2023-24 Annual Report

Letter From Our CEO

Dear friends,

I am excited to share this year’s Annual Report, a celebration of the hard work and remarkable accomplishments of Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Scholars and Denver Public Schools (DPS) students alongside the boundless efforts of DSF Alumni, staff, board, donors, and partners. I continue to be in awe of the incredible achievements of the entire DSF community, all so beautifully represented in the stories you will find in this report.

Our collective and unwavering focus on supporting Denver students from high school, to and through college graduation, and into career, is guided by living a life of choice, while fostering generational impact and engagement. Our commitment to engage with parents and families, and the impact on generations to come, highlights that today’s first-generation DSF Scholars will inspire future generations to pursue their own college and career dreams, creating a lasting legacy of success and opportunity.

In 2023-2024, DSF served over 12,000 DPS students and nearly 2,200 DSF Scholars, the highest numbers since the founding of our organization in 2006! We also engaged with hundreds of parents and family members, including them in conversations about their students’ postsecondary planning, assisting them with financial aid applications, and welcoming them to DSF Future Centers and college campuses. Our Parent and Family Engagement Committee (PFEC) hosted 27 families at the 2nd Annual Explore Auraria Campus event and provides ongoing and invaluable resources and engagement opportunities for all high school and postsecondary parents and families.

We are also fortunate to have so many DSF Alumni involved in our organization as they continue in their own career journeys. DSF Alumni serve on Standing Committees of the Board of Directors, our Associate Board and Alumni Advisory Committee (AAC), and 27% of DSF Advisors are also DSF Alumni! Their journeys, along with their personal experiences as DSF Scholars, help to build connections with, and inspire, today’s young people, and each of us as colleagues is lucky enough to work with them shoulder to shoulder.

I invite you to explore this year’s Annual Report filled with unforgettable highlights of our 2023-2024 fiscal year. Our work is only possible because of the dedication and passion of the DSF community as a whole; we share every success with each of you, and I thank you for your ongoing commitment to our mission and vision!

With gratitude for your partnership,

LORII RABINOWITZ

Chief Executive Officer
Denver Scholarship Foundation

Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is a nonprofit making college possible and building the educational and economic future of Denver by collaborating with Denver Public Schools high school students, families, and partners statewide to increase access and completion of post-high school learning and expand generational exposure to career and entrepreneurial opportunities.

DSF accomplishes this through its nationally recognized, evidence-based three-part program consisting of support systems, actionable tools, and scholarships to help guide students to lifelong success.

Our Three-Part Approach

College Access

Our full-time DSF College Advisors work proactively with DPS 9th-12th graders at our DSF Future Centers located inside DPS high schools.

Scholarships

We award need-based scholarships to DPS graduates attending a technical college, community college, or university in Colorado.

Success

We partner with colleges in Colorado to provide our scholarship recipients with ongoing support to help them succeed through college, career and beyond.

DSF Donor Spotlight

The Janus Henderson Foundation is proud to support DSF because of the great work DSF accomplishes in supporting DPS graduates pursuing higher education. We know our investment in DSF will generate an attractive return because of the success DSF has achieved in helping DSF Scholars succeed in their academic endeavors.

Jonathan Coleman

Portfolio Manager at Janus Henderson Investors, Janus Henderson Foundation Board of Directors, and DSF Board of Directors

Jonathan Coleman and the Coleman family were introduced to DSF in 2015, and they have since cultivated a deep, meaningful partnership. Giving back in numerous ways, Jonathan has served on the DSF Board of Directors since 2017, and he and his wife, Aimee, co-chaired the annual DSF Gala for three consecutive years. The Coleman family are proud multi-generation donors, including their children, Emerson and Quincy, and Jonathan’s parents, Mary Sue and Kenneth.

Professionally, Jonathan has been with Janus Henderson Investors for over 30 years and has engaged the company as a DSF Corporate Partner. For the past eight years, Janus Henderson has supported DSF through scholarships that have served over 50 DSF Scholars to date, College Access programming, and employee volunteerism. Additionally, Demesha Hill, President of the Janus Henderson Foundation, has spoken at DSF Scholar Summit and hosted on-site tours for DSF Scholars, inspiring Denver’s next generation of leaders.

College Access

DSF staff operated 15 DSF Future Centers serving Denver Public Schools (DPS) high schools.

54% of all DPS Seniors were served by DSF.

