1201 East Colfax Avenue, Suite 302, Denver

1201 East Colfax Avenue, Suite 302, Denver, CO 80218
TEL: 303.573.1603 • FAX: 720.266.6798
www.acescholarships.org
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Table of contents
Leadership Message
Table of Contents
The Choice Report
Leadership Message: Promises Made, Promises Kept
Alex Cranberg & Ralph Nagel
Page 2
A Tribute to Ed McVaney
Page 3
ACE Spring Breakfast: The Challenge of Our Generation
Mayor Cory Booker
Page 4
Choice Works: Achieving My Goal
Yvette Camarena
Page 5
ACE Graduation Dinner: They Will be Champions
Charles Johnson
Page 6
Choice Support: Second Chances
Chris “Birdman” Andersen
Page 7
Choice Support
The Boedecker Foundation
Page 8
Volume III, Issue 1 • Summer 2009
A publication of the Alliance for CHOICE in Education
The Alliance for CHOICE in Education (ACE), a Denver-based,
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000, provides lowincome families with the power and freedom of genuine educational choice through financial scholarships, college preparation
and school choice advocacy.
ACE seeks to give every child in Colorado equal access to a quality education by promoting an accountable and competitive education marketplace that fosters effective private and public schools.
ACE Boards are listed on page 14.
Staff
Norton Rainey, Executive Director
Jonathan Tee, Chief of Operations • Communications
Sue Herrera, Program Director
Kelsi Inabnet, Director, College Guidance and Alumni Relations
Karen Sheesley, Office Director
Ryan Sullivan, Development Specialist
“The Choice Report” is made possible thanks to the
generous support of ACE sponsors listed on page 13.
Choice Events
Family Night at the Museum
Page 9
Choice Leadership
The New Trustees
Page 10
Choice Briefing
Norton Rainey
Page 11
Choice Partners: Arby’s Charity Tour Denver
Geoff and Kendall Bailey
Page 12
Choice Support
Thank You to Our 2008 Sponsors
Page 13
Choice Leadership
ACE Board of Trustees, Advisors and Directors
Promises Made,
Promises Kept
The Alliance for CHOICE in Education
1201 E. Colfax Avenue
Suite 302
Denver, CO 80218
Tel: 303.573.1603
Fax: 720.266.6798
www.acescholarships.org
© 2009 Alliance for Choice in Education,
all rights reserved.
T
Sadly, if we are unable to raise additional
revenue, their wait will continue; and
many are running out of time.
he past year has provided
our nation with a great challenge. The financial crisis and resulting
economic recession have impacted every sector of our economy and caused
both the prosperous and the poor to
take stock of their financial positions.
It will take many more months, perhaps
years, to fully recover.
Every nonprofit organization has taken a
hit, the Alliance for Choice in Education
included. These are indeed challenging
times as we work to honor the financial
commitment we’ve made to more than seven hundred low-income children. But these were promises made, and they will be promises kept.
In September 2008, when the full magnitude of the economic crisis was
just beginning to reveal itself, the ACE governing board took the proactive
step of cutting 20% of the organization’s overall operating budget. These
cuts were made without reducing the amount of scholarship funds available. It was a painful, but necessary, belt-tightening.
These are alarming numbers from any vantage point, but completely demoralizing if you are unfortunate enough to be a young minority child
living in Denver today.
We have set the goal of raising the same amount of money in 2009 as
we did in 2008. Given the current economy, this is an ambitious, yet
attainable objective.
With a graduation rate last year approaching 90% and every graduate in
college or with plans to attend college, we are taking the status quo and
turning it on its head for more than 700 children this year.
Maintaining our current income levels will only allow us to fund the existing
ACE scholars. This says nothing of the thousands of children who are currently without the funding to choose the school that best fits their needs.
We made a promise to these kids and to their parents and loved ones ...
it’s a promise we aim to keep.
ACE offers these children hope, however.
“The Choice Report” is published by the Alliance for Choice in Education,
1201 E. Colfax Avenue, Suite 302, Denver, CO 80218,
www.acescholarships.org. © 2009 Alliance for Choice in Education,
all rights reserved.
