News & Events

Excelsior's Kathy Graveley Honored By Aurora Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director Joan Gabrielson congratulates Kathy Graveley, Unsung Hero Award Nominee. More than 300 people attending the Women Making A Difference breakfast on March 3rd hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee heard about Excelsior’s message because Kathy Graveley was one of 3 community finalists for their ‘unsung hero’ award for her development work with Excelsior. Our own Jeannie Davis was the chair of the successful breakfast. The Gateway Rotary Club (thanks to Jeannie) purchased a table and 12 Excelsior people, including 4 girls, attended to support Kathy. “I was humbled and honored to represent Excelsior in our Aurora community,” says Kathy. “Many thanks to Joan Gabrielson for her nomination.” The other finalist was Michelle Leslie for her work with the Lupus Foundation of Colorado. Congratulations to the winner of the Unsung Hero Award, Darla Stuart, for her work with intellectually and developmentally disabled people through The Arc of Aurora.

New William C. Gregory Scholarship Established

In December, anonymous donors created a large endowment from which the yearly interest earned will fund scholarships to be awarded in Bill's name. The William C. Gregory Scholarship program is expected to receive $10,000 per year from this endowment to be awarded to Excelsior's girls, past or present. What a tremendous way to honor Bill, who cared so deeply about our girls and their futures.

Excelsior Names New Executive Director

Joan Gabrielson has been named the new Executive Director of Excelsior Youth Center. She succeeds Bill Gregory who will retire December 31st after serving Excelsior for 32 years.

"I appreciate the responsibility the Board has entrusted to me and I will do everything I can to build on the tremendous program Bill (Gregory) created and developed," says Gabrielson, a 32-year Excelsior employee. "Bill's wisdom and leadership have been the foundation of Excelsior's success. But it has also been because of all of the talented and dedicated people here. I feel very fortunate to work with all of you," she told a crowded room of Excelsior staff members who jumped to a standing ovation following the announcement.

Gabrielson has served as Excelsior's Associate Director and Human Resources Director. She received her BA from Colorado State University and MBA from University of Colorado at Denver. She will assume her new role September 1st "but we still have four and a half months to learn from Bill."

"I will miss my relationships with the kids, staff and Boards. However, there's a great relief in stepping away from the tremendous responsibility of seeing to the welfare of these girls" says Gregory. "I'm extremely optimistic of Excelsior's future with the new leadership that will bring fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm."

Gregory and his wife, Vonna, have been married for 47 years and have five children and seven grandchildren. They will soon move to a new home in Parker where "I want to enjoy country life, see more of my family, learn to fly fish and travel," says Gregory.

Charcie Russell, Board Chair, says "we are so fortunate to have had Bill Gregory leading Excelsior's efforts for the past 32 years. His impact on our organization, staff and students is greatly appreciated and literally beyond measure. With Joan Gabrielson's capable leadership we will now launch forward, continuing the positive direction that Bill established."

Excelsior Leadership Announcements

Congratulations to Arnie Goldstein and Carol Beauchamp-Hunter, Excelsior Youth Center's new Associate Directors. Arnie and Carol will be active in managing all aspects of Excelsior's daily operations to provide for the highest quality of service for the girls. Arnie will focus on the Center's financial concerns both internally and externally. As Excelsior's CFO for the past 18 years, Arnie has established Excelsior's solid accounting and financial management practices. As the current President of the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies (CAFCA), Arnie is a leader in advocating for children and service providers.

Carol will focus on programming for clients. She is a leader on CAFCA's Training Committee, a committee she helped create. Carol has a wealth of knowledge about families, social service systems, COA, licensing regulations and treatment modalities, along with a true passion for providing the best possible care for our clients.

Congratulations to Vivian Zlobec who will be Excelsior's Director of Human Resources. Over her 22 years with Excelsior, Vivian has gained a wealth of information about Excelsior in her many positions with the organization. In the Human Resources Department, Vivian has worked continuously to improve the benefits provided to staff and the communication of those benefits. She is always eager to take a leadership role in saying 'thank you' to staff members for their hard work and dedication.

Excelsior's Bill Gregory Honored

Bill Gregory, Excelsior's Executive Director Emeritus was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Association of Family and Children’s Agencies, CAFCA. Congratulations, Bill!"

