A Quarterly Report on Impact: Summer 2026
As students begin summer break, we’re reflecting on what was possible for students, educators and families across Denver Public Schools this year. Through DPS Foundation’s Student Grantmaking program, graduating seniors Giang Pham and Marin LeMire brought meaningful projects to life and are now stepping into exciting next chapters at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Vermont.
They shared what this support made possible:
“The Denver Public Schools Foundation was able to help make my sustainability project possible. Building a hydroponic system can be challenging and easy to fail at, but this grant allowed me to explore and learn new things without worrying about failure, seeing it instead as a lesson to improve rather than a financial burden.” — Giang Pham, Student Grant Recipient and Valedictorian, Abraham Lincoln High School
Watch Giang’s Senior Spotlight video
“DPS Foundation awarded me a student grant that made it possible for the students on our robotics team to attend a travel competition this season. Many of us rely on travel scholarships to attend competitions. Thanks to this support, every student had the opportunity to compete and grow together at the Northern Arizona Regional, where we became regional finalists! After high school, I am planning to attend the University of Vermont and major in mathematics.”
— Marin LeMire, Student Grant Recipient, George Washington High School
Watch Marin’s Senior Spotlight video
Thank you for all you made possible for our students, educators and families!
The DPS Foundation Team
Achieve Gala 2026
Achieve Gala 2026 was a celebration of what becomes possible when a community shows up for students.
On April 16, more than 1,055 attendees gathered for Achieve Gala 2026: A Community of Possibility: In School and Beyond, raising more than $1 million to support Denver Public Schools students, educators, and families.
Achieve Gala 2026 Highlights
From student performances to powerful reflections, the evening celebrated the talent, leadership, and possibility that exist across Denver Public Schools. Maggie and Diego (pictured to the right), seniors at George Washington High School, served as this year’s student emcees and guided the program with confidence. Denver School of the Arts student speakers Daniela and Veronika, shared what that support has meant in their own lives: “DPS has not just educated us. It has shaped us. It has challenged us. It has made space for us to become who we are becoming. With opportunities such as sports, free lunches, clubs, books and tech, workforce development, community hubs for families, and afterschool activities, the district and the DPS Foundation provide things that should be basic, but that many students might not otherwise have access to.”
Achieve Gala 2026 was more than a celebration. It was a reminder that when the community invests in students, students lead, inspire, and show us what is possible.
Expanding Summer Access Through Discovery Link
Upon learning that budget constraints would reduce this year’s grant-based summer programming from the usual six to eight weeks down to two, Denver Public Schools Foundation was able to respond quickly thanks to donor support.
DPS Foundation funded an additional week of Discovery Link at Barnum Elementary School, extending grant-based summer camp from two weeks to three weeks, providing summer enrichment care for up to 150 students per day from several school sites across the district.
This expansion ensures that more students have access to a safe, engaging environment while offering families peace of mind when school is out of session.
Learn more about how DPS Foundation supports afterschool programs!
I know one week of summer camp might not seem like a lot, but our camps are life changing for many students and families. We have all been struggling deeply with the fact that we have had to decrease summer support for our communities of need. Hearing that we are now able to provide an additional week of camp immediately made me emotional because I know that it will mean that families can go to work and know their children are safe, and that our students are going to have experiences that they will remember decades down the road. We are all so grateful for this funding,” said Julie Melki, Senior Manager, Extended Learning and Community Schools.
School Partners Program
Denver Public Schools Foundation partners recently showed up across several Denver Public Schools campuses for meaningful days of service, helping create brighter, more welcoming spaces for students, educators, and families.
Renewable Energy Systems at
Cheltenham Elementary School:
RES volunteers revitalized the school library by helping DPS Library Services team members organize and reshelve books by genre and alphabetical order.
Kaiser Permanente at
Hamilton Middle School:
Kaiser Permanente employees brought fresh energy to Hamilton Middle School by helping spruce up shared spaces and prepare materials for students and educators ahead of an upcoming testing week.
Vantage Data Centers at
UPrep Arapahoe:
Vantage volunteers painted the blacktop to give students a brighter, more colorful playground when they returned from spring break.
Delta Dental of Colorado at
Samuels Elementary School:
Delta Dental employees painted the blacktop, spread fresh mulch, refreshed the outdoor playground space, and assisted school staff members with classroom and facility projects inside the school.
2025-26 Impact by the Numbers
DPS Foundation in the Community
DPS Foundation team members have been busy connecting with partners and community organizations across Denver as the 2025–26 school year wraps up.
This season, the team attended several community events, including (pictured in order of listing left to right, top to bottom) Florence Crittenton Services’ Pathways to Empowerment 2026, DPS Foundation team member Erin Shelby’s graduation from the Institute for Leaders in Development at University of Denver, the Denver Afterschool Alliance luncheon, City Year Denver’s Rock the Red Jacket event, Latin American Educational Foundation’s Sueños to Success event, and the Mile High United Way Women United Lunch.
