The Cause

The Need…

The number of at-risk and disadvantaged youth continues to rise, while resources available to help are declining.  THOUSANDS of children in Metro Denver are becoming separated from societal and economic mainstreams, resulting in a trend of violence, poverty, and homelessness. Organizations that re-connect with these young victims are in dire need of funding from community leaders and members, corporations, and the media.

At-Risk Youth Stats

Current high school dropout rates in Colorado are startling. Half of all ninth graders in Denver and a quarter of them in the metro region will not finish school. Without a high school diploma, it is increasingly difficult for an individual to pursue a career that pays enough to meet their basic needs without public assistance.

For young adults in Colorado, graduating high school is key to a successful future both personally and as contributing members of society. Based on 2004 data from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the Colorado Children’s Campaign calculates that Colorado had a high school graduation rate of 70 percent. This means that each year 16,333 students do not graduate on time. Failure to graduate represents a staggering loss in human potential for Colorado and the nation. One analysis estimated that the lost earning potential due to students not graduating from high school costs Colorado 3.4 billion dollars per year.

Event Beneficiaries

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Denver Broncos Youth Center at the Denver Rescue Mission

Since 1892 the Denver Rescue Mission has been serving the needs of poor and homeless men, women and children through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional and permanent housing, and community outreach.

The goals of the youth program are to provide a place where the children can overcome the myriad effects of poverty and homelessness, improve scholastically, and learn to enjoy living in a positive, safe, and stable environment.

There are currently 69 children under the age of 18 who live at The Crossing and actively participate in the Denver Broncos Youth Center’s programs such as Home Work Club, Say Yes, Whiz Kids, Teen Recreation, Cross Talk for Teens, Kids Recreation, and Save Our Youth Mentoring.

In 2008, the Denver Rescue Mission housed 302 homeless children at The Crossing and matched 36 children with a Save Our Youth Mentor or a Whiz Kids Tutor. In the Denver Broncos Youth Center, children logged 578 hours in the Homework Club after school program. For 2009, there are 24 children matched with Save Our Youth Mentors, 26 kids matched with Whiz Kids Tutors and 400 hours logged per month in the Homework Club.

(click to visit website)

Project PAVE
(Promoting Alternatives to Violence through Education)

In 2008, Project PAVE counselors facilitated clinical counseling services with 267 victims of violence; provided advocacy, resource linkage, and victim compensation assistance to 164 youth victims; worked with 103 parents; and reached an audience of more than 4,000 with its school-based violence prevention curriculum. While relationship violence is not caused by economic factors, the downturn in the economy has placed a significant amount of stress on families already in crisis. Services are in greater demand, yet funding is considerably decreasing.

Mission: To empower youth to end the cycle of relationship violence.

Purpose: The agency’s goal is to stop the generational cycle of emotional, sexual, and   physical abuse within families through violence prevention, education, and intervention services.

Project PAVE Testimonials

“Abuse is color blind and happens in all communities. It is important to educate people everywhere but we see that in poor or lower income neighborhoods abuse is not talked about. There are fewer resources for our community and the young people in our neighborhood need more support. Some kids don’t have parent support so we need to educate the community to create more adult support. With help from Project PAVE we can take our program into the community and make it bigger and better.”
~ Stephanie Lopez, 12th grade

“This program has really taught me about dating violence and myself. Also, how to deal with certain situations in life, when it comes to violence and a lot of other types of situations.”
~ Danielle Lewis, 12th grade

“We help families that have been through domestic violence and other kinds of abuse. An opportunity like this would’ve never been possible if it was not for the City of Denver for supporting the Safe City program. It gives students like me hope of making a change in our communities. When I see the kids’ faces light up, I know that this is what I want to do in my life.”
~ Jose Castaneda, East High School student and part-time Project PAVE employee