
2023 EVENT PROGRAM
Thank you for joining us.
We cannot wait to share this special night with you!
WELCOME
Dear Community,
Change starts with students. At Access Opportunity, our students inspire us every day. We have seen them evolve from 10th graders in high school to college graduates. Their growth has changed the trajectory for their families and their communities. They have motivated Access Opportunity to work hard and keep growing.
Access Opportunity is proud of our evolution as well. We have increased opportunities for student leadership and voice, focused on social and emotional health, and we have gotten better at helping our students on their journeys through high school to college and career.
Our numbers of students served, our donor community, and our team have all grown.
Thank you for fueling our growth and believing in our work.
With gratitude,
Yuri Shane
Executive Director/Co-Founder

SCHEDULE
SILENT AUCTION
DINNER & DRINKS
FEATURING:
Ash'Kara
Aviano
Blackbelly
Fruition & Mercantile
Los Chingones
Mama Lolita's Mexican
Mister Oso
Root Down
Uchi
Uncle
Music by: Rachel Alena Music
PRESENTATION PORTION OF THE EVENING
OPENING REMARKS
LIVE AUCTION
STUDENT SPEAKERS
SPECIAL APPEAL
RAFFLE
CLOSING REMARKS
AUCTION CHECK-OUT
LIVE AUCTION

WELCOME HOME
TO BRECKENRIDGE
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7 night stay
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Home located 1 mile from town, and is a 3 minute drive to the gondola
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4 bedrooms - sleeps 10
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Great retreat year-round
Restrictions: Subject to availability.
7 consecutive nights
Expires March 2, 2024.

PRIVATE SUITE for
NUGGETS GAME
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Suite includes 20 tickets and 5 parking passes
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Food and beverage included, with a value up to $1,000
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Mutually agreed upon game in October, November, or December of the 2023-24 basketball season
Valid for the 2023-24 basketball season. Does not include opening game.
Donated by: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment

HELITRAX
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Heli-skiing with Telluride Helitrax, CO's ultimate helicopter skiing and snowboarding experience
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2 days of heli-skiing for 1 person or 1 day for 2 people
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Over 200 square miles of untracked and majestic terrain
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3 night stay at The Peaks Resort in a Grande Alpine Vista Suite
Restrictions: Must be a strong skier. Must be used in 2023-24 ski season.
Donated by: Telluride Helitrax and the Herrick Family

CABO GETAWAY
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3-night stay at the romantic Esperanza resort, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection
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Dinner for 2 at charming Flora Farms, a field to table restaurant
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2 spaces on Cabo Adventures' Luxury Sailing Cabo Tour including sun, snorkeling, paddleboarding, gourmet lunch, and transportation
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Round trip transfers between:
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Airport and Esperanza Resort
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Esperanza Resort and Flora Farm
Restrictions: Subject to availability. Hotel credit up to $5,000 including taxes/fees. Restaurant reservation, sailing tour reservation, and transportation must be booked far in advance. Expires March 2, 2024.
Donated by: Hotel Engine and Cabo Adventures

KOHLER GOLF WEEKEND for 4 at THE AMERICAN CLUB
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2 double rooms for 2 nights at five-star American Club resort in Kohler, WI
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Includes foursome of golf on two of the top-100 golf resorts in the world:
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Whistling Straits Course (with caddie)
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Blackwolf Run, Meadow Valley Course
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Restrictions: Valid through the 2024 golf season and based on availability. Caddie gratuity excluded.
Donated by: Destination Kohler

ASPEN FOOD & WINE CLASSIC (JUNE 16-18, 2023)
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2 tickets to the 40th annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic
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Access to the Grand Tasting Pavilion
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Opportunity to sign up for 40+ wine seminars and cooking demonstrations
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3 night stay at the historic Hotel Jerome
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Cherry Creek Gnat Jewelers ($2500)
Restrictions: The Hotel Jerome is only valid June 15-18 for the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.
Donated by: Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Gnat Jewelers, and Hotel Jerome

FLY AWAY
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4 hours of luxury travel in a Citation X private jet
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Space for 8 people
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Service throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States
Restrictions: Must be used for one round trip flight. Subject to availability. Expires March 2, 2024.