For reprint information, email [email protected],
Page 14
Alex Cranberg
Founder
Our public schools continue to struggle,
despite the well-intentioned hard work
of so many advocates, lawmakers, administrators, teachers and parents. Our
statewide and Denver district graduation rates reveal the extent of the crisis:
59% of low-income students graduated
statewide, but that number plummets
to 45% in Denver. Last year, 56% of African-American DPS kids graduated, while
only 41% of Hispanic students (the largest minority population in the district) received a diploma.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Ralph Nagel
Chairman of the Board
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Choice Leadership
ACE Spring Breakfast
The Challenge of
Our Generation
ATribute to Ed McVaney
F
ew individuals have done more to help
Colorado’s low-income children than
Ed McVaney. Ed served as chairman
of the ACE Board of Trustees for eight years and
played a central role in ACE’s growth that has provided more than 6,000 scholarships to low-income
children, totaling $10 million over its nine years of
operations.
a quality education to every child is one
“ofProviding
our generation’s greatest challenges. Ed
understands that,and has made the selfless decision
to work towards the day when every child,
regardless of his or her income,can have access to a
quality school.
”
— Scott Reiman, ACE Trustee
During Ed’s tenure, ACE grew its scholarship program to now serve more than 700 children each
Ed McVaney
year; partnered with more and more schools, now
providing parents with a network of nearly 200
Mr. McVaney continues to close the gap by supplying the bridge of hope
quality schools; and has made a significant impact in the state, moving the
to the poor, at-risk minority children of our city. Through his
reform agenda towards genuine school choice, particularly for inner-city
care for children and mankind,Mr.McVaney continues to build up children’s
children. None of this would have been possible without Ed McVaney’s
lives, give support to schools, and provide us an opportunity to
leadership.
shape and change the destinies of many. He truly is the epitome
“
Last year, Ed stepped down as chairman and assumed the role of chairman
emeritus. However, his passion for helping kids, and for providing them
with greater opportunities to succeed, has not diminished over the years;
it has gotten stronger.
ACE would not be the organization it is today without Ed McVaney. We
deeply appreciate all the hard work he has done on behalf of the children
of our community. We asked several of ACE’s other leaders to share their
thoughts on Ed:
”
of philanthropy.
“
”
— Charlie Gallagher, ACE Trustee
When ACE started in 2000, Ed was the first to join the board and
“
he’s been our most stalwart advocate ever since. Ed’s unwillingness to accept the
status quo is an inspiration that I continue to draw upon.
”
It is a privilege to serve on the ACE board alongside Ed McVaney because
“
he continuously motivates us to do more. And he’s persuasive because
— Alex Cranberg, ACE founder
he’s out there doing it himself – mentoring, supporting schools and
providing opportunities for kids.
Ed is a true Colorado hero. He has committed his time,
”
“
energy and money to helping children overcome tremendous
odds. Through his tireless work, he has touched the lives of
hundreds of children and given them the opportunity to succeed.
Thank you, Ed, for all you do.
”
— Bill Owens, former Governor of Colorado
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Cory Booker’s political career began in 1998 when he
upset a four-term incumbent to become Newark’s CentralWard councilman. He shook the entrenched political
establishment in 2006 when he became only the third
man to lead New Jersey’s largest city since 1970.
His message was simple:
generation will not be called to the blood “This
soaked beaches of Normandy. We won’t be
asked to give Freedom Rides in the segregated
South. Our generation’s epitaph a century from
now could be that we provided every child
with the opportunity to attend a quality school
and obtain a quality education, and that
we put every one of them on the path to
a successful life.
”
Mayor Cory Booker
“We can make this happen ...
if we show the courage our
ancestors did.”
We face monumental challenges as a nation; however, this generation’s most
important duty must be to provide equal opportunities for success to every
child, regardless of his or her race, ZIP code or income, through access to a
quality education.
— Vivian Wilson, Principal, Excel Institute
Ed’s commitment to helping others is inspirational. He’s that rare indi
vidual who is totally committed to helping those less fortunate. Thank
you, Ed, for showing us all how it’s done!
I
n June, Newark Mayor Cory Booker made
a special trip to Denver to speak to 300
ACE supporters at the magnificent X Jet
facility in Centennial Airport.
