Young people today are experiencing a mental health crisis unlike anything we’ve seen before. Nearly one in five youth in Colorado reported poor mental health in 2021 — double the rate seen in 2017. Social media, the pandemic, and climate change were just some of the external pressures students and parents cited during a panel discussion that gathered more than 300 people at Manhattan Middle School on April 12, 2023.

Throughout the 2022-23 school year our Academic Opportunity Fund awarded over $230,000, providing opportunities for creativity and innovation and helping to bridge the funding gap for 166 educators and schools.

Mental health has a significant impact on a student’s academic performance, social interactions, and overall well-being, and unfortunately mental health challenges have skyrocketed among children and teenagers. We’re working to raise both the awareness and funds needed to bolster youth mental health supports in our community.

We’re excited for Katie to shift into a new role on the team this month – Program Director – where she’ll manage our existing programs and investments, identify new opportunities, and monitor their impact.

We proudly awarded Shannon Blanco with the inaugural Earl & Barbara Bolton Scholarship in May 2021. We checked in with her two years later to see how the scholarship is supporting her education.

We are committed to providing an elevated level of mental health support for all students, especially those affected by the Marshall Fire. From Wellness Centers to Mental Health Advocates, we’re working toward three goals that would allow us to serve 11,698 students at 12 schools across BVSD.

Everyone in our community is experiencing increased costs for food, fuel and other basic necessities. Rising prices mean families across our community are struggling to make ends meet. Every school in the Boulder Valley School District includes families facing financial challenges.

We know the needs of our community will continue and change through the 2023-24 school year, and there are four key ways we are supporting recovery for the BVSD students and educators.

After spending the majority of her career as a project manager in high tech, Ali always felt she was missing opportunities to give back to the community. She knew that she could put her professional leadership, communication and relationship management skills to use at the foundation as our Community Partnerships Manager.