An evening dedicated to bringing to life our mission of elevating lives through education and economic empowerment within our greater Denver community.

Goodwill Opportunities Complex 
15445 E Iliff Avenue, Aurora 80013

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

• 6:00pm-8:00pm – Cocktails and Small Plates
• 6:00-6:30pm – Network and Mingle
• 6:30-8:00pm – Rise and Thrive Experience

Our Rise and Thrive event will feature drinks and small plates, mingling, a fun challenge or two, and immersion…a progressive onsite immersion into determination and possibility. Students and employees, through stories of their journeys, will bring to life the hope and intention of our Goodwill Opportunities Complex programs:

Our Excel Center – Colorado’s first, in-person high school for adults, a remarkably thoughtful learning environment, and hopefully just the beginning of putting within reach a high school diploma for the nearly 300,000 adults in our state who’ve not attained one. Notable fact: We opened our doors in August, and we’re proud to share that 72 adults, age 22 and older, earned their diplomas and graduated in this first year.

BankWork$ – Through this 8-week training course, students acquire industry specific skills, a comprehensive knowledge of banking, resume prep and interview practice, culminating in a hiring event with local banking partners. Notable fact: Since 2016, more than 700 students have completed the program with a 73% industry placement rate.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Technician Training – An intensive 4-week course we just launched on July 7, students will be certified to service electric vehicle charging stations, an in-demand skillset in a clean tech industry poised for continued growth. Notable fact: This is the first program in our Jobs for the Future/Clean Tech initiative, think solar and heat pumps, EV Tech is hopefully just the beginning!

Social Enterprise – You likely know us for donating and thrifting at our retail stores, we’ll share how our stores not only fuel but also fulfill our mission through employment and upskilling & reskilling opportunities. Notable fact: 65% of our retail team have faced significant barriers to employment.

One more notable fact: Our programs are all provided at no-cost. With the support of our financial supporters, shoppers, and goods donors, we are honored to employ and provide impactful programs for the unemployed and the underemployed, military veterans, seniors, and those with disabilities.

For more information and to RSVP please contact:

Lori Borgerding

Director, Strategic Partnerships, Greater Denver Area

lb*********@**************do.org