A Quarterly Report on Impact: Fall 2026
Dear Community,
For DPS students, one opportunity can be the start of something bigger. It can mean learning something new, gaining newfound confidence or being able to explore a new passion. DPS Foundation’s My Spark Scholarship gives eligible middle school students the chance to explore their interests and pursue experiences that inspire them.
For DJ Rina, who will be a 9th grader this year, that meant taking a growing passion for DJing beyond the classroom. After first learning to DJ through a middle school elective, she used her My Spark Scholarship to continue participating in a Denver DJ program, which helped her keep building her skills and ultimately have equipment of her own.
This summer, DJ Rina took her passion behind the DJ booth at Back to Class Bash at McMeen Elementary, bringing the energy and setting the soundtrack for the school community. “If it wasn’t for My Spark, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have been able to get all of my equipment. I just think it’s really special to have this opportunity and to be DJing.”
Now, DJ Rina is looking ahead to more opportunities to DJ, take on bigger events and continue pursuing something she loves. Her story is one example of what My Spark makes possible when students have the resources to explore their interests and see where they can lead.
My Spark Scholarship is just one example of what donors like you have helped to make possible for DPS students. Thank you for ensuring they have the experiences and resources they need to thrive.
For all of our students,
Sara Hazel
President & CEO
Denver Public Schools Foundation
My Spark Scholarship
During the 2025–26 school year, DPS Foundation completed its first full year as the home of My Spark Denver, expanding access to afterschool and enrichment opportunities for eligible DPS students in grades 6–8. Through DPS Foundation’s My Spark Scholarship, students receive a $1,000 restricted virtual card to use with approved program providers, giving families the flexibility to choose experiences that reflect their interests.
Beyond expanding access for students, My Spark gives families greater choice in how they use enrichment opportunities while also creating meaningful economic impact for businesses and organizations across the Denver metro area. Already, more than $1.02 million has been spent with program providers, with additional scholarship funds continuing to be used by participating families.
Highlights
Hear from the community on the impact of My Spark Scholarship
My Spark has been so great! My son has been able to try activities and sports of interest to him. I am grateful to be able to afford the cost of sports and camps that would otherwise be unobtainable financially. I am also grateful to be able to provide experiences that make his world bigger, deepen his passions and challenge him to grow whether mentally or physically. There are few opportunities that come across like My Spark, especially that give you freedom to choose across such a wide variety of activities and interests. We are thankful, grateful and blessed to be a part of the My Spark program. Please keep this program alive and expand it if possible. This is a lifeline! — Parent of a 2026 My Spark Scholarship recipient
It has helped my daughter find her passion and her friends. The program has also helped me support our community. — Parent of a 2026 My Spark Scholarship recipient
Engagement and Volunteerism
School Partners Program
The School Partners Program connects businesses, volunteers and community partners with DPS schools to help meet needs identified by school communities. Through these partnerships, DPS Foundation helps bring volunteers, supplies and donated resources directly to schools across the district.
These totals reflect School Partners Program activity from July through September 2026, including our five Back to Class Bash service day school sites.
DPS Foundation Stories
Explore stories and conversations that bring DPS Foundation’s impact to life.
Let’s Get REEL
In our latest Let’s Get REEL conversation, DPS Foundation, DPS and Kaiser Permanente explore how trauma-informed and restorative practices are helping students remain connected to their education and strengthening support across the district.
Back to Class Bash on Denver7
DPS Foundation joined Mile High Living host Sam Boik to share more about Back to Class Bash season and how community support helps students and educators start the school year with beautified school grounds and the resources they need to thrive.
DPS Foundation in
The Washington Post
DPS Foundation President and CEO Sara Hazel was featured in The Washington Post highlighting the newly established DPS Foundation Opportunity Fund and its potential to unlock additional funding for DPS students and schools.
Back to Class Bash 2026
Our sixth annual Back to Class Bash Service Days were a huge success! We saw wonderful transformations across our five school sites: Denver Montessori Jr./Sr. High School, Barney Ford Elementary, Goldrick Elementary, McMeen Elementary and Valverde Elementary.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors, we are proud to share that more than $100,000 was raised in support of DPS students, educators and families.
We’re grateful to our Back to Class Bash 2026 sponsors: Chevron, United Airlines, Denver7, Swire Coca-Cola, Fidelity Investments, Kaiser Permanente, Adolfson & Peterson Construction, BKV, CU Denver, Janus Henderson Investors, LONG Building Technologies, PCL Construction, Suncor, Swinerton, U.S. Engineering Construction, Alpine Bank, Cherry Creek Pediatric Dentistry, Corebridge Financial, Innovest, JLL and Newrez.
Inspired by the day of giving back, Goldrick Elementary School Principal Taryn Rawson shared, “We show up every day to prove to our kids, our families and our city that they are just as capable of academic excellence. Having an environment that reflects that is important, and by being here today to beautify the campus, we are sending them that message. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being here today.”