SCHOLARSHIPS!
The Daniels Fund distributed $1.4 million in scholarships in June to at-risk students who might not have been able to afford college. The scholarships are given to students from alternative schools, juvenile justice programs, GED recipients and from underserved schools in Colorado.

Two Excelsior students will be chosen to receive two of these Daniels Opportunity Scholarships in partnership with the Community College of Aurora. The Excelsior candidates will receive full scholarships as they study at CCA for their two-year Associates Degree.

"We should have our two worthy candidates by December," explained Joan Gabrielson, Excelsior's Associate Director. "We're thrilled to partner with both the Daniels Fund and Community College of Aurora as they are extrordinarily flexible in meeting the needs of our non-traditional at-risk students. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students. "

REUNION FOR FORMER EXCELSIOR STUDENTS: Friday, August 19, 3-7 p.m. at Excelsior. We will have food, beverages, karaoke and the sharing of lots of memories with fellow classmates and your favorite staff. We would love to meet your family members so bring them along, too!

If you can join us, please contact Taneshia Nettingham at TaneshiaN@excelsioryc.org or call 303-693-1550x311. Be sure to tell her how many people you will bring because we need an accurate count to plan for plenty of food.

We are looking forward to hearing about your life since you left Excelsior. Come say 'farewell' to Bill Gregory, Executive Director, who will retire December 31, 2005. If you'd like, please tell us what you're doing by submitting the 'former student' link on this web site. See you at the reunion!

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Division of Youth Corrections has selected a new provider for the privately operated secure treatment program for girls at the Betty K. Marler Youth Services Center in southwest Denver. A partnership of two private organizations; Rite of Passage Inc. and Excelsior Youth Center, has been notified of the State's intent to award the bid to operate this program.

"We are looking forward to working together with this partnership to bring the Marler Center up to its full potential," said CDHS Executive Director Marva Livingston Hammons.

This announcement follows the release of the request for proposals in December 2004, and a nationally competitive process. The Divison of Youth Corrections will enter into a new contract at the end of an appeals period. The State releases new Requests for Proposals for privately operated programs periodically to ensure that it contracts effectively for these services.

The program and its 14 current residents will be temporarily moved to the State-operated Marvin Foote Youth Services Center in Englewood pending reopening of new operations at the Marler Corporation, and the CDHS Division of Youth Corrections to maintain programming and best use existing resources and staff during the transition period.

The Marler Center is scheduled to reopen under a new State contract with Rite of Passage/Excelsior no later than July 1, 2005. The center, named for former DYC Director Betty Marler, opened in July 2002 and has a capacity of 40 residents.

Connecting Hearts and Hands for Excelsior Youth Center

Nearly 150 volunteers from the Arapahoe Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated Colorado Cares Day on Saturday, July 30, 2005 in a day of service and volunteerism at Excelsior Youth Center. Joined by Governor Bill Owens and his staff, volunteers of all ages and abilities spent the day repairing walkways, landscaping, hanging ceiling tiles, painting and decorating nearly every facet of Excelsior's 33-acre campus.

Under this year's unifying theme "Communities Working Together," the Colorado Cares initiative encourages Coloradoans to make a difference in their communities through service projects to deserving non-profit organizations across the state. Steven Hess, a volunteer from the church says, "I was told there were up to 150 people participating at one time or another from ages 6 months to 70 plus years…it was a very pleasant and meaningful experience for everyone." He goes on to describe the satisfaction he feels in giving back: "Doing service like that for what I have come to appreciate as a truly benevolent institution is a gift to the giver that few can understand."

Joan Gabrielson, Associate Director of Excelsior Youth Center, was touched by the community support. "It meant a great deal to our girls to have all of these people from the community, strangers even, work so hard. The girls loved having their home spruced up and to know that these volunteers cared about them and wanted to do something so generous," she says.

Carol Gianfrancisco and Arnie Goldstein coordinated the effort with assistance from Mike Walters, Facilities Manager. Taneshia Nettingham conducted tours and recruited lots of new volunteers to help at Excelsior in the future.

On April 15, 2005 Excelsior Youth Center hosted a Career Fair on its campus featuring approximately twenty-five exhibitors from local community colleges, universities, and trade and vocational schools. Representatives from participating organizations will be available to answer questions and provide valuable information. This year Excelsior is incorporating a hair and fashion show into the event, as well as a culinary arts exhibition and women's advocate speaker. Last year's Career Fair was a great success and we expect this year's to be even better!

