urban peak hosts annual ged graduation ceremony 60 … · peek at the peak fall 2013 3 the number...

Peek at the Peak | Fall 2013

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FALL 2013 A Quarterly Publication of Urban Peak // Serving Youth Experiencing Homelessness Since 1988

On the evening of June 5, over 60 youth from Urban Peak heard a sound that, until recently, they never dreamt was possible: the roar of applause as they crossed the stage at Urban Peak’s annual GED Graduation Ceremony.

The event, which was held at the St. Cajetan’s Center on the Auraria Campus, honored a select group of over 350 youth who received support from Urban Peak this academic year who worked tirelessly to pass the five required exams to earn their GED. Also donning a cap and gown at the ceremony were six youth from Urban Peak who, despite their circumstances, re-engaged in public school and graduated from high school this year, some with the help of Urban Peak partner, Colorado Youth for a Change (CYC).

“Graduating from high school or earning a GED is an honor, but for the youth we serve, it’s more than that; it’s a symbol of self empowerment, commitment to change and a path to self-sufficiency,” said Kimberle Easton, CEO of Urban Peak. “This academic milestone is one that will not only build confidence in the youth, but also reinstate their hope for their future.”

Many Urban Peak clients ended up on the streets after escaping a life where they were physically, sexually or emotionally abused at the hands of a caretaker; after years of watching their parents succumb to a life of drugs and crime; after combating a mental illness; or after aging out of the foster care system.

“Regardless of how the youth we serve came to experience homelessness, we know they have all experienced trauma to some degree, and earning a GED or re-engaging in public school, especially after spending night after night on the streets or bouncing from one friend’s couch to the next, is a tremendous feat,” continued Easton. “We are immensely proud of our graduates.”

Colorado Graduation Rates Among Homeless YouthAccording to reports issued by the Colorado Department of Education, the on-time graduation rate for students attending Colorado public schools during the 2011-12 school year was 75.4 percent. For students who are experiencing homelessness, that number is a lot lower, more than 25 percent less than the

Urban Peak Hosts Annual GED GRADUATION CEREMONY 60 Youth Graduate, Make Progress Toward Self-Sufficiency

GED continued on page 9

On September 10, over 430 people packed the Westin Denver Downtown for Reach for the Peak, Urban Peak’s annual Community Breakfast. The sold-out event, designed to introduce community members not already familiar with Urban Peak to the organization, featured networking, a light breakfast, and speeches from Urban Peak’s 2013 Chair of the Board, Ron Barber; CEO, Kim Easton; incoming Board Chair, Allison Johnson; and a former Urban Peak participant, Jason Marquez. Guests Jeff Joseph

of the Urban Nights Committee and Director/Undersheriff Gary Wilson from the Denver Sheriff’s Department also spoke. Although the event was free to attend, a meaningful donation was requested. Over $50,000 was raised at this year’s Reach for the Peak event to help support the programs and services of Urban Peak. Thank you to all who attended and to our table captains for inviting your guests!

Annual Community Breakfast Reaches NEW PEAK Breakfast Raises Over $50,000 to Support Urban Peak Youth

2Urban Peak | urbanpeak.org

Let’s Connect!Did you know that you can follow the latest news regarding Urban Peak on social media? If you haven’t already, please consider ‘liking’ or ‘following’ us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. You can also subscribe to our eNewsletter from our website!

Visit our newly redesigned website: www.UrbanPeak.org!

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MissionUrban Peak helps youth experiencing homelessness and youth at risk of becoming homeless overcome real life challenges by providing essential services and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults.

VisionUrban Peak will be a service model of innovation and success for youth experiencing homelessness and will achieve outstanding results for our clients, supporters, donors, employees and community.

From our CHAIR After seven years on the board of directors, I am honored to take over as chair this month. In the past seven years, I have seen the numbers of youth who are experiencing homelessness in Denver grow significantly.

During the same time frame, Urban Peak has dramatically increased its capacity to serve these youth, getting them off the streets, into safe and stable housing, and working toward self-sufficiency. In fact, in 2012, Urban Peak served the most youth we’ve ever served in one year. We were able to do that because of your donations, your time, and your connections to resources that help make this work possible.