During his term in office, Mayor Booker has focused on
increasing security in public housing, promoting downtown development, and advocating for groundbreaking education reforms that include expanded parental
choice for low-income families.
This is the vision of ACE – to provide choices to every parent and a quality education to every child. And
it’s why Mayor Booker and a growing number of concerned citizens around the country embrace programs like ACE – to level the
playing field for children.
This ideal still eludes us, as 1.2 million children drop out of high school each
year. Research shows that 12% of the nation’s high schools account for half
of our nation’s dropouts, and the vast majority of these schools serve lowincome, minority children.
We can make this happen not in 25 or 15 years, but sooner than we think,
“
if we show the courage our ancestors did, Mayor Booker told the throng
”
of ACE supporters.
— Jim Wallace, ACE Trustee
Alex Cranberg with Denver Mayor John
Hickenlooper and Newark Mayor Cory Booker
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Choice Works
ACE Graduation Dinner
Graduation
Dinner
Achieving My Goal
By Yvette Camarena
E
ver since I can remember, I’ve had one
goal in life: to be a pediatrician.
I know that most of the kids in my inner-city Denver neighborhood had dreams of being something,
too. But for most of my friends and family members, that dream has been exchanged for a struggle
for day-to-day survival.
Once classes began, I met many students who had
already taken subjects like Algebra in the sixth grade
at their private elementary and middle schools.
Because I had attended only public schools up to
that point, the workload at this new private school
was a real shock to me – and I suddenly discovered
how far behind I actually was.
Thankfully, I grew up having three moms – my mom
My Dad dropped out of school in sixth grade, and
and two sisters who didn’t want me to make the
my Mom only made it through ninth. I have two
same mistakes they had made. So I had lots of emoFormer ACE scholar,Yvette Camarena
sisters who are eighteen and sixteen years older
tional support from them, and financial support from
than me, respectively. One of them had a baby at
ACE.That motivated me to study all the harder.
age 15, and dropped out after ninth grade. My other sister came closest to
graduating – she made it to eleventh grade before finally dropping out.
One of the unique aspects of Arrupe is its work-study program. Each student is given the chance to work in a professional business setting one day
At first glance, it might seem that I was destined to follow their example,
a week. It was there that I had the chance to see what it’s like to work in
but I decided early on that the easy path was not going to help me much,
an office with people who have college degrees and careers. And I realized
and I started looking for other options.
that I fit in there and belong. A whole new world opened to me – a world
that I now have the experience and confidence to succeed in.
I realized that if I attended my assigned public school, I could quite easily be
an “A” student. I also knew that no matter how many “A”s I got, I probably
I worked hard, and became the first in my family to graduate from high
wouldn’t be prepared for college or life beyond high school.
school. It was an amazing feeling to walk down the aisle and see my family
there, with their eyes full of tears. That was the end of one chapter in my
I had heard about a private high school in Northwest Denver called
life, but also the beginning of a brand-new one.
Arrupe Jesuit. They had a reputation for giving their students a really
heavy workload – much heavier than in the public schools. If I could go to
I discovered that I could financially afford to reach my goal of becoming a
Arrupe and work hard, I knew I’d be ready for college.
pediatrician if I first became a physician’s assistant, which would then provide me with enough income to pay my way through medical school. I am
The problem was that we couldn’t afford the tuition. I was crushed.
currently attending Regis University and working to become a P.A.
It wasn’t until I heard about ACE Scholarships that a private education
started to look like it might happen. It was such an honor to actually receive one of those scholarships!
The fact that generous people support ACE and gave me a chance for success inspires me to make the most of that chance.
Yvette is currently a sophomore at Regis University.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
I
n May, ACE held a graduation celebration for the outstanding scholars who
graduated from high school this year.
With a 86% graduation rate, and every
graduate planning to attend college, ACE had plenty
to cheer about. Charles Johnson, who serves on the
board of directors, gave the following inspiring keynote address to the graduates.
The call for leadership came, and I was ready.
