2025 Gifts in Review: How Donors Are Strengthening Denver’s Essential Health System (Part One)

As we look back on 2025, Denver Health Foundation is humbled by the generosity and trust of our community. Every gift, large or small, helps Denver Health remain Denver’s essential health system and most trusted health care partner for life’s journey. Together, our donors are expanding access to care, supporting frontline workers, and opening new doors for patients and families across the city.

Over the past five years, donors came together in a quiet comprehensive campaign with a goal of raising $80 million in philanthropic funding for Denver Health. Donors not only met that goal, they surpassed it, contributing more than $83 million. This milestone reflects the deep trust our community places in Denver Health to care for every person in Denver.

In 2025 alone, more than 2,100 donors made more than 28,000 individual donations to Denver Health. In Part One of our year-end review, we’re highlighting a few of the ways this philanthropy is making a difference in our overall health system, for children and families, behavioral health patients, and our workforce.

Meeting Greatest Needs Across the System

Unrestricted and flexible gifts are among the most powerful tools Denver Health has to meet urgent needs, respond to emerging challenges, and invest where the need is greatest.

This year, Thiry-O’Leary Foundation committed leadership support to Denver Health’s overall mission through their Presenting Sponsorship at this year’s Thriving Denver Gala. This flexible funding helps ensure that patients can access exceptional care, regardless of income or insurance barriers, and allows Denver Health leaders to direct resources where they will have the greatest impact.

Healthier Beginnings for Children and Families

A healthy life starts with strong support in early childhood. Several partners stepped forward in 2025 to ensure families receive that support from pregnancy through the early school years.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health gave to Colorado’s Oral Health Coalition, led by the Public Health Institute at Denver Health (PHIDH), to strengthen a statewide network that improves oral health policy, expands preventive services, and reduces disparities so more children, adults, and older adults can get the screenings, treatment, and education they need.
The Buell Foundation invested in Early Childhood initiatives, helping young children receive the care, developmental support, and services they need to thrive.
Gold, Inc., led by Katherine Gold, contributed to the Denver Health Doula Program, which provides trusted guidance and support to patients before, during, and after childbirth.
The PNC Foundation granted funds to Reach Out and Read at Denver Health, promoting early literacy by giving families books and tools to build strong language and reading skills from a young age.
EPIC Systems contributed support to the Mammovan, Denver Health’s mobile breast cancer screening program, and to provide car seats for families in need, promoting both prevention and safety for patients on the move.

Together, these gifts help parents and caregivers feel supported, give children a stronger start in life, and build healthier futures for families across Denver.

Expanding Behavioral Health and Addiction Care

Behavioral health and substance use treatment remain some of the most pressing needs in our community. Donors in 2025 made transformational investments to help Denver Health reach more patients with compassionate, evidence-based care.

The Anschutz Foundation made a transformational investment to expand and sustain behavioral health services for Denver Public Schools students seen in Denver Health’s 19 School-Based Health Centers. This support will allow care teams to talk with students about stress, anxiety, and other concerns during regular medical visits, connect them to follow-up care more quickly, and make it easier for young people to ask for help.
Caring for Denver Foundation granted funds to strengthen behavioral health services for people across the city who face the highest barriers to care. This investment will help expand access to mental health and substance use treatment, with a focus on those most impacted by trauma, homelessness, and systemic inequities.
Dr. Nancy Gary contributed to the Center for Addiction Medicine (CAM), supporting innovative approaches to substance use treatment and helping more patients begin and sustain their recovery.
Patricia Crown, PhD provided funding for behavioral health services in Denver Health’s School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs). This support brings counseling and mental health care directly to students, reducing stigma and making it easier for young people to get help when they need it.

These gifts help Denver Health meet people where they are, offering care, dignity, and hope to patients and families facing behavioral health challenges.

Strengthening Frontline Providers and Emergency Care

High-quality care depends on skilled, well-supported providers. This year, donors invested in the workforce that keeps Denver Health’s clinics and emergency services running around the clock.

The Colorado Health Foundation committed funds to support the primary care workforce. This investment helps recruit, train, and retain the clinicians who serve patients in Denver Health’s community health centers, ensuring that more people can access primary care close to home.
Motorola Solutions Foundation gave backing for EMT and paramedic scholarships. These funds help train the next generation of emergency medical professionals, expanding Denver Health’s capacity to respond quickly when every second counts.
Dependable Cleaners contributed to support the Denver Health Paramedic Division, recognizing the lifesaving work they do every day in homes, streets, and workplaces across the community.

By supporting today’s frontline teams and tomorrow’s providers, these donors are helping build a stronger, more resilient health care workforce for Denver.

Check out Part Two of our 2025 Gifts in Review story, where we share how donors are helping rebuild Westside Family Health Center, how Denver Health employees give from the heart, and how legacy gifts are shaping the future of care in Denver.

2025 Gifts in Review: How Donors Are Strengthening Denver’s Essential Health System (Part One)

In this Story:

Meeting Greatest Needs Across the System

Healthier Beginnings for Children and Families

Expanding Behavioral Health and Addiction Care

Strengthening Frontline Providers and Emergency Care

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