Summer 2024 Newsletter
A LETTER FROM OUR CEO
Dear Tennyson Community,
As summer draws to a close and we begin the new school year, I reflect on the journey we’ve shared at Tennyson Center for Children. This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 120th anniversary—a testament to the dedication, compassion, and generosity of supporters like you who have made our mission possible.
The back-to-school season can be a time of excitement and opportunity for some, but it can bring anxiety and uncertainty for others. Many of the children we serve face challenges that make a traditional school setting difficult. Academic success is deeply intertwined with children’s mental and emotional well-being. We understand that addressing these needs is not just important, but essential for their overall development and success in life.
When children are supported emotionally, they are better equipped to engage in the classroom, form positive relationships, and increase their resilience. That’s why our approach is holistic, focusing on academic achievement and the mental and emotional health of every child in our care through our Day Treatment school. By nurturing the whole child, we empower them to reach their full potential.
Looking back on 120 years of service, we are proud of how far we’ve come. From our humble beginnings, we have become a beacon of hope and healing for countless children and families. This anniversary is a celebration of our history and a reaffirmation of our commitment to the future.
Our mission is more critical than ever. The challenges that many of our children face—whether due to trauma, neglect, or other adverse experiences—require comprehensive support and care. Your generosity has allowed us to provide the therapeutic programs and services that make a real difference in the lives of our children. Because of you, they have a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive.
As we move forward, we are excited about the possibilities of the next chapter. We are continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of our community. With your continued partnership, we are confident that we will improve even more lives, helping children and families not just survive, but thrive.
Thank you for being an integral part of our story. Your investment has made a profound impact, and together, we will continue to make a difference for the next 120 years and beyond.
With gratitude,
Mindy Watrous
President & CEO
MILE HIGH Q & GROOVE
Friday, September 27, 2024 │ 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM │ Mile High Station │ 2027 West Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204
Get ready for the event of the year—our 14th annual Mile High Q & Groove is just around the corner, and it’s bigger and better than ever! We’re rolling out exciting changes, from a fresh new name and logo to a rock n’ roll vibe that will set the stage for an unforgettable evening.
Join us as we celebrate Tennyson’s 120th anniversary with a night of live music by rising star Jonah Kagen, mouth-watering BBQ, refreshing brews, and specialty cocktails. Get ready to bid on thrilling silent and live auctions, try your luck with the always-popular spirit pull, and enjoy a custom hat-making experience with the talented Parker Thomas!
Q & Groove is where old friends and new supporters come together to celebrate our mission and discover the powerful impact we can make with your help. Don’t miss out on this incredible night—be a part of something special!
We’re thrilled to feature Jonah Kagen, an artist whose soulful and heartfelt lyrics are captivating audiences everywhere. Jonah’s unique blend of indie-folk and rock will set the perfect tone for the evening, creating an atmosphere that’s both intimate and electric. This is your chance to experience a live performance from a breakout talent, right here at Q & Groove. Trust us—you won’t want to miss it!
RUN WITH PURPOSE
Thirty miles a day for eighteen days. In July, Rick Wulf ran over 500 miles from Cheney, Kansas, to Denver to raise funds for Tennyson Center! For more than 20 years, Rick has volunteered annually by hosting high school and college youth mission trips at Tennyson. In addition to their weeklong classroom volunteering this summer, Rick raised over $30,000 during his run, bringing awareness to child trauma through sweat and determination!
Rick works full-time as a Furniture Artisan at Textron Aviation and as an assistant cross-country and track coach at Cheney High School and Cheney Middle School. Textron Aviation and an anonymous donor have graciously matched $10,000 towards Rick’s fundraising.
“I have a soft spot in my heart for kids that are hurting,” shared Rick. “The love and care the Tennyson staff shows these kids will hopefully help them get past the trauma and abuse that they have endured. Tennyson has been an amazing experience for me and the student youth I bring with me. The run I did to raise money has been a dream of mine for over ten years. On the more difficult days, I would remind myself that the Tennyson kids had endured much more than I was experiencing, which gave me the strength to finish another day. As the word got out and the donations started coming in, I realized it would be bigger than I had ever imagined.”
