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STATES WE WORK IN » COLORADO

This is more than the story of America’s educational crisis. It’s the story of how we can solve it.

There’s a crisis in American education. Too many kids from low-income families are falling between the cracks simply because they’re stuck in failing schools and can’t afford any other options. It’s happening right here in Colorado where only 70.9% of students from low-income families graduate from high school.

ACE Scholarships was founded in Colorado in 2000 to provide low-income families with school choice through partial scholarships to K-12 private schools. ACE serves children whose families qualify for the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program and the average income for our ACE families is $47,878 a year.

So far in Colorado we’ve awarded over 29,000 scholarships with a cumulative worth of more than $63M, helping to send kids from low-income families to the schools of their choice. And the results are amazing with a 99% high school graduation rate for the ACE Class of 2020 in Colorado. Moreover, they are enrolling in and graduating from college at rates similar to kids from predominantly high-income high schools. To learn more about ACE Colorado’s success, take a look at our third-party research report, click here.

93% OF STUDENTS
from low-income families with ACE scholarships graduated high school in 2020
ONLY 70.9%
of students from Colorado’s low-income families graduate
WE’RE HELPING 2,361 KIDS
But with your support, we can help fill over 10,000 empty seats

Give a child the promise of a better tomorrow by becoming a donor today.

Please help us fill the 10,000 open desks all over Colorado, and let’s give children from low-income families the opportunity for a great education and a lifetime of success.

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Board of Trustees

Don Bailey Chairman & CEO, Triton Investment Company

Bill Bergner President, Berco Resources, LLC

Dick Brown Denver, CO

Patrick Callahan Broker, Confluence Land Company

George Caulkins Principal, Greendeck Capital

Scott Clark Chairman & CEO, The True Life Companies

Jason Dunn Partner, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP

Lori Durham Denver, CO

Rick Eldridge President & CEO, The Intuitive Companies

Darren Fisk Founder, CEO & CIO, Forum Real Estate Group

Nate Ford Partner, Perkins Coie, LLP

John Fox Chairman, Augusta Jane Oil & Gas, LLC

Mike Fries President & CEO, Liberty Global, Inc.

Caleb Gates Denver, CO

John Grier President, Crimson Midstream, LLC

Tom Hamilton HF Corp

Dave Hunter Chairman, Financial Designs, Ltd.

Lou Hutchison CEO and Founder, H-D Asset Management, LLC

John Ikard Denver, CO

Brandon Johnson CEO, Johnson Financial Group, LLC

Mike Johnson President, Johnson GEO

Eric Koeplin President and CEO, Alpha Principle

Don Law President, Prima Exploration, Inc.

Paul Libner CFO and Treasurer, Royal Gold, Inc

Steve Lockton EVP and Owner, Lockton Companies of Colorado, Inc

Sharon Maffei Principal, SAM Lifestyles

Jonathan Marsico Owner, Ship Sticks

John Martin Denver, CO

Mark McCammon Managing Partner, Strength Capital

Scott McLean Denver, CO

Kelly Millen Denver, CO

Kevin Mize Founder, KM Investments

Nick Morris CEO, Western Paper Distributors

Jimmy Mulvihill Academy Partners Group, LLC

Joe Niebur President / Owner, Niebur Development, Inc.

Mike O'Shaughnessy President, Lario Oil & Gas Co.

Bill Owens Senior Director, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Walt Rakowich Retired CEO, ProLogis Foundation

Scott Reiman President, Hexagon, Inc.

Kristine Robertson Denver, CO

Jeff Ross President & CEO, Ross Aviation

Jamie Sabatier CEO, J Sabatier and Company

Dick Saunders Founder, Saunders Construction, Inc.

