Fair warning: What looks like an automated teller machine might not be an ATM at all.
It could be one of the Denver Scholarship Foundation’s “giving kiosks” and instead of spitting out Benjamins, it’ll accept your donation toward a child’s college education.
The kiosks, brainchild of DSF development director Myles Mendoza, were introduced when 150 Friends of Ed gathered for a sunset “friend-raiser,” planned by Kasia Iwaniczko, in the rooftop garden at the Museum Residences.
Denver Scholarship Foundation started three years ago with a $50 million challenge grant from oilman Tim Marquez and his wife, Bernadette. The couple — he’s a graduate of Lincoln High School, and two of their three daughters are East High alums — gave the money in an effort to “inspire and empower” Denver Public School students to attend college. Cindy Abramson is the executive director.
Friends of Ed was formed to spread the word and encourage support for DSF’s goal of creating a $200 million endowment.
Last year, the DSF helped 1,570 students apply for college; 74 percent of them were the first in their family to do so.
Alma Rocha, a graduate of South High School, is a sophomore at the University of Colorado Denver, thanks to the DSF. “My parents dreamed of sending all of their children to college, but there’s 11 of us and there’s no way they could afford it.” Rocha is planning to major in either political science or international relations.
Mendoza is looking for businesses and organizations willing to host a Giving Kiosk. He can be reached at 303-951-4145.
Guests at the reception included Marti Awad; Dr. Dean Prina; Tonya Frank; Jennifer Schaden; Christine Benero; Mark Tiernan and Paula Peri Tiernan; Jill and Dr. Adam Barkin; Marsha Austin; Andre Pettigrew; Dafna Michaelson; Jim Guttau; and Antonio Esquibel.And, there’s more
Today, Mavis Leno outlines an effort she is leading to restore women’s rights in post-Taliban Afghanistan for 800 guests at the Mile High United Way Women’s Leadership Luncheon. The wife of television talk show king Jay Leno speaks at noon at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center. . . . Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade not only headlines Opera Colorado’s season opening gala on Friday, but is slated to stop by Robert and Mary Sue Hawk’s Downing Street abode Wednesday night for a patron party planned by Victoria Frank, Kalleen Malone, Mary Meade, Diana Murdy and Judi Wolf. Von Stade became great friends with Opera Colorado’s co-founder, the recently departed Nat Merrill, during his tenure with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. . . . CultureHaus is having its annual membership recruitment party from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Ponti Hall in the Denver Art Museum. There’ll be refreshments and music by Swing Street; sign up at . . . . Nortec Collective comes in from Tijuana to entertain at the Museo de las Americas gala, Rojole! Tickets for the Friday night event at Exdo Events Center can be purchased by calling Nicole Roush, 303-571-4401, ext. 25. . . . Rose Community Foundation has received the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s national Leadership in Action Award.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, .
