Letter From Jerome and Anthony
Over the last two years, we’ve learned how important it is to find joy – especially for the simple things that brighten our lives even during challenging times.
Our alumni at the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation gave us reason to find joy in the community we’re building through connections in 2020-2021. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to inspire our communities to create positive change, and you helped the Foundation do just that.
Sincerely,
Jerome Davis
President, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
Executive Vice President, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Anthony Graves
Chair, 2020-2021 Board of Directors
Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
Finding Joy
Despite the hardships many of us have experienced over the last two years, we know we have to find the positive in every day. There are the things that are easier to recognize – vaccinations rolling out, schools and businesses reopening, finally getting on a plane to hug a loved one and more.
At the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, our greatest joy is in the community we continue to build through our programs.
In 2020-2021, you answered the call for civic leadership at a critical time – whether it was virtual, hybrid or in person. You came together at a time when coming together wasn’t easy.
Doing Well By Doing Good
B:CIVIC, a part of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, called for your leadership, too. Through corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, B:CIVIC and its members got the good going.
- 377 B:CIVIC program participants
- 344 Virtual B:CIVIC Summit attendees
- 24 B:CIVIC events with 959 virtual attendees
- 75 CSR Certifications issued
- 50 companies, including 34 B:CIVIC members honored as part of the 2021 Civic 50 Colorado
- 150 companies committed to the CEO Pledge to combat racism by listening, learning and leading more effectively
Contributing to the Community
Impact Denver alumni know how to find joy by contributing to our community. Here’s how our Impact Denver program participants made a difference in 2020-2021:
A Return to Travel
Even though the Leadership Exchange: Atlanta technically happened in FY2022, we’re going to recognize it as an accomplishment in 2021, too. Two years in the making, our LEX delegation touched down at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in September 2021 for three days of learning how Atlanta is growing while intentionally collaborating across sectors to ensure that growth is inclusive. LEX: Atlanta, presented by Suncor Energy and Delta Dental of Colorado, inspired us once again to continue our important work to make the Denver Metro region the best place to live, work and do business for all residents.
Commitment to the Future
You also invested in and engaged the next generation of leaders. At our inaugural Alumni Giving Day in November 2020, you stepped up to raise money for our Leading Colorado Scholarship Fund.
The class of
Leadership Denver 2015 raised the most money and had the most alumni participate
173
alumni from 35 Leadership Foundation programs participated
$10,000
donated by Molson Coors during our donation challenge
At the Foundation’s signature event, Leading Colorado, our alumni continued to open doors for remarkable civic leaders who otherwise would not be able to participate in our transformational programs. Even in a virtual format, attendees donated over $6,000, exceeding Southwest Airlines’ challenge pledge of $5,000. And we announced the 2021 9NEWS Leader of the Year Jesse Ogas and the Student Leader of the Year Sara Khammash, who graduated from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. Congratulations also to 9NEWS Leader of the Year finalists Adeeb Khan, with Delta Dental of Colorado, and Lorii Rabinowitz, with the Denver Scholarship Foundation!
Overall, in FY2021, the Leading Colorado Scholarship Fund:
Received $141,207 in donations
Distributed $73,500 to 59 leaders who received scholarships to take part in programs
Distributed scholarships from the FirstBank Scholarship Fund to another 59 recipients
The FirstBank Scholarship Fund received $64,317 in contributions and distributed $148,632
Finding Connection Every Day
At the Leadership Foundation, we recognize the everyday connections that keep our alumni community together. Many of those everyday connections happened on The Network. In 2020-2021, The Network had:
729 discussions
2,276 active alumni
We also came together for the holidays at the Snowflakes & Silver Linings virtual celebration in November 2020.
Then in April 2021, we celebrated Alumni Volunteer Week when 53 of you:
- Made cards for Volunteers of America | Meals on Wheels seniors who are homebound
- Demonstrated to all of us on social media how you show up for your community by sharing your favorite place to volunteer your skills, time or family tradition
- Gathered at Washington Park on Earth Day to do a clean-up with Denver Parks and Recreation
- Packed PowerSacks with Food for Thought to help little ones bridge the hunger gap between the meals they receive at school and the weekend
Looking Forward and the Good to Come
We had the opportunity to find joy in 2020-2021 at the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. You, our alumni, continue to give us inspiration and hope every day that our region is in the capable hands of strong, diverse civic leaders.
Thank you for all you do for the Leadership Foundation, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce family of organizations and our Colorado communities. With all of the good to come, the future is bright and we will find opportunities to connect and grow our impact every day.
Thank You to Our Major Investors
TRUSTEES
CHAMPIONS
LEADERS