Adam Sayers President, Axia Energy II, LLC

Rick Schmitz Partner, SKS Ventures, LLC

Terry Shadwick President, BarnLight Capital LLC

Joe Smith Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP

George Solich President, FourPoint Energy, LLC

Betsey Unger Denver, CO

Peter Wells Chairman, Wells Property Holdings, LLC

John Woodward Partner, Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis & Goldberg, P.C

Kevin Ahern Managing Partner, Brush Creek Partners

Austin Akers CEO, Bison Oil & Gas

Ed Bernau Denver, CO

Graydon Bevis CEO, Pella Windows & Doors of Colorado, Inc

Tony Buchanon President & CEO, Crestone Peak Resources

Matt Call Principal & CEO, NavPoint Real Estate Group

Meg Duke Denver, CO

Gregg Engles Partner, Capital Peak Partners

James Evans Lobo Logistics

Tom Jorden Chairman, CEO & President, Cimarex Energy Company

Mike Kennedy President, Point Rider Real Estate LLC

Tim Miller Chairman, Pivot Point Ventures

Ralph Nagel President, Top Rock Investments, LLC

Perry Rickel Founder and CEO, Marrick Medical Finance LLC

Audrey Robertson Co-Founder & CFO, Franklin Mountain Energy, LLC

Jon Robinson EVP Regional Chief Credit Officer, UMB Bank of Colorado, N.A.

Craig Saeman Chief Development Officer, Catholic Charities of Denver

Mark Sexton Chairman and CEO, Evergreen National Resources

Mike Starzer Managing Partner, Sixth Creek Energy

Wouter van Kempen CEO, DCP Midstream, LLC

Greg Vigil President, Castle Rock Resources II, LLC

Tim Walsh CEO and Founder, Confluence Companies, LLC

Mike Ward Owner, Mike Ward Automotive

Dick Weil CEO, Janus Capital Group

Charlie Wesley CEO, Thoroughbred Resources

Don Wolf Chairman, Enduring Resources, LLC

Chris Wright CEO, Liberty Energy

Mark Brinkerhoff Managing Partner, Brinkerhoff Restaurants

Board of Advisors

Christian Bienvenu Managing Director, SVP, Sr. Relationsip Manager, PNC Bank, N.A.

Gabe Bodhi CEO, Tekton Group

Chris Brown Vice President, CRH Americas, Inc.

Tony Burke President, Pinkard Construction Co.

Judy Cain Partner, Plante Moran

Mike Corbett Vice President, Innovest Portfolio Solutions, LLC

Melissa Corrado-Harrison Managing Director - Wealth Management, Corrado Harrison & Associates

Ian Dickinson Denver, CO

Stacey Duke President and Managing Partner, BDO

Mike Fargher Denver, CO

Norm Franke Regional President, Alpine Bank

Jennifer Gilliland Denver, CO

Sergio Gutierrez JP Morgan Chase Foundation

John Hill CEO, Quince Associates

Mike Hommel Owner, Designs by Sundown

Brian Jumps Member, Jumps Law

Jon Kinning EVP/COO, RK Mechanical, Inc.

Mark Korell Principal, Tower Rock Investments, LLC

Bruce MacDonald Owner & President, MacDonald Hardwoods Co. Inc.

Travis McAfoos Principal, Kentro Real Estate

Mike McCubbin Vice President, IMA Financial Group, Inc.

Marvin McDaniel Denver, CO

Lindsay Morton Gaiser Owner and Vice President, Andrisen Morton

Frank Nessinger Executive Vice President, FourPoint Energy, LLC

Carl Piske President, Alta Products LLC

Greg Schmidt CEO & Chairman, Saunders Construction, Inc.

Nate Schnabel Owner, NAS Properties

Barry Shames Business Consultant, Cairn Strategies

Matt Smith Partner, Holland & Hart LLP

Justin Soucie Denver, CO

Brett Spitzer EVP and Managing Director, NAI Global Corporate Solutions

Jenna Stapleton Executive Director, Stapleton/Harmes C. Fishback Foundation Trust

Mark Stonehocker Manager, Stonehocker Farms, LLC

Ryan Sullivan Founder, Waypoints Energy

Adam Truitt Principal, Financial Designs, Ltd.

Michael Turner Chairman of the Board, RevGen Partners

Bert Williams COO, Johnson Financial Group, LLC

Paul Williamson President, Colorado Region, UMB Bank of Colorado, N.A.

Andy Aye Colorado Market President, US Bank

Enrico Cacciorni Managing Partner, Red Lodge Development, LLC

Wayne Cavanaugh Founder & CEO, Ninja Nation

Leigh Dunn Manager/VP of Philanthropy, Engineered Demolition, Inc.