Icon with people figures representing 3,370

DSF College Advisors worked proactively with over 3,370 high school seniors and their families.

Icon with people figures representing 8,660

DSF expanded support by serving over 8,660 9th – 11th grade DPS students.

DSF Alum Victor Sandoval in a graduation robe with advisors Michele Lopez and Ashton Clouse

8 Years of DSF Support: 9th Grade to Career

DSF financial support and resources received by DSF Alum and new staff member Victor Sandoval allowed him to graduate debt-free and give back by guiding students like himself towards their own unique pathways to college.

Scholarships

DSF provided scholarships to over 2,190 esteemed and determined DSF Scholars in Denver.

DSF provided $7.6 million in scholarship dollars to graduates of Denver Public Schools pursuing a college education.

DSF surpassed $72 million in total scholarships awarded to over 10,690 Denver Public Schools graduates since the fall of 2007.

DSF Alum Deysi Macias smiles and poses in front of the Flatirons

Prioritizing Academics, Parenthood, and Generational Success

Deysi Macias, a first-generation DSF Scholar, pursued a biochemistry degree at CU Boulder to become a plastic surgeon while raising her son. As a daughter, sister, and mother, she strived to inspire her entire family to pursue their dreams.

Success

DSF partnered with 31 technical colleges, community colleges and universities in Colorado to provide on-campus support for DSF Scholars.

On average, as a part of our partnership, each year DSF Scholars receive $3 in additional financial aid from our College Partners for every $1 they receive from DSF.

88% of DSF Scholars were first-generation college students and 92% identified as students of color.

100% of DSF Scholars grew up in moderate to low to moderate-income households.

DSF Alum Dehrian Ramirez poses in front of a colorful brick wall

From DSF Scholar to Creative Trailblazer

DSF Alum Dehrian Ramirez, a son of immigrants and a first-generation college student, graduated from the University of Denver and leveraged his talents to land his dream job as a Lead Creative Graphic Designer at a local brand strategy firm.

Community Spotlights

Use the arrows to explore stories on the slides below.

01 | DONORS

BOA Champions Mentorship Through DSF Partnership

At BOA Technology Inc., the spirit of community service runs deep, with a particular focus on empowering the next generation. This commitment shines through their partnership with the DSF, where BOA employees, like Human Resources Manager, Kayla McAuliffe, take on pivotal mentorship roles that help shape the future of college students in the Denver area.

READ THE FULL STORY

02 | Partners

Honoring DSF 2023 Partners of the Year

DSF is honored to announce its 2023 Partners of the Year. These four individuals were honored at the 2023 DSF Homecoming Gala and have gone above and beyond to support DSF and our students in the following categories, Jasmine Villalobos-Valles as College Partner, David Woessner as District Partner, TeRay Esquibel as Community Partner, and Elissa Banker as Corporate Partner.

READ THE FULL STORY

03 | Sponsors

A Partnership Rooted in a Love for Denver Students

Special thank you to Denver7, one of the longest-established media sponsors of DSF Homecoming Annual Gala. As a Media Sponsor and proud supporter of DSF, Denver7 has impacted many in the Denver community. Highlighting many DPS students served inside of the DSF Future Centers. As well as many success stories of DSF Scholars and Alumni and brought awareness to multiple DSF events, including the DSF’s annual Gala, financial aid preparation events, and other college readiness education, Denver7 is one of the primary sources of information for the Denver community.

READ THE FULL STORY

04 | Alumni

DSF Alumni Doctor & Mentor Begins Residency

DSF Alum Dr. Adele Collins graduated from University of Colorado School of Medicine and thanks DSF for being a valuable resource from the beginning of her education journey. Adele went to North High School and graduated from the University of Denver with a major in Molecular Biology in the pre-medical track. She is a first-generation college graduate who relied on the support from DSF to navigate the college-going process.

READ THE FULL STORY

“DSF was there at a turning point in my journey. It wasn’t just about scholarships—it was about having a space where my dreams were nurtured, my voice was valued, and my path to higher education was made possible. Now, I encourage others to break barriers, embrace their identities, and build a legacy of impact for our community.”

TeRay Esquibel
DSF Alum | Executive Director at Ednium: The Alumni Collective

“Surely with hardship comes ease. My DSF Advisors Hannah and Juan helped me through all the issues I had when figuring out my financial aid and college situation. There was so much back and forth with the college but they helped me throughout it all and everything is great now! So surely with the hardship I went through, came the ease once it was sorted out.”

