that are at promise.

It is deeply gratifying, because we are living in a time when we all need to stand together to uphold what builds and nurtures the minds, bodies and spirits of ALL children and their families. It is critical to provide safe and nurturing places. To help kids build literacy skills. To engage kids in hands-on learning, exploration, and supportive relationships. And to help young learners develop positive self-images, empathy, persistence, a growth mindset and a love of learning.

For 24 years, this has been the work of Scholars Unlimited.  And as we look forward to 2018, my goal is for Scholars Unlimited to continue to be the shoulders that our scholars can stand on… and I thank you for helping to make that possible.

I am tremendously grateful to each and every friend, supporter, volunteer, and community partner for your participation and partnership as we work together to create brighter futures for vulnerable young children.

Thank you being a part of the Scholars Unlimited team, and best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Warm regards,

Diana Romero Campbell

 

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Introducing Scholars Unlimited’s Newly Elected Board Members, Officers for 2018

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Scholars Unlimited is proud to welcome its newly elected board members: Katie Custer, Olga Garcia, Kristin Rozansky and Kathleen Sgamma.

Katie Custer 

Katie Custer is an Associate at Holland & Hart, where she specializes in business needs and litigation for corporations, non-profit organizations, and municipalities. Katie is thrilled to be joining the Board of Scholars Unlimited because, as the mother of two young boys, she understands now more than ever the importance of education; she firmly believes that the services Scholars Unlimited provides are crucial to the positive development of youth in our community.

Katie grew up in Denver, and currently resides in City Park West. When she’s not working, she enjoys getting outside with her kids (think trips to City Park, Cheesman Park, and the Denver Zoo). Katie said she is “very excited to be giving back to the community that I’ve been a part of for so long in such a meaningful way.”

Olga Garcia 

Olga Garcia is the Diversity and Community Affairs Manager at Denver Health Medical Center, where she designed and implemented their award-winning Diversity and Inclusion program. In her professional role, Olga is a principal liaison for outreach to businesses, government agencies, education institutions, and community stakeholder to promote Denver Health programs and services.

Olga is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because “Children are future leaders and our salvation!”  She believes that when we educate a child, we invest in future possibilities to make our world a better place for everyone. Olga loves Latino arts and culture on many different levels and one of her favorite museums in Denver is Museo de las Americas, an “amazing jewel in the Rocky Mountain region.”

Kristin Rozansky

 Kristin Rozansky is the Deputy Director of Operations at the Division of Professions and Occupations in the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies. Formerly, she served as the Administrative Law Judge, and then the Director, for the State Personnel Board.

Kristin is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because of its focus on year-round academic support in literacy for children in underdeveloped communities.  For her, increasing student literacy opens doors to success in other academic areas and helps to exponentially increase students’ academic experience. Kristin lives in Denver with her husband and has two children in college – a son at the University of Miami and a daughter at the University of Toronto.

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Kathleen Sgamma is the President of Western Energy Alliance, which advocates on behalf of companies involved in all aspects of environmentally responsible oil and natural gas exploration and production in the West. Prior to joining Western Energy Alliance in 2006, Kathleen spent eleven years in the Information Technology sector, and three years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. She holds a BS in Political Science/Defense and Arms Control Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MS in Information Technology from Virginia Tech. She was a long-time board member of the Denver Asset Building Coalition, and also served on the Board of Advocates for School Trust Lands.

Kathleen discovered Scholars Unlimited when she saw a group of kids dressed in “Summer Scholars” t-shirts at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Having just spent a lot of time and money enrolling her eight-year-old in various camps for the summer months, she sympathized with low-income parents who struggle to find meaningful summer programming for their kids and became a donor to our organization. Kathleen’s son is now a sophomore in college, and she remains an avid supporter because of Scholars Unlimited’s “effectiveness at providing high-quality summer and after-school programming that enriches the educational experience for at-risk students while improving literacy and numeracy.” Besides being passionate about educational opportunities for all, Kathleen’s passion for hockey compelled her beyond just being an avid fan of the Colorado Avalanche to starting to play the game three years ago in the Denver Women’s Hockey League.

Each of these new Board members was elected to a three-year term at our January Board meeting. Board members may serve two consecutive terms, and then may be re-elected after a one-year hiatus.