I first got involved with Urban Peak more than 15 years ago because I wanted to reach young people directly – I wanted to have a positive influence on their lives, in a situation where that would make a difference. I’ve been rewarded by hearing the stories and the journeys of industrious young people like

Jason, Victor, Kristina, Aaron, and many more. When I first started volunteering for Urban Peak, the overnight shelter was located in the basement of a church down the street from our Drop-In Center, on 16th and Clarkson. The very first thing I learned about these young people was how important a positive authority figure is to them -- someone who sets the rules and sticks to them, but does not abuse the position of authority. After 15 years, I still believe that is the most important role of Urban Peak staff, and I am grateful for them every single day. I know their jobs are tough, but they are our only hope for success in reaching the hundreds of homeless youth on the streets in Denver every day.

I also remember being surprised that these young people are, in many ways, normal kids. They want the latest gadgets and the coolest shoes, even when they aren’t sure where their next night will be spent. Youth is a powerful thing. It offers change, opportunity, challenge and resilience -- all things I wish for my own children. But while my own children have a built-in support system to get them through challenging times, Urban Peak youth have to seek that out from strangers.

Several great men have said, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” I try to live that philosophy every day, and instill in my children a desire and a responsibility to be kind, to respect themselves and others, and to give as much as they can. Whether we consider it a pay it forward or pay it back matter doesn’t matter. We have been given much - health, family, education and plenty of love - and so the expectations are high. We are working hard to meet those expectations, and I believe Urban Peak is the most deserving of all places for gifts of time and treasure.

I hope you will join us as we continue to serve more and more young people and work in helping youth who are experiencing homelessness now and forever.

Sincerely,

Allison Johnson

Urban Peak Denver- Administrative Offices730 21st Street (@ Stout)Denver, CO 80205Phone 303-974-2900Fax 303-295-6116TTY/TDD 800-659-2656

www.urbanpeak.org

Urban Peak Denver - Shelter1630 South AcomaDenver, CO 80223Phone 303-974-2908Fax 303-777-9438

Contact Us

Executive STAFFKim Easton CEO Ext. 2932Kendall Rames Deputy Director/Director of Programs Ext. 2916Malinda Anderson Director of Finance Ext. 2939Dan Hanley Director of Development & Public Affairs Ext. 2949

Key CONTACTSClayton Gonzales Drop-In Center Ext. 2955Mel Hallenbeck Overnight Shelter Ext. 2904Steve Hughes Volunteer Opportunities Ext. 2910 and Item Donations Suzanne Kittelson Housing Ext. 2907Krista McNamara Research and Program Evaluation Ext. 2965Sydney Park Donation Recognition Ext. 2958Jane Morton Sovndal Grants Ext. 2941Eric Stewart Facilities Ext. 2977Chris Venable Education & Employment and Outreach Ext. 2966Lori Weiner Clinical Services Ext. 2905Chris Weiss Monetary Donations Ext. 2954Marcie Willms Communications & Events Ext. 2947

Instagram.com/UrbanPeakCO


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The number of youth at Urban Peak is growing at an exponential rate. With 921 youth experiencing homelessness on the streets of Denver on any given night (up 19% from 777 in 2012)*, and only one organization -- Urban Peak -- that provides a full convergence of wrap-around services for this specific and vulnerable population. We need your help to meet the growing demand for services in our community. How? Urban Peak is inviting you on The Journey, a three-year, $3 million dollar campaign designed to support Urban Peak’s programs, optimize our facilities and build a comprehensive fundraising infrastructure that will diversify Urban Peak’s revenue streams and provide stability for our organization well into the future.

Due to significant cuts at the federal and state levels, Urban Peak continues to lose funding from government sources which impacts the services Urban Peak is able to provide. With your help, we can continue to help the youth who are experiencing homelessness right here in Denver.

So far, Urban Peak has raised $1,865,000 of the $3,000,000 campaign goal. Initial funding was used to complete the purchase and begin renovations on 1548 Ogden, home to our Rocky Mountain Youth Housing program.

But, The Journey is far from complete.

