Latest Contribution in Support of the Multi-Faceted Relationship between Janus and Denver Public Schools.
Employees at Janus – a Denver-based global investment firm – have made a significant donation to provide critically-needed support for Denver Public Schools students experiencing homelessness. Spearheaded by the leadership team at Janus and supported by employees at all levels of the company, this giving initiative generated both dollars and food donations to support the 1,780 students and families in DPS experiencing homelessness this school year. The fundraising campaign is still ongoing, with additional donations being collected every day. To date, Janus employees have raised close to $20,000 and donated food products that will provide more than 200 “snack packs” of nutritious food which will provide nighttime meals and food security for families who desperately need it.
“More than 1,780 students enrolled in DPS this school year will experience homelessness, it’s truly a staggering statistic,” said Jackie Bell of DPS’ Education Outreach Program, which exists to remove educational barriers that prevent homeless children from having a successful school experience. “This gift from Janus is a tremendous opportunity for us to provide the very most basic thing our children need in order to be ready to learn: a healthy meal. Their financial support and also the donation of food products will have a tremendous impact on students and families facing the frightening reality of food insecurity.”
Of these 1,780 students, 46 percent are doubled-up with others families due to loss of housing and economic difficulties; 40 percent are living in shelters or emergency short term-housing; 12 percent are in motels; and a staggering 31 students report being unsheltered. “In addition to the uncertainty of being in transition and without a home, these students often don’t know when or how they will get their next meal,” says Bell. “Thanks to the generous support from Janus, we’ve been able to answer that question for these children, sending them home with food that will ensure they have a meal and are able to focus on their studies, despite their circumstances outside the classroom. The impact of this gift is profound. We are so grateful for partners like Janus who see the need for this kind of direct support.”
This most recent employee-driven donation is illustrative of Janus’ deep and multi-level commitment to Denver Public Schools. Janus is also the single largest corporate donor to DPS, having pledged more than $5 million over the last six years to support innovative initiatives including the Denver Teacher Residency and Blended Learning, investments in core strategies to help DPS accelerate its progress and close the achievement gap. Learn more about Janus’ investment in DPS here.
“Our commitment to DPS exists on so many levels,” said Casey Cortese, President of the Janus Foundation. “While our grants to support school innovation are core to our community investment strategy, we have also seen tremendous commitment from our individual employees, who want to make a direct and immediate impact for students and families. This gift to support children experiencing homelessness is one example of that. Our employees also tutor DPS first graders weekly via the DPS Foundation’s Tutormate program; collect school supplies every summer to send kids back to the classroom ready to learn; and we host job shadow days to help open students’ eyes to the careers that await them. Through these programs, we hope to do our part to support the success of our students – our future leaders.”
Businesses or organizations interested in becoming engaged with Denver Public Schools are encouraged to contact the DPS Foundation at (720) 423-3553. The DPS Foundation can help direct your support – financial, volunteer, in-kind or otherwise – to have the greatest impact on DPS students. Learn more at www.dpsfoundation.org.