a new name. a new chapter. - scholars...

A new name. A new chapter.

Annual Report 2014

Our mission remains unchanged: To support low-income, academically struggling young learners by providing rigorous literacy instruction and enrichment programs in order to help students achieve measurable success and to inspire life-long learning.

Our new name reflects what we’ve always been: Unlimited in our commitment to helping young students build solid foundations for academic and personal success. Unlimited in our belief that the children we serve can reach their full potential. Unlimited in our gratitude for all of the community partners and donors that make our comprehensive programs possible.

Summer Scholars is now Scholars Unlimited.Opportunity in the making. A message from the President.

Dear Friends,

What a year it’s been! For the past 12 months at Summer Scholars, we’ve been on the move and bringing key elements of our strategic plan to fruition. Which has meant stepping outside the box with expanded programs and fresh approaches, streamlining our processes and places, and striving to be one giant step ahead of the emerging needs of our kids and community.

If you’re wondering “What does she mean by that?” you’re NOT alone!

• During the summer of 2014, students enrolled in our “fresh” math program at Ashley Elementary experienced a “flipped” classroom with facilitated learning. An expert educator served as a “guide on the side” rather than the lecturer at the front of the room. The instructional model encouraged student-centered learning on an interactive web-based platform. Students made significant gains in math skills and became more self-directed learners over the course of the summer.

• Our friends at Opera Colorado immersed scholars from Stedman Elementary into a year-long operatic experience. Scholars identified a storyline, developed the libretto, worked with a composer to develop the score, rehearsed, staged, and performed their own original opera. Talk about an enriching experience!

• Our legacy literacy program was supercharged by full implementation of mClass, a web-based assessment that gives teachers real-time data to inform instruction and adapt interventions to meet specific student needs – at the moment they complete the assessment.

• At Harrington Elementary, we launched “Scholars Plus” – a program for higher performing students with big promise. This program provides additional individualized supports and aims to remove barriers to success, whatever they may be. We’ll continue to keep you apprised of outcomes from this three-year pilot program.

Building on our legacy, we’ve continued to support the struggling readers that our founders identified as our raison d’être. We follow reading research and incorporate best practices into our practices, we use technology to provide blended learning within our literacy instruction, and we strive to embed literacy learning within our enrichment offerings.

Our progress also means we are bidding a fond farewell to a name that established our place in the community and has served us well – but which no longer reflects the broad array of rich opportunities we offer throughout the year. I invite you to join me in embracing our new name, which also reflects our unwavering belief in our students and their potential: Scholars Unlimited.

Sincerely,

Kathleen KingPresident

What remains unchanged is our dedication to helping students master critical academic skills. To broadening disadvantaged students’ views of the world around them. To sparking imaginations and inspiring a passion for learning. And to helping our scholars build an unlimited belief in themselves.

Since our humble beginnings in 1993, this life-changing work has been possible only with the support of our community. To our funders and donors, partners and advocates, volunteers and friends, we say “Thank you.”

And we invite you to be a part of the journey as Scholars Unlimited begins a new chapter.

Summer Scholars is now Scholars Unlimited. It’s a short sentence – but it was a long and thoughtful process to change the organization’s name. In fact, the process began in 2012. That year, key staff and the Board of Directors embarked on a strategic planning process. The result was a comprehensive strategic plan, formally adopted in December 2012, which outlined key goals and objectives, including:

Raise our community profile by developing and implementing a marketing plan.We recognized that marketing was not a core competency, so we recruited several community members with expertise in marketing, public relations, and communications to serve on our marketing task force. We also allocated limited financial resources for the project.

The task force’s first job was a rigorous selection process that led us to partner with Launch, a small Denver agency with a big heart.

Launch’s first task was to conduct market research. They began with an online survey, sent to all friends of Summer Scholars via our e-newsletter. About 10 percent of the organization’s friends participated in the survey (considered a very high response rate); they represented a broad cross-section that included donors, educators, volunteers, staff, and representatives from community partners.

When the responses were tallied, we were especially gratified by responses to the question, “If Summer Scholars were a person, what words would you use to describe that individual?” The number-one response, across all audience segments: Caring. Other top words were dedicated, supportive, compassionate and fun.

But responses to another question were more troublesome. When asked, “What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term ‘Summer Scholars’?” the top answer was “summer.”

As one member of the task force noted, “You don’t want your friends and supporters to think of a season of the year when they think of you!”

Launch then worked with GutCheck, a local firm that provided pro bono services. Participants in GutCheck’s online focus groups also were friends of Summer Scholars. They applauded the organization for creating positive learning experiences, for providing warm and nurturing environments, and for giving students opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration. Yet they tended to limit our programs to summer only – despite the fact that Summer Scholars began providing after-school programs in 2000.

These findings, coupled with anecdotal remarks, led Launch to recommend that our organization’s name be changed, and the Board approved.

So the team at Launch began name exploration. The task force reviewed dozens of possibilities and after several rounds of exploration selected three potential names for further vetting.

We began testing each of the options with friends and supporters of Summer Scholars. In these conversations, the name “Scholars Unlimited” emerged as the clear favorite – and people’s comments indicted that the name clearly conveyed our organization’s purpose and promise while honoring our history.

Among the specific comments we heard:

The story of our name change.

Dynamic programs that inspire young learners.

“I like the choice ‘Scholars Unlimited’ because it still has the word scholars in the name. Secondly, this name denotes potential beyond the classroom. I am in agreement with the name change, because many parents in the community were/are under the impression that programs are offered only in the summer. With the name change, parents will understand more clearly your connection and year-round collaboration with schools.”