Plans for the Campaign FundingThrough the end of its 2015 fiscal year, Urban Peak will be working diligently to raise the remaining campaign funds. If secured in its entirety, the campaign funding will be utilized to:

• Renovate all 68 housing units that Urban Peak owns to ensure they are equipped to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the youth for years to come. Work is already underway in making substantial repairs to the electrical and mechanical systems, updating individual units, and creating an inviting and functional community space at the Odgen property. In addition, structural modifications are being made to better serve youth with disabilities, and replace outdated windows and appliances with energy efficient models to lower utility costs;

• Support program delivery at the Spot, home to Urban Peak’s Drop-In Center, Education & Employment services, and Outreach offices. Urban Peak hopes to expand the hours of its Drop-In Center for youth from five to seven days a week and for more hours each day, increase the number of meals served from 6 to approximately 10, enhance its programming and services to incorporate research surrounding trauma-informed care and responsive integrated healthcare models; and

• Invest in the strategic growth of Urban Peak’s programs, including but not limited to developing a social enterprise model that will allow the agency to grow and deepen its ability to train and place youth in jobs now and in the years to come.

We need your help to continue The Journey. The youth need more. To Join The JourneyPlease contact our Director of Development & Public Affairs, Dan Hanley, at 303-974-2949 or via email at [email protected] for a more in-depth conversation.

* Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) Point-In-Time Survey, 2013.

Let Your ‘Journey’ With Urban Peak BEGIN Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign Ensures for Urban Peak’s Long-Term Sustainability A C O M P RE H E N S IV E CA M PA I G N

FO R U RBA N P E A K

Board of DIRECTORSAllison Johnson ChairRon Barber Immediate Past ChairTerri Taylor Chair ElectHamid Taha TreasurerDick Thomas Secretary

Chris BurckhardtSarah BurgamyRobert ButlerRick EricksenAndrew FiskeTodd FredricksonAmy HansenLeslie HerodDavid JenningsTodd Karl

Jamie KilcoyneGerald MooreMarcy PeleckyBrian PetersJoanne ReillyPat Rigdon Amy Meyer SmithMichael WamsganzKatie Wells


Meet the Josephs: Q&A with the Joseph Family

Tell us about the Joseph Family Foundation.

Founded in 2006 by Gary and Cheryl Joseph, the Joseph Family Foundation provides

opportunity to those in need through volunteerism, grants and donations. The foundation’s slogan of “giving wings to angels” describes the criteria by which eligible projects are evaluated.

The Joseph family, including parents Gary and Cheryl Joseph, Jeff and Kirby Joseph and their four children, and Justin Joseph and Josh Benker, donate to worthwhile charities which value opportunity, education, diversity, the love of God’s creatures and the dignity of all people.

What, in particular attracted you to Urban Peak? Why did you ultimately select Urban Peak as the beneficiary for the event?

Since we started the Joseph Family Foundation in 2006, each family member contributed individually to worthwhile philanthropies important to each person. In 2012, we decided to find a charity the entire family could feel passionately about and begin this project together.

We interviewed several charities before ultimately deciding to support Urban Peak as a family. We loved Urban Peak because of their large scope of work in providing much needed services to youth in Denver. Urban Peak’s work touched all of our hearts in different ways. That’s what made Urban Peak special.

Having made it through our inaugural event, we feel like we couldn’t have selected a better organization to partner with for Urban Nights. When donors hear about the work of Urban Peak, they can’t help but get involved. We also feel like Urban Nights inaugural launch was so successful because of the charity we selected.

Urban Nights: A RUNWAY FOR A REASONInaugural Event Raises $165,000 for Urban PeakUrban Nights is the newest and largest event benefitting Urban Peak. Graciously underwritten by the Joseph Family Foundation, Urban Nights is an exciting fashion show featuring Denver’s hottest up-and-coming designers, headline entertainment, a silent auction, and pre- and after-event celebrations.

The first annual Urban Nights event was held on Friday, August 23 under the viaduct at Mile High Station.

Modeled after an event at Omaha Fashion Week, Urban Nights was created by the Joseph Family as a fundraiser to support an organization and cause the family feels passionately about – helping and supporting youth who are experiencing homelessness. In October 2012, the Joseph Family assembled a committee of 50 volunteers to begin the strategic execution and vision for the first annual Urban Nights. The event was supported entirely by volunteers, including models and designers, who kindly donated their time and services.

The second annual Urban Nights event in support of Urban Peak will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2014. Sponsorship opportunities now available! Please visit www.urbannightsdenver.org for more information.


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How has your involvement with Urban Peak shaped your perception of youth experiencing homelessness?

More than anything, being involved in Urban Peak has made us aware of the problem in our community. Our family was born in Denver and we still can’t believe we didn’t recognize the crisis of youth homelessness before finding Urban Peak.

