Causes: Education, Educational Services

Mission: "BUILDING LONG-TERM, LIFE-CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH URBAN YOUTH."

Results: We're proud to say we're in our 34th year of reaching at-risk youth in Denver. In 2016, we will serve over 5,500 youth from 28 urban public schools with our relational program. These students will receive caring, adult teacher/mentors who act as life coaches over multiple years. As mentioned above, 90% of our kids who have been in the program three years or more graduate from high school (compared to a 52% average graduation rate), and 86% engage in post-secondary learning (compared to 25% average). In addition, kids who participate in Colorado UpLift attend all their academic classes 41% more than their non-UpLift peers. For each graduate, we're saving the economy around $2 million per student - and everyone benefits! In 2010, Colorado UpLift won the CoBiz Magazine "Top Company" award in the Nonprofit category, an award based on excellence and best practices in the field.

Target demographics: We target low-income children and teens in the metropolitan Denver area (based on free and reduced lunch qualification) from 2nd grade through post-secondary ages. 80% of our students are deemed impoverished, 90% are minorities and all face major risk factors such as gangs, drugs, dysfunctional families, academic underachievement and cycles of failure.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 5,500

Geographic areas served: Colorado UpLift impacts youth who attend 28 urban, low-income schools in Denver. The program is also being replicated to similar demographics

Programs: The full Colorado UpLift model consists of four program areas, delivered by full-time teacher/mentors: In School, After School, Adventure, and Post Secondary.