Roadrunners Rise Campaign Events

MSU Denver Day of Giving 2025 Highlight Video

Day of Giving Impact

More than 1,920 members of our Roadrunner family came together on March 20 to raise an incredible, record-breaking $403,689 for students and programs at Metropolitan State University of Denver. We can’t thank them enough for their generosity and passion for uplifting the University community. Day of Giving is over, but the show goes on! Our students are hardworking and resilient, but many need your support to reach the bonus round and achieve their goal of earning a degree.

Caring For Denver

A grant to help strengthen mental-health workforce

Over 57% of Coloradans surveyed cited difficulty in getting an appointment as the primary reason for not getting needed counseling. That’s what Metropolitan State University of Denver plans to address, thanks to a two-year, $800,000 grant from Caring for Denver. The Building Denver’s Mental Health Workforce program, which launched this semester, provides $15,000 stipends to Social Work and Addictions Counseling graduate students on the condition that they commit to working in mental and behavioral health in Denver for a full year postgraduation.

Students celebrating at the Caring for Denver Gift Announcement Event.

FHLBank Topeka event on Feburary 14, 2025 in Cavea at JSSB. Photo by Alyson McClaran

FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute

Seven-figure gift opens doors for students, employers looking to address affordable-housing shortage

MSU Denver’s new Affordable Housing Institute began taking shape last August, thanks to early funding from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and a seven-figure gift — the largest in the history of MSU Denver’s College of Business — from FHLBank of Topeka. The investment is a first for the bank. Although the Kansas-based, member-owned institution has given $250 million in support of affordable housing, it traditionally funds brick-and-mortar building projects.

Frank and Gina Day

Record-setting pledge establishes Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at MSU Denver

Gina and Frank Day have pledged $10 million to Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Health Institute, which is expanding to address the state’s critical shortage of health care workers. The largest philanthropic gift in the University’s history will help train students in a wide range of in-demand fields, including nursing, nutrition, behavioral health, speech-language pathology and social work.

Gina and Frank Day pledge $10 million to what will be known as the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at MSU Denver.

Carrie Morgridge, co-founder of the Morgridge Family Foundation, speaks during an event announcing the foundation's financial support for MSU Denver's Classroom to Career Hub.

Morgridge Family Foundation

More MSU Denver students will gain career-readiness training thanks to recent gift

Carrie Morgridge, co-founder of the Morgridge Family Foundation with her husband, John, said that they appreciate the University’s ethos of making career-focused higher education accessible to anyone interested in earning a degree, regardless of location. “If you can’t get to MSU Denver, we’re going to come to you,” she said.

Colorado Access and Colorado Access Foundation

MSU Denver receives $1.4 million gift to grow and diversify Colorado’s struggling health care workforce

“I’m first-generation Korean-American, and I first started dealing with the health care system as a kid trying to help my parents navigate the system,” said Annie Lee, president and CFO of Colorado Access. “With a more representative and diverse workforce, you would have better health outcomes and, hopefully, kids and youth would not be put in that position.”

Annie Lee, president and CEO of Colorado Access and chair of the Colorado Access Foundation board of directors, understands firsthand the need for a health care workforce that reflects and represents its patient population

The groundbreaking ceremony for MSU Denver's Health Institute Simulation and Skills Lab on Sept. 26, 2023 outside of West Classroom. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Dawn Bookhard, J.D.

Attorney and activist Dawn Bookhardt, J.D., is dedicated to helping MSU Denver educate a diverse health care workforce in the fields of speech, language and hearing.

“I want to change the dynamics of speech, hearing and language education and careers — for people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to know they can be part of it,” said Bookhardt, a longtime MSU Denver supporter. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”

Ferd and Christy Belz

Gift from longtime supporters Ferd and Christy Belz will support wraparound services that pave pathways to graduation.

“Education is a core value we invest in as a family,” said Christy, “I see the passion students have for the University. The professors are unbelievable, and the staff is remarkable. We’re very, very honored to give this gift and make a difference for these students.”

Ferd and Christy Belz are recognized for their transformational gift to the Roadrunners Rise campaign in support of student success.

Mariner Kemper, president and CEO of UMB Financial Corporation, and his wife Megan, at the Jan. 19 event announcing the gift in the Cavea.

Kemper Family and UMB Foundation

New investments from the Kemper family and UMB Financial Corp. address a critical shortage of health care workers.

“Megan and I believe in higher education — it’s the key to changing lives,” Mariner Kemper said. “We are excited to invest in MSU Denver because it not only offers an accessible education; it offers a high-quality educational experience. MSU Denver is so important because it focuses on serving Colorado students who will likely stay in our state and serve our community.”

Rob and Molly Cohen

Expansion of the Cohen Pacesetters program makes college dream possible for more students.

“Molly and I learned early in our lives that if you’re blessed and you’re given gifts, then what really makes this world a special place is when you pay it forward, and when you give back to others,” said Rob Cohen. 

Rob and Molly Cohen were joined by their children, past and present scholarship recipients, faculty, MSU Denver trustee members and Dr. Janine Davidson at the Cohen Center for Athletics to celebrate their donation to the university. Photo by Sara Hertwig