In addition to welcoming these new members, the Board also elected a new slate of Officers for the coming year:

Erica Salmon Byrne was elected President of the Board. Professionally, she is the Executive Vice President for Governance and Compliance at The Ethisphere Institute, where she works with Ethisphere’s community of clients to assess ethics and compliance programs and promote best practices across industries. Erica also serves as the Executive Director of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance.

Spencer Reedy, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, was elected Vice Chair. Spencer joined the Board in 2015 and was an integral member of the launch team for CodeSpire, our for-profit social enterprise. He has also been instrumental in implementing the Benevon model for sustainable funding at Scholars Unlimited. Spencer grew up in Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in business administration.

Sean Choi was elected Secretary. This Colorado native has lived and worked all along the Front Range, from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Sean moved to Denver to pursue his MBA in finance at the University of Colorado – Denver, and is now Assistant Vice President at FirstBank, where he specializes in commercial real estate lending.

Jonathan Levesque, another Colorado native, was elected Treasurer. Jon grew up in Littleton, and now serves as the Accounting Manager for Littleton Public Schools. He attended the University of Denver where he earned his Masters of Accountancy.

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Expanded Summer Programming

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We’re so exited — because summer programming is expanded this year! Thanks to a new partnership with Denver Public Schools’ Summer Academy, we’re able to serve nearly 1,350 students this year!

Typically, DPS offers its half-day Summer Academy program to English language learners; the program is also open to young students who are eligible for additional services under the provisions of the Colorado READ Act. However, Denver voters’ approval of the 2016 mill levy means more funding … so this year, Summer Academy students can sign up for our afternoon enrichment and participate in full-day programming. Siblings of Summer Academy students can participate in our full-day programs, too, at six program sites: College View, Farrell B. Howell, Florida Pitt Waller, McGlone, Schmitt, and Whitter. Want details? More info here:  http://scholarsunlimited.org/expanded-summer-programming/

In addition, we’re providing our Summer Scholars program at Ashley, Columbine, Harrington, John Amesse, and Oakland, plus Park Lane Elementary in Aurora.

All of our students will participate in the Youth One Book, One Denver program. This year’s selection: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling.The book’s story line centers on solving a mystery in the deserts of Arizona – but the themes run much deeper. Through this book, students will learn about having differences, and accepting differences in one’s own self and others – providing a powerful platform for social-emotional skills development.

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Upcoming Events at Scholars Unlimited

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Discovery Tours:

If you want to see our programs in action … learn more about the kids you’re helping … and meet some of our scholars … then a Discovery Tour is the opportunity for you! We’ll be offering lots of Discovery Tours this summer, and will post a schedule soon. In the meantime, if you would like to attend a Discovery Tour, please email Kelly Craugh at kcraugh@scholarsunlimited.org.

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Our 25th Anniversary Celebration is filling fast!

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Don’t miss your chance to be at the event 25 years in the making!

Our Board chair, Erica Salmon Byrne, has reserved her table. Linda and Wes Brown and the Center for Policy Research have secured Silver Sponsorships. Bob Nelson and his friends at Forest City Stapleton both purchased their tables earlier this year. First Bank, Holland & Hart, the Western Energy Alliance and Denver Health are just some of our corporate friends who’ll be in attendance. And of course, Cyndi and Ed Kahn have reserved two tables.

These are just some of the friends and supporters who’ll be at our 25th Anniversary Celebration on September 27th.

Will you?

Please join us for what promises to be a reunion filled with warm memories and lots of laughs – and a launch of the next 25 years!

Reserve your table or seats now. https://bit.ly/2uWpnsf

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Now serving students in Westminster

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Students are returning to classes — which means recruitment is underway for our Scholars After School program. This year, we’re excited to be recruiting at two new schools: Harris Park and Mesa elementary schools, located in Westminster Public Schools district.

This expansion, our second beyond the borders of DPS, began with conversations with Becky Hoffman, CEO of the Youth Initiative of Adams County. The mission of the Initiative is to drive the shared efforts of cross-sector partners committed to improving youth outcomes, from cradle to career.

Becky is a long-time fan of Scholars Unlimited’s programs. And she knew that Westminster Public Schools was eager to expand out-of-school-time opportunities for the district’s students.

Becky introduced us to Dr. James Duffy, Chief Operating Officer at WPS, who welcomed the opportunity to work with Scholars Unlimited. Dr. Duffy enlisted the support of Westminster Parks & Recreation and the Hyland Hills Recreation District.