- School Principal

“Yes! ‘Scholars Unlimited’ is perfect! It says what you do – and it conveys so much more. Plus, it keeps scholars in your name, which is a good thing for continuity.”

- Teacher in our program

“Good feel and connection to current name. Conveys that we are beyond school constructs. Conveys boundless opportunities.”

- Board member

“Scholars Unlimited is my favorite. It keeps the connection with the current organization (which is successful and has some brand equity). The word‘unlimited’ is… well, unlimited! And it has a nice feel to it, balancing the strength of the word ‘scholars’ with the feeling of being unlimited.”

- Foundation representative

Marketing Task Force Members

Scott DownesPrinciple, Thomas LLC

Jennifer AgnewHuman Resources Manager – Site StaffSummer Scholars

Rebecca ArnoVice President, CommunicationsDenver Foundation

Linda BrownFormer Board member, Summer ScholarsCommunity Volunteer

Lisa O’ConnorOnline Research Strategist GutCheck Inc.

Rachelle TrujilloSenior Director, Marketing CommunicationsColorado School of Mines Foundation

Jamie WinterPrincipal, Winter Public Relations

And so we embark on a new chapter for our organization, marked by our new name. A name rooted in our commitment to helping students increase their academic achievement, while conveying our belief in the unlimited potential of every child we serve.

Parents were uniformly enthusiastic, saying that the name “Scholars Unlimited” sent positive messages to their children, including:

It was the responses of our students themselves that sealed the deal. We posed a simple question to them: If I told you that you were going to be going to a program just like Summer Scholars, but it’s called Scholars Unlimited, what would you say?

This is where it gets exciting.

Volunteer Story: SelesteWhen she was a student at Harrington Elementary School, Seleste Solis was an enthusiastic participant in Summer Scholars’ programs: she

participated in both the summer and after-school programs while she was in grades 2 through 5. “Seleste showed up every day, and she was an eager learner,” recalls Kelly Dent, site coordinator at Harrington.

Two years ago, Seleste advanced to Bruce Randolph School – but she still eagerly participates in Scholars After School every day.

Seleste’s younger brother started at Harrington just as Seleste left for middle school. And following in his big sister’s footsteps, he was enrolled in Scholars After School. Each day, Seleste would leave Bruce Randolph and walk to Harrington, where she waited for her brother to complete the after-school program before walking home with him.

It didn’t take long for Seleste to begin lending a hand. “I always thought the program was really fun,” she remembers. “And I was already here, and I knew the routine, so it was easy to step in and help out.”

Seleste quickly became an integral part of our team. “Our staff and students have come to recognize Seleste as a vital part of our program, and they look forward to seeing her every day,” says Kelly. “Seleste assists our recreation staff with their enrichment activities – she helps with everything from arts and crafts to various gym activities. She has a good attitude and is willing to help where ever she is needed most. She is reliable, hardworking, and always respectful to students and staff.”

Seleste says she enjoys working with staff and students, and says her volunteer work has helped her learn new lessons. “I learned I should have listened more when I was in the program,” she says with a mischievous smile. “It’s hard taking care of kids sometimes!”

Scholar Story: JayleyAfter moving into the home of her great-grandmother, Judy, in the Montbello neighborhood of northeast Denver, Jayley K. was enrolled at John Amesse

Elementary School. She joined the Amesse community as a second-grader – but her first Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) indicated that she was reading at a level 4, considered a low first-grade level.

Over the course of the school year, Jayley made steady but slow growth. On her final DRA for the year, she had moved up to a level 8, indicating progress, but still reading in the first grade range.

By now, Judy was acutely aware that her great-granddaughter was a struggling reader. So when she learned about Summer Scholars’ signature summer learning program, she didn’t hesitate to enroll Jayley.

And the intensive, personalized intervention provided by Summer Scholars proved to be just what Jayley needed to accelerate her progress. As Judy recalls:

“It was part-way through the program and Jayley was reading aloud to me. Honestly, I was just sitting there with my mouth hanging open, because I couldn’t believe how she just zipped through those books.”

Jayley’s tremendous progress was evident to Margie Miller, too. Margie works as a reading interventionist at John Amesse, and noted that Jayley started this school year at a DRA level 14. “What that means is that Jayley made more progress over the six-week summer program than she did during the entire school year.”

Margie addressed her next remarks directly to Jayley: “What that means is that you have proven you can do it. If you work hard and apply yourself, you can make great strides – which means you can be anything you want to be! What that means is that your future is unlimited.”

For scholars and volunteers, it’s not just about learning. It’s about believing.

What that means is that Jayley

made more progress over the six-week summer program than she did

during the entire school year.

When you’re in this program,

you’re part of something

bigger. It really gives me a

sense of belonging.

Hard, sometimes – and rewarding every day. “It’s so rewarding when they see me, because they are excited to see me, and I know they want me here,” Seleste explained. “It’s why I like being here. I really get along with everyone here, and when you’re in this program, you’re part of something bigger. It really gives me a sense of belonging.”

Scholars Unlimited Staff

Kathleen KingPresident

Linda Abeyta Co-Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Jennifer AgnewHuman Resources Manager – Site Staff

Joel CornellAdministrative Manager

Kelly DentSite Coordinator – Harrington Elementary School

Sherry GlynnFinance Director

Karin HostetterDirector of Enrichment and Adult Programs

Michael KaganData Coordinator

Peggy LoaderCo-Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Lance MalleckProgram Manager

Ebony MooreSite Coordinator – Stedman Elementary School

Patrick QuigleySite Coordinator – Florida Pitt Waller K-8 School

Jessica ReillySite Coordinator – Oakland Elementary School

Monica Sims-GussSite Coordinator – Whittier K-8 School

Sondra Skomal Site Coordinator – Columbine Elementary School

Coleen TruaxDevelopment Director

Maria ValleSite Coordinator – Swansea Elementary School

Pat VeraSite Coordinator – John Amesse Elementary School

Patrick WilhelmSite Coordinator – Ashley Elementary School

Measuring success, one student at a time.

