Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is excited to announce expanded support from the KeyBank Foundation for DSF’s Parent and Family Engagement initiative. Families are often among the most important sources of encouragement and support for DSF Scholars, including many who identify as first-generation college students. KeyBank Foundation’s generous investment will help DSF expand programming, resources, and community connections that engage families as essential voices in students’ educational and career journeys.
DSF partners with Denver Public Schools (DPS) students and graduates as they navigate pathways to college completion through financial resources, career connections, and a strong support network, leading to lives of opportunity and generational impact. Through DSF’s nationally recognized, evidence-based three-part program, students receive a support system, actionable tools, and scholarships that guide them from high school through college and career.
At 15 DSF Future Centers inside DPS high schools, full-time DSF College Advisors proactively support students as they explore their options and plan for life after high school. But students do not navigate these decisions alone. Today, 87% of DSF Scholars – students who go onto receive the DSF Scholarship – identify as first-generation college students, making it especially important to surround students and families with trusted information, resources, and guidance. Parents and families are often students’ first and most trusted sources of encouragement, and DSF’s Parent and Family Engagement initiative helps ensure they have the tools and support to walk alongside their students through college and career pathways.
With 98% of Colorado’s top family-sustaining wage jobs requiring education beyond high school, helping families understand college and career pathways has never been more important. KeyBank’s investment will help ensure parents and caregivers have access to the information and resources needed to support students as they pursue those opportunities.
Chris Picardi, KeyBank Colorado Market President, shared the importance of investing in families: “Families are among the most important influences in a student’s educational journey. We are proud to support DSF’s efforts to equip families with the information, resources, and support they need to help students achieve their educational and career goals.” With KeyBank Foundation’s support, DSF will deepen this work by creating more intentional opportunities for parents and families to engage throughout their students’ journeys. The initiative will expand family programming and resources, strengthen workforce readiness, improve data and measurement, and create new opportunities for family feedback and engagement.
The impact of that support can be felt not only by students, but by their families walking alongside them. As one DSF Alumni parent shared: “Seeing our daughter graduate and go after her career goals is an understatement, as it’s truly a family celebration, and DSF has been with us, walking the same journey from high school to graduation.” Stories like this demonstrate how a student’s success can become a shared family milestone and why engaging families is an important part of DSF’s work.
DSF Parent and Family Engagement Committee members pose with DSF mascot Future at the KeyBank check presentation.
Student success extends beyond any one program, advisor, or scholarship. It is strengthened by a network of people who believe in a student’s potential and help them navigate opportunities and challenges along the way. Lorii Rabinowitz, Chief Executive Officer of DSF, emphasized the important role families play within that network: “Families are a powerful part of a student’s success story. For many of the students we serve, especially first-generation college students, family encouragement and support can make a profound difference in navigating the path to and through higher education. Thanks to KeyBank’s investment, we can deepen our engagement with parents and caregivers, provide them with the tools and resources they need, and strengthen the network of support that helps students achieve their educational and career goals.” When students and families are supported together, that impact can extend beyond college completion to strengthen families, communities, and future generations.
Brianna Hein, KeyBank VP, Corporate Responsibility Officer, and Katie Aring, KeyBank SVP, Commercial Banking Leader.
This partnership reflects DSF and KeyBank’s shared commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunity and preparing Colorado’s future workforce. “At KeyBank, we are committed to helping communities thrive through education and economic opportunity,” said Brianna Hein, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer. “Supporting DSF’s family engagement work is an investment in students, families, and the future workforce of Colorado.” Thank you, KeyBank Foundation, for your continued investment in DSF’s Parent and Family Engagement initiative and for helping families with the resources, tools, and information they need to walk alongside their students on their journeys.
At DSF we believe that when families are equipped to support their students, the benefits extend beyond college completion. They strength workforce readiness, economic mobility, and opportunities for future generations. Through this investment KeyBank and DSF are helping build a stronger future for students, families, and communities across Denver.
