Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Alum Brandon Tate shared his journey from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College to Colorado State University and his career as an Investment Consultant at Charles Schwab. Drawing on his experience, Brandon reflected on how investing in DSF Scholars creates an impact that compounds over time, opening doors for students and their families and the Denver community.
The following remarks were shared by DSF Alum Brandon Tate during DSF’s inaugural Evening of Gratitude: Celebrating 20 Years of Impact, a special gathering honoring current and former DSF Board Members and their contributions to DSF’s first 20 years and looking ahead to the future of DSF.
In 2010, Brandon, then a 10th-grade student, received an award related to the Mile High Scholars program posing with Mayor John Hickenlooper
My journey with DSF started in northeast Denver at my high school, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College. My high school was one of the very first Denver Public Schools to have a dedicated DSF Future Center. Going to college was always my goal, but actually figuring out how to apply, pay for it, and navigate the process felt overwhelming. That’s where the DSF College Advisors came in. My DSF Advisors, Meredith Burrows Kidd and Gwendolyn Cagle, didn’t just give me information—they made sure I stayed on track, filled out all the right forms, and actually got into college. With their help, I chose to attend Colorado State University, where I majored in Business Administration. While at CSU, the DSF promise carried through people like Miel McCarthy. Miel was our DSF Campus Contact and worked very closely with DSF scholars. She made sure that I was on-track to graduate and that I had the resources to handle campus life, stay focused, and actually make it across the finish line with a degree.
After graduating college, I spent the first part of my career working as an insurance underwriter specializing in Directors & Officers liability. Since many of you have experience running companies, you’re probably pretty familiar with D&O insurance! You know that even when an organization has the best intentions, immaculate planning, and a great mission, unexpected storms hit. D&O insurance is there to absorb the shock—so when a crisis happens, leaders are protected and the mission doesn’t collapse.
In many ways, DSF acts as insurance for our entire Denver community. Life happens to students. A family financial emergency, tuition spikes, or just feeling completely lost in a university system can easily derail a college dream. But DSF steps in as that risk mitigation. Your time, leadership, and funding built the safety net that ensured our potential. You’ve made sure that when life inevitably throws challenges our way, we have the support to keep going.
DSF Alumni Advisory Committee pose in celebration with the DSF mascot Future in front of the 2025 Gala backdrop
Two years ago, I transitioned from a career as an insurance underwriter to an even more fulfilling role as an Investment Consultant at Charles Schwab, where I get to help families in our community achieve financial freedom and build generational wealth. In my daily work, I talk a lot about compounding and long-term asset growth. But standing here tonight, I can tell you with total conviction: there is no asset class on the market that compounds like a DSF Scholar. When you invest in a student, that seed capital doesn’t just buy a degree. It compounds into a career, financial independence for a family, and a leader who then turns around to invest in the next generation. That ROI is why I’ve stayed involved with DSF for the past six years, serving on the DSF Alumni Advisory Committee, including sharing my journey with other DSF Scholars as they start building their own generational wealth. Our committee’s goal is simple: help current DSF Scholars and Alumni build their professional networks, mentor them as they go through their own journeys, and make sure the ladder we climbed stays anchored for the students coming up behind us.
As we celebrate 20 years of DSF, I want to thank you again for underwriting our potential and investing in our dreams. You built something that genuinely changes lives and transforms our city. We’re so excited for everything coming up in this 20th anniversary year, and I hope you’ll stay connected, keep cheering on our DSF Scholars, and celebrate this huge milestone with us.