Together, we developed program plans and shared agreements. Now, thanks to funding awarded from the Colorado Department of Education via the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, we get to put those plans in motion!

We’ll be serving 50 students at each school site, providing both Scholars After School and Summer Scholars at Harris Park and Mesa. Westminster Parks and Rec is providing staffing at Harris Park, and Hyland Hills Rec is providing staffing at Mesa. Thanks to our 24-year partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation, it was easy to use our existing model to develop working agreements with these wonderful new partners.

“No one organization can do it alone,” said Dr. Duffy. “WPS values our collaborations with Scholars, the City of Westminster, and Hyland Hills. Thanks to everyone who stepped up to the plate to support our kids and community.”

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Enhancing the Principal Pipeline

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Each summer, Scholars Unlimited plays a vital role in helping candidates for principal licensure gain the real-world experience they need. These principal interns oversee the academic portion of our summer program – and gain real-world experience as school instructional leaders at each program site.

For the past two years, the principal intern program has been led by Cindy Miller, a long-time educator at Harrington Elementary who has been involved with our organization since shortly after its founding as Summer Scholars.

Cindy has always been a big believer in the power of education because she saw it first-hand in her own family. She was the oldest of six children who grew up living in a two-bedroom mobile home in California, where her father worked as a steelworker. Her dad encouraged his kids to “design your own destiny” and modeled how to do it when he returned to school, earned a degree in forestry form Indiana University, and became a renowned leader in wildfire management.

Cindy followed a similar path: She worked as a flight attendant for about five years, but was inspired to return to college so that she could pursue a career in education. After student teaching at Bromwell, she was hired as a fourth-grade teacher by Sally Edwards, the principal at Harrington Elementary School.

Summer Scholars was offered at Harrington, and Cindy quickly became a fan. “I always believed in the program,” she said. “It was easy to support it, because the kids loved the program and had enthusiasm for attending. They were playing and laughing – and learning. I knew that because I got the see the growth in students’ literacy skills – really amazing growth.”

After six years in the classroom, Cindy was named Harrington’s assistant principal. By then, Summer Scholars had expanded to year-round programming. Because Cindy wanted to continue to have direct instructional time with students, she signed on to work as a teacher in Scholars After School.

When Sally Edwards retired, Cindy was named principal at Harrington. As principal, she continued to be a vocal advocate for Scholars Unlimited. “I have always appreciated the people who started this program and helped it grow and thrive. When nobody else stepped up, they stepped in.

“I am so appreciative that Scholars Unlimited provides that equity factor. Kids in our program get the same, high-quality programming that is usually accessible only to suburban kids of higher socio-economic status, that live in families who can afford to pay for it. That high quality is built in to Scholars Unlimited’s programs – and it is so important that our students can access it.”

After four years as the school leader at Harrington, Cindy decided to retire. But she still wanted to be involved in education – so she worked with us as a summer principal at John Amesse. In that role, she met regularly with many principal interns, doing the same job she was doing for college credit that would count toward licensure.

Cindy recognized another opportunity – and designed her destiny again. Now, as the supervisor of intern principals, she has an opportunity to share the knowledge and experience she has gained during her 25 years in education.

Through training, coaching, refection, and collaborative problem solving, Cindy helps these interns build their own experience base and develop as leaders. “I really want to help them stretch,” Cindy noted. “I want them to have their own growth mindset, I want them to help their students and staff develop a grown mindset. I want them to know how to have difficult conversations. I want them to know how to help students and staff discover answers, rather than just giving answers to them. And I want to raise the bar on professionalism.”

It’s an ambitious agenda, particularly when our program runs for only six weeks each summer. And yet, Cindy makes it happen. And in doing so, she is helping to ensure that the next generation of school principals is prepared to be an effective leaders who drive better outcomes for students.

And follow in Cindy’s footsteps.

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Now Hiring: Director of Development

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Reports to:               President

Title:                          Director of Development

Location:                  Denver, Colorado

THE ORGANIZATION:

Scholars Unlimited is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs to elementary school children in metro Denver.  Our mission is to support low-income, academically struggling young learners by providing rigorous literacy instruction and enrichment in order to help students achieve measurable success and to inspire life-long learning.  We collaborate with school districts and generally provide our programs in the schools our students attend. Currently, our programs are offered in Denver, Aurora, and Westminster Public Elementary Schools.