Charles Johnson
I was the second-string, quarterback the entire season, behind our
“
starter, Darian Hagan. During the first half of the national championship
game, a game watched by millions across the country, Hagan was
injured. As our team sat in the locker room at halftime, we weren’t
sure if he would be able to play in the second half.
The image of Hagan walking out of the trainer’s room in street clothes
instead of helmet and pads is still engrained in my memory. At that moment, I realized that I would lead our team in the second half. I felt all eyes
upon me. At that moment, the hopes of my teammates, our program, our
school and our entire state were on my shoulders.
My message tonight is, simply, “Will you be ready?”
Know that the ball will be handed to you whether
you ask for it or not. You may be asked to lead at
a time when you would rather not. That’s the true
measure of a leader – leading when the going is
toughest.
Whether in your personal lives, with friends and family, or at work, in
college or professionally, time will come when you will be asked to lead.
ACE and your private education have prepared you for that moment.
As I stand here tonight, I feel a great optimism for our state and our
country.You are ready. You will be champions.
”
Fear crept in.
I asked myself if I was ready for this moment. Had I prepared enough? Had
I memorized the playbook, lifted weights, and practiced every day for this
moment?
The answer was “Yes.” I was ready. And with that answer, the fear dissipated.
What a lonely feeling it would have been if my answer had been “No”.
With the confidence that comes from being ready, I took the ball during
the second half and led our team to victory, earning the Most Valuable
Player award and our school’s first national championship in its history.
Charles Johnson is the assistant athletic director at the University of Colorado for the
Colorado Buffs. In 1990, he led the Buffs in the Orange Bowl and to
a national championship.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Choice Support
Choice Support
Second Chances
The Boedecker Foundation
G
C
hris “Birdman” Andersen knows a thing or two about second
chances.
It was a long and winding road that led him to Denver and a
rebirth as one of the Nuggets’ most important players during last season’s
play-off run.
Chris played one year of college ball at Blinn Junior College in Brenham,TX,
before embarking on a professional career that began in the Chinese Basketball League and took him to the International Basketball Association before
landing him in Denver in 2001 to play for the Nuggets.
Chris generously agreed to donate $1 to ACE for every Birdman T−shirt
sold during last year’s exciting play-off run. In total, Birdman has provided ACE
$7,100 through the sale of his T−shirts to help low-income, at-risk kids get
their second chance at success.
The Birdman made good on his second chance; more than 700 hundred ACE
kids are doing the same.
ACE congratulates Birdman on recently signing a five-year contract with the
Denver Nuggets.We’re thrilled that he’ll continue to be a great asset to our
community.
After three years, Birdman was traded to the New Orleans Hornets where
off-court troubles led to a two-year suspension for violating the NBA’s substance abuse policy.
eorge Boedecker is a visionary entrepreneur and businessman. From
Domino’s Pizza, Quiznos and, most recently, Crocs Shoes, Mr. Boedecker has an unprecedented track record of success. But he’s known
as much for giving as he is for earning, and we sat
down with him recently to talk about his foundation,
The Boedecker Foundation, and what motivates
him to give back to organizations like ACE.
– we see it everywhere we go, in the works of amazing people across the entire planet.The real personal
question, however, and one whose answer eludes
even the greatest of philanthropic minds, is “Can I
make a difference?” Can one man – or one organization − impact the world we live in, in a truly meaningful way? The only answer I have for that question
is “I hope so.” We aspire to make a true difference in
every environment we support.
ACE: What is the primary mission of the Boedecker
Foundation?
ACE: You have been a successful businessman and
entrepreneur. How do you see your foundation helping to create a new generation of entrepreneurs?
Boedecker: The Boedecker Foundation provides
critical resources to nonprofit organizations that
inspire positive change within communities around
the world. We’re here to impact the world and inspire people to improve the quality of life for others − in a way that is sustainable. People need to
understand that sustainability is not just a concept
created for philanthropic use. It’s really at the core
of who and what we are as human beings, and it
represents the key to our ability to endure and to
thrive. Without sustainability – in thought, action,
or process – we’d do nothing more than wander
around thinking, “What’s next?”
ACE: You’re obviously incredibly passionate about
the foundation’s work. But how does your passion
for entrepreneurship influence the activities of the
foundation?