Current Board of Directors

ChairDavid WilkinsManaging Partner, K2 Equity Partners Vice ChairJonathan Bender Attorney, Holland & Hart LLP SecretaryCindy Lowery-GraberAttorney, Bryan Cave TreasurerJoanne JohnsonCommunity Volunteer Desta AsfawAttorney, Holland & Hart Cameron BlakelySenior Vice President, Graebel Companies Amy FeimanOwner/Designer at Amy Feiman Graphic Design, LLC

Heather FrickDirector, Digital Strategy and Analytics, Oracle Marketing Cloud

Susan FriedmanRetired Teacher, Community Volunteer Travis LutherPresident, Luther Media, LLC Ali MickelsonTax Policy Attorney, Colorado Fiscal Institute

Barbara Miller Founder, Center for Education in Law and Democracy

Bob NelsonPolitical Consultant Lisa O’ConnorOnline Research Strategist, GutCheck

Lydia Prado Director of Child and Family Services,Mental Health Center of Denver

Spencer ReedyFinancial Consultant, Edward Jones Inc. Monica RosenbluthAttorney, Butler Snow President EmeritusCyndi KahnCommunity Activist

Learning to read. It’s a complex process that requires mastery of many skills:

Letter recognition. Reading proficiency begins with the ability to recognize and name letters. In fact, the ability to recognize the letters that compose a child’s own first name is considered a key kindergarten readiness skill.

Phonemic awareness. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound. Children must be able to distinguish phonemes (recognize the difference between the “em” and “en” sounds, for example) and to associate letters with the sounds they make. It’s a seemingly simple task – but it is often difficult for children who don’t grow up in language-rich environments.

Alphabetic principle. Beginning with the knowledge that words are composed of letters that represent sounds (or phonemes), children must be able to generate the sounds for all letters… to understand that certain letters may change the sounds of others (for example, adding an “e” to the end of a word changes the sound of the preceding vowel)… and to blend sounds into recognizable words. Children “de-code” or sound out words by breaking them down using letter-sound correspondence.

Vocabulary. As they de-code words, children must also be able to understand (or infer) their meanings. Vocabulary knowledge is critical for reading comprehension.

Fluency. Sometimes referred to as “automaticity,” fluency is the ability to read words with little effort. Fluent readers have mastered word recognition skills and can use them in connected text; they are able to read aloud accurately and smoothly, with few pauses or breaks. Reading fluency is considered the gateway to comprehension.

Comprehension. Often referred to as the “why” of reading, comprehension is the ability to extract meaning from the words we read. For young children, it’s the ability to read and understand the simple story an author is telling … but as children progress through school, they must be able to read and comprehend more and more complex text for ongoing learning and academic success.

Learning to read can be a bewildering process for any child – and it is often much more difficult for disadvantaged students who have not experienced language-rich environments, and for children who are learning English as a second language.

The good news is that extra intervention and individualized instruction can make a difference. The personalized, high-dosage literacy programs provided by Scholars Unlimited help young learners master the fundamental skills of literacy, and use these skills to become fluent readers who are able to comprehend what they have read.

The evidence of Scholars Unlimited’s effectiveness can be seen in our DIBELS assessment results. The DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a brief, nationally normed assessment that measures student ability within each of the five domains of literacy: alphabetic principle, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, word accuracy and fluency, and comprehension.

At the beginning of our summer and after-school programs, Scholars Unlimited administers the DIBELS Next® assessment to every student. The benchmark assessments at the beginning of our programs identify each child’s individual learning needs and enable us to tailor instruction to meet the needs of each learner. Another DIBELS assessment at the end of the program measures each child’s individual progress. And aggregate data enables us to evaluate overall program effectiveness.

The DIBELS First Sound Fluency test measures a first-grade student’s ability to recognize the sound made by the first letter in a word. For example, can a child recognize that the first phoneme in the word “ball” is “buh”?

After-School Program2013-14

PRE-TEST PRE-TESTPOST-TEST POST-TEST

32% 25%2% 8%

10% 40%18% 10%

58% 35%80% 82%

AT RISK

SOME RISK

AT OR ABOVE BENCHMARK

Summer Program

2014

The Nonsense Word Fluency-Correct Letter Sounds test is a direct measure of alphabetic principle and word de-coding skills – the basic phonics skills that are foundational for reading proficiency and fluency.



24% 23%19% 16%

18% 16%16% 13%

58% 61%65% 71%

AT RISK

SOME RISK


Summer Program

2014

The Phoneme Segmentation Fluency test measures a student’s ability to segment three- and four-phoneme words into individual phonemes, or sounds – a skill that is essential to learning to read. Therefore, the PSF test is a reliable predictor of later reading achievement.



23% 15%7% 4%

35% 30%18% 7%

42% 55%75% 89%

AT RISK

SOME RISK


Summer Program

2014

The DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency-Accuracy test gauges the automaticity of reading, or the ability to effortlessly translate letters into sounds into words. Fluent reading is not an end in itself, but is critical for reading comprehension: When students aren’t struggling to read words, their minds are free to understand the meanings of those words.