Having attended Urban Peak events, and volunteered at the Urban Peak Shelter, we learned not only about the problem but also about the wonderful youth Urban Peak serves. These youth have the same goals and dreams as all young people but are simply looking for a chance to be successful.

Urban Peak tells these young people someone cares about them, and for many of these youth, this is the first time they’ve heard that.

What was your greatest memory of the inaugural Urban Nights?

There are so many wonderful memories from the night. When we launched Urban Nights in 2011, we never imagined over 1500 people would be interested in attending our event. The greatest memory was looking out into the crowd to see all of these people gathered to support such a worthwhile cause while enjoying friends and family.

Our vision for Urban Nights was to artfully tell Urban Peak’s message in way that electrified the crowd, encouraging guests to donate, and have fun. Looking out into the crowd of people that night, we felt like we were successful in achieving this.

What are your goals for next year’s event?

We want to build on the successes of the first year by making some minor adjustments to the event. We’re in the early planning stages now. We don’t want to give too much away, but we are talking about lengthening the runway, creating better sight lines for all guests, providing more food and by tightening the show schedule. We’re also in the early stages of talks with a really great headliner. Stay tuned!

Urban Peak would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors for the inaugural Urban Nights event. Your generosity made the evening possible. Thank you so very much!

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Jason RichardsonFoundation

Specialized Loan Servicing

WesternOperatingCompany


Program HIGHLIGHT

When it’s seven degrees in Denver, the wind is tearing through the buildings downtown and whipping up the newly fallen snow, or it’s in the upper nineties and the sun is directly overhead, chanc-es are you’re at home or in your office cranking up the heat or AC. Not true for Urban Peak’s Outreach team members, who are out-and-about on the streets of Denver all year, rain, sleet, snow or shine. Six days a week, regardless of the weather, they visit places like the 16th Street Mall, Platte River, Civic Center Park and the Denver Skate Park in an

effort to connect with one of 900 plus youth who are experiencing homeless-ness in Denver on any given day.

Recently, our Development team had the opportunity to sit down with Nick and Bryan, two members of Urban Peak’s 6-member Outreach team, to learn more about the role the Outreach team plays within the organization, the team’s daily successes and challenges, and what they like most about working for Urban Peak.

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Tell us about the role of the Outreach team. What are you responsible for here at Urban Peak? What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

Nick: Each member of Urban Peak’s Outreach team fills their backpacks with basic needs items. Depending on the season items may include gloves, socks, water, non-perishable food, safe sex supplies, bleach kits, sunscreen, rain ponchos, and hygiene materials to distribute to youth living on the streets. Our goal, aside from giving the youth the basic necessities they need to survive another night, is to build relationships with the youth – youth who are skeptical of and often taken advantage of by adults – in an effort to build their trust and to inform them of Urban Peak’s programs and services, referral process, or re-engage them with Urban Peak.

Aside from reaching out to the youth on the streets, Urban Peak’s Out-reach team staffs the Resource Center at Urban Peak’s Drop-In Center where we help youth obtain copies of essential documentation like their birth certificate, driver’s license, social security card and more so they can obtain shelter (shelters require documentation for an individual to stay); make them a temporary Urban Peak ID; connect them with housing opportunities or mental health services; and arrange doctor appointments for the youth.

Bryan: Yes, and aside from helping the youth obtain services, we do so much more that goes unrecorded. On any given day, we will assist 5-10 youth with tasks ranging from changing a flat tire, obtaining clothes for an interview, driving a youth to a dentist appointment, you name it. It’s also not uncommon for an Outreach staff member like myself to sit down with a youth for 45 minutes to an hour talking to them, listening to them, offering a shoulder to cry on. The trauma that they’ve experienced in their lives is often more than they can endure and as we all know, it helps to talk to someone you know and trust. We are the eyes and ears for the youth.

What do you like most about working for Urban Peak?

Bryan: That’s easy for me, the people… my team. Working with youth who are experiencing homelessness can be extremely taxing, very emotional. We rely heavily on one another for support. If one of us comes in, say after talking with a youth for an extended period of time, and are just emotion-ally spent, another member of our team will jump to take the next call that comes in. Youth successes are also huge. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to see a youth that was once on the brink – suicidal – who is now happy, healthy, and living independently.

