Hope Communities Awarded $350,000 Capacity-Building Grant

In an effort to improve the lives of Colorado’s low-income children and their families, Hope Communities is partnering with Gary Community Investments, which includes The Piton Foundation. As part of this partnership, Gary Community Investments is providing Hope Communities with $350,000 to increase its capacity to generate economic opportunity for hundreds of families living in Hope’s affordable housing communities.

Institutional capacity will be strengthened, more robust evaluation systems created, and most importantly enhanced programs and services following the two-generation model to meet the needs of children and adults simultaneously will be implemented to best serve the hundreds of low-income individuals living at Hope Communities.

In particular, Hope Communities will be able to offer a comprehensive workforce development program by developing relationships with local businesses, providing job training and workforce readiness assistance, and help finding job placement that offer not only a career path but a livable and family-sustaining wage.

“This investment will enable us to create innovative programs to break the cycle of poverty for families. The programs will be evidence-based to incorporate the brightest ideas from across the country, but also resident-informed. Community members will help to shape the programs to ensure they truly meet their needs and create the impact we intend.” said Sharon Knight, Hope’s President & CEO.

Kelly Kaminskas, Chair of the Hope Communities’ Board of Directors, extended her appreciation on behalf of the board. “Gary Community Investment’s commitment to improve the lives of low-income children and families is quite evident. Their dedication to economic opportunity for all is inspiring and will surely make a lasting impact in the community.”

Founded by Denver oilman Sam Gary, Gary Community Investments is committed to investing in for-profit and philanthropic solutions for Colorado’s low-income children and their families.

Through this partnership, Hope Communities and Gary Community Investments hope to provide positive and sustainable economic outcomes for over 1,000 children and adults, from higher rates of school attendance to increased academic achievement, career training to home-ownership, and beyond.

About Gary Community Investments

Gary Community Investments, which includes The Piton Foundation, invests in for-profit and philanthropic solutions for Colorado’s low-income children and their families. It was founded by Denver oilman Sam Gary with the belief that business and philanthropy can—and should—work together to create opportunities for those who need it most. Gary Community Investments is committed to investing in quality early childhood and youth development systems, expanding sustainable economic opportunities, and developing and supporting programs that create healthy family and community environments. By aligning all of our assets with our mission, we make creative investments that not only yield a financial return, but can also improve the lives of Colorado’s children. www.garycommunity.org