When Kent Hutcheson started Colorado UpLift, his thinking was that if inner-city children from low-income, often-troubled, households had the opportunity to meet some of Denver’s business and community leaders, it could ignite a spark that would point them on a path to success.
Hutcheson was right because 28 years later, UpLift is serving 3,615 students in 19 Denver Public Schools and has an enviable 90 percent graduation rate for those who have been in the program for at least three years. And of those who graduate, 86 percent go on to college.
Hutcheson recently turned over the reins to Michael Painter, who came aboard as president/CEO about the time UpLift’s model was launched in three other cities: Orlando, Fla.; New York City; and Phoenix.
UpLift’s success also captured the attention of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who is linking his charitable foundation to Groove Auto’s Drive for Education, a partnership that is expected to generate about $100,000 a year for the comprehensive mentoring program.
Groove’s president, Rod Buscher, was a special guest at UpLift’s annual fundraising banquet held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. “Partnering with the Tim Tebow Foundation will allow Drive for Education to achieve success at a greater level,” Buscher said of the program he started with then-partner John Elway in 1996.
Buscher’s wife, Melanie, and son, Barrett, also were among the 520 guests at the UpLift banquet. Others included CBS4 general manager Walt DeHaven and wife Wendy Aiello; John and Patte Orr; Joe and Pam Ignat; Dave and Margie Hunter; Gary and Sandy Autrey; Randall and Jef Bellows; Ralph Bellizzi and Connie Genova; Joyce and Dr. James Wilson; Jerry and Marty Berglund; Sam and Talie Freedman; Estaban and Patricia Swabacker; Joe and Judi Wagner; Clifford and Nancy Hickey; and Ryta Sondergard, president of the Colorado UpLift’s Guild.
Coming right up.
Mayor John Hickenlooper and chairman of the board Don Mares are scheduled to speak this evening when the Latin American Educational Foundation hosts a reception at the Governor’s Residence to announce plans for Gala 2011. . . . Items from Joseph Hamilton Furs will be modeled at An Afternoon of Elegance, a luncheon to fund the college scholarships awarded by Theta Zeta Sigma alumnae chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. It begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Marriott Park Meadows; Ollie Smith and Vanessa Anderson are the co-chairs. . . . Champagne & Diamonds is the theme for a $100- per-ticket dinner-dance that will help Sense of Security continue helping breast cancer patients with day-to-day living expenses. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Denver Athletic Club; register at . . . . Blue Sky Fund’s third Halloween Spooktacular begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at Casselman’s Bar and Venue. Tickets are $75 in advance at or $80 at the door, with proceeds going to Second Wind and its efforts to prevent teen suicide. . . . Mardi and Brown Cannon, along with David Caulkins, are chairing Luminocity, an Oct. 28 gala to benefit MCA/Denver. Tickets start at $300 and include dinner by Three Tomatoes Catering. Sign up at … The 10th annual Halloween Bash benefiting the Robby Ferrufino Memorial Foundation for kids with cancer takes place Oct. 30 at Mile High Station. There’ll be six DJs, three video walls and a hosted bar for VIP-level ticketholders. Register online by visiting .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
