Mile High United Way Building Bridges Towards Opportunity

Mile High United Way providing assistance in emergency shelters, literacy programs and economic mobility programs

April 2, 2025

Holly Shrewsbury,

Children take part in crafts at the Women United Village in May 2024. Volun- teers at the event helped 135 families with children under age 5 receive baby and toddler supplies, including car seats, diapers and toys. | Photos courtesy of Mile High United Way

Imagine a single call that could change your life. A young, expectant mother dials the Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Help Center with shaking hands, unsure where to turn. She needs support for her and her baby, with everything from housing to clothing and newborn supplies. She connects with a kind voice, guiding her toward rental assistance and pointing her in the direction to receive baby and toddler items so that she and her child can get off to a strong start.

As the first United Way in the world, the Mile High United Way (MHUW) has answered calls like these—not just for immediate help but also to build lasting bridges toward opportunity. From emergency shelter assistance to early literacy programs for young minds and economic mobility programs, Mile High United Way has become a lifeline and a launchpad for hundreds of thousands of people throughout metro Denver.

More than 137 years ago, Denver’s “Mother of Charities,” Frances Wisebart Jacobs, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi came together with a simple goal: to make their community a better place. Today, the MHUW is instrumental in supporting families throughout metro Denver by working to give all children a strong start, supporting education and academic success and creating economic opportunity for all.

According to Jenn Beck, vice president of marketing for MHUW, “Every day we are on the front lines of the community and understand what is needed at the moment. The way we live out our mission changes in response to how the community changes, and we have the ability to bring together resources, people and ideas to benefit the common good.”

Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (pictured, left, with Mile High United Way president and CEO Christine Benero) was the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women United luncheon in March 2024.

MHUW is working to address urgent needs in Denver this spring by providing essential baby and toddler care items to families and addressing the challenges facing women and girls in our community. During the MHUW’s annual Women United Village on May 17, families in need will be connected with essential supplies, as well as support from resource providers. The event provides an essential opportunity to ensure that families have a solid start as their babies grow. If you would like to help, make a monetary donation to help cover supply costs, or run your own baby supply drive and volunteer to distribute items to families by visiting unitedwaydenver.org.

Additionally, on May 2 the MHUW will host the 26th annual Women United luncheon to raise funds for high-impact programs and address the challenges facing women and girls in Metro Denver. A special guest speaker, actress Christine Baranski, will highlight women in the community who have changed their lives’ trajectories through support from the MHUW. The event also will raise funds for programs that provide women access to critical resources like safe and stable housing, new job opportunities and quality child care. The Women United Initiative is a global force of community leaders dedicated to creating a world of opportunity for women and their families. Last year, over 7,000 women and children in metro Denver were provided life-changing support through Women United.

Mile High United Way’s programs reach into homes, schools and work-places, transforming lives. Each family is empowered, each young adult given support and resources to find a fulfilling career, each child is inspired to learn—they’re all part of a legacy over 130 years in the making. The MHUW isn’t just about changing individual lives; it’s also about bringing a community together to tackle our most challenging issues.

MILE HIGH UNITED WAY

711 Park Ave. West 303-433-8383