Mile High United Way Raises Over $500,000 at 27th Annual Women United Luncheon

Guest Contributor — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:40:04 +0000

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Fri., April 17, 2025

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Mile High United Way Raises Over $500,000 at 27th Annual Women United Luncheon

Over 1,000 Attendees Gather to Celebrate the Power of Women & Girls

DENVER, COLO. – Mile High United Way raised more than $500,000 at its 27th Annual Women United Luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. Proceeds from the event will support critical programs that empower women and girls across Metro Denver, including access to stable housing, career pathways and high-quality child care.

Over 1,000 attendees joined Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero and Academy Award-winning actress and guest speaker Mary Steenburgen for an inspiring afternoon focused on advancing opportunity and equity for women and girls. Over the past 27 years, the luncheon has raised more than $5 million in support of the organization’s Women United initiative.

“Today is not just about supporting Mile High United Way. It’s also a day when we, as community leaders, show united, unwavering support for Colorado’s women and girls and all of our community,” said Christine Benero, president and CEO of Mile High United Way. “When we step forward to support women and girls, we create a ripple of change.”

This year’s theme, Timeless, highlighted the enduring values of kindness, courage, integrity, and humility – principles that continue to guide the Women United community and its impact.

“For nearly three decades, this event has celebrated not only the strength of women, but the collective impact we can have when we lead with purpose,” Benero added. “ The compassion and encouragement we offer today becomes the strength they will carry forward for generations to come.”

The event also honored Arlene Hirschfeld with the 2026 Frances Wisebart Jacobs Award, recognizing her lifetime of leadership, philanthropy, and advocacy on behalf of women, children, education, and the arts. Named after one of Colorado’s most influential philanthropic leaders, the award pays tribute to Frances Wisebart Jacobs, whose legacy includes founding Mile High United Way, Jewish Family Service of Colorado, and National Jewish Health.

Hirschfeld’s decades of service include leadership roles with the Junior League of Denver, Rose Community Foundation, JEWISHcolorado, the Denver Art Museum, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and Girl Scouts of Colorado. She was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Each of us has one key thing in common: we care about others, and we show up for our community. Women United gives us such a powerful way to channel that passion – bringing together people who don’t only want to write a check, but who also want to roll up their sleeves and truly make a difference in the lives of others,” said Arlene Hirschfeld.

Attendees also heard from featured speaker Mary Steenburgen, an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actress whose decades-long career has been marked by iconic performances across film and television, as well as a deep commitment to philanthropy.

Mile High United Way early learning instructor and former program participant Dulce Pugh also spoke to attendees.

“Each person who has invested in Mile High United Way has become part of my story. The positive impact on families – parents and children helped here today – is timeless. Together, we are creating a new path for families,” said Dulce Pugh.

Click here for photos from the event. B-roll is available upon request.

The Women United Luncheon was presented by HCA HealthONE. The Speaker Sponsor was BOK Financial. The Frances Wisebart Jacobs Sponsor was ENT Financial. The Meet & Greet Sponsor was Southwest Airlines. The Giving Sponsor was Bank of Colorado. The VIP Reception Sponsor was the Morgridge Family Foundation. The Broadcast Sponsor was CBS Colorado, and the Print Sponsor was 5280 Magazine. Confident Sponsors were CoBank, Davis Graham, Molson Coors Beverage Company, PCL, and Suncor. Determined Sponsors were Congruex, Deloitte, Delta Dental of Colorado, EY, FirstBank, IMA Financial Group & Syntrinsic, Karen Kennedy, KeyBank, Northern Trust, Richmond American Foundation, Sullivan Financial Planning, and Xcel Energy.

About Mile High United Way

Working side-by-side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing our seven-county footprint, including the Metro Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield communities. Our united approach changes the odds for all children, families, and individuals in our community, so that all have the opportunity to succeed. Learn more at unitedwaydenver.org and follow us on social media @UnitedWayDenver.

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Olympian Allyson Felix Steps up to Fight for Maternal Protection

Guest Contributor — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:11 +0000

Rome, Italy, 9th June 2022: FELIX Allyson (USA) during the Golden Gala “Pietro Mennea”, Wanda Diamond League at the Olimpico stadium. Photo credit: Raffaele Conti 88, Shutterstock

By Angelia D. McGowan
Denver Urban Spectrum (via AP Storyshare)

Allyson Felix, five-time U.S. Olympian in track and field, is soaring on a different track these days working to advance women’s rights for maternal protection. She shared her journey to this new life of advocacy most recently as the keynote speaker at the annual luncheon for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado at the Colorado Convention Center.

In front of a crowd of more than 1,800 people, and later in that paragraph: She trained six days a week, five hours a day. She was on top of her nutrition. She indeed found success in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay—becoming the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history.

When she desired to have a family, she hit a wall.

She recalled not seeing a mother in her sport that was celebrated. She saw them losing sponsorships. She thought she had gotten to a safe place with Nike, her sponsor for almost a decade. When she was told she would get 70 percent less pay while building her family, she was prepared to deal with that.

But she also wanted time to get back to top form. That time and salary protection was not allotted for in her Nike contract. It hit her that she didn’t want this for her daughter’s generation.

Her brother recommended she write an op-ed for the New York Times, use her voice “even if it shakes.” On May 22, 2019, the publication ran her piece entitled, “Allyson Felix: My Own Nike Pregnancy Story.” Her op-ed followed an earlier piece they ran on May 12, 2019, by fellow Olympian Alysia Montaño entitled, “Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby.”

The fight for maternal protection had the national stage. Following the public controversy, Nike adjusted their maternal policy in August 2019, promising to not apply any performance-related salary reductions for 18 consecutive months, starting eight months before the due date.

Felix said it was incredible and heartbreaking how much work needed to be done. She told the crowd how proud she was of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado for their work and investment in women. The foundation’s mission is to catalyze the community to advance and accelerate economic opportunities for Colorado women and their families.

During her one-on-one interview on the stage with Craig Hospital President and CEO Jandel Allen-Davis, M.D., Felix shared more of her journey as a mom, business owner and advocate for women’s rights.

She explained that after leaving Nike in 2019, she faced her next Olympics with no running shoes. She explained how her brother —a male ally— encouraged her to create her own shoes. Saysh, co-founded by Felix and her brother, Wes, was soon a reality and she would eventually wear her own shoes in her fifth Olympics.

Soon after leaving Nike, she would also sign a clothing sponsorship deal with the Gap Inc.–owned apparel company Athleta in July 2019, becoming their first sponsored athlete.

Applauding Felix’s advocacy work, WFCO President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel said, “We will not stay in our lane.”

Romi Bean, CBS4 sports anchor, who emceed the luncheon, referred to the Olympian as being at another level, making a difference for women..

Editor’s note: For more information about The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, visit www.wfco.org.

The post Olympian Allyson Felix Steps up to Fight for Maternal Protection appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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Mile High United Way Raises Over $500,000 at 27th Annual Women United Luncheon

Olympian Allyson Felix Steps up to Fight for Maternal Protection