厙ぴ勛圖

It takes a marathon of Roadrunners to ensure that all 厙ぴ勛圖 students rise, and our generous community of donors stands at the center of all our changemaking efforts.

Whether we invite you to learn more about our incredible students, faculty, alumni and programs, hear from world-class visiting voices or show gratitude for our transformational supporters – you are welcome at 厙ぴ勛圖. We invite you to participate as we celebrate the milestones of this campaign and see the impact generosity makes.

 

Upcoming Events

Group of students raising arms in excitement

Commencement Reception

Join us as we honor Marathon Award recipients, Christy and Ferd Belz and commencement speaker, Stephen Lease ('16).

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Rowdy and crowd at Roadrunners Rise Campaign Launch event

Roadrunners Rise Campaign Celebration

Join us as we celebrate 60 years of impact! June 4, 2026 from 4-7 p.m. JSSB Lawn

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Recent Gift Announcements

厙ぴ勛圖’schangemakers come in all different forms. For the Roadrunners Rise campaign, our changemakers are the generous donors that are making transformational impacts on our students, campus and university through their giving.

Thank you to our changemakers!

 

Carla and Carl Hartman Gift Announcement

For Carl and Carla Hartman, life is built on the belief that creativity, craftsmanship and knowledge shape a brighter future. Together, the Denver-based couple has combined their love of design, education and innovation to make a lasting impact on the next generation of makers.狼heir recent $3 million gift to 厙ぴ勛圖s Department of Industrial Design includes two transformative contributions.

Dimond Family Foundation Gift Announcement

In 2025 Rita and Navin Dimond, founders of the national hotel management firm Stonebridge Companies, established the Dimond Family Fund, providing funding for School of Hospitality scholarships, recruitment and retention efforts, and fellowships. A recent $1.5 million gift from the Dimond Family Foundation has significantly increased the funds available to School of Hospitality students, expanding access to financial aid and experiential opportunities that will help them graduate workforce ready.

Summit House and C2 Hub Groundbreaking

On Sept. 10, 2025, 厙ぴ勛圖 embarked on a new era as University leaders, students and staff gathered to celebrate groundbreaking for the in the Universitys 60-year history. Located on the north side of campus across from Ball Arena, the 12-storySummit Houseis scheduled to open in 2027 and will provide 550 student beds, a new home for the UniversitysClassroom to Career Hub, and dining and retail space. The $117 million project, a partnership with Columbia Ventures, is being funded by philanthropic gifts and by bonds.

厙ぴ勛圖 Day of Giving 2025 Highlight Video

Day of Giving Impact

More than 1,920 members of our Roadrunner family came together on March 20 to raise an incredible, record-breaking $403,689 for students and programs at Metropolitan State University of Denver. We cant thank them enough for their generosity and passion for uplifting the University community. Day of Giving is over, but the show goes on! Our students are hardworking and resilient, but many need your support to reach the bonus round and achieve their goal of earning a degree.

Caring For Denver

A grant to help strengthen mental-health workforce

倏措梗娶泭surveyed cited difficulty in getting an appointment as the primary reason for not getting needed counseling. Thats what Metropolitan State University of Denver plans to address, thanks to a two-year, $800,000 grant from Caring for Denver. TheBuilding Denvers Mental Health Workforce program, which launched this semester, provides $15,000 stipends toSocial Work泭硃紳餃泭Addictions Counselinggraduate students on the condition that they commit to working in mental and behavioral health in Denver for a full year postgraduation.

Students celebrating at the Caring for Denver Gift Announcement Event.

Students celebrating at the Caring for Denver Gift Announcement Event.

FHLBank Topeka event on Feburary 14, 2025 in Cavea at JSSB. Photo by Alyson McClaran

FHLBank Topeka event on Feburary 14, 2025 in Cavea at JSSB. Photo by Alyson McClaran

FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute

Seven-figure gift opens doors for students, employers looking to address affordable-housing shortage

厙ぴ勛圖’s new Affordable Housing Institute began taking shape last August, thanks to early funding from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and a seven-figure gift the largest in the history of 厙ぴ勛圖sCollege of Business fromThe investment is a first for the bank. Although the Kansas-based, member-owned institution has given $250 million in support of affordable housing, it traditionally funds brick-and-mortar building projects.