Basketball fans and analysts wrote him off; few expected to hear from him
again.
George Boedecker
“I’d like to think that at its
core, the foundation exists to
enable children to view the
world in ways that they never
even thought were possible.”
Boedecker: I’d like to think that it’s my belief in the human spirit that
fuels the foundation, as opposed to my entrepreneurial spirit, but it’s not
quite that simple. While my belief in taking the appropriate steps and investing and empowering others may be the spark that sets things in motion, in reality, once that wheel starts rolling, the real magic starts to happen – maybe you can call it a “snowball effect,” but in reality it’s more like
a wave … this amazing wave of generosity, compassion and understanding
that captures everyone in its wake.
ACE kids often feel that same sting of low expectations and rejection. Because they are living in the inner city and in poverty, little is expected from
these young people.They are trapped in failing schools that don’t give them a
chance to succeed.They, like Birdman, long for a second chance.
For Chris, Denver provided. the opportunity for redemption. He lived with
his close friend and agent Mark Bryant for most of his two-year suspension
and put his life back together.Today, Birdman is a crucial member of the Denver Nuggets team that made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first
time in team history. But more importantly, Chris is serving as a role model
for kids in the Denver community.
ACE: This folds in nicely with your vision for a more compassionate and
prosperous world where people are free to pursue their dreams.
Boedecker: It’s all interrelated. It’s no real mystery that change happens
Chris “Birdman” Anderson is lifting kids up to achieve their goals.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Boedecker: I like to create new visionaries more
than anything. Whether people go and build a new
company that gives back to the community or develop a new vaccine that changes medicine, it all starts
with the belief that something unchartered can be
accomplished.
ACE: And that’s why youth development is a major
priority of the foundation?
Boedecker: Yes. No one can dispute the fact that
children are the leaders and visionaries of our future. And we also know that when supported and
educated, they can achieve greatness beyond what
anyone thought possible. Our children are passionate dreamers − worthy of the chance to be heard, to
be nurtured and to feel valued. There’s simply no way to thrive or dream
when you don’t even understand what those things are. I’d like to think
that at its core, the foundation exists to enable children to view the world
in ways that they never even thought were possible.
ACE: We hold that same belief for Colorado’s low-income children, if
they are given the opportunity to obtain a quality education. And the
Boedecker Foundation has generously supported ACE in the past.
Boedecker: Absolutely. Having a choice in quality education is enormously important, yet often, there is no choice for at-risk and low-income
families. Just like ACE, the Boedecker Foundation believes that every child
– regardless of race or family income – is of equal worth. All children
deserve a quality education, and the Boedecker Foundation is proud to
support the scholarships that help make that possible.
Please visit the Boedecker Foundation at www.boefoundation.org.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Choice Events
Choice Leadership
Family Night
at the Museum
The
T
New Trustees
he ACE Board of Trustees is one of the most prestigious nonprofit boards in Colorado.Top business leaders from every economic sector realize the impact that ACE has on the community
and our state and have committed themselves to helping our most at-risk
children obtain the quality education they will need to succeed.
In recent months, several outstanding individuals have joined the board, each
bringing a unique background to the 63-member board.
L
As co-chair of The Bailey Company,
Kendall oversees the Denver Arby’s
Charity Tour through the Arby’s
Foundation. Each year, this prestigious
golf tournament, in conjunction with
in-store fundraising campaigns, raises
thousands of dollars for exceptional
nonprofit organizations within our
community. This year, the tournament benefited Excel Institute and La
Academia, two private schools within
the ACE private school network. (Read
more on page 12.)
ast October, ACE held our annual “Family Night” for ACE
scholars to meet one another, say “thank you” to our donors,
and receive their scholarship money for the school year.
More than 500 ACE scholars, along with family and friends – some 2,000
people altogether – gathered to collect another year’s tuition check for
the private school of their choice.
It was an extraordinary night of hugs, high fives, smiles and some tears.
For these families, this night represented another year in a quality school;
another year in a safe educational environment; another year closer to
graduating, ready for college.
For many ACE scholars, it was their first trip to the Denver Museum of
Nature & Science, and the facility served as a perfect backdrop for the
evening. We are eternally grateful to George Sparks, President and CEO
of the Museum for opening its doors to our families free of charge.