Nick: Yea, I agree. With Outreach, unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of instant gratification. It can be months or years for a youth to come around. A lot of youth we serve are particularly hard on us when we first approach them, cursing at us, giving us a hard time. It’s a defense mechanism for them. So, when you do eventually develop a relationship with a youth, it means the world. Hearing stories or seeing a youth again years later who is doing well, can change your life. Just yesterday I saw a youth come into the Drop-In Center who I hadn’t seen in close to a year. He was headed upstairs for GED tutoring. A year ago, he was on the streets with no interest in engaging with Urban Peak. Amazing.

What do you find most challenging about working in Outreach?

Nick: The most challenging aspect of our jobs is the lack of resources that are immediately available for those who are experiencing homelessness. Take, for example, a youth that is interested in sobriety or housing. It can take three months or longer to get a youth into an appropriate program that has an opening and matches the youth’s specific needs. With most youth we serve, we have a day-long window at most to engage the youth in our programs. When the youth come to us, they’re ready – ready to escape a human trafficking ring, ready to battle an ongoing addiction, ready to face a mental illness they know they have. It’s hard to say to an 18-year-old, “Yes, we can help you, but not until three months from now.” They’re frightened. They want help now. The youth we serve don’t have a

5-year-plan, let alone a 5-day-plan. They’re thinking, “Where am I going to sleep tonight? Where will I eat?” With the Denver Unauthorized Camping Ordinance in effect, shelters fill up quickly. Most shelters haven’t had openings in months. When a youth is ready to get the help they so richly deserve and you’re hands are tied; it’s heartbreaking.

Bryan: I think the hardest part is knowing that we cannot help every youth we serve on a path to self-sufficiency. We have hundreds of youth who visit our Drop-In Center each year that have severe mental health issues, substance abuse issues, criminal records from the past that prevent them from pursuing a better life. A lot of time and effort goes into helping these youth at Urban Peak. Aside from getting them help through state- or federally-funded programs or another non-profit organization that serves the individual’s specific needs, many of our successes are unsung, outside of the Urban Peak walls. We’ll never see these youth go on to find a great job, purchase a home of their own, or graduate from high school, but we spend hours upon hours each day helping these youth in the best way we know how – providing a shoulder to cry on, offering them food, safe sex supplies, clothes, shoes, bleach kits… the necessities they need to survive on the streets.

What do you wish our readers knew about Urban Peak? About the youth we serve?

Bryan: The youth we serve are relentless. They endure so much. When I feel like not coming into work, all I have to do is think about the youth. Many of the youth we serve, despite sleeping near or in a dumpster, under a bridge or overpass, walking all night, still find the motivation to come to GED class or Job Readiness Training the next day. Homelessness doesn’t take holidays.

Nick: I think the thing to remember is that all the youth we serve have a story and like Bryan said, endure so much. As I tell my friends who are new to understanding homelessness, if you see a youth who is experiencing homelessness, don’t be so quick to judge. I think the most common mis-conception out there about homelessness, particularly homeless youth, is that they ran away from home because it was the cool thing to do, that it’s their fault they’re on streets; I’ve learned that’s not true at all.

The youth could be mentally ill, hearing voices in their heads. The youth could’ve been coerced into a prostitution ring. Many of the youth we encounter are victims of human trafficking. They’re constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering if they’re being monitored. They live in fear. They fear they’ll be beaten or raped if they try to escape, or if their controller discovers they’ve reached out to someone like us for help. Those that are forced to sell their bodies may have been coerced into taking drugs as well; many traffickers use addiction as a way to control their victims.

Bryan: To the average person, it may seem odd that we even have an Out-reach team and a youth who is experiencing homeless wouldn’t just look up every resource in town and jump at the opportunity for a hot breakfast, shower and access to education and employment services, but it’s not as simple as most would think. Most of the youth we serve, having been abused or suffered trauma at such a young age, are skeptical of adults, even young adults like us. As I tell my friends, if you see a youth engaging in something they shouldn’t, it’s likely they’re doing it for survival or as a coping mechanism. Rather than call the cops, reach out to an organization like Urban Peak and we might be able to steer the youth in a more positive direction. Youth who experience homelessness have experienced trauma on such a deep level, it’s nearly impossible for the average person to grasp.