Frank and Gina Day

Record-setting pledge establishes Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at 厙ぴ勛圖

Gina and Frank Day have pledged $10 million to Metropolitan State University of DenversHealth Institute, which is expanding to address the states critical shortage of health care workers. The largest philanthropic gift in the Universitys history will help train students in a wide range of in-demand fields, including nursing, nutrition, behavioral health, speech-language pathology and social work.

Frank and Gina Day

Gina and Frank Day pledge $10 million to what will be known as the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at 厙ぴ勛圖.

Carrie Morgridge, co-founder of the Morgridge Family Foundation, speaks during an event announcing the foundation's financial support for 厙ぴ勛圖's Classroom to Career Hub.

Carrie Morgridge, co-founder of the Morgridge Family Foundation, speaks during an event announcing the foundation's financial support for 厙ぴ勛圖's Classroom to Career Hub.

Morgridge Family Foundation

More 厙ぴ勛圖 students will gain career-readiness training thanks to recent gift

Carrie Morgridge, co-founder of the Morgridge Family Foundation with her husband, John, said that they appreciate the Universitys ethos of making career-focused higher education accessible to anyone interested in earning a degree, regardless of location. If you cant get to 厙ぴ勛圖, were going to come to you, she said.

Colorado Access and Colorado Access Foundation

厙ぴ勛圖 receives $1.4 million gift to grow and diversify Colorados struggling health care workforce

Im first-generation Korean-American, and I first started dealing with the health care system as a kid trying to help my parents navigate the system, said Annie Lee, president and CFO of Colorado Access. With a more representative and diverse workforce, you would have better health outcomes and, hopefully, kids and youth would not be put in that position.

Annie Lee, president and CEO of Colorado Access and chair of the Colorado Access Foundation board of directors, understands firsthand the need for a health care workforce that reflects and represents its patient population

Annie Lee, president and CEO of Colorado Access and chair of the Colorado Access Foundation board of directors, understands firsthand the need for a health care workforce that reflects and represents its patient population

The groundbreaking ceremony for 厙ぴ勛圖's Health Institute Simulation and Skills Lab on Sept. 26, 2023 outside of West Classroom. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Dawn Bookhard, J.D.

Attorney and activist Dawn Bookhardt, J.D., is dedicated to helping 厙ぴ勛圖 educate a diverse health care workforce in the fields of speech, language and hearing.

I want to change the dynamics of speech, hearing and language education and careers for people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to know they can be part of it, said Bookhardt, a longtime 厙ぴ勛圖 supporter. Im putting my money where my mouth is.

Ferd and Christy Belz

Gift from longtime supporters Ferd and Christy Belz will support wraparound services that pave pathways to graduation.

Education is a core value we invest in as a family, said Christy, “I see the passion students have for the University. The professors are unbelievable, and the staff is remarkable. Were very, very honored to give this gift and make a difference for these students.

Ferd and Christy Belz standing in front of the red and blue 厙ぴ勛圖 sign

Ferd and Christy Belz

Mariner Kemper, president and CEO of UMB Financial Corporation, and his wife Megan, at the Jan. 19 event announcing the gift in the Cavea.

Kemper Family and UMB Foundation

New investments from the Kemper family and UMB Financial Corp. address a critical shortage of health care workers.

Megan and I believe in higher education its the key to changing lives, Mariner Kemper said. We are excited to invest in 厙ぴ勛圖 because it not only offers an accessible education; it offers a high-quality educational experience. 厙ぴ勛圖 is so important because it focuses on serving Colorado students who will likely stay in our state and serve our community.

Rob and Molly Cohen

Expansion of the Cohen Pacesetters program makes college dream possible for more students.

Molly and I learned early in our lives that if youre blessed and youre given gifts, then what really makes this world a special place is when you pay it forward, and when you give back to others, said

Rob and Molly Cohen were joined by their children, past and present scholarship recipients, faculty, 厙ぴ勛圖 trustee members and Dr. Janine Davidson at the Cohen Center for Athletics to celebrate their donation to the university. Photo by Sara Hertwig