Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) has proudly partnered with Leprino Foods since it’s inception, united by a shared commitment to education, career development, and community investment through philanthropic donations and volunteer support. Recently, DSF Scholars and staff had the unique opportunity to participate in a guided tour of Leprino’s Denver facility, a day filled with meaningful learning experiences, engaging conversations, and a deeper look into one of the world’s leading dairy manufacturers.
DSF Scholars at the Leprino Foods manufacturing plant in Denver.
As the largest producer of mozzarella cheese globally and a leading manufacturer of other dairy ingredients, Leprino Foods continues to set the standard for innovation and excellence. But beyond their production line, Leprino stands out, as still family owned, for its commitment to education and sustainable community growth. As part of their Global Responsibility strategy, Leprino identifies Industry Education as one of five key impact categories, supporting learning and career advancement in the dairy industry through meaningful partnerships, like the one with DSF.
Their continued investment through the DSF Named Scholarship is more than a financial commitment; it’s a powerful example of corporate responsibility in action. By supporting the college dreams of Denver Public Schools (DPS) students, Leprino is also helping to build a stronger, more equitable Denver community, one where students are equipped to be successful not only in college, but in the careers that follow.
Lorii Rabinowitz DSF’s CEO and Terry Leprino, President of Leprino Foods Foundation.
“As a proud partner of the Denver Scholarship Foundation, we are committed to working together to ensure students have access to the education and career opportunities they need to succeed” said Terry Leprino, president of Leprino Foods Foundation. “Welcoming DSF Scholars and employees to our Leprino corporate office, right here in Denver, allows them to gain deeper insight into our company and explore the diverse career pathways our leaders have taken to achieve their goals. We hope to inspire more students to discover their career choices and, ultimately, find their dream job.”
Terry Leprino speaking to DSF Scholars and staff.
For DSF Scholars, the tour offered an inspiring glimpse into the professional world and where their career pathways could take them. One DSF team member shared, “Visiting the Leprino Foods facility in Denver was an incredible experience; from learning about the company’s rich history and global impact in the food industry, to exploring the wide range of attainable career opportunities available to our DSF Scholars. I’m truly grateful for Leprino’s commitment to supporting student professional development, and of course, ending the visit by making pizzas was a fun and flavorful opportunity,” said Esmeralda Rodriguez, DSF Lead College Advisor at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Early College.
Another DSF Scholar reflected on the unexpected connections and career insights she gained during the visit: “The visit to Leprino Foods was honestly such an amazing experience. It was so cool being able to go behind the scenes and see what goes into the process of making this tasty cheese. I also loved the experience where each of their different employees explained their roles and experiences. This was very out of my career area, but it was surprising to find that there was a psychology major that started focusing on the family business. Overall, it was a great opportunity to branch out and see what other amazing routes my degree can take me and offer me! I absolutely loved how we were able to make our own pizza; it was truly the best pizza I have ever tried! This was an incredible experience for anyone to attend, and I would love to go back! They offered amazing hospitality and made sure we were very comfortable all through the time we were there,” said Laura Munoz-Soto, DSF Scholar attending Metropolitan State University of Denver.
DSF Scholars visiting Leprino Foods headquarters and making pizzas.
Experiences like this offer DSF Scholars not just a glimpse into potential careers, but a sense of belonging and possibility in industries they may never have considered. Leprino Foods’ ongoing partnership helps DSF fuel a pipeline of future leaders, students who are encouraged to dream big and bring these tools and resources to achieve their educational goals. Join DSF in celebrating Leprino Foods in their 75th year anniversary of impact, innovation and community support.