Since its inception in 1993, Scholars Unlimited (formerly Summer Scholars) has been a premier provider of out-of-school time programs, and has served more than 30,000 scholars in the Denver metro area.

Scholars Unlimited offers: Summer Programs and After School Programs

THE POSITION FUNCTION:

In partnership the President and Board of Directors, the Director of Development leads all aspects of the development strategy and communication for Scholars Unlimited.  As part of the management team, the Director of Development participates in setting the development budget and collaborates on the strategic direction of the organization.  The Director of Development is a team member to that develops and maintain relationships in the community on behalf of Scholars Unlimited.  Fundraising responsibilities include grant development, writing and reporting, leadership in message for annual financial appeals, partner with the President to fully execute the donor, ambassador, and board cultivation strategy, including events.  Communication responsibilities include managing organizational communications including annual reports, e-newsletter, webpage design and content, media relations, and social media.

Essential functions of the position and responsibilities:

  • Planning and Executing for financial Stability
    • Increase organization’s resource development capacity, resulting in a broadening of the organization’s base of support, diversification, of revenue streams, and an increase in targeted revenue streams.
    • Based on evaluation of current revenue streams and visualization of new sources of revenues, help implement the structural changes that may be needed to maximize those new streams.
  • Fundraising
    • Increase the organization’s capacity to raise more money, and met (ideally exceed) specific, measurable, and timed public support/contributed income goals.
    • Implement all fundraising plans for annual giving, planned giving, and endowment, special events and projects, and all other solicitations for public support/contributed income.
    • Oversee the development of all written proposals for funding from all constituents, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and governmental entities, as well as civic and social funders.
    • A specific area of accountability and focus for this position is major gift fundraising in partnership with the President.
  • Development infrastructure and leadership
    • Supervise and lead development team, and monitor and report on team’s progress weekly, monthly, and annually to ensure that all financial goals are achieved.
    • Maintain a broad and deep knowledge of current best practices, rules, policies, guidelines and procedures related to fund development activities, and ensure that all development office conduct, activities, systems, and procedures strictly adhere to the highest ethical, accounting, reporting, and any other applicable standards.
    • Work with finance and program staff as necessary to ensure that all requirements of funding are met and funding reports are completed.
    • Oversee fund development office systems and procedures to support all fund development projects and operations, including but not limited to the following:
      • Supervision of donor and gift record keeping.
      • Coordination of prospect research activities.
      • Oversight of database management and all records, files, and gift processing.
      • Oversight of pledge reminder and acknowledgement processes.

Board of Directors and Development Committee

  • Support the Mission Support team in the development of strategic and annual fund development goals and strategies.
  • Based on annual budget and strategic fund development goals and strategies, develop an annual tactical resource development plan for recommendation to the Mission Support team and approval by the board of directors.
  • Develop and implement fundraising training for Board, Mission Support team, and other leadership volunteers, as well as staff.

Leadership Team and Cross-Functional Responsibilities

  • As a member of the Leadership Team, responsible for institutional and community relations and relationships; serve as a community liaison and agency representative when indicated; participate in annual agency program, operations, and budget planning and management; and work collaboratively to identify programmatic needs and alignment with funding resources.
  • Ensure the identification, recruitment, appropriate training, support and appreciation of a core group of volunteers to assist in fund development activities, including special events and other fundraising programs as needed.
  • Work closely with other departments to develop public relations, advertising, marketing and communications strategies, plans, and collateral that support fundraising efforts.
  • Work throughout the agency to create and nurture a “culture of philanthropy” and an awareness that securing the resources necessary to fund the organization is “everybody’s business.”

Communications/Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising

  • Oversee communications/marketing function as it relates to resource development.
  • Oversee the production of all fund development-related publications and collateral, including (but not limited to) direct mail campaigns, electronic and print newsletters and other communications, the Annual Report, and website content to support Scholars Unlimited fund- and friend-raising goals and activities.
  • Create and implement communication and promotional plans for campaigns and appeals, including (but not limited to) annual campaigns.

COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES:

  • A passionate commitment to Scholars Unlimited’s mission and students;
  • Excellent communications skills, including public speaking, interpersonal, and solid written communications;
  • Ability to inspire diverse groups of people, and skills in moving people from vision to action;
  • Demonstrated track record of successful fundraising;
  • Able to manage multiple priorities;
  • Maintain a high level of professionalism, integrity/ethics and confidentiality;
  • Experience in Raiser’s Edge donor database (or similar database software) preferred;
  • Comfort with data analysis and organizational systems management;
  • Sense of humor.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

  • Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, PR communications, business administration, marketing or related field;
  • A minimum of seven years experience and demonstrated success in fundraising and/or equivalent combination of education, training and experience;
  • Leadership-level experience in strategic and tactical planning;
  • Knowledge of and experience with not-for-profit revenue streams, philanthropic contributions and government funding.

COMPENSATION:

Competitive salary based on experience, compensation package, including comprehensive benefits, will be offered.

TO APPLY:

Through November 15, 2018, resumes and cover letters will be received at:  dromerocampbell@scholarsunlimited.org

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Introducing Scholars Unlimited’s Newly Elected Board Members, Officers for 2018

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Scholars Unlimited is proud to welcome its newly elected board members: Katie Custer, Olga Garcia, Kristin Rozansky and Kathleen Sgamma.

Katie Custer 

Katie Custer is an Associate at Holland & Hart, where she specializes in business needs and litigation for corporations, non-profit organizations, and municipalities. Katie is thrilled to be joining the Board of Scholars Unlimited because, as the mother of two young boys, she understands now more than ever the importance of education; she firmly believes that the services Scholars Unlimited provides are crucial to the positive development of youth in our community.

Katie grew up in Denver, and currently resides in City Park West. When she’s not working, she enjoys getting outside with her kids (think trips to City Park, Cheesman Park, and the Denver Zoo). Katie said she is “very excited to be giving back to the community that I’ve been a part of for so long in such a meaningful way.”

Olga Garcia 

Olga Garcia is the Diversity and Community Affairs Manager at Denver Health Medical Center, where she designed and implemented their award-winning Diversity and Inclusion program. In her professional role, Olga is a principal liaison for outreach to businesses, government agencies, education institutions, and community stakeholder to promote Denver Health programs and services.

Olga is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because “Children are future leaders and our salvation!”  She believes that when we educate a child, we invest in future possibilities to make our world a better place for everyone. Olga loves Latino arts and culture on many different levels and one of her favorite museums in Denver is Museo de las Americas, an “amazing jewel in the Rocky Mountain region.”

Kristin Rozansky

 Kristin Rozansky is the Deputy Director of Operations at the Division of Professions and Occupations in the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies. Formerly, she served as the Administrative Law Judge, and then the Director, for the State Personnel Board.

Kristin is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because of its focus on year-round academic support in literacy for children in underdeveloped communities.  For her, increasing student literacy opens doors to success in other academic areas and helps to exponentially increase students’ academic experience. Kristin lives in Denver with her husband and has two children in college – a son at the University of Miami and a daughter at the University of Toronto.

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Kathleen Sgamma is the President of Western Energy Alliance, which advocates on behalf of companies involved in all aspects of environmentally responsible oil and natural gas exploration and production in the West. Prior to joining Western Energy Alliance in 2006, Kathleen spent eleven years in the Information Technology sector, and three years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. She holds a BS in Political Science/Defense and Arms Control Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MS in Information Technology from Virginia Tech. She was a long-time board member of the Denver Asset Building Coalition, and also served on the Board of Advocates for School Trust Lands.

Kathleen discovered Scholars Unlimited when she saw a group of kids dressed in “Summer Scholars” t-shirts at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Having just spent a lot of time and money enrolling her eight-year-old in various camps for the summer months, she sympathized with low-income parents who struggle to find meaningful summer programming for their kids and became a donor to our organization. Kathleen’s son is now a sophomore in college, and she remains an avid supporter because of Scholars Unlimited’s “effectiveness at providing high-quality summer and after-school programming that enriches the educational experience for at-risk students while improving literacy and numeracy.” Besides being passionate about educational opportunities for all, Kathleen’s passion for hockey compelled her beyond just being an avid fan of the Colorado Avalanche to starting to play the game three years ago in the Denver Women’s Hockey League.

Each of these new Board members was elected to a three-year term at our January Board meeting. Board members may serve two consecutive terms, and then may be re-elected after a one-year hiatus.

In addition to welcoming these new members, the Board also elected a new slate of Officers for the coming year:

Erica Salmon Byrne was elected President of the Board. Professionally, she is the Executive Vice President for Governance and Compliance at The Ethisphere Institute, where she works with Ethisphere’s community of clients to assess ethics and compliance programs and promote best practices across industries. Erica also serves as the Executive Director of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance.