CELEBRITY CHEF
DINNER PARTY
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You Pick: Private dinner for 10 or Party for 30
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Catered by Top Chef Winner and Finalists
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Joe Flamm, Joe Sasto, and Denver's own, Carrie Baird
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Paired with the perfect cocktail or wine (includes sommelier)
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Work with the chefs to design your menu
Restrictions: Expires March 2, 2024. Mutually agreed upon date.
Donated by: Culinary Creative, Joe Flamm, Joe Sasto, and Carrie Baird
MISSION




Our mission is to create opportunities for high-potential students from low-income households to define their individual path through high school, college and career, ultimately benefiting the lives of others.
We do this by supporting talented students who have power to make great impact, focusing on their individual needs and career dreams.
IMPACT

3.7
AVERAGE COLLEGE GPA
Compared to 2.6 for first-gen students nationally

$48,422
IN GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
On average, our Class of 2026 students earned
compared to their average yearly
cost of attendance, $45,127

The average income for AO families
is $33,196 compared to
$57,000
AVERAGE STARTING SALARY FOR AO ALUMS
APPEAL
$25,000
Pays for our Social-Emotional Learning programming for a year
$10,000
Provides 4 years of Access Opportunity scholarship for one college student
$5,000
Covers a workshop to bring students together
$2,500
Provides career assessments for one class of students

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$1,000
Covers college counseling and application essay support
$500
Provides college textbooks for one college student for a semester
$250
Provides student transportation to a group workshop
$100
Pays for standardized test fees for one student
COMMITTEE
Dave Adams
Rachel Alena and Jason Leach
Claire and Brent Anderson
Shawn Barker
Janie Bracken
Mary and Doug Bradford
Cheryl and John Brady
Paula Burns
Libby and Scott Crouch
Janet and Fred Doyle
Trista and Dan Fisher
Bo and David Fleck
Kelly and KC Gallagher
Berkley Gamble and Nathan Schweid
Lisa and Doug Granat
Kathryn and Mark Haber
Susie and John Hayes
Christy and Tom Holman
Pam and Steve Jeffords
Wendy and Bob Kaufman
Kristen and Kevin Kelly
Dana and Mike Kercheval
Shannon and Jeff Knobel
Debbie and Brent LaBier
Amy and Andrew Larson
Kim Layne and Ranulfo Gonzalez
Melissa and Ryan Lee
Cindy and Kyle Lefkoff
Cheryl McBay and Jay Prassl
Nicki McTague and Ben Krugman
Pat and Tom Metz
Jane Michaels and Marne Obernauer
Michelle and Kevin Mize
Georgia Montoya and Zeyen Wu
Becky and Andrew Morley
Carla Morrison
Georgia and David Nelson
Juan Padro
Stacey and Drew Panayiotou
Lisa Pauley and Dave Taylor
Dianne and Dan Rabbitt
Pam and Lee Reichert
Lauren Russo
Judy and Steve Savage
Lisa and Jim Scatena
Kathy Schultz and David Paul
Ann and RJ Scott
Yuri Shane and Rob Martin
Sandy and Steve Smith
Susan and Tom Stahl
Susannah Thulson and Bob Webster
Kara and Eric Vinton
Chally and Rick Wiener
Kristi and Leroy Williams
Lisa Williams and Charles Johnson
RESTAURANTS & DRINK PARTNERS
EVENT DONORS
Thank you to everyone who donated this year.
Your contributions help make this event possible.
SPECIAL THANKS
ALLEGRA PRINTING
JOHN SNELSON
RACHEL ALENA MUSIC
MARC PISCOTTY
MIHI ENTERTAINMENT
BOLDER EVENTS
PRODUCT AV
ROCKY MOUNTAIN VALET INC.
EVENT RENTS
HOP & OIL, LLC
THE GALA TEAM
CARRIE ALLEMAN