Mile High United Way Tocqueville Society Winter Night Out

Mile High United Way held the Tocqueville Society Winter Night Out at the Space Gallery in Denver on Saturday, November 16th.  The Tocqueville Winter Night Out is an annual appreciation event for Mile High United Way’s nearly 400 Tocqueville Society members. Donors experienced a multi-media and culinary collaboration with recipients from Mile High United Way’s programs Bridging the Gap and Individual Development Accounts (IDA). Each exhibit in the space gallery showcased the impact of Mile High United Way’s work and investment in the community through its partnership with our Tocqueville Society members.

The theme of the night was Changing Lives and Transforming Communities.  Guests enjoyed food from Feeding the Multitudes and Azucar Bakery, both Individual Development Account recipients.  Feeding the Multitudes served grilled pork loin with apricot au jus, confetti twice baked potatoes and roasted spicy asparagus.  Azucar bakery served up a delicious dessert buffet, including mini fruit tarts and cupcakes.

In addition to enjoying the tasty buffet, guests had the opportunity to view artwork from Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), a new Mile High United Way Youth Success Impact Partner, to see a live art collaboration with Think360Arts and youth from Arrupe Jesuit High School, and to try out some fun hats in the LIVE UNITED photo booth.    Upstairs in the gallery, guests could watch Youth Voice – Setting the Record Straight, a short film from Bridging the Gap, or make their mark on the LIVE UNITED magnetic wall.

Attendees also had an opportunity to view an exhibit showcasing the new Mile High United Way building opening Fall 2014.   During the program, Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero and Board President Brian Jackson accepted a $1 million capital gift from Mary McBride on behalf of CoBank, in support of its new community headquarters in historic Curtis Park.  The new building will feature the CoBank Leadership Center; an approximately 10,000 square foot conference and collaboration space open to nonprofits and community organizations working to create positive change for children, individuals and families.  Additionally, the building will host a space for innovation and nonprofit incubation, a café, operated by Work Options for Women and Mile High United Way’s 211 Call Center and community program work.

Finally, guests heard from two participants in the Bridging the Gap program.  PJ Sykes performed spoken poetry and told attendees how the Mile High United Way provided help for him to get on his feet when he left the foster care system and transitioned to adulthood.  PJ is now in school studying psychology, is married and is expecting his first child.  Then, Juwon Melvin talked about a company he started to sell soap and raise money to provide clean water to children and communities in developing countries.