To learn more about our Outreach team, their daily responsibilities and in-teractions with the youth, please contact Nick Verni-Lau, Urban Peak’s Lead Outreach Counselor, at 303-974-2976.


Founded in 1997, C&D Builders is a general contractor firm specializing in new construction, commercial and residential projects, renovations, custom building, and nonprofit facilities. The company builds commercial projects, subdivisions, multi-family town homes and apartments.

Years ago, C&D Builders president Doug Bolejack began volunteering at the Urban Peak Shelter through his church where he began serving meals. After learning more about the breadth and scope of youth homelessness, and realizing the potential that exists to make a significant difference in lives of young people through Urban Peak, Doug enlisted the help of his colleagues at C&D Builders to embark on a greater mission to serve the youth of Urban Peak.

The staff at C&D Builders, realizing they could use their own expertise to help train the youth of Urban Peak in the burgeoning construction field, signed on as an employer partner with Urban Peak Education & Employment department. The firm began offering internships to Urban Peak youth through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and City of Denver’s Summer Youth Employment Program, both of which provide on-the-job training designed to enhance the employability, occupational attainment, retention and earnings of adults, dislocated workers and youth.

To date, C&D Builders has hired five Urban Peak youth, including Brandon (pictured). During their respective internships, the youth have learned, in addition to amazing construction skills, essential job skills including punctuality, responsibility and how to effectively communicate with co-workers and supervisors.

“I am delighted C&D Builders is able to provide a means to help the wonderful youth of Urban Peak on their respective paths to self-sufficiency,” said Doug Bolejack. “C&D Builders includes, as part of our mission and corporate values, a commitment to community involvement. Our company embraces opportunities where we can directly impact a youth or family as a result of our efforts. Urban Peak’s compelling mission offers our company opportunities for employee involvement, and avenues for us to make a difference with youth wanting to learn new skills.”

“Through this experience, I’ve learned that any one of the youth I’ve met could just as well have been my child, except for a couple of bad breaks,” continued Bolejack. “It is our hope that other businesses in the area take the time to get to know the youth of Urban Peak and discover ways they can get involved with the organization and contribute to Urban Peak’s success in their own unique way.”

In addition to mentoring Urban Peak youth in the construction field, C&D Builders have utilized their expertise and relationship with Energy Outreach Colorado to replace the blinds at our administrative office and windows at the Spot, home to Urban Peak’s Drop-In Center, Education & Employment department and Outreach offices; worked on a large renovation project for the Shelter, replacing the flooring and adding an office for our Direct Care team; volunteering their time to do some landscaping at the Shelter; and throwing a holiday party for youth for six years running.

Please join us in thanking C&D Builders for being a tremendous partner to Urban Peak. We are so thankful for our relationship with this amazing company!

Fun FACTS The background of C&D Builders’ owners is somewhat unique to the industry. Prior to starting C&D Builders, president Doug Bolejack was a high school teacher and Chuck Micale was vice president of retail stores with The Athlete’s Foot.

In 2009, C&D Builders began working as the contractor for Energy Outreach Colorado’s Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program, serving nonprofit facilities with energy efficiency solutions. This work had a direct impact on the company’s desire to focus more on working with nonprofits and to offer nonprofits affordable pricing. C&D Builders’ owners feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in helping nonprofit organizations provide safe and healthy environments for their staff and clients.

Partner SPOTLIGHT

Name: C&D Builders, Inc.

Address 14 Inverness Drive East Ste. G-136 Englewood, 80112

Telephone: 303.799.0728

Location(s): Denver


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On Thursday, September 19, over 110 people came out to support Urban Peak at Park Burger’s first annual charity golf tournament at the Aurora Golf Club at Heather Ridge.

Attendees of the event enjoyed scrumptious burgers from Park Burger on the 9th hole and sampled 19 different Colorado beers throughout the round.

In addition to putting their way to support youth who are experiencing homelessness, guests had the option to buy mulligans to help their game and also bid on the opportunity to have Park Burger’s executive chef prepare a meal for four in the auction winner’s home.

Altogether, the event raised approximately $4,000 for the youth of Urban Peak.

Thank you, Park Burger!

Park Burger CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENTA “Par”fect Event “Fore” Urban Peak

statewide average, at 49.1 percent. Records from the Colorado Department of Education indicate that of the 2,394 homeless students eligible for graduation this past May, only 1,175 graduated.