DPS 5K, A Fun Run with DPS Foundation
On October 3, DPS Foundation and the DPS Employee Wellness Department came together for the second annual DPS 5K, A Fun Run. 236 DPS students, families, educators and community members gathered at Berkeley Lake Park for a morning of exercise, wellness and fun—all in support of DPS students and educator wellness.
The event was more than a run—it was a celebration of community and a commitment to health and wellness. Proceeds from the 5K directly support the DPS Foundation’s work, funding afterschool programs, career readiness, direct classroom and student grants, wrap-around support for families, and more. Together, we ensured that DPS students started the year with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
At DPS, the Employee Wellness Team has cultivated a thriving district-wide culture that puts personal well-being at the forefront of supporting students. Over the last three school years, total employee participation touchpoints more than tripled. Events like the Back2School 5K, with the collaboration of the DPS Foundation, highlight this impressive growth, proving that investing in staff health builds a stronger, more resilient school community. — Cynthia Chico, DPS Employee Wellness Program Manager
DPS Foundation in the Community
DPS Foundation team members have been busy connecting across the Denver community over the past few months!
Our staff welcomed new DPS educators at the annual New Educator Fair (second row, right image), attended an Educators Take Flight event hosted by United Airlines (bottom left image) and connected with community partners at the Mile High United Way Grantee Showcase at Clayton Early Learning (top right image). We were also proud to receive a PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Award, recognizing Achieve Gala 2025 in the Nonprofit Events category (top left image)!
DPS Foundation team members also joined community partners at school supply events supporting DPS students and educators, including events with Meritrust Credit Union and the Christian Braun Foundation at Gust Elementary School (bottom right image) and VF Corporation at Marie L. Greenwood Early-8 (third row, left image). Additionally, our Board of Directors and staff gathered at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for our annual Board Retreat (second row, left image), and we held our full team retreat (third row, right image), focused on reflection, collaboration and connection as we looked ahead to the year to come.
Financials
Thank You To Our Hardworking Team!
DPS Foundation Team
Sara Hazel, President & CEO
Angelica Garcia, Communications Manager
MaryBeth Lawson, Vice President of Development
Lauren Lindgren, Development Officer, Grants & Foundation Relations
Cynthia Griggs, Database Manager
Jennifer Mays-Krimmer, Impact Engagement Director
Ashley Muramoto, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Crystal Noonan, Executive Support Manager
Samantha Rogan, Events Manager
Jennifer Struthers-Johnson, Finance Controller
Erin Shelby, Development Manager
Elena Mendoza, Grantmaking & Program Manager
Jillian Esquivel, Development Manager
DPS Foundation Board Members
Executive Committee
Dr. Rebecca Grant Zarret | Chair — Founder, Rebecca Grant Zarret Coaching & Retreats
Carmon Hicks | Immediate Past Chair — Senior Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle
Michael Kapoor | Chair-Elect — Senior Vice President of Majestic Realty Co.
Nancy Walsh | At-Large Member of Executive Committee — Chief Operating Officer, Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Dan Galemba | Treasurer — Vice President of Revenue Strategy and Operations at DaVita
Tyler Loy | Secretary — Chief Financial Officer, Snooze Eatery
Board Members
Kimberly Allegretti — President, Venn Travel Attorney, McCollum Crowley, Moschet, Miller & Laak
Jamie Villarreal Bassett — Chief Learning, Development and Culture Officer
Stacy Carpenter — Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Marisa Carson, Ph.D. — Head of Talent Management, Global Product & Technology, Visa
Mary Clark — Provost Emerita, University of Denver; Professor, Sturm College of Law, University of Denver
Allie Engelken — Vice President of Community Impact, Denver Broncos | Executive Director, Denver Broncos Foundation
Xóchitl Gaytán — President, Denver Public Schools Board of Education (Non-voting board member)
Alphonso Hawkins — Senior Vice President, US Bank
Latia Henderson — Director of Strategic Communications & Informed Communities, Gates Family Foundation
Sylvia Hilario — Corporate Controller at Burgerville LLC
Dr. Alex Marrero — Superintendent, Denver Public Schools (Non-voting board member)
Alanna McKiernan — Vice President and Regional Counsel at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
Kelli Clifton Ogunsanya — CEO, OneTogether Solutions
Brandy Radey — Senior Advisor, Community Relations, Suncor
Dr. Ashlee Saddler — Partnership for Leaders in Education – District Support Chief, University of Virginia
David Salazar — Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Comcast
Tony Salazar — Vice President for Outreach & Engagement, University of Colorado System
Lauren Sisneros — Founder & Principal, LS Consultants, LLC
Kristin Stork — Director of Strategic Partnerships at Denver 7
Alec Wynne — Managing Director, Greenwood CRE Denver, LLC
BJ Youngerman — Managing Director, Loyalty Partnerships & Business Development, United Airlines