ANNUAL REPORT FY2016

y o u t h r o o t s

YOUTHROOTS ANNUAL REPORT

“YouthRoots is a truly unique organization.

The leadership and business skills I have gained will not end here; they will

help me throughout college and the rest of my life .

No matter where I end up, I know that I can always accredit YouthRoots with

helping get me there.”

”One of the biggest things I got out of YouthRoots is to have a greater appreciation of

the community I am part of and strive to give back to the community that has

given me so much.””

” I learned things at 15 that people don ’t learn in their entire life .”

CONTENTS

A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MISSION STATEMENT

PROGRAM INFO

LETTER FROM MAYA

IMPACT PARTNERS

IMPACT STATISTICS

FINANCIALS

3

4

5

9

7-8

9-10

10

LETTER FROM KATRINA

YOUTHBOARD PARTICPANTS

VOLUNTEERS

11

12

11

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF 12

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS 13

YEAR-END CELEBRATION 6

AA WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

we-inspiring is how I sum up this past year. We had four locations in Colorado and partnered with the Center for Arab American Philanthropy in Dearborn, Michigan for our fifth YouthBoard. All of our facilitators exceeded our expectations and we are excit-ed that Lizzie, Aaron, Josh, Dillon and Chelsea are returning next year! The impact on the students and the community continued to be strong at our four Colorado locations raising over $24,000 and awarding it to 11 youth-serving local nonprofits. The various geographically-based community needs assessments returned startling results: one in four youth will experience potentially traumatic events before the age of 16, there is a rise in gang violence, and 8% of high schoolers attempted suicide last year. These

issues are real, these YouthBoard members are passionate, and their impact is transformational. As we reflect on the past year and the many accomplishements of the students, I wanted to highlight the ripple effects of this program. Numerous YouthBoard members went out on their own and raised tens of thousands of dollars for needs such as Make a Wish Foundation and helping their own school add a new buillding. These students aren’t waiting for the world to become a better place, they are taking initiative and it inspires me everyday. They are truly amazing human beings and I’m so honored to see a glimpse of their light. I also wanted to reflect on our remarkable board of directors and the support of all our donors as well. We have a spectacular community and are so lucky to have all of you part of this amazing group of change makers. Sincerely, Lacey Books

2016

YOU

THBO

ARDS

THEYOUTHROOTSMISSIONUSING PHILANTHROPY AS A VEHICLE, YOUTHROOTS ENGAGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATIVE VENTURES TO FOSTER LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND SOCIAL ACTION, THEREFORE CULTIVATING A NETWORK OF THRIVING ADULTS WHO ENVISION A BETTER FUTURE AND REALIZE THEIR FULL HUMAN POTENTIAL.

MISSION STATEMENT

4

CURRICULUM

LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS COMMUNICATION

PHILANTHROPY TEAMWORK PASSIONS

DECISION-MAKING

SELF-AWARENESS

We teach teens how to change the world using a 3 - S t e p P h i l a n t h r o p i c P r o c e s s . . .

¨I learned that leadership is never a single person task. Also, that in order to be a good leader you have to question yourself.¨

¨I now have a better idea of who I am as a person, and how I can use my personal strengths to succeed.¨

¨You can’t just assume people are going to understand who you are, what you do, and what you want. You must express effectively.¨

¨I know how to find the problems in my community through brainstorming and research and decide which problems to solve.¨

¨I learned philanthropy is the beauty of loving mankind!¨

¨There is always a need in our community. If someone needs our help, we are available and have the chance to do it, we should!¨

¨Passion and what you want to do should come first in life. Your passion, your happiness is related to your success. I´m going to prioritize my passions and my happiness.¨

¨I got a sense of self-awareness out of YouthRoots that I didn’t get from anything else I did in high school.”