39% 33%30% 27%

20% 20%20% 19%

41% 47%50% 54%

AT RISK

SOME RISK


Summer Program

2014

The DIBELS ORF-Retell test measures reading comprehension, which is considered the very essence of reading. After all, we don’t just read to read – we read for meaning and understanding.



21% 12%25% 7%

41% 43%24% 32%

38% 45%51% 61%

AT RISK

SOME RISK


Summer Program

2014

The Nonsense Word Fluency-Whole Words Read test specifically focuses on a student’s ability to blend sounds into recognizable words.



14% 17%13% 10%

28% 23%16% 17%

58% 60%71% 73%

AT RISK

SOME RISK


Summer Program

2014

The DIBELS assessment consists of several brief sub-tests. Based on grade level and scores, students are ranked in one of three categories for each test: well below benchmark, below benchmark, and at or above benchmark. Results of these DIBELS sub-tests consistently paint a picture of success:

Together, we never stop learning.A message from the Board Chair.

Scholars Unlimited donors. Our heroes.

SUMMA CUM LAUDE($100,000 or more)City/County of Denver, Department of Parks and RecreationColorado Department of Education: 21st Century Community Learning CentersColorado Department of Human Services: Tony Grampsas Youth ServicesDenver Public SchoolsHelen M. McLoraine Endowment Fund

MAGNA CUM LAUDE($25,000 - $99,999)Anschutz FoundationCity/County of Denver, Office of Children’s AffairsDenver FoundationDenver Post Charities, A McCormick Foundation FundEl Pomar FoundationMile High United WayPiton Foundation

CUM LAUDE ($10,000 - $24,999)Linda and Wes BrownColorado Rockies Charity Fund, A McCormick Foundation FundSidney E. Frank Foundation – Colorado FundPhilip GarvinHelen K. and Arthur E. Johnson FoundationDon Oberndorf Family Fund, Denver Foundation PeyBack Foundation

HONOR SOCIETY ($5,000 - $9,999)Anonymous Fund, Denver FoundationSusan and Roger BrownEncana Oil & Gas, Inc.Holland & Hart, LLPJared Polis Foundation Gift FundReel Family Foundation Inc.Rose Community Foundation

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($2,500 - $4,999)Ginny and Rob BaylessHolly Bennett and John LebsackNathan B. & Florence R. Burt FoundationHall & Evans, LLCCyndi and Ed KahnDeborah KingKathleen King and Michael SticeMental Health Center of DenverBarbara MillerBob NelsonEdna Peiker Beach Fund, Denver FoundationShamos Family FoundationElizabeth and Tom Sperr

HONOR ROLL ($1,000 - $2,499)AnonymousTeri and Gordon AppellApril FundThomas W. Bean FoundationFred and Marjory BenderElaine and Stephen BermanHugh and Lynne BrownBrenda and Bruce CampbellThe Colorado TrustWillow and Robert ConneryKevin Crandell and Margaret ConableJames and Sara CulhaneFrederick W. “Tim” and Sue DamourDenver Kiwanis FoundationScott DownesJaren and Bruce DuckerBeth and Robert DuncanHubert A. Farbes Jr.Forest City Stapleton, Inc.Meg and Frederick FrankoLynda M. GoldsteinSam and Peggy Grossman Family FoundationNancy HawkinsCharles Holum and Linda HuangThe Humphreys FoundationLouise HurlbutWalter and Georgia Imhoff Family Fund, Denver FoundationChristine Jensen and David C. AbellJoanne JohnsonSteve and Wendy KaeuperKahn Family Fund, Denver FoundationKinder Morgan FoundationBenjamin KupersmitTravis LutherLiz Lynner and James PalencharCathy and David ManchesterDr. Jay Markson and Martha Sweeney-MarksonEvelyn McClearnDiana and Don McGuirkMetLife Investors USA Insurance CompanyElizabeth MitchellRonnie MitznerMargaret and Mitch MorrisseyJoyce NakamuraThomas and Sally OvertonHerbert Parker TrustJessica and Jeffrey PearsonEric Perryman and Lori PotterAlita PirkopfRich Rainaldi and Martha RecordsCarol RobertsCarl Rossow

Anne Bye Rowe and Frank RoweTim and Kathryn RyanBruce and Martha SattlerSchlessman Family FoundationNancy and Robert Schulein Fund, Denver FoundationKathleen Sgamma and Jon GammJody and David SmithRobert E. and Anne T. Sneed Family FoundationMargaret Stroock and Andrew LowJudi and Joe WagnerLisa Weil and Steven ZansbergWells FargoJR & MJ Wilson Foundation

ADVOCATES ($500 - $999)Elizabeth BartholomewPamela BeardsleyJonathan and Stephanie BenderJoan BrennanRonald C. Butz and Mary H. ButzAlan and Barbara CharnesTeri Chavez and Scott MurphyAlan Epstein and Peggy AndersonLynn and Steve HetterichLee and Karen JoslynCarol and Dirk McDermottSharon and Kerry ShannonCheryl and Lee StaffordKurt and Sandy StenmarkAmber TootleColeen TruaxKatie and David WilkinsFelicity Hannay and James Wood

