Colorado Children’s Campaign Celebrates 40 Years

With The Hangar Club’s fun-filled atmosphere of virtual golf bays and foosball tables, it was both easy and fitting that the celebration for Colorado Children’s Campaign’s 40th anniversary injected some child-like spirit into the evening…a nice balance for its serious work of advocacy efforts for kids around the state. Denver North Drumline quite literally set the tone for the evening with its boisterous, percussive greeting as guests entered the venue.

Practicing their golf swings (l to r): Lin Patten, Reilly Pharo Carter, Chris Watney, Kelly Causey, Anne Rowe Stedron

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, supporters made a beeline for Lowry neighborhood to enjoy CCC’s convivial event. Guests gathered for an extended reception with passed hors d’ouerves and a tasty buffet with carving station and beverages, all provided by Occasions Catering. A timeline was a great way to look back on successes, even as plans are in the works to move forward with even more initiatives. Founders were on hand to speak to guests personally: Barbara O’Brien, Elaine Gantz Berman, Anna Jo Garcia Haynes and Paul Melinkovich, M.D., as was keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. Also speaking to the crowd were President and CEO Heather Tritten and board chair Rosemary Rodriguez. We learned two things: 1) This group is data-focused; and 2) Colorado is a great place for kids…but there’s still work to be done.

Colorado Children’s Campaign founders (l to r): Barbara O’Brien, Elaine Gantz Berman, Anna Jo Garcia Haynes and Paul Melinkovich, M.D.

The organization writes: The Colorado Children’s Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization committed since 1985 to realizing every chance for every child in Colorado. We advocate for the development and implementation of data-driven public policies that improve child well-being in child and family health, youth success, early childhood and family economic prosperity. By providing Coloradans with trusted data and research, and organizing an extensive state-wide network of dedicated child advocates, we work to achieve the following:
*Eliminate gaps in student achievement and health outcomes between children of color and children in low-income households and their peers.
*Provide all of Colorado’s young children with high quality early learning and development experiences so they are ready for school and on track for success in life.
*Secure quality, affordable health care and create healthy communities for all Colorado children.
*Ensure all students in Colorado have access to the quality K-12 education they need to graduate from high school prepared for college, careers, and life.

Santhosh Ramdoss with his daughter

As the leading voice for Colorado’s children at the state Capitol and in communities across the state, the Children’s Campaign has been at the forefront of hundreds of policy wins for kids. Among the numerous laws and programs we’ve helped establish are the Colorado Preschool Program, Child Health Plan Plus, the Great Teachers and Leaders Law, and the creation of the new state Department of Early Childhood.