Spencer Reedy, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, was elected Vice Chair. Spencer joined the Board in 2015 and was an integral member of the launch team for CodeSpire, our for-profit social enterprise. He has also been instrumental in implementing the Benevon model for sustainable funding at Scholars Unlimited. Spencer grew up in Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in business administration.

Sean Choi was elected Secretary. This Colorado native has lived and worked all along the Front Range, from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Sean moved to Denver to pursue his MBA in finance at the University of Colorado – Denver, and is now Assistant Vice President at FirstBank, where he specializes in commercial real estate lending.

Jonathan Levesque, another Colorado native, was elected Treasurer. Jon grew up in Littleton, and now serves as the Accounting Manager for Littleton Public Schools. He attended the University of Denver where he earned his Masters of Accountancy.

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Introducing Scholars Unlimited’s Newly Elected Board Members, Officers for 2018

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Scholars Unlimited is proud to welcome its newly elected board members: Katie Custer, Olga Garcia, Kristin Rozansky and Kathleen Sgamma.

Katie Custer 

Katie Custer is an Associate at Holland & Hart, where she specializes in business needs and litigation for corporations, non-profit organizations, and municipalities. Katie is thrilled to be joining the Board of Scholars Unlimited because, as the mother of two young boys, she understands now more than ever the importance of education; she firmly believes that the services Scholars Unlimited provides are crucial to the positive development of youth in our community.

Katie grew up in Denver, and currently resides in City Park West. When she’s not working, she enjoys getting outside with her kids (think trips to City Park, Cheesman Park, and the Denver Zoo). Katie said she is “very excited to be giving back to the community that I’ve been a part of for so long in such a meaningful way.”

Olga Garcia 

Olga Garcia is the Diversity and Community Affairs Manager at Denver Health Medical Center, where she designed and implemented their award-winning Diversity and Inclusion program. In her professional role, Olga is a principal liaison for outreach to businesses, government agencies, education institutions, and community stakeholder to promote Denver Health programs and services.

Olga is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because “Children are future leaders and our salvation!”  She believes that when we educate a child, we invest in future possibilities to make our world a better place for everyone. Olga loves Latino arts and culture on many different levels and one of her favorite museums in Denver is Museo de las Americas, an “amazing jewel in the Rocky Mountain region.”

Kristin Rozansky

 Kristin Rozansky is the Deputy Director of Operations at the Division of Professions and Occupations in the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies. Formerly, she served as the Administrative Law Judge, and then the Director, for the State Personnel Board.

Kristin is passionate about Scholars Unlimited because of its focus on year-round academic support in literacy for children in underdeveloped communities.  For her, increasing student literacy opens doors to success in other academic areas and helps to exponentially increase students’ academic experience. Kristin lives in Denver with her husband and has two children in college – a son at the University of Miami and a daughter at the University of Toronto.

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Kathleen Sgamma is the President of Western Energy Alliance, which advocates on behalf of companies involved in all aspects of environmentally responsible oil and natural gas exploration and production in the West. Prior to joining Western Energy Alliance in 2006, Kathleen spent eleven years in the Information Technology sector, and three years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. She holds a BS in Political Science/Defense and Arms Control Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MS in Information Technology from Virginia Tech. She was a long-time board member of the Denver Asset Building Coalition, and also served on the Board of Advocates for School Trust Lands.

Kathleen discovered Scholars Unlimited when she saw a group of kids dressed in “Summer Scholars” t-shirts at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Having just spent a lot of time and money enrolling her eight-year-old in various camps for the summer months, she sympathized with low-income parents who struggle to find meaningful summer programming for their kids and became a donor to our organization. Kathleen’s son is now a sophomore in college, and she remains an avid supporter because of Scholars Unlimited’s “effectiveness at providing high-quality summer and after-school programming that enriches the educational experience for at-risk students while improving literacy and numeracy.” Besides being passionate about educational opportunities for all, Kathleen’s passion for hockey compelled her beyond just being an avid fan of the Colorado Avalanche to starting to play the game three years ago in the Denver Women’s Hockey League.

Each of these new Board members was elected to a three-year term at our January Board meeting. Board members may serve two consecutive terms, and then may be re-elected after a one-year hiatus.