Ann Durham LIV Sotheby’s Global Real Estate Advisor, Ann Durham Properties

Jae Edwards Principal & Co-Founder, Dublin Development

Tracy Forst Managing Director, Aon Risk Solutions

John Freyer President, Land Title Guarantee Company

Ronette Hall Denver, CO

Craig Kinard Managing Director-Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch, The Kinard Group

Kurt Kittleson President & CEO, K2 Commodities LLC

Jeff Lang VP Energy Practices, IMA Financial Group, Inc.

Dave Lederhos VP, Commercial Acquisitions, Global Pacific Properties

Adam Ostermiller Vice President - Strategic Business Development, LPL Financial

JB Richardson COO, Cherry Creek Insurance Agency, Inc.

Audrey Robertson Co-Founder & CFO, Franklin Mountain Energy, LLC

Melanie Schmieding Director, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Reed Smith SVP, Employee Benefits Practice Leader, BOK Financial

Matt Turner Managing Partner, MorningStar Senior Living

Lindsay Brown Executive Vice President, Hughes Marino

Steve Buretz Senior Vice President, CAZ Investments, LP

Natasha Harris Principal/Manager, Biegert Group, Inc.

Walker Monfort Vice President, Corporate Sales, Colorado Rockies Baseball Club

Sara Montgomery Wealth Transfer Specialist, Plante Moran

Stephen Storey Partner, BPT Performance Consulting

Associate Board

Margarita Bravo Chief Creative Officer, Margarita Bravo Interior Design

Craig Brede Managing Partner, Lincoln Energy Partners

Evan Burden Consultant, Voluntary Solutions Inc.

Brooke Carnie Manager of Suite Services, Denver Broncos Football Club

Satish Chander CFO, K&G Petroleum

Tom Fitzgerald CEO, Fitzgerald Investment Management Company LLC

David Foley Principal, Makers Commercial

Chris Fordyce President / Owner, Fordyce Consulting, LLC

John France Denver, CO

Brandon Giles Denver, CO

Lucas Giokas Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Ryan Goethals VP of Group Protection Sales, West Region, Lincoln Financial Group

Kelsey Goldberg Account Executive, Zoom Video Communications

Katherine Gowdey Agent, Compass and Foss Resources

Brian Hartley Vice President/Broker, Live Water Properties

Kelly Johnson Vice President, Legal, Liberty Global, Inc.

Ryan Lawless Principal, Renegade Properties

Matt Lengel Wealth Management Advisor, Denver Private Wealth Management

Zach Leonard Managing Director, CIBC Bank USA

Greg Litvak Principal, Highlands Vista Group

Chancy Love Managing Partner, Protera Investments, LLC

Austin McKee Managing Director, Eagle River Energy Advisors

Caleb Neumeyer Vice President, Bank of Colorado

John Obering President, Helm Energy, LLC

Rob Peirce Executive Vice President, USI Colorado

Natalie Piquette Division Manager, Accounting and Finance, Bradsby Group

Alex Riggs Vice President, Production, Essex Financial Group

Gino Scarpelli Senior VP, PNC Bank

Anne Sherwood Lead Assistant General Counsel, Xcel Energy, Inc.

Margo Simpson Denver, CO

Sean Sjodin Owner, Sjodin Consulting, LLC

Charlie Smith Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP

Jared Smith President, Reliance Workforce

Gus Spaulding Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Cresset Capital

Matt Tracey Marketer, United Energy Trading, LLC

Julie Villalobos Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Gradiant Energy Services

Wesley Weise Senior Vice President, Bank of America Private Bank

Mary Ann Whetzal HR Director, Liberty Energy

Cashin White SVP/Director of Growth and Innovation, BOK Financial

Colorado Staff

ERIK BILLINGER VP of Development, Colorado
p: 303.519.7475
e: ebillinger@acescholarships.org

JEFFREY VAN CLEAVE Program Coordinator (Scholarship Contact)
p: 303.407.0627
e: jvancleave@acescholarships.org

BRITTANI O'BRIEN VP of Development, Colorado
p: 303.407.0622
e: bobrien@acescholarships.org

Are you interested in receiving an ACE scholarship?
Click here »
Are you a private school that wants to partner with ACE?
Click here »

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