Rick’s dedication to Tennyson is inspiring, but the journey isn’t over yet. The funds raised so far have made a tremendous impact, but the need continues, and there’s still much work to be done. Every donation, regardless of size, helps provide the resources and care our children and families need. Rick’s run was a powerful testament to what can be achieved when we come together for a cause, and now it’s our turn to keep that momentum going.
LASTING IMPACT
August is National Make-A-Will Month, a perfect time to reflect on the legacy we leave behind. Planned gifts have been crucial in sustaining Tennyson’s mission of supporting Colorado’s most vulnerable children, allowing us to provide critical residential, educational, and therapeutic services. By transforming annual gifts into enduring legacies, you can ensure your impact continues for generations.
Clarence Burchell, a dedicated Tennyson supporter, made this commitment 74 years ago. In 1950, after the passing of his wife Mary, Clarence included Tennyson Center in his will, leaving a percentage of his savings and the rights to a piece of land. Today, we still receive payments from that land, and three-quarters of a century later, Clarence’s generosity continues to help children facing trauma, neglect, and abuse.
If you wish to include Tennyson Center in your will, please contact Nick Wininger at [email protected] or 720.855.3317. Thank you for helping us support kids and families in Colorado for 120 years. Your legacy of dedication will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come. We are profoundly grateful for your support.
ROOTED LEGACY
Lynn Kitt, the president of the Bardsley Foundation, recently visited the Tennyson Center garden, where she and her family have deep roots. “Betsy’s Healing Garden” at Tennyson was made possible through the generosity of Lynn and the Bardsley Foundation in 2017. Lynn’s late mother, Betsy, a master gardener, imparted many life lessons to her children through gardening. Fortunately for Tennyson, Lynn has continued her mother’s legacy through her family’s philanthropy. Since constructing our garden, our staff and kids have enjoyed the “fruits” of the garden, be they literal fruits or the social-emotional lessons crucial to our children’s development.
The Bardsley Foundation’s initial ‘seed’ funding provided Tennyson with a significant opportunity to build partnerships in the community that have bolstered our experiential education and therapy. One such partner, Denver Urban Gardens, has provided countless donations, volunteer hours, and guidance in transforming the garden into a therapeutic space designed specifically for the needs of the children on our campus. As one of the pilot programs for Denver Urban Garden’s Therapeutic Garden Initiative, our outdoor sanctuary plays a vital role in fostering recovery and growth for all who visit it.
The two-year process with Denver Urban Gardens included designing and introducing new garden elements while keeping Trauma-Informed Design fundamentals at the forefront. Introducing sensory plants, sound elements, and opportunities for hands-on play has helped our kids develop skills through immersion in nature.
Betsy’s Healing Garden is just one example of our profound commitment to fostering healing, growth, and connection in our work at Tennyson. Please contact Nick Wininger if you have questions about our garden or wish to visit. If you haven’t smelled grapefruit mint, pineapple sage, or orange thyme, please come by and experience the joy of our garden!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Gays For Good and Denver Urban Gardens partnered to help Tennyson Center install new trees and plants this summer. With over 40 volunteers and months of planning, the garden flourished with new perennials, pollinators, and trees. Each plant was hand-selected to accomplish a goal, all with safety in mind. The trees will offer much-needed shade for our resting areas. Yarrow, lavender, sage, and coneflower will attract bees and bugs to our new bug hotel. Arborvitae will add screening to help dampen unwanted sensory disturbances from the nearby public roadway. Pineapple sage, oregano hopeflower, lamb’s ear, and much more will offer interactive sensory elements to the garden. Dozens of perennial plants will beautify our new accessible, connecting pathway to the garden’s entrance. With many minds, hearts, and hands, we were able to fill our garden with life! We greatly appreciate the time, sweat, and talent our volunteers offer to make our dreams a reality.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
VOLUNTEER
Your support makes a difference and has a direct impact on the lives of those who need us most.
2024 EVENTS
Save the date for our upcoming events, including 1904 Society gatherings, Q & Groove, and more!
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