Abdelrahman Hamid
DSF Scholar

“U.S. Bank is honored to stand alongside DSF, powering potential and empowering our next generation workforce. From the DSF Future Centers to DSF’s impressive college success rate, we are so proud that we are a part of generational wealth building for DSF Scholars.”

Marcia Romero
DSF Named Scholarship Donor | U.S. Bank, Vice President of Community Development/Relations

“To me, DSF means opportunity, resilience, and community. It is a network of support that empowers students and DSF Alumni like me to dream bigger and reach further.”

Jasmine Villalobos-Valles
DSF Alum | Coordinator Scholarship, Leadership, and Community Partner Programs at Metropolitan State University of Denver

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“DSF has done a wonderful job of pairing students with mentors that make sense. It’s about making a direct impact. When you’re one-on-one with a mentee, you have the opportunity to really make an impact in one person’s life, which ultimately ripples into the community.”

Kayla McAuliffe
DSF Donor and Mentor | BOA Technology Inc. Human Resources Manager

“The work at DSF goes beyond helping students get into college; it’s about giving students the skills, tools, networks, and confidence they need to persist to graduation and pursue a life filled with choice and opportunity. For those who believe in the power of education to change lives, I encourage you to learn more about DSF and consider supporting its work. Together, we can make a lasting impact—not just on the Denver students we serve but on the future of our communities.”

Ryan Burton
DSF Executive Doctoral Resident

“DSF has truly felt like home for me during my transition to college. I’m incredibly grateful to my DSF College Advisor, Ms. Loya; her support and warmth have made all the difference. She believed in me when I needed it most, helping me navigate challenges and inspiring me to pursue my dreams with confidence.”

Izaiah Randall
DSF Future Center Student at Abraham Lincoln High School

“I have long been an advocate of closing the academic achievement gap and making post-high school learning more accessible to all students. DSF continues to be a pioneer in this field and I am honored to serve on the Board of such an impactful organization.”

Daniel Wetmore
DSF Board Member | Vice President, Operations Innovation, DaVita

Denver Scholarship Foundation helps make college a reality as more students pursue higher education

READ FULL STORY

First-generation student set to graduate college with help from a local non-profit

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Workshop helps students with FAFSA forms

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Denver Scholarship Foundation supports students through FAFSA delays

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Eventos de asistencia con solicitud FASFA

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Financials

The DSF mission gives our donors something worth investing in, and our fiscal responsibility solidifies their sound return on investment.

Statement of Activities

Support and Revenue

Gifts & Grants	$6,445,047
Net Investment Income	$4,263,513
Government Grants	$852,218
Special Events Revenue (net)	$1,023,846
Prosperity Denver Fund	$6,812,064
Other	$151,183
Total Support & Revenue	$19,547,871

Expenses

Scholarships	$8,234,354
Program (Access & Success)	$5,842,203
Fundraising, Marketing, & Communications	$1,191,128
General & Administrative	$2,004,630
Totals	$17,272,315

Statement of Financial Position

Assets

Cash & Cash Equivalents	$3,894,805
Pledge Receivables	$2,185,944
Investments	$31,995,710
Fixed Assets (net)	$55,822
Other Assets	1,437,483
Totals	$39,897,161

Liabilities & Net Assets

Liabilities

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	$878,972
Deferred Sponsorships & Refundable Advances	$275,000
Lease Liability	$1,274,717
Total Liabilities	$2,428,689

Net Assets

Unrestricted	$3,403,310
Restricted	$34,065,162
Total Net Assets	$37,468,472

Statements of financial position and activities as of June 30, 2024.

DSF Staff

From advising high school students to processing scholarship payments, the impact of DSF staff serves as the heartbeat of DSF.

Staff list current as of the 2023-24 fiscal year..