Kendall’s philanthropic work includes the Arby’s Foundation, Big
Kendall E. A. Bailey
Brothers/Big Sisters, the Church of
the Red Rocks, the Colorado Ski
and Snowboard Museum, and the Sierra Club, as well as numerous civic and
cultural organizations in Arizona and New Mexico.
President and founding partner
of Brownstein Hyatt Farber and
Schreck, Steve Farber’s practice encompasses corporate and partnership business transactions, public
and private and business transactions, acquisitions and mergers, real
estate, and business and contract
transactions.
Steve is actively involved in many
political, charitable and community
causes. He served as co-chair and a
member of the executive committee of the Host Committee for the
2008 Democratic National ConvenSteven W. Farber
tion and is on the board of directors for the University of Colorado
Hospital Foundation. Steve’s commitment to education dates back to 1992,
when he served as a commissioner of the Colorado Commission on Higher
Education, and he currently serves as co-chairman for former Governor Bill
Owens’ College for Colorado.
John Ikard’s career with FirstBank
Holding Company began in 1981,
and he was elected president & CEO
in 1999. FirstBank is the second largest bank in the state of Colorado
with almost $10 billion in assets, 130
locations and 2,000 employees.
In addition to joining the ACE board,
John is on the finance committee
of the Archdiocese of Denver; the
executive committee of the Denver
Area Boy Scouts; a board of governors member for Colorado State
University; and a member of the
development board for Colorado
Uplift; as well as an active board
member of the Children’s Hospital
Foundation and the Colorado Wildlife Experience.
As executive vice president of Corporate Affairs for Western Union,
Anne McCarthy oversees global media relations, employee communications, reputation management, public
affairs, community relations and the
Western Union Foundation. In addition to her work at ACE, Anne
serves on the board of trustees of
Colorado UpLift, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the
Arthur W. Page Society. Additionally,
Anne is an ambassador for MercyCorps, a Trustee of the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for
Scholars and a member of the Wise
Women Council.
John A. Ikard
Anne M. McCarthy
The Board of Advisors
The business leaders who comprise the board of advisors also serve an essential role in supporting ACE. For two years, this 31-member-strong board
was chaired by David Livingston, president of United Western Bank. David
recently stepped down and became chairman emeritus allowing Eric Holt,
managing director of Bessemer Trust to assume the role of chairman. We
would like to thank both men for their leadership, as well as the entire
board for the important role they play in helping ACE support so many
at-risk children.
See a complete list of board members on page 14.
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
10
Choice Briefing
Choice Partners
FROM THE DESK OF THE
E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
N
ACE Video
ow in its ninth year, ACE continues to provide educational options to Colorado’s lowincome communities.We remain steadfast to
our mission to see that every child has access to a quality
education, regardless of his or her race, ZIP code or financial means.
Norton Rainey
It is a nine-year track record of success.
One of our most effective methods of illustrating the power of school choice is through the ACE video, an emotional
and inspiring look at some of the kids served by ACE. First
produced in 2005 by Stephen Vidano Films, the ACE video
captures the real stories behind the statistics we’ve come
to know all too well.
A 55% dropout rate for low-income DPS students becomes all the more real
when you meet children who are fighting against that abysmal statistic.
2008 Graduation rate
I hope you visit our Web site, www.acescholarship.org, and enjoy our latest
video. It will be 10 minutes you won’t regret spending to learn more about the
impact you are having in the lives of these children by supporting ACE.
86%
59%
45%
ACE
Colorado
DPS
(100% low-income)
(low-income)
(low-income)
15.7
ince 1986, the Arby’s Foundation has raised over $27 million
dollars to support leadership, education and mentoring initiatives in communities all across America. In Colorado, the Bailey
Company, a franchise owner of 57 Arby’s restaurants, has raised hundreds
of thousands of dollars through in-store fundraising campaigns and the
Arby’s Charity Tour Denver, a premier golf tournament held at The Ridge
at Castle Pines North.