5

1) Needs Assessment 2) Fundraising 3) Grant Making

. . . Intertwined with a robust Leadership Curriculum:

G o l d S p o n s o r s :

6

YEAR-END CELEBRATION

T h a n k y o u t o o u r S p o n s o r s :

• Big Brothers Big Sisters• FACES• Florence Crittenton Services• Heart and Hand Center• Hide in Plain Sight• Hope House• Maria Droste Counseling

Center• Metro Denver Partners

(GRASP)• Rocky Mountain Youth

Clinics• Survivors Organizing for

Liberation (BSEEDZ)• Voices for Children CASA

Ella Vine & Co Madison & Co. Properties

SAME Cafe Stout Street Hospitality

GRANT WINNERS

The YouthRoots Year-End Celebration is our annual event where our community of supporters comes together to celebrate:• The grants awarded to the most effective local non-

profits solving the most pressing issues• The impact the YouthBoards made on their comunities• Youth realizing they have the power and skills to enact

change today and tomorrow• Winners of the YouthRoots Social Impact Award and

the work each organization does for the community

The Year-End Celebration is the culmination of the pro-gram year. Each YouthBoard grants the money they raised to the nonprofits they chose as the most effective at combatting the most pressing needs facing their com-munity. One attendee said the event “was one of the most engaging and thoughtful events that [she] has ever been to.” We hope you can join us next year!

T i t l e S p o n s o r : P l a t i n u m S p o n s o r s :

G o l d S p o n s o r s :

COLORADO IMPACT STATISTICS

60STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY SPENT

4 8 0 0PROGRAM HOURSWORKING TO MAKE THE

WORLDA BETTER PLACEWHILE DEVELOPING THEIR

LEADERSHIPSKILLS

LEADERSHIPSKILLS

5 Y E A R S A F T E R T H E P R O G R A M ,

1 0 0 %OF A L U M N I SAID

OF STUDENTS SAID THAT YOUTHROOTS LED TO INCREASED

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE YEAR AFTER COMPLETING

THE PROGRAM. -1 YEAR IMPACT STUDY

TRUEFALSE

STUDENTS ANSWERED “TRUE” TO THIS QUESTION 100% OF THE TIME: I WILL TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM THIS LESSON AND APPLY IT TO MY LIFE.

24 ,000R A I S E D B Y 4 Y O U T H B O A R D S & G R A N T E D A W A Y T O

1 1 L O C A L

nonprofits

C h a n g e t h e W o r l d

97%

Y O U T H R O O T S H A D A S I G N I F I C A N T I M P A C T O N T H E I R L I V E S

97%OF STUDENTS ATTRIBUTED

YOUTHTO IMPROVEMENT IN THE 10

ROOTSNON-COGNITIVENON-COGNITIVE

SKILLSSKILLSYOUTHROOTS EVALUATES*

* LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING, CONFIDENCE, SELF-AWARENESS, COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, INITIATIVE, EMPATHY, DECISION-MAKING, & PROBLEM SOLVING.

TRUEFALSE

STUDENTS ANSWERED “TRUE” TO THIS QUESTION 99% OF THE TIME: I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I LEARNED IN THIS LESSON CAN HELP ME POSITIVELY IMPACT MY COMMUNITY.

74 INDIVIUALS AND BUSINESSESFINANCIALLY PARTNERED WITH YOUTH TO IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITY

96% OF ALUMNISAID THAT YOUTHROOTS HAS A LASTING IMPACT IN OUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS:LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EMPATHY, PASSIONS, & STRENGTHSFIVE YEARS AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM!

T H A N K Y O U Y O U T H R O O T S I M P A C T P A R T N E R S !

