By Latia Shaw, DPS Foundation Staff Member
This week, I had a truly special experience. As a new staff member of the DPS Foundation, I went on my first site visit to a DPS after-school program. First, I’ll share with you a little bit about my background. After four years of supervising an after-school service learning program in Arizona, I’ve learned what a quality, enriching after-school program looks like. I set out for my visit with high expectations and left with a warm heart and a smile on my face.
Lake International Middle School is one of the many sites that serve more than 17,000 DPS students each day, thanks in large part to private funding from supporters like you. The best part about after-school programs is that they provide students with the opportunity to explore interests and exercise talents by providing opportunities that many students would never otherwise have access to. The kids transformed into rock stars while learning to play the drums, guitar, piano and singing during the School of Rock Club. While others sat in the driver’s seat of their education by exploring colleges and universities during the Kids on Campus Club. My favorite part was sitting in on the high school students during their orientation to become mentors for the middle school students in the program. I got chills listening to the students discussing how their mentorship would create trustworthy relationships, inspire growth and model dependability. The bond the high school students will create with the middle school students could have impact beyond our imagination, giving the younger students confidence and role models to serve as their allies.
And to think: if not for generous people like you, these children might be home alone, or worse – getting into trouble – after the last school bell rings.
Lake is one of many sites funded by the Denver Lights On After School (LOAS) partnership, a collaboration amongst the DPS Foundation, Mile High United Way, and the City and County of Denver aimed at ensuring quality, school-based after-school programs are sustained, and students are engaged, safe and enriching their learning experience in the after-school hours.
National Lights On Afterschool Day is October 17th. You can contribute to the success and expansion of programs like the ones at Lake by making a donation to support after-school programs.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You can save when you give to after-school programs! Gifts of $100 or more restricted for after-school programs may be eligible for a 50% Colorado state income tax credit. Due to a change in Colorado state law, the full benefit of the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit will be recognized over more than one year for gifts made in calendar years 2011 through 2014. Visit www.dpsfoundation.org/taxcredit for more information.