This year’s event was no exception. Geoff and Kendall Bailey (whom you
met on page 10) spearheaded the Arby’s Charity Tour Denver to raise
money for Excel Institute and La Academia, two outstanding private
schools within the ACE network. These schools mainly serve economically disadvantaged, minority children in our inner-city communities, and
they provide these kids with a crucial alternative to the struggling public
schools that have a 55% dropout rate for low-income students.
“Excel and La Academia serve on the front lines in the fight to prevent
our at-risk youth from falling through the cracks,” said Geoff Bailey.“We’re
honored to help them in this fight for survival.”
When the last putt rolled in the 18th hole and the 140 participating golfers
returned to the club house for lunch – the round was cut short due to
Colorado’s stormy summer – the amount raised for these two inner-city
schools stood at an incredible $170,000.
2008 ACT Composite Scores
19.4
S
16.3
“It was a fantastic turnout and a great day of fun for a good cause,” said
ACE trustee Kendall Bailey. “We were thrilled to help two such inspirational schools in their efforts to provide a quality education to our community’s most at-risk kids.”
14.4
ACE
Colorado
DPS
DPS
(100% low-income)
(low-income)
(all Students)
(low-income)
From left to right: Geoff Bailey; Greg Hawkins, chairman of the Arby’s Charity
Tour; Kendall Bailey; and Chris “Birdman” Andersen, along with his fiancée Brandy
Newman and agent Mark Bryant
You can follow ACE on our new blog at www.acescholarships.org
or at:
On hand to receive the check was Vivian Wilson of Excel Institute, and
Todd Clough of Inner City Parish La Academia.
ACE Supporters
11
445 individual donors
Average gift of $9,565
25 foundation gifts
Total foundation support of $721,105
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
12
a
Choice Support
Choice Leadership
Boards
ACE Board of Trustees
Thank You to our 2008 Sponsors
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ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
Rick Adam, President and CEO, Adam Aircraft
William Armstrong III, President & CEO, Blueberry Systems, LLC
Don Bailey, Chairman & CEO, Triton Investment Company
Kendall Bailey, Arby’s/ The Bailey Company
Bill Bergner, President, Berco Resources, LLC
Richard N. Brown, Denver
George Caulkins III, Greendeck Capital
Terry Considine, Chairman & CEO, AIMCO
Alex Cranberg, Chairman, Aspect Energy
Peter Dea, President & CEO, Cirque Resources
Steven Farber, President and Founding Partner, Brownstein,
Hyatt, Farber and Schreck
John Fox, Chairman, MWHC Holding Inc.
Mike Fries, President & CEO, Liberty Global
Steve Friess, Friess, Inc.
Charlie Gallagher, Chairman & CEO, Gallagher Enterprises
Francisco Garcia, Founder & CEO, Garcia International
Caleb Gates, Retired V.P. & Principal, Denver Investment Advisors
Henry Gordon, President, Strata Capital
John Ikard, President & CEO, FirstBank
Bud Isaacs, Chairman, RIM Operating
Mike Kennedy, Managing Director, Gallagher Industries
Don Law, President, Prima Exploration
John Leede, Manager-Exploration, Leede Operating Company
Laura Leprino, Wheatridge
Dick Lewis, Chairman & CEO, Avant Premium Water
Jim Lightner, Partner & CEO, Orion Energy Partners, LLC
Scott Lowery, Chairman, CEO & President, Collect America
Tom Marsh, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Anne McCarthy, Executive Vice President, Western Union
Ed McVaney, Retired President & Founder, J.D. Edwards
Julie Mork, Managing Director, ECA Foundation
Jim Mulvihill, Principal, Black Creek Capital
Ralph Nagel, President,Top Rock LLC and Chairman of ACE Board of Trustees
Michael W. O’Shaughnessy, President, Lario Oil & Gas Company
Jack Overstreet, President, Legacy Energy
Bill Owens, Colorado Governor 1999-2007
Roger Parker, President & CEO, Delta Petroleum Corporation
Tom Petrie,Vice Chairman, Executive Client Coverage Group, Merrill Lynch Petrie
Jim Piccone, President, Resolute Natural Resources
Paul Rady, Chairman & CEO, Antero Resources Corporation
Ben Rainey, Director,Teegarden Financial
Walter Rakowich, President, ProLogis
Scott Reiman, President, Hexagon Investments
Blair Richardson, Partner, Bow River Capital
Dick Robinson, Co-Chairman, Robinson Dairy
Jeff Ross, President and CEO, Ross Aviation
Dick Saunders, Chairman & Treasurer, Saunders Construction Company
Rick Schmitz, Partner, SKS Ventures, LLC
Vince Schmitz, Chairman, Citywide Banks
Scot Sellers, CEO, Archstone-Smith
Mark Sexton, CEO, Evergreen Energy, Inc.