BOOSTERS (UP TO $500)Shelley Abadi and Jolene GoerendLinda and Phil AbeytaMichael and Elaine AckermanMarilynn and Jeffrey AckermannRick and Margot AcostaLois and Olan AdamsJennifer M. AgnewCarol and Dennis AhnenJoanne AielloKathryn AlbrightJohn and Debra AleinikoffAndrea AltmanFederico Alvarez and Jennifer HeisslerDaniel and Kathy AmbrusoMarilyn and Jules AmerAmgen FoundationBruce Anderson and Lynne GertzWilliam H. Anderson Foundation, Inc.AnonymousAndrea AnticoAlana AnzaloneMarc and Alice ApplebaumDonald Aptekar and Harriet MoyerCeleste ArcherDelia ArmstrongRebecca ArnoJon and Shirley AsherPresley AskewHelen C. AtkesonBarbara AtkesonCharles BabbJessica BachusSusan and Leon BaileyYvonne BaileyJane BaileyMary BakerBank of America Charitable FoundationTamara BanksTonya BarberMichael and Rachael BarkinRandolph BarnhartBarbara BarrowAlison BarryBetty BartonJennifer BaterJan BaucumSonia BauduyBayless Charitable Fund, Denver FoundationMekayla BeaverLindsey BeigingJaney BellJeffrey A. BellowsAnn and Chris BementChristine BeneroLee and Carol BengstonDavid BennettCarolyn BenoitCharon BerenbaumGregory W. BergerConnie BerghornMichael BergmanEd BermanBarbara BerrymanTamara BianchiDeborah and William BiancoSue and James BicknellEric and Kendra BlackCameron BlakelyKathryn and James BlanasRichard BlandElaine BlechmanRebecca BlissShirley and Stewart BlissJill BlombergBarbara Blum-Barnett and Richard BarnettPat BlumenthalSusan BoothbyJerome and Meg BorisonPaul BorrilloPatty Bortz and Bradley SchusterDonna BoucherAllison BoydBrewster and Helen BoydDave and Shirley BramhallPaula Breese

Mary Elizabeth BriceEllen BrilliantLaurie BrockSylvia BrownDr. Donald BrownNatalie BrownKyle Brown and Catherine DunlapTed BrownSusan and Andrew BrownLinda and Ben BrownCody BuchananCarol Buchanan-Lay and John LayTom and Deborah BuescherLinda Petrie Bunch and Jim BunchMari Colleen BushYvette BuxtonAnne ByrneBonnie W. CampAnne CampbellKendall and Steve CarboneChristina M. CarlsonHilary CarlsonJeanne CarpenterElizabeth CarterJudith Cassel-Mamet and Samuel MametJenny CavnarDeborah and Paul CellaLisa Christian and John WalshHelen ChristyRichard ChutterErin ClarkCarol and Ted ClarkePatricia ClarkeScot ClausSheila CleworthDana and Brent CohenNini Coleman and Chris SweeneyTimothy and Anne CollinsDaniel CollinsColorado Capital Management, Inc.Colorado State Bank and TrustCommunity Shares of ColoradoJohn and Joann CongdonJennifer CooksonPatricia and Peter CooperSusan and Glenn CooperLaura CooperCarolyn V. CopelandPatty CordovaJeffrey CorneliusJoel and Brianne CornellKarin CrawfordKimberly CrawfordLucy B. CreightonTodd CrigerDorothy Crow WillardWilliam and Patricia CulkinChristy Cutler and Bill WaltersSusan DaggettJanet R. DailyDorothy DalquistNiels DamrauerCarolyn DanielsDawn DavenportArthur Davidson and Patty EmmonsMaryann and Bill DavisLinda DavisBill and Lisa DavisSteve and Shere DayneyDiana DeGette and Lino Lipinsky de OrlovPatricia Deluna-Zickefoose and Stephen ZickefooseLinda and Dave DemuroKelly DentMartha DevineCharles Dewey and Andrea WilliamsDonna and Bruce DickinsonLindsey and Chris DiedrichJeanne DinerDona DodsonKathryn DolanLynn DolvenBeverly DonCarolyn DonofrioAnne and Bart DoubetDCP MidstreamGary and Kathryn DudleyMichael Dunn and Peggy J. DunnRick and Pat DuttonGloria EastmanTerri EatonLois and Donald G. EckhoffKathleen EconomosNancy Elkind and Skip HibbardBecky and Mark ElkinsSusan ElyTimothy EmeryRobin EnglebergBarbara EnglertR. K. EricksonRenny FaganKwali FarbesNancy and Mike FarleyRichard FarleySusan FarrLeslie Feder and Michael AllenShane FeimanMargie Feinberg and Dr. Larry FeinbergJoel FeldmanHildy FeuerbachRiver FinlayPatricia FiskeDr. Kevin FitzgeraldMonica and Conn FlaniganBarbara FlaniganRobin FleishmannPamela and Sonny FlowersPeggy ForbergJeneanne FordNancy FosterSigrid and Dick FreeseWinnie FreyMelissa Frey