The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice honored Taneshia Nettingham with its "Outstanding Service Award" for her work with the Excelsior Youth Center Step Team at it's annual scholarship fund raiser on Saturday, February 5, 2005. The EYC Step Team also presented a brief performance at the event. Congratulations, Taneshia, Excelsior's Special Events Coordinator.

For the past several years Maggiano's Little Italy has generously hosted Thanksgiving dinner for all of the girls who are at Excelsior on Thanksgiving Day. This holiday can be a terribly difficult day for a child who is far from home or who has limited familial connections. Maggiano's truly cares about our girls and has done everything in their power to be sure that Thanksgiving is a truly special day. The restauraunt staff treat the kids with the same high level of professionalism and respect as their regular customers.

To quote a girl from this year's dinner: "I have never been to a place like this — it's the most beautiful room I have ever seen." This year Maggiano's hosted all of the children and staff on our campus as well as parents, volunteers and younger children from a partner agency. Maggiano‚s has also organized a Christmas gift program in the past which has generated literally truckloads of gifts for the girls at Excelsior and hundreds of children in placements throughout the metro area.

Thank you, Maggiano's! We sincerely appreciate all you do for kids in need in our community.

 

Rhonda and Tommy Vickers Honorary Chair Persons

EXCELSIOR YOUTH CENTER CELEBRATES
EXCELSIOR! EVER UPWARD
APRIL 16, 2004
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE MUSEUM
 
Excelsior Youth Center announces Rhonda and Tommy Vickers will serve as HonoraryChairs of Excelsior! Ever Upward, the fundraising gala Friday, April 16, 2004 at the Wildlife Experience Museum. 

The Vickers hosted the Patron Party at their Castle Pines home on Friday, April 2nd for patron level guests to Ever Upward. Invitations to the event that costs $150 per person are available by calling Excelsior at 303-693-1550x226.

The hot air balloon theme represents the definition of excelsior which is ‘ever upward” and the goal of improving and empowering the lives of the troubled girls who reside at Excelsior. Excelsior! Ever Upward features a welcome reception, silent and live auctions with auctioneer, Gary Corbett, dinner and live entertainment by Excelsior girls. Funds will benefit activities for the girls residing at Excelsior. Reservations are required.

As a renowned sculptor, Rhonda Vickers says, “I was introduced to Excelsior when I was commissioned to create the bust of Excelsior’s Executive Director, Bill Gregory, to commemorate his 30 years of service. Tommy and I learned a great deal about the program and have become very supportive.”

Rhonda was born and raised in St. Louis and studied fine arts at Wichita State University. She and Tommy were married 35 years ago and have two grown children. Rhonda has volunteered teaching art to children with Cerebral Palsy and worked with homeless women and children at the Gathering Place and served as its Board Chair. In 1999 Rhonda began her full time bronze sculpting business.

Tommy, raised and educated in Wichita, KS, was in the securities business for 25 years before moving his family to Denver in 1984. While in Kansas he was involved in Catholic Charities, National Jewish Hospital Board, the Institute of Logopedics Board and the Crime Commission. “I’m a low key patron of charities and I prefer organizations dedicated to children and their future,” says Vickers.

 Ever Upward co-chairmen, Molly Ross and Bill Lane, are joined on the gala coordinating committee by: Anne Barrett, Deb Braun, Gary Corbett, Maggie Eichenlaub, Joan Gabrielson, Judy Girardot, Bill Graveley, Kathy Graveley, Bill Gregory, Lisa Houston, Hal Hultquist, Dick Jones, Andrea Kellough, Carol Kingery, John Kivimaki, Abbie Kozik, Jackie Lane, Taneshia Nettingham, Anne Prather, Matt Rivera, Arlene Wayland and Vivian Zlobec.
Corporate sponsors of Ever Upward include Comcast, Denver Nuggets- Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Wells Fargo Bank, Wagner Investments, Inc., Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, U. S. Bank, Hillyard Floor Care, Trugreen Land Care and Piper Jaffray.

For ticket information please call Excelsior, 303-693-1550 x 226.

Photo: Rhonda and Tommy Vickers, Honorary Chair Persons

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