Eric Sipf, Chairman, Imerica
George Solich, President, Cordillera Energy Partners, LLC
Bob Tointon, President, Phelps-Tointon, Inc.
Dell Van Gilder, President,Van Gilder Insurance Corp.
Luis Villarreal, President, Save Our Youth
Bonnie Vivian, Retired President & CEO, Denver Biomedical
Jim Wallace, Partner, BWAB Exploration
Eric Weissmann, Managing Director, Kachi Partners
Peter Wells, Chairman, Wells Property Holdings
Scot Wetzel, Chairman, United Western Bank
Pat Wiesner, President, Wiesner Publishing
Wayne Williamson, Partner, Plexus Capital
Don Wolf, CEO, Quantum Resources, LLC
Earl Wright, President & CEO, AMG National Trust Bank
ACE Board of Advisors
Ben Addoms, President, Quintess
Brad Billingsley, Partner, Lockton Companies
Tony Bolazina, President, Northern Trust Bank
Lindsay Brown,Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle
Judy Cain, Partner, EKS&H
Blake Carlson, Partner, Carlson Associates
Melissa Corrado-Harrison, First Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Michael Davis, Associate, Greenberg Traurig
Debbie Donner, President, Han Chaparral
Rick Eldridge, President and CEO, Intuitive Insurance Corporation
Nate Ford, Partner, Faegre & Benson, LLP
Eric Holt, Managing Director, Bessemer Trust
Mike Hommel, Owner, Designs by Sundown
Patrick Johnson, President, Simon Davis, Inc.
Randy Kenworthy, Managing Partner, Caddis Capital
Chandler Lippitt, Partner, Franke Greenhouse List & Lippitt LLP
David Livingston, President, United Western Bank
Bruce MacDonald, President, MacDonald Hardwood Floors
Tate McCoy, Executive Vice President, Lockton Companies
Tim Miller, CEO, Synergy Services Inc.
Kevin Mitchell, Partner, RedCloud Capital, Inc.
Marcus Mollmann, Owner, New West Investments
Todd Neugebauer, Partner, CHx Capital, LLC
Rick O’Donnell, President, Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence
David Puchi, Managing Director, Baceline Investments
Tim Schafer, Principal, Schafer Thomas, P.C.
Jerry Sommer
Josh Stewart, CEO, X Jet
Shawn Stigler, Partner, Stigler, Wussow & Braverman Ltd.
Mike Ward, Owner, Mike Ward’s Littleton Infiniti
Eric Wolf, Partner, Bow River Capital
ACE Board of Directors
Polly Baca, Executive Director, LARASA (Retired)
Todd Clough, Executive Director, Denver Inner City Parish
Alex Cranberg, Chairman, Aspect Energy
Dr.Vernard Gant, Director, Urban School Services, Assoc. Christian Schools Intl.
Nita Gonzales, Founder & President, Escuela Tlatelolco
Sergio Gutierrez, Innovest Portfolio Solutions
Sharon Alexander Holt, President and CEO, Urban League of Metro Denver
Pierre Jimenez, Jimenez & Assoc.
Charles Johnson, Assistant Athletic Director, University of Colorado
Haven Moses, Director of Development, Denver Inner City Parish
Skip Netzorg, President, Sherman & Howard, LLC
Bishop Phillip Porter, Bishop Porter Ministries
Dianna Vigil, DTS & Associates
Luis Villarreal, President, Save Our Youth
Wayne Williamson, Partner, Plexus Capital, LLC
Vivian Wilson, Principal, Excel Institute
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION – www.acescholarships.org
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