Susan Friedman and Abe WagnerJudith and Michael FriemanGail FritzingerDeborah FroebPaul and Darcie FrohardtMartha FulfordDr. Ted Gaensbauer and Dr. Deborah GaensbauerMike GallagherSarah GarrettGary-Williams Company Employee FundAlan and Sally GassCaleb and Sidney GatesKen and Karen GerdesLaurie GerstenkornMario Giardiello and Sue ContrerasSarah GieringerKathy GileMarcy Glenn and Tom GouletJerrold GlickSherry Glynn and Bill JacobsBecky and Paul GodecGoFish GlobalBei Lee GoldHoney and Chuck GoldbergJonathan and Denise Goldin-DuboisJanice GoldsteinSandra and Stephen GoodmanRon and Mary GoodwinAdele GordonKathy GorhamDr. and Mrs. Stuart GottesfeldDr. Ray GottesfeldDavid GottesmanAdam GraberElaine GranataMelanie GrantJeanne GranvilleMuriel GreenTimothy GreenPatricia Green and Nick WhiteMary L. GrovesMatthew GrovesStan and Paula GudderLeah GuerryLaura GuggenheimerAmanda and Stephen GurrKaren and John GutierrezShirley M. HaflichPam and Norm HaglundJim and Laura HahnHalvorson-Freese 21st Century FundSimon Hambidge and Elizabeth BaylissSteven HamiltonPaul HamiltonCarolyn HampsonWendy and Michael HandlerJane HansberryAnn HargettFlo and Dave HarlorDouglas HarmonDale and Toni HarrisJack HarrisClifford HarrisonHartman Ely Investments LLCMarty and Jim HartmannDietrich Rolf HatlapaConnie Hauver and Dr. Giles TollAlphonso B. HawkinsChristopher Hayes and Vicki CowartKelly HayesAllegra HaynesAnna Jo HaynesLuanne and Charles HazelriggPaige HeagleJim and Amy HechtCarol HedgesRoberta HeisterkampSusan and Bruce HeitlerSusan Heitler Ph.D.Jacob and Rachel HeitlerNiki HellerPamela and Rich HennesseyBetsy Herrick and Milt KahnTerry and Alan HersheyPaula Herzmark and Richard L. VandenBerghJill HessRobert Hickler and Ann LedererArlene and Barry HirschfeldLaura Hirschfeld ZellerSarah HitePatricia and Michael HoMary HoaglandMariellen HoffmanMary HollemanBarbara and Howard HolmeDavid HooverElizabeth HornColeen Horner and Ted ClayGrace HorvatKarin HostetterBruce and Heidi HoytBobbe HultinSusannah HurdBette and Jim HurlbutDr. and Mrs. Irfan HussainJudith and David HutchisonICON Venue Group, LLCBruce IllNina ItinPolly B. JessenPamela and Michael JobinLorraine Dixon-Jones and Craig JonesMichael JonesNick JurjovecAndrew KabzaMichael KaganJon and Kirsten KahnDavid and Jenny KahnJeanne Slavin Kaplan and Stephen H. KaplanDori and David KaplanDr. Michael and Peggy Kappy

Gannon and Sallie KashiwaMartin KatzMarcia KeeneAlice and Terrance KellyEllen KelmanJulian KesnerAnn KileyAnne KinneySingh KirpalJohn KlaassenGail and Jack KlapperMarnie KleinElizabeth KlepperMr. Bob KnousLori Ann F. KnutsonEddie KoenAna KoernerTerri and Peter KonradDolores KopelRev. Tom Korson and Mary MullarkeySheila Kowal and Blake ChamblissSarah KrauseLeslie and Matt KrupaHenry and Melanie KusumiJillian LakritzJohn E. LalliEllen LambertDorothy and Richard LammJanet LandisRobyn and Rob LandryLindsey and Chris LaneLinda LangstonPeggy LehmannEileen LermanChristine Lerocca and Michael HanleySidney and Renae LevinShirley LevittKit LeVoyLeslie LiedtkeDoug LinkhartPorter and Susan LittleJoyce Litvak FishmanPeggy and Neil LoaderRoberta LockeSheri LockhartSusan LoftusAnn and Hal LoganMarie Logsden and Matt KrapflLucy Loomis and Tom CreightonCindy Lowery-Graber Esq.Betty R. Luellen-ClarkeKenneth and Joanne LymanJanet and J.D. MacFarlaneJanet and David MacKenzieSharon and Jon MadisonNoelle MagluiloEster Martin MaillaroLance MalleckEllen and William MangioneMickey MangoldMeredith and Brian MankwitzJanet ManningHeather and Matt ManoneSarah MarksCourtney MarstersMike and Katherine MartinRusty MartinSheri MaukCraig and Dianna MayKatherine Mc MurrayJohn McCabeJudith McCandlessElizabeth McCannRita McCuskerGerald and Rosemarie McDermottPatricia and James McElhinneyChristie McElhinneyKatherine McFeeRex and Nina McGeheePeter McGuireTayo McGuirkJim McHaleMartin E. McKinneyHannelore MckinnonSuzanne McNitt and Darrell BrownJoan McWilliamsRonnie Beth MenakerBarbara MendelBruce & Phipps Menk Family FoundationJennie MerriganMessiah Community Church: Women of the ELCAKathy MetierMelanie MeyerAli MickelsonLisa MickleyDonna Middlebrooks and Tom GougeonDavid Miller and Katherine DinesKent and Leslie MillerBobbi L. MillerJessica MilsteinPaul and Barbara MoeCaroline Momo-TorresLisa MontaguAndrea MontagueDennis and Debby MontgomeryRobert MontgomeryEbony MooreHadley MooreAliya MoosajeeDolores MorenoKerry MorimotoSarah MorrisLiane Morrison and Alan GreenbergMarianna MossDavid and Jackie MullerJohn and Manuelita MullinsChristy Murphy and Norman MuellerSusan and Donald MurphyRichard MurrayToni and Jay NadingJoan NagelKatharine and Prof. Ved Nanda