8

MayaYounoszaiJunior at East High School - Central YouthBoard Member

STUDENT TESTIMONY

IMPACT PARTNERSAmanda Peters (Vectra Bank)Andrew Ramunno (Morgan Stanley)Ara Howard (Dojo4)Ben Katz-Moses (Oracle)Beth Armijo (Armijo Design Group)Beth HoffmanBlake HansenBrandon Johnson (Johnson Financial Group)Brian Trujillo (The Nice Group of Raymond James)Bridget GlynnCharlie Johnson Cody Truitt (Bonanza Creek Energy)

Corey Smith (Braconier Plumbing and Heating)Dan Craine (Craine Architecture) Dan Lagerbord (NorthWestern Mutual)Darlene Schuster (Schuster Family Foundation)Donovan Cordova (The ZONE Business Connection Center)Douglas and Jane CarlsonEd and Roxanne Anderson (Precast Concepts)Edward Harvey (Harvey Economics)Elizabeth Kraus (MergeLane)Erin Prendergast (AECOM)

Gabe Stalcup (Aravaipa Ventures)Garret Hommel (ThrivePass)Grant Garstka (City of Denver)Greg Greenstreet (Twitter)Greg Johnson (Madison Commercial)Greg Voll (Akamai Technologies)Ian Cairns (Twitter)Ingrid Alongi (QuickLeft)Janis Carey (RE/MAX cherry creek)Jen Livsey (Texas Farm Credit and the Flying Diamond Ranch)John Hultin (Hultin & Associates)Jud ValeskiJulie Cohen (Kaiser Permanente)

YouthRoots has helped me learn how to change the world; it’s as simple as that. Last year, when I started the program, I thought the impact of the program was straight forward, we would just help decide where some money goes and support causes that were important to us but, in reality, the program is so much more.YouthRoots changes teens lives and the world around them. Through my first year in YouthRoots I learned the value of teamwork and hard work, as well as of compas-

sion, communication, and leadership. YouthRoots didn’t just direct me on how to get from point A to point B, but instead guided me and my board in finding our own path to the best conclusion. In the past year I have gotten to practice all of the skills that YouthRoots teaches, and in continuing to the Executive Committee I will get to continue working on my leadership skills. By combining the lessons that we learned, the practical experience from my first year, and guidance from our facilitators I will get to continue to have an impact on my community and gain skills that will allow me to have an impact in my second year of YouthRoots and later in life.

YouthRoots has also taught me a sense of importance. I am now, more than ever, aware of the impact of the decisions I make and have applied the lessons from within YouthRoots to have an impact in my school com-munity. My newfound understanding of business structures and philanthropy helps in any sort of fundraising that I choose to do and will continue to do help me as I progress into the professional world. These sorts of lessons go well beyond what I have learned in my traditional high school and have left me not just with text-book-like knowledge, but with skills that I can apply. From day one of meeting my board and learning about the needs assessment to handing off a giant check to the organizations we choose at the Year End Celebra-tion, YouthRoots has been an incredibly valuable experience and will greatly shape my future success.

Sincerely, Maya

9

FINANCIALS

Justin Perkins (Care2, Olomomo)Katie & Jeremy HowardKatie Zaback (Complete College America)Kevin Graff (Oakwood Real Estate)Kreighton Beiger (KilterHowling LLC)Kristin Keffeler (Kinetic Enterprise)Kyle KuczunKyle Malnati (Madison commercial)Kyle R. Duitsman (PSI)Lauren Ford (Gunther Douglas)Lisa Goodbee (Goodbee and Associates)Luke Price (US Bank)Mark Eddy (Eddy Communications)Mark Weakley (Bryan Cave LLP)

Marty Gregg (Arthouse Design)Matt Fargo (KurtzFargo LLP)Matt Mueller (Old Greenwich Builders)Matt Ruhland (Miller & Associates Law Offices, LLC)Matt StewartMeagan D’Angelo (CO Financial Management)Mike Konrath (Simple Energy)Mike McCubbin (IMA)Mike Strand (Polsinelli)Mike Worly (Clymb Marketing)Neha PatelPaul Books (Palisade Partners)

Rich von Luhrte (RNL Design)Rob ZabackSara TierneySarah Treadway (Stout Street Hospitality)Steve Everist (Everist Health)Sydney Schneider (Teocali Energy LLC)Tad Kelly (CHB Capital Partners)Tim Hochman (Lark IT)Todd and Lina OlingerTodd Hager (THe Consulting Group)Todd Krier (Point B)Tony DeSimone (Confluence Companies)Wendy Kelly (Everyday Spirituality)

TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES

$172,798 $171,903

NET INCOME

$895

MONE

TARY

REV

ENUE

S34

% IN

IDIVI

DUAL

DON

ORS

27%

EVEN

TS

21%

FOUN

DATIO

NS

9% C

ORPO

RATE

PROGRAM EXPENSES

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSESFUNDRAISING

EXPENSES

87%

5%8%

10

9% IN

-KIN

D

STUDENT TESTIMONY

VOLUNTEERSAaron ZaskeAbbie ZislisAlexa ElsnerAlezandro RuvalcabaAllison MalenAmanda ZaskeAmy HumbleAndy CarlsonAnnie BeallAnthony NavarreteArely DiazArely DiazBarb EveristBecky SeligBrooke BrownCarla GodecCarleigh ElkusChaye GutierrezChris TierneyCraig Smith

David KaufmanDawit GebresellasieDeb MorrisonDelores TroncoDorothy LeybaDouglas CarlsonEden KimElena HarmanElizabeth Weyer-HudsonEllie SchwartzEmma HarrisEsteban ArellanoGarret HommelGrant GarstkaGreg JohnsonHeidi LightenburgerJacqueline Calderone

Janis CareyJeff LucasJennifer HarrisJohnnie WilliamsJohn HenkhausJon AndersonJud ValeskiJulia KellyJulie PoppenKatelyn ShieldsKatie BaileyKatie LundeKatie PayerKatie ZabackKendall RamesKevin GraffKimi ReardonKristin Van De PoelKrystal WellandKyle Malnati

Laura BlomquistLaura GarciaLincoln AmbroseLorena GonzalezMaryanne BellisarioMatt MuellerMatt RuhlandMatt TillsonMaya YounoszaiMeley GebressellasieMeredith RarickMike McCubbinMolly YostNate WinegarNia WassickPaul BooksRachael GurianRachel HennefeldRandy Savoren

Rich MaleSadie LarganSara FachettiSarah BrummettSarah HughesSean KeefeShannon LambShawna MounseyStephanie ThompsonSuzanne HumphriesTim WellandTom EveristTracey LovettTyler MounseyWill Kaufman

Being part of YouthRoots is an experience that I could have never imagined hav-ing as a high school student. As high school students, we are told that the only way that we can help our communities is by volunteering. The problem with just volunteering is that it doesn’t give youth a way to have a say in the issues those programs go out to solve. Being part of YouthRoots has given me the opportuni-ty to take more control on how these problems get solved.

Working with students in my community really opened my eyes to what is actually happening where I live. Adams County is known to be a community of people who are facing many problems. Due to that fact, our board members struggled to pick which needs are most important. We chose things that had meaning to us. If someone was able to connect and share a story about a need to the board it made us more compelled to work to address that issue. Having those stories really helped us when speak-ing to our Impact Partners. We were able to fuel statistics with passion, which is something that I will take far beyond YouthRoots. Having the ability to give passion credibility is important during conversations.

Being a high school student, I have a lot of aspirations and ideas that I want to be heard. YouthRoots has given me the tools to support me when sharing them. This organization has given me that extra confidence I need in order to voice my opinions on the world.

The experience of being in this organization cannot be replaced. At YouthRoots I got the chance to explore my passions and fuel them to make a difference in my community. That is something that I can never be thankful enough for.