According to the 2012 Point in Time study conducted by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), there are 921 youth ages 13 to 24, experiencing homeless on any given night in Denver. In fiscal year 2012, Urban Peak served 2,550 youth across all its programs and services.

Changes to the GED ExamBeginning January 2, 2014, the GED Testing Service will release a new version of the GED test. Why is this so important? What does this mean for Urban Peak? If a student does not pass all five subject tests of the current version of the test by the end of 2013, the student will have to start over from scratch. This means if a student has taken and passed the Math and Writing exams, but has not yet taken Reading, Science or Social Studies, their Math and Writing exams will no longer count. The student will have to take all five tests again beginning in the new year.

Due to the change in testing requirements, GED programs across the country are seeing an influx of students in the fall of 2013 who want to finish

before the test changes. Urban Peak included.Pencils, Paper and Fees, Oh My!

With the changes to the GED test looming, Urban Peak’s classroom has been bursting at the seams with the students diligently working to pass their final tests. With the influx of students, there comes a greater need for school supplies. “It’s crazy to think just how many pencils and reams of paper we go through on a weekly basis,” said Sarah Ault, Urban Peak’s Education Specialist. “I never thought I would be scouring our classroom for school supplies, but if it means more students earning their GED and realizing their potential, we’ll find a way to get the supplies we need.”

School supplies aren’t the only thing Urban Peak needs. Since the new GED test will be computer-based, including all tests, pre-tests and study aids, Urban Peak had to purchase new computers and partitions for the Education Center, and soon new software, practice tests and study materials. Changes to the testing requirements also mean additional training for Urban Peak staff on the new testing requirements, including conferences, webinars and reading material. Additional funding is also needed to cover the cost of the GED exam for the students.

Currently, each subject test of the GED exam costs $30 or $150 overall; that is, if students pass the tests the first try. “Right now, students have three chances per calendar year to take each subject test on paper and six chances to take the test on the computer,” explained Ault. “To save money, we typically administer several pre-tests before sending the student to take the actual exam. With the new testing standards that take effect in the new year, there will be a fee for the pre-test as well ($4.00 per test) so that, too, is an added expense.”

All in all, with the new testing requirements, Urban Peak expects to pay an additional $35,000 more this year than last.

Education is an essential component in helping Urban Peak participants on a path to self-sufficiency. With your financial support, Urban Peak can cover the testing fees and related expenses associated with the new GED testing requirements. For more information on the test changes or to discuss ways you can help, please contact Dan Hanley, Director of Development & Public Affairs, at 303.974.2949 or via email at [email protected].

GED continued from page 1


Give Through eBayIntegrated into eBay’s regular buying and selling platform is eBay Giving Works, an easy method for individuals to support organizations they care about, like Urban Peak, by simply selling and purchasing goods on eBay. eBay Giving Works enables sellers to donate a portion of their sales—and buyers to shop—all while supporting their favorite charities.

To donate to Urban Peak through the eBay Giving Works program, please visit www.ebaygivingworks.com and type in “Urban Peak” in the ‘Search for Charities’ box and you, too, can help support youth experiencing homelessness in our area.

Monthly GivingThanks to our relationship with Colorado Gives, making a recurring donation to Urban Peak has never been easier. It’s now possible to support Urban Peak without having to worry about writing a check, finding an envelope, a stamp, or searching for your banking information. Once your information is in the system, donations will be automatically charged to your debit/credit card at an interval of your choice: weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. You can even specify a start and end date for your contributions, or choose ‘no end date’ to have your donation made indefinitely. Each December, we will send you an acknowledgement of your total donations for the year for tax purposes.

Workplace GivingThere are numerous ways you can support Urban Peak through workplace giving programs. Many companies match their employees’ gifts dollar for dollar. Check with your human resources director to see if your company will match your donation to Urban Peak. As a participant in the Combined Federal Campaign and Combined Colorado Campaigns, you may select Urban Peak as the recipient of your contribution. Please email Chris Weiss at [email protected] for further information.

Donate Your VehicleDonating your car, truck, motorcycle or recreational vehicle (RVs, boats, etc.) to support the youth of Urban Peak has never been easier thanks to our relationship with Cars Helping Charities. Cars Helping Charities provides free towing and will gladly work with you on your donation. For more information, please call 303-423-CARS (2277) or contact Urban Peak’s Development Manager, Chris Weiss at [email protected].