Executive Team

Nate Cadena
Chief Impact Officer

Erin Henninger
Chief Development Officer

Lorii Rabinowitz
Chief Executive Officer

Patti Schwartzberg
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Development

Taylor Atkinson
Donor Relations Manager

Cendy De La Torre Gonzalez
Events Manager

Robin DeGrassi James
Director of Development Operations

Sara Golditch
Corporate Relations and Volunteer Manager

Kate Lievens
Director of Individual Philanthropy

Becca Orozco
Director of Corporate Relations

Corey Layden
Development Operations Specialist

Juliana Wierimaa
Director of Events

Marketing and Communications

Olivia Omega
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Graciela Valencia
Marketing Project Coordinator

Kimberley Villegas
Marketing and Communications Manager

Evan Wilder
Creative Design Manager

Administration

Taylor Circeo
Operations Manager

Rigo Hinojos
IT Support Administrator

Rachel Hull
IT Support Administrator

Adriana Kilday
Salesforce Administrator

Mat Lichini
Director of Finance

Elizabeth Miscles
Accountant

Angrith Na
Director of Data & Evaluation

Maria Rangel Leon
Salesforce Administrator/Business Analyst

Alma Rocha Vasquez
Employee Experience Coordinator

Sara Saucedo
Executive Assistant

Jake Wenger
Director of Technology

Patricia Whitehouse
Senior Director of People & Culture

Program

Lidia Alvarez
Success Partnership Manager

Renae Bellew
Senior Program Director

Danté Bills
Assistant Director of Access

Emily Carlson
Program Coordinator

Ashton Clouse
Director of College Success

Natasha Garfield
Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid

Gabe Guindon
Director of College Access

B.J. Layman
Assistant Director of Advisement

Stephanie López
Success Program Manager

Diana Madriz
Assistant Director of College Access

Kevin McNulty
Career & Applied Pathways Manager

Breanna Murphy
Scholarship Data Specialist

Benjamin Stevens
Scholarship Program Manager

Steph Yazell
Assistant Director of Success Advisement

Campus Advisors

Alyssa Diaz
Campus Advisor

Maria Finan
Lead Campus Advisor

Cynthia Gallegos
Campus Advisor

Kyle Goodbee
Campus Advisor

Citlalith Medrano
Campus Advisor

Anitra Montoya
Lead Campus Advisor

Elynn Price
Campus Advisor

Steph Saenz
Campus Advisor

Liz Taylor
Campus Advisor

Denisse Villalba
Campus Advisor

College Advisors

Juan Aguilar-Estrada
College Advisor

Leslie Andrade
College Advisor

Alyssa Baker
College Advisor

Miguel Banuelos-Garcia
College Advisor

Kenny Boettcher
College Advisor

Katie Damas
College Advisor

Alejandra Gutierrez
College Advisor

Elijah Huff
College Advisor

Ali Klein
College Advisor

Michele Lopez
College Advisor

Angelica Lopez-Rodriguez
College Advisor

Patton Lowell
College Advisor

Joselyn Loya Acosta
College Advisor

Caitlin Mendenhall
College Advisor

Ambria Merriex
College Advisor

Hannah Minturn
College Advisor

Gabriela Molinar-Castillo
College Advisor

Zachary Montez
Lead College Advisor

Yesenia Ortiz
College Advisor

Araceli Palacios
College Advisor

Claudia Quiroz
College Advisor

Federico Rangel
Lead College Advisor

Esmeralda Rodriguez
Lead College Advisor

Zulema Sierra
Lead College Advisor

Chiara Spavieri
College Advisor

Emily Webster
Lead College Advisor

Emily Weiss
Lead College Advisor

TRIO Talent Search

Ismael Garcia
Assistant Director of TRIO

Denise Kupetz
TRIO Operations Specialist

Ivan Montes
Assistant Director of TRIO

Derrek Sandoval
Assistant Director of TRIO

Jose Olivo
Director of TRIO Talent Search

DSF Board

Our board of directors, comprised of leaders invested in the success of every Denver Public Schools student, shapes the future and direction of DSF.

Board list current as of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Luella Chavez D’Angelo
Chair
Senior Advisor, International Center for Executive Options
Lee Hecht Harrison

Katie L. MacWilliams
Treasurer
Community Volunteer

John A. Elofson
Secretary
Partner, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

Steve E. Abelman
Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Maria G. Arias
Principal, Maria Arias Solutions

Laurie Barela
Founder & CEO, Vargas Wealth Management

Andy Boian
Founder & CEO, dovetail solutions

Tom F. Brady
Executive Director of the J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities, CU Denver Business School

Daniel C. Brown
Delivery Executive, Customer Success Services, SAP

Denise Burgess
President & CEO, Burgess Services

Stacy Carpenter
Shareholder, Polsinelli

Jennifer Cmil
Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Newmont

Jonathan Coleman
Portfolio Manager, Janus Henderson

Luis A. Colón
Chief Administrative Officer, History Colorado

Shannon Connery
Psychologist

James Cousin
CFO & Chief Diversity Officer, AORN

Don Daboub
SVP of Sales, Entravision

Bob F. Deibel
President & Owner, OfficeScapes Group

Barry Dorfman
President, Rocky Mountain Region, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.

