Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation is a long-term partner to youth. We believe that through a deep, sustained commitment to youth and their families, our community can thrive, and our work together can be a key catalyst in fighting systemic oppression.
We travel side-by-side with the same group of youth and their families as they navigate education and life, offering academic, social, and emotional support as they learn, grow, and achieve their dreams.
No one should take this journey alone. When we fulfill our promises, anything is possible. 

The Numbers

3x

Our graduates are over
 3x more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree 
than peers in their communities.

90%

90% of our youth 
graduate high school,
 compared to 74% of 
youth from marginalized communities 
nationally.

$1M

College graduates 
earn, on average, 
an additional $1 million 
in lifetime earnings.

 
 

 

Our Youth in Action

"I love coming to afterschool, it makes my whole day better."

- Aniyah, elementary youth

"My twin and I are currently attending Knox College in Illinois. The scholarship money has helped us tremendously."

- Veronica, Student at Knox College

"The CIHAD program helped me to reach my goal of attending college."

- Yared, Student at University of Denver

"Going on trips with CIHAD is one of my child's favorite part of the program. Exploring new places and trying out new activities has built up their confidence."

- Jessica, Parent of middle school youth

"CIHAD helped me build skills that have set me up for success when making my college dreams a reality."

- Manar, Student at University of Colorado - Denver

  • "Being a Dreamer means that I have a chance to choose my future rather then my background and ethnicity choosing it for me."

    Chasel, Records-Rainaldi of 2018

  • “Helping to sponsor Ruby Hill is a great fit for the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast because it is an opportunity to provide both financial and hands-on support. This allows us to involve a lot of our members. In addition, with a five-year commitment, we will be able to watch the children grow up and benefit from our efforts.”

    Doug Andrews, Denver Southeast Rotary Club

  • When we adopted a class, we didn’t anticipate how much the experience would enrich our lives. It was a privilege to play a role in supporting the Dreamers as they navigated the challenges of their school years. We were so excited to see the young adults that the Dreamers have become when they graduated from the program last year. We owe much of their success to our dedicated CIHAD Program Coordinator Dusty Teng.

    Martha Records and Richard Rainaldi, Records-Rainaldi Class of 2018