The IRS permits you to take a charitable tax deduction on your federal income tax return for the gross sale of your vehicle. If the gross sale of the vehicle is greater than $500, the IRS will expect you to fill out Form 8283, “Non-cash Charitable Contributions.”


11

Calvin Klein. Ralph Lauren. Giorgio Armani. Michael Gayles.

In a few years time, don’t be surprised if you see Michael Gayles’ name listed amongst the world’s greatest fashion designers, unveiling his latest creations at Paris Fashion Week. This young man, an Urban Peak participant off-and-on since the age of 16, carries with him an innate talent – the ability to sketch a haute-couture design by hand in minutes, with details only parallel to those who’ve had years of training in fashion design.

When Urban Peak was selected as the beneficiary of Urban Nights, the committee came together with the hopes of showcasing the talent of Urban Peak’s youth. A few Urban Peak participants submitted art pieces for the silent auction and Michael Gayles, an aspiring fashion designer, was chosen to create a dress of his own for the event.

Armed with only a sketch book and colored pencils, Michael sat down to create his vision. With absolutely no training in fashion design, Michael sketched a design for a dress he calls, “The White Widow,” a design inspired by the beautiful yet ominous nature of the black widow spider.

After sketching his piece, Michael was fortunate enough to meet with two designers from Urban Nights, Mona Lucero and Tess Vigil of 50 Dresses, both who graciously donated their time and talent to make Michael’s vision become a reality. Michael first met with Mona who offered fabric and style advice, and then Michael was off to 50 Dresses to meet with owner and designer Tess Vigil. Tess met with Michael several times over the course of the month leading up to the event to actually produce Michael’s dress. Utilizing her years of experience in fashion design, Tess Vigil cut and sewed Michael’s dress based on his sketches, and the dress was unveiled for the first time at Urban Nights.

Michael, a 20-year old youth who is experiencing homeless, called Urban Nights, “a night of inspiration.” Moved by his experience at and leading up to Urban Nights, Michael has since re-engaged with Urban Peak with new vigor. Michael recently enrolled in Urban Peak’s Education program and, as of press time, completed three of the five exams necessary to obtain his GED. Once he graduates with his GED, Michael hopes to enroll in a fashion design program here in Denver and, well, look out, Paris! Michael is on his way!

Client Spotlight: MEET MICHAEL GAYLESUrban Peak’s Fashion Star

Maverick Thinkers, Urban Peak’s highest-yielding fundraising event, is an evening gala designed to honor those that have made a substantive contribution to Urban Peak and in helping youth who are enduring homelessness in Colorado. In addition to honoring a past client of Urban Peak, this spring we will, for the first time, recognize three additional honorees: an individual, business, and a civic/faith organization.

Urban Peak is proud to recognize:

Individual Honoree David Younggren

Business Honorees Jen and Josh Wolkon, owners of Vesta Dipping Grill, Ace Eat Serve, and Steuben’s

Civic/Faith Honoree St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

Sponsorship opportunities available! For more information on sponsoring Maverick Thinkers 2014, please contact Dan Hanley at (303) 974-2949 or via email at [email protected]

Save the DateMAVERICK THINKERS 2014 – MARCH 6, 2014

Urban Peak | urbanpeak.org

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. PostagePAID

Denver, COPermit Number

5332Cele b rat i ng 2 5 years of se r vice to t h e co m m u n it y

7 3 0 21s t St reetDenver, CO 8 0205

In this ISSUE:GED Graduation Page 1A Message from our Chair Page 2The Journey Page 3Urban Nights Recap Pages 4-5Outreach Q & A Page 6-7 Partner Spotlight Page 8Golf Tournament Summary Page 9Giving Options Page 10Client Spotlight Page 11

Join our 921 Project COLORADO GIVES DAYPlease support Urban Peak on Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 10.

We are seeking volunteers for our 921 Project. On any given night in the City of Denver, there are 921 youth experiencing homelessness. We want to create a visual representation of what 921 looks like and will be having a photo shoot from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. on 12/10. Join us. Be in our picture. Let’s show the world the tragedy before us – the number of youth that need our help…To participate, contact Marcie Willms at 303.974.2947 or email her at [email protected]. Thank you.

urban peak hosts annual ged graduation ceremony 60 … · peek at the peak fall 2013 3 the number...

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