Cathey M. Finlon
Retired CEO & Chair, McClain Finlon

John J. Hanley
Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Marisa Hudson Arney
Attorney, Condit Csajaghy LLC

John A. Ikard
Retired CEO, FirstBank Holding Company

Steve Krom
SVP of Marketing and Sales West Division, Comcast

HuyenThi Le
Associate Board Chair
Independent Mortgage Broker, Industry Home Mortgage

Sandi Lewis
Board Member

Andy Miller
Co-Founder & Managing Director, Copley Equity Partners LLC

Lisa Neal-Graves
Retired CEO, Aurora Wellness Community

R. Scott Nycum
Retired Vice Chairman, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Betsy Rodriguez
Retired

Jennifer Sobanet
Chancellor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Ryan Tobin
Market President for the Greater Denver Market, CommonSpirit

Anne Trujillo
Retired News Anchor, Denver7 News

Danny Wetmore
Vice President, Operations Innovation, DaVita

DSF Associate Board

The Associate Board members are an integral part in inspiring Denver Public Schools students and providing the tools, knowledge, and financial resources essential for success.

Associate Board list current as of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

HuyenThi Le
Chair
Independent Mortgage Broker, Industry Home Mortgage

David Brewster
Chair-Elect
Attorney, Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC

Jason Clark
Chair Emeritus
Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Charles Schwab

Bola Adeyeye
Production Engineering Manager, Antero Resources

Clement Asante
Associate, Polsinelli

Daniella Branger
Business Banking Sales Manager, US Bank

Abby Brown
Strategy & Analytics Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting

Amber Conn
Investor Relations Coordinator, Liberty Media

Emmanuel Dominguez
Senior Loan Officer, Supreme Lending

Brian Dorfman
Vice President Operations at PropX, Liberty Energy

Arnold Fernandez
Senior Investment Associate, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Dani Fleming
Senior Consultant, Strategy and Operations, Slalom

Tyler Gamble
Strategic Initiatives Manager, The ZOMA Foundation

Rachele Hepburn
Senior Commercial Operations Manager, Trustpilot

Jen Hornemann
Vice President, Production, Antero Resources

Michael Kelly
Relationship Manager – AVP – Front Range Business Banking, Vectra Bank Colorado

Julia Marone
Assurance Manager, DaVita

Joe Miller
Founder & Managing Partner, Flatiron Search Partners

Sibylle Miller
Environmental, Social, Governance and Communication Specialist, Western Union

Joe Newswander
Assistant Principal, Erie High School

Lynn Ngo
Senior Vice President, Relationship Banker III, First Western Trust

Sav Pillay
Head of Strategy and Operations, Fountain

Carmen Robinson, MSN, RN

Kai Suematsu
DevOps Engineer Analyst, Accenture

Hannah Williams
Staff Counsel, Resource Capital Funds

Jeff Wulliman
Project Manager, Muller Engineering Company, Inc

Alumni Advisory Committee

The Alumni Advisory Committee (AAC) is made up of DSF Alumni who are engaged in growing and strengthening our larger alumni population.

Alumni Advisory Committee list current as of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Bintou Diallo
Co-Chair
Senior Associate Analyst, Infosys Limited

Jasmine Villalobos-Valles
Co-Chair
Coordinator Scholarship, Leadership, and Community Partner Programs for Scholarship Support, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ousman Ba
Co-Social Chair
Education Program Coordinator, African Leadership Group

Jeri Romero
Co-Social Chair
Site Operations Manager, Colorado UpLift

Perla Bustillos
Parliamentarian
CEO & Project Manager, Inspirada Co.

Keema Ebong
Social Media Chair
Account Coordinator, Dept

Amodj Manga
Mentorship Program Chair
Court Operations Analyst, Denver District Court

Elvis Molina
Treasurer
Network Implementation Engineer 2, Lumen

Mattias Assefa
Senior Associate, Willis Towers Watson

Tifany Quinonez
Audit Staff, Crowe, LLP

Brandon Tate
Account Executive Officer, Travelers

Jesus Terrones-Pulido
Engagement Specialist, Kaiser Permanente

Graciela Valencia
Marketing Project Coordinator, Denver Scholarship Foundation

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