In today’s ever-evolving workforce, preparing high school students for the challenges and opportunities beyond graduation is more important than ever. Our third annual Career Readiness Academy will provide 75 high school students with knowledge, connections, and resources to help them make informed decisions about their futures.

We’re funding Wellness Centers across Boulder Valley School District because we believe they’re powerful tools for supporting our youth and helping them thrive. Students need support to manage their emotional health. Mental Health Advocates can help teach them how, while the BVSD Wellness Centers give them the space to do so.

Our Board of Directors plays an important role in our work to engage students and empower educators across the Boulder Valley School District. Three new Board Members – Amy Pickens, Bill de la Cruz, and Dan Konigsburg – will support this work and further our mission.

Our 2023 gala was an incredible way to commemorate our 40th Anniversary and engage the community in support of public education. From the game show and remarks from Governor Polis to our wonderful speakers and the 5280s Band, the evening reminded us how important – and fun! – it is to celebrate success.

David always intended to be a high school math teacher. But his nighttime job at Celestial Seasonings — taken to pay for classes at the University of Colorado — turned into a career. Ziegert was with the Boulder-based tea company for 22 years, eventually becoming general manager. And though not in the way he expected, Ziegert did find his way back to education as a Board Member for Impact on Education.

In 2022 Kinder Bridge, became part of BVSD’s summer learning program – Summer Summit. Impact on Education funding now enables 160 students to receive four weeks of full-day instruction to prepare them for their first year of school.

Amy (Nelson) Pickens works tirelessly to advance equity across Boulder Valley School District. A former educator, she is starting her fourth year working with BVSD administration and currently serves as the Director of Equity and Community Engagement.

We first partnered with the Arly Kruse Educational Foundation in 2021 to facilitate a $30,000 investment in targeted in-school and after school catch up tutoring for elementary students. They continue to help fund academic support and tutoring for BVSD families, and during the 2022-23 school year, the foundation funded nine of our Academic Opportunity Fund grant requests, providing over $23,000 in tutoring.

Mieke is a product of public education from kindergarten through her Master’s degree, so she knows what a powerful resource public education can be in someone’s life. She joined our team in June of 2022 and is responsible for managing our finance, accounting, and operations as the organization grows and evolves.