Diana M. NavoGloria NedvedBradley NeimanDavid and Cora NeslinGordon W. NetzorgElizabeth NevaShepard NevelMargaret and Hans NevilleKathleen A. Newman and Rudolf HartmannJoyce and Larry NielsenSusan NiermeyerStacy NolanTom Obermeier and Tina Poe ObermeierJoanne O’CallaghanLisa O’ConnorKathleen OConnorThomas O’DonnellAlan OgdenPatrick and Tammy O’KeefeStuart OllanikJane OppenheimChristina Ortiz Bluth and David BluthGriffen and Ryan O’ShaughnessyHenry and Mary Ann PadgettJack D. Palma II and Adora Lindsley PalmaElizabeth M. PalmquistHealy ParksPatti and Tom ParsonTed PascoePatricia PascoePatricia PaulRusha Pearson LevCindy PenaMichael PeppelPeter and Mary PetersonReola PhelpsRussell Pierson and Sheila Marquez- PiersonFloy PineJeanne PiperTyrone and Inger PippinFred PittroffLinda and Frank PlautBarbara PollackTodd and Raye PorterCrystal Potter and Joseph RiveraJami PowellPatricia PowellLydia PradoJustin Prochnow and Stacy CarpenterRose M. ProtextorSuzanne PyleKate RaabeBeth L. RabinStanley RaineLaurel RainesKatherine A. RainsJoycelin and Casell RandlePatricia RawlingsLinda RedstoneElizabeth ReesKellen ReillySusan ReissnerBob and Sandy RhodesKelley RiderJeannie and Bill RitterRocky Mountain Region Porsche Club of AmericaMargaret RoathChardele RobertMargaret W. RobertsJeff and Karen RobertsDeborah RobertsFrank RobertsKaren Robertson and Mark ElliottEllen RobinsonRosemary E. RodriguezTrinidad RodriguezEddy Rogers IIICathy RoperMonica RosenbluthGail Rosenschein and Les EbertCrystal RutlandMichael and Fern SabianJohn Sadwith and Karen GroteGeoffrey SadwithJames Sadwith and Nerissa EdwardsJames SalkRon SallySaul SarneyStu and Shelly ScalesRichard SchaeferGail SchatzKathleen and Leo SchettlerDr. Donald W. SchiffCaitlin SchneiderLawrence J. and Judith F. SchulmanMartina Schulte and Jay WantElaine and Richard SchultzRachael and Cory SchwabSchwab Charitable FundThomas SchwartzSharon and Douglas ScottKathleen ScottJenette SearsLaurie and Neil SegallEllen and Andy SeligBenjamin SelkowMr. Robert M. Severson and Ms. Lora R. FreemanLaurie SeymourLee ShainisBob and Carla ShaverPatricia and David SheltonRoger ShermanKaye SiemersArtis SilvermanJan SilversteinMonica Sims-GussGary and Jill SissonSondra and Mark SkomalMark Skrotzki and Nancy Crow

Eaton SmithAnne and Robert SneedTodd and Robin SnidowEric Sondermann and Tracy DunningKelly SophinosDonna and Vincil SorensenMary SoursMargaret SpampinatoGeorge SparksPaige StappEsther StarrelsRoslyn SteelerJonathan SteelerEd Stein and Lisa HartmanJohn and Jane SteinerMerril Stern and David AschkinasiDavid and Catherine StevensDr. Jean Stevenson and Louis TalmanLysa StewartAnn and David StolfaStrear Family FoundationJohn D. SullivanMary Beth SusmanOlga SventukhMarilyn and David SwanCamie SweetMolly and Jared SykeAdele SykesCle SymonsStephanie SynerJudy SytnerStanley and Christine SzeflerAnnemarie H. TagueGloria TannerLisa TaussigBrenda Taylor and Hub SternNick TaylorCarol TaylorVictoria TempleThe 854 Y Street FoundationDonna ThielMary and Gregory ThompsonFrank and Karen TimmonsJames and Barbara ToddJessica TollKaren A. TombMargaret TomchoTroy K. Tomsyck and Andrew RingelMichael and Pegi TouffKristen and Paul TourangeauScott and Linda TrauthKatey TrauthWilliam TrineTruistRachelle TrujilloRita Trujillo HughesLinda TrzynaCharles and Deborah TurnerMaria UlvestadCraig Umbaugh and Lisa ZoellerMaria VallePiep Van HeuvenPat Vera-HinkTina VesselsStephen VoglerCheryl and Larry VolmertArthur VossJulie Waggener and Rick FosterWilliam Waggener and Lucy BuckleyFlo WagnerAshley WalkerDan WalkesMica WardChris WatneyMarlin and Ann WeaverThe Honorable Elbra WedgeworthTamara and Kenneth WeilSheldon and Rachel WeinbergSue WeinsteinLeslie and Dan WeinsteinJoan WellsDouglas and Janet WertzJustin H. Weyerhaeuser and Emilie L. BarattaTom and Joan WeyhmillerLisa WhetstoneSuellen S. WhiteKathy WhiteJennifer and David WienerPatrick WilhelmJames WilkinsMarla WilliamsMalissa WilliamsM. Claire WilliamsonDiane T. WilsonMary Pat Wilson and Robert E. HallRuth WindmillerLynnetta and Cecil WindsorSander WirschellSusan and Hal WoffordJudy WolfeSarah WolfgramJacquelyn Wonder and Frederic ConoverJune Greene WoodRichard WoodDaniel Woodrow and Myndie BrownBarbara WoodsLes and Marianne WoodwardDean and Marsha WoodwardStefin WooleverDavid L. Wright and Kendrick KingLinda and James YipDr. Leslie YoungDick and Loraine YoungMary Zavadil-Gutierrez and Greg GutierrezSusan Zimmermann and Paul PhillipsSue Zoby

Dear Friends:

As I begin my term as Chairman of the Board, I’m certain that this is one of the most exciting times in the 22-year history of Scholars Unlimited. And I am equally certain that each of our Board members shares my enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead. With our new name comes a renewed appreciation of our history in helping disadvantaged students and an excitement for our mission moving forward.

