(DENVER) - The Porter-Billups Leadership Academy received $114,000 this week from Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), to assist the Academy in their work to break the cycle of poverty by coaching inner-city kids on leadership and educational achievement.
CHFA raised the money by hosting a golf tournament on July 28 at Fossil Trace Golf Course in Golden, Colo. This is the fifth year CHFA's staff and partner organizations have come together to raise funds for Colorado's local nonprofits whose work coincides with CHFA's mission to finance affordable housing and economic development.
"Every year CHFA's team looks forward to making the golf tournament a bigger success than the previous year. We weren't sure what to expect given the economic difficulties, but I'm proud of our accomplishment and the contribution we are making to the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy," said CHFA Executive Director and CEO, Milroy A. Alexander.
The Porter-Billups Leadership Academy is sponsored by Lonnie Porter, men's basketball coach for Regis University, and Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets. Each summer, Coach Porter, Chauncey Billups, and a team of educators work with low income youth in grades four through 12 for three weeks to develop their leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills.
Coach Porter said, "Even though these kids may not be straight 'A' students, the Academy helps them become leaders among their peers and learn that education is a path to success."
The Academy also aides the students and their families in affording the financial expense of higher education by assisting them in applying for all government grants and Regis University scholarships the students can qualify for once they are college age. Any costs not covered through grants and scholarships are paid for through a Porter-Billups Leadership Academy scholarship, which is typically $10,000 to $24,000 per student.
Alexander noted, "Reasearch has shown a stable home environment promotes better school attendance and performance. By working together to improve housing and education, we are giving our state's highest risk children a chance for a brighter future."
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