In a year when nonprofit services are more vital than ever, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to celebrate the finalists for the 2021 Business Awards Large Nonprofit of the Year: Denver Scholarship Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and Metro Caring.
Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) ensures college is possible for thousands of Denver Public School (DPS) graduates each year. The foundation’s nationally recognized three-pronged program concentrates on college access, scholarships and college success. DSF works proactively with all DPS seniors through college advising, awarding need-based scholarships that can be used over four years to DPS graduates attending a community college, university or technical college in Colorado. Finally, DPS partners directly with colleges to provide scholarship recipients extra financial aid and ongoing support to ensure they succeed and ultimately graduate.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Founded in 1979, three years after the creation of Habitat for Humanity, the Metro Denver chapter works tirelessly to fundraise, acquire land, select families and build Habitat homes in Denver for low- and moderate-income families. Habitat Metro Denver is one of the largest affiliates in the United States and constructed its 600th home in 2016. In addition to new construction, Habitat partners with existing low-income homeowners in 13 Denver neighborhoods to conduct critical home repairs so families can continue to reside in their homes.
Metro Caring meets people’s immediate food needs while simultaneously addressing the root cause of hunger: poverty. Metro Caring offers a Fresh Foods market where shoppers choose from fresh produce, dairy, meat and other items to sustain their diet for a week. In addition, Metro Caring aims to build community through food and cooking, offering a wide array of cooking classes in both English and Spanish and maintaining community gardens. The organization also has an active volunteer network dedicated to shifting power structures to improve the economic quality of life for all those living in poverty in Denver. Finally, Metro Caring owns a hydroponic container farm, an upcycled shipping container outfitted with a drip irrigation system designed to grow leafy green vegetables year-round.
Each year, the Chamber recognizes organizations that are writing Denver’s next chapter in our community. Join us for the virtual 2021 Business Awards on April 14.