Reading is essential for learning throughout students’ academic careers. Helping students become proficient readers sets them on the path of success.

But Scholars Unlimited’s out-of-school time programs offer more than just academic instruction. When I visited our partner schools to see our programs in action, I saw students actively participating in a wide variety of engaging – and educational -- activities:

• Slicing cucumbers as the first step in making pickles (while learning about nutrition and practically applying math skills).

• Performing skits they had written, playing super hero characters they had developed, in costumes they had designed. (Exercising creativity and imagination? Check. Practicing writing? Check.)

• Competing in teams to see who could build the tallest structure using only plastic straws (while learning about geometry and engineering, and practicing skills of communication, collaboration and problem-solving).

I was equally impressed with the results of these comprehensive programs: Scholars Unlimited students are making significant gains in fundamental literacy skills, reading fluency, and comprehension. Participants are reporting that they like school more and feel more self-confident. Educators and parents alike praise the programs for boosting academic achievement and positive behaviors. We can not ask for better results!

And I know that our commitment to providing year-round high-quality programs will not waver.

Yes, our organization has a new name. But our deep commitment to helping disadvantaged students remains unchanged.

And that’s the most exciting thing of all!

Sincerely,

David WilkinsBoard President

2014 Financial InformationFiscal Year Ending October 31, 2014

TOTAL EXPENSES:$3,018,367.00

n

o

p

TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE:

$3,034,251.71

a

b

def

g

h

jk

l

m

c

i

a. 21st Century Community Learning Center grantsb. AEFLA (Adult Education and Family Literacy Act) grantc. Denver Parks & Recreationd. Tony Grampsas Youth Services grante. City of Denver: 2A grants f. Fees for Serviceg. United Way: Impact granth. Foundation grantsi. Individual giftsj. Corporate giftsk. Endowment and other investment incomel. Other/Miscellaneous

$1,003,465.00$177,516.52

$133,000.00$124,117.00$78,428.69$65,660.00$25,000.00

$332,089.00$280,768.96

$15,325.00$101,829.45

$1,055.55

SUPPORT & REVENUE:

SUB-TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE:

TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE:

m. In-Kind Contributions $695,996.00

$2,338,255.17

$3,034,251.71

n. Program Serviceso. General/Administrativep. Fundraising

Net Assets, Beginning of Year Net Assets, End of Year

Helen M. McLoraine Summer Scholars Endowment Fund

$2,538,036.00$300,146.00$180,185.00

$1,070,714.00$1,067,557.00

$2,007,512.00

EXPENSES:

TOTAL EXPENSES:

NET REVENUES:

$1,251,045.00TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS:

$3,018,367.00

$15,884.17

You can create brighter futures for children in our community … by investing in the work of Scholars Unlimited.

Your financial support provides comprehensive summer and after-school programs to disadvantaged young learners. With your gift, you enable our scholars to increase their academic achievement, explore new interests, and develop new skills. Beyond a financial contribution, consider these ways to give:

• Become a sustaining supporter by setting up a recurring gift. (Visit our website for details.)

• Leverage your employer’s matching gifts program to increase the value of your contribution.

• Participate in your workplace’s United Way campaign.

• Include Scholars Unlimited in your giving on Colorado Gives Day.

• Donate appreciated stock or securities (and reap the associated tax benefits, too).

• Include Scholars Unlimited in your will or estate plans.

• Honor someone special by making a tribute or memorial gift, just as these supporters did last year:

To all who contribute, we say THANK YOU!

The journey starts with you.

www.ScholarsUnlimited.org3401 Quebec St #5010 | Denver, CO 80207-2327

303-355-0290

Rick AcostaIn honor of Holly Bennett

Nathan B. and Florence R. Burt FoundationIn honor of Jordan Whitaker, who served as an intern with the Burt Foundation and is a former

participant in the Summer Scholars program

Paula and Stan GudderIn honor of Janet and Arthur Fine, Celeste and Jack Grynberg, and Susanne Nathanson

Dietrich Rolf HatlapaIn memory of Grady Clay III

Coleen Horner and Ted ClayIn memory of Grady Clay III, who loved to see kids learn

Cyndi and Ed KahnIn memory of Richard Sims, son of Monica Sims-Guss

Kathleen KingIn celebration of the great staff at Summer Scholars!

Mollie Cross Leone and Dennis LeoneIn honor of Holly Bennett

Katherine LeVoyIn honor of Elizabeth Mitchell and Jon Bender –

and their great work on behalf of Summer Scholars

Judith McCandlessIn memory of Grady Clay III

Barbara MendelIn honor of my brother John Sadwith

Bob NelsonIn memory of my father

Patricia PaulIn memory of Warren Paul

Tammy and Patrick O’KeefeIn memory of John Marrack

Porsche Club of North America, Rocky Mountain RegionIn memory of Grady Clay III

Reel Family FoundationIn memory of beloved Donna Davis

Jenette SearsIn honor of Rick Feger

Carol TaylorIn memory of my mom Judy Hankinson

Susan WarnerIn honor of the marriage of Christina Ortiz and David Bluth

Want to see our programs in action and meet our scholars? Join us for a Scholars Unlimited Discovery Tour.

Contact Coleen Truax for details: 303-381-3746 or [email protected]

Scholars Unlimited programs are not possible without strong collaborations with community partners and the generous support of individuals, foundations, and community-spirited corporate citizens.

a new name. a new chapter. - scholars...

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