In addition to welcoming these new members, the Board also elected a new slate of Officers for the coming year:

Erica Salmon Byrne was elected President of the Board. Professionally, she is the Executive Vice President for Governance and Compliance at The Ethisphere Institute, where she works with Ethisphere’s community of clients to assess ethics and compliance programs and promote best practices across industries. Erica also serves as the Executive Director of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance.

Spencer Reedy, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, was elected Vice Chair. Spencer joined the Board in 2015 and was an integral member of the launch team for CodeSpire, our for-profit social enterprise. He has also been instrumental in implementing the Benevon model for sustainable funding at Scholars Unlimited. Spencer grew up in Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in business administration.

Sean Choi was elected Secretary. This Colorado native has lived and worked all along the Front Range, from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Sean moved to Denver to pursue his MBA in finance at the University of Colorado – Denver, and is now Assistant Vice President at FirstBank, where he specializes in commercial real estate lending.

Jonathan Levesque, another Colorado native, was elected Treasurer. Jon grew up in Littleton, and now serves as the Accounting Manager for Littleton Public Schools. He attended the University of Denver where he earned his Masters of Accountancy.

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Expanded Summer Programming

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We’re so exited — because summer programming is expanded this year! Thanks to a new partnership with Denver Public Schools’ Summer Academy, we’re able to serve nearly 1,350 students this year!

Typically, DPS offers its half-day Summer Academy program to English language learners; the program is also open to young students who are eligible for additional services under the provisions of the Colorado READ Act. However, Denver voters’ approval of the 2016 mill levy means more funding … so this year, Summer Academy students can sign up for our afternoon enrichment and participate in full-day programming. Siblings of Summer Academy students can participate in our full-day programs, too, at six program sites: College View, Farrell B. Howell, Florida Pitt Waller, McGlone, Schmitt, and Whitter. Want details? More info here:  https://summerscholars.wpengine.com/expanded-summer-programming/

In addition, we’re providing our Summer Scholars program at Ashley, Columbine, Harrington, John Amesse, and Oakland, plus Park Lane Elementary in Aurora.

All of our students will participate in the Youth One Book, One Denver program. This year’s selection: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling.The book’s story line centers on solving a mystery in the deserts of Arizona – but the themes run much deeper. Through this book, students will learn about having differences, and accepting differences in one’s own self and others – providing a powerful platform for social-emotional skills development.

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Upcoming Events at Scholars Unlimited

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Discovery Tours:

If you want to see our programs in action … learn more about the kids you’re helping … and meet some of our scholars … then a Discovery Tour is the opportunity for you! We’ll be offering lots of Discovery Tours this summer, and will post a schedule soon. In the meantime, if you would like to attend a Discovery Tour, please email Kelly Craugh at kcraugh@scholarsunlimited.org.

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Summer Program Expansion

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Twelve schools. More than 850 students. And a fresh approach to STEM education. An exciting summer of learning is underway!

Thanks to our new partnership with Denver Public Schools’ Summer Academy, we’ve been able to expand summer programming this year.  At six school sites, Summer Academy students can enjoy a full day of summer learning this year – because we’re providing afternoon enrichment and recreation to Summer Academy students. Plus, siblings of Summer Academy students are participating in our traditional full-day program, with literacy in the mornings, then enrichment and recreation in the afternoons.  This dramatic expansion of DPS’ Summer Academy was made possible thanks to the mill levy increase approved by Denver voters in 2016.

Of course, we’re also providing our full-day summer program at six other schools, thanks to funding from our 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, the state’s Tony Grampsas Youth Services program, Colorado Health Foundation, and donors like YOU.

At three school sites — College View, Farrell B. Howell and Whittier K-8 – we’re working in partnership with Denver’s Office of Children’s Affair and host of corporate sponsors, led by Jacobs Engineering Group, to present the Next Generation City Builders program.

At these sites, each afternoon’s enrichment block features numerous planning activities, design challenges, and hands-on STEM activities – all related to city planning and design. “We’re excited to be a part of the Next Generation City Builders program,” said Diana Romero Campbell, president of Scholars Unlimited. “The curriculum is educational and engaging, and it is enabling our scholars to learn about ‘real-life” applications of science, technology, engineering and math while they participate in really fun, hands-on/minds-on activities.”

Want to learn more about Next Generation City Builders? Read more here. Or check out this video.

 

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