Sincerely, Katrina

Katrina WetiSophomore at Mapelton Expedit ionary School of the Arts - North YouthBoard Member

YOUTHBOARDS

Jennifer Harris (Chair)Suzanne Humphries (Secretary)Tim Welland (Treasurer)Andy CarlsonKevin Graff Rachael GurianAmy HumbleTyler MounseyMatthew RuhlandChris TierneyKatie Zaback

Lacey Books (Founder and Executive Director)Lauren Czajka (Director of Operations)Aaron Earley (Administrative Assistant & North Facilitator)Lizzie Konrath (Boulder Facilitator)*Katie Bailey (Central Facilitator)*Josh Gold (South Facilitator)**Not pictured 12

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kate BoydAriana GarciaRachel HeilbronnerBrooke KiereBronwyn KrahLaya KrishnanNatalie LemessurierBlue Manthy

Marrekech MaxwellTara MenschSofia Orrey ValenciaSam PrimozichSamantha Staudenmayer

Facilitator: Lizzie Konrath

North

Denve

r

STAFF

Centr

al De

nver

South

Denve

r

Bould

er

Chloe BrewGabrielle CantorMolly CulhaneIzabella DziecharskaClara MagallanesGrace Moya- RanalloMia NelsonPritika Parmar

Jackson RipleyBenjamin ReznikovDevin SerranoJacob SerranoJeremy SerranoTamara SriramMaya Younoszai

Facilitator: Katie Bailey

Larrisa AlireGrace CarrilloDavid MorgensternElena ParapunovaSara PenillaMaryalex RiosJade RomeroAlezandro Ruvalcaba

Mark SmithKatrina WetiRachael Willihnganz

Facilitator: Aaron Earley

Lincoln AmbroseBridget AndersonPaola Cardona- GarciaAlexis EdmondsAlex FergusonHabin KimHimanvi KopuriSadie Largan

Seungmin LeeJanaye MatthewsJireh PulleyJoseph ReiffRachel ShulsingerEmily Zislis

Facilitator: Josh Gold

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

13

Foundations

In-Kind

Cafe Star, IncColorado Business BankConfluence CompaniesCornerStone Apartment Services IncCraine Architecture IncFirstBankGreat West FinancialJohnson Financial GroupKelley Family FoundationKing SoopersLand Title Guarantee Company

Madison Commercial PropertiesMagnolia HotelsMorgan StanleyNewsedPalisade PartnersPizzarevPolsinelliSilicon Valley BankThe Kitchen Cafe LLCVectra Bank ColoradoViaSat Inc.

Alamo DrafthouseAmanda ZaskeAmy HumbleAndy CarlsonAnne RehmArapahoe Basin Ski AreaArmijo Design GroupBig Red F Restaurant GroupBlack Bear Golf CourseBlend AudioBovine Metropolis TheaterCanvas and CocktailsChez Cheveux Salon, excellentChildren’s Museum of DenverChris TierneyCitron VistroColorado SymphonyComedy WorksDenver Art MuseumDenver BroncosDenver Center for the Performing ArtsDenver Film Society

Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium DistrictDenver Museum of Nature & ScienceKroenke SportsRock DogDenver ZooDr. Raymonda BurgmanDr. ReardonElixir Pilates & WellnessElvis CinemasFancy TigerFeather Touch AcupunctureFermaentraGannet RidgeGeneral DentistryGeorgetown Loop RailroadGrant GarstkaHistoric DenverHistory Colorado MuseumIllegal PetesJennifer HarrisJerusalem

Kaladi Coffee RoastersKatelyn ShieldsKatie ZabackKevin GraffKimi ReardonKindness YogaLacey and Paul BooksLannie’s Clocktower CabaretLaura GarciaLauren CzajkaLeopold BrosMagnolia HotelMassage Envy SpaMatt RuhlandMolly Brown House MuseumMuseum of Contemporary Art DenverPamela GoldPanzanoPhillip VoPink Fog PhotographyRacca’s Pizzeria NapoletanaRachael GurianReardon Dental Health

Root Down / Linger / OpheliasSAME CafeSienna Wine Bar & Small PlatesSobo 151Steuben’s / ACE / VestaSuzanne HumphriesTAGTargetTattered Cover Book StoreThe Bagel DeliThe Fresh Fish CompanyThe Paper LadyTim WellandTony’s MarketTrattoria StellaTwo Hands PaperieTyler and Shawna MounseyUncorked KitchenVine Street PubWhere the Buffalo Roam (Focus corporation)Whole Foods

• Anschutz Family Foundation

• Big Sticks Foundation• Carson Foundation• El Pomar Foundation• Rose Community

Foundation• Schuster Family

Foundation• T Lloyd Kelly

Foundation• The Anschutz

Foundation• The Denver Foundation• Tracy Family

Foundation

Corporate Support

“Through lessons in philan

thropy,

leadership, business org

anization, and team-

work we were given the skills t

o change the

world as we had alw

ays wanted to.”

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

14

Individual DonorsAaron and Amanda ZaskeAaron EarleyAaron GreenoAaron GreyAdam SandsAdrienne McNamaraAllison and Robert MalenAmanda and Charles HoganAmanda and Seth YoungAmy Humble and Corey SmithAmy TerrellAndrew DiPalmaAndrew RamunnoAndy Carlson and In-grid AlongiBen GearhartBen Katz-MosesBeth HoffmanBrad NeimanBraden MarkBrian TrujilloCalley DannebergCarleigh ElkusCarol DanbyCarol WaeckerlinCaroline MinerCasey and Carrie TynanChad MurphyCharlie JohnsonChris and Sara TierneyChristopher CarrollCindy AngellCody TruittCorey SmithCristen LawtonDan and Kristy CraineDeb and Doug MorrisonDerek and Kiki Nelsen

Don and Patty BrandesDon GorsuchDouglas and Jane Carl-sonDouglas PlussEd HarveyElena Lopez Del CarrilElizabeth KrausElyse BlazevichEric and Jenny HoltzeEric JacobsonErin PrendergastFlorence RuhlandGabe StalcupGarret HommelGrant GarstkaGreg and Carrie John-sonGreg and Kaye NorwickGreg VollJames TanzilloJanis CareyJean SchloesslinJeff LucasJennifer HarrisJennifer LivseyJerry and Anne KelleyJessica HarveyJim and Glenna BooksJim WesterbergJohn and Ann HenkhausJohn GaetziJohn and Bobbe HultinJohn KelleyJohn PeckJoseph and Rekha Dan-ielJoseph RanalloJosh and Pam GoldJosh MullinsJud ValeskiJudd and Stephanie Thompson

Julie and Adam CohenJustin PerkinsJustin WesleyKatie and Jeremy How-ardKatie PayerKatie ZabackKelly PerezKevin GraffKim EveristKimi ReardonKreighton BiegerKristin KeffelerKyle DuitsmanKyle MalnatiLacey and Paul BooksLauren CzajkaLauren FordLawrence ReiffLisa and Bruce Alexan-derLisa GoodbeeLisa SchillingMakenzie and Ryan TracyMarcia and Tom GrayMaria and Michael Wis-chmeyerMark CavanaughMary CipolloneMary Lynn MyersMaryann BellisarioMatt MuellerMatt RuhlandMatthew StewartMeagan D’AngeloMelissa BeckMike and Rachel Mc-CubbinMike HartmanMolly YostNancy WeissNeha Patel

Nicole MalmPam Strauss and Mike ZislisPatricia GagePatricia MeyerPatricia van GoolPatrick TracyPaul LingenfelterPeter and Dina Lemes-surierPeter and Keli BooksRachael GurianRachelle DelimontRob ZabackRobert BrownRobert ScrivnerRonald VaughnRoxanne and Ed Ander-sonRyan and JoEllen Weath-erheadRyan MayoSandra GurianScott KiereStephen StoreySteve EveristSusan and William Mc-BrideSusan ScottSuzanne and George HumphriesSydney SchneiderThomas GraffTim and Krystal WellandTim HochmanTodd KrierTom and Barb EveristTyler and Shawna MounseyVictoria CantorWendy and Tad KellyWill Kaufman

“YouthRoots exposed me to aspects of my

community that I, originally, was not aware of.”

YOUTH-ROOTS.ORG

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