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I. Dollars For Scholars
II. Internship Program

I. Dollars For Scholars

     The concept underlying the "Dollars for Scholars" program of the Burt Foundation, as it presently exists, arose from a conversation in 1994, initiated by Mr. Dick Poole, then Manager of the Denver East Side Health Center to Burt Foundation President, Mr. Harry Arkin, and Board Member, Mr. John Baker.

     Mr. Poole described a problem at Cole Middle School, located at the edge of "Five Points," a socio/economically deprived area of Denver.  Mr. Poole and Mr. Tom Foster, a Cole area community activist, were attempting to find a method of providing incentives and rewards to students at Cole who earn outstanding grades, especially black students.  An example of the problem they described was that black/Afro-American students who made good grades were being taunted by their peers for "trying to be a whitey."  Cole was, at that time, also a magnet school for the arts and drew students from all areas of the city.  Due to court-ordered bussing, (ended as of the 1995-1996 school year), students in the initial years came to Cole from more affluent areas as well as from the local neighborhood.  The incentives and rewards were initially available to students both within and outside the group or class in which the problem, as originally described, continues to exist.  Cole is no longer a magnet school per se and thus the original objective of this program is non-exclusive.

     The problem and search for a solution were among matters reviewed at the Burt Foundation Board Meeting of December 1994.  At that meeting, (also attended by the Foundation's Fires High School interns, Glenda Correa and Jessica Ochoa, and Denver Chief of Police David Michaud), the problem was discussed.  Among concepts discussed and rejected, before settling on cash awards, were (a) gift certificates (rejected due to the problem of 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the primary geographic-problem area possibly being unable to conveniently find transportation to the store to exchange them for merchandise), and (b) checks (rejected because neither the target students nor their parent(s) may have bank accounts or be able to otherwise cash checks).  The Board arrived at the decision to make cash awards, as indicated on the chart below:

     The interns were especially helpful in making the final determination of the form of award to be given, as they both came from similar backgrounds as those of the primary targeted students.

     The cash awards were initially given out only to those students who carried and retained a straight "A" grade average.  Cash awards are now also given in each grading period to those students who, as reported by their teachers, have made the most improvement academically, regardless of their grade point average (e.g. from C to B), both in four subject areas, as well as overall most improved student.  These "most improved" awards are made within each grade level and/or separate programs.  Those cash awards are also accompanied by a book for the most improved generally, and in each subject area at the end of the semester.

     A legal opinion has been received form a leading non-profit counsel confirming that the "Dollars for Scholars" awards can be made by the Burt Foundation directly to students under this program.

     The "Dollars for Scholars" program was expanded to Morey Middle School in the 1995-1996 school year at the request of the Morey Principal, Mr. John Zarr, (previously the Assistant Principal at Cole).  As of the second semester of the 1997-1998 school year, the program has also been expanded to Baker Middle School.

     The awards are give out at assemblies (i.e. before their peers) of all the students to encourage others to earn better grades.  The awards were initially presented at the end of each six (6) week grading period by a Foundation Board member, and intern (who speaks to the students of the value of staying in school, from the perspective of someone close to the students' own age), and a representative of the Denver Police Department.  Participation of police officers is based on the philosophy that it is desirable to demonstrate that the police are there to encourage and reward good behavior, not only to represent punitive figures in our society.

     Starting with the 1996-1997 school year, the aforedescribed Foundation Awards Team will only be present at the first awards assembly each year and the end of semester award assemblies; those awards for the other six (6) week grading periods will be provided by the Foundation, but presented by the principals at similar assemblies.

     Teachers and principals at the schools previously involved in the program have been advised that the "Dollars for Scholars" program is providing both incentive and encouragement by its tangible awards.  While the Foundation is certain this program can be improved upon, it appears to be fulfilling a need and can be and should be expanded elsewhere, and perhaps, by other foundations, organizations, and individuals.

II. Internship Program

     It was perceived the information about the existence and activities of private charitable foundation was not readily available to the public generally, and that an introduction to such might fulfill a number of desirable ends, including encouraging future involvement in, if not future establishment of, similar entities by forthcoming generations.  It was also perceived that the involvement of students, especially at the high school age, might offer the Board of the Burt Foundation a different, if not better, perspective of other possible Foundation programs to carry out one of the goals expressed to me during their lifetimes by Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Burt, that some of the recipients of Foundation funds be directed towards the needs of young people.  A further perception was that such interns could provide the Board with valuable insights in the consideration of grant applications relating to Youth.  These concepts were approved by the Burt Foundation Board at its meeting of June 3, 1994.

     Initial efforts directly through the Denver Public Schools to enlist interns were unavailing.  Subsequently through the assistance of Ms. Margaret Fomer, Executive Director of Denver Kids, Inc., (a joint program of the The Rotary Club of Denver and the Denver Public Schools), our first two (2) interns were recruited.  Two young women, both seniors, one from North High School and one from West High School were brought to a luncheon meeting with Mr. Arkin at his office by a counselor from Denver Kids, Inc.

     Initially, the proposed interns were briefed on the nature, character, purpose and activities of private charitable foundations, how they are and can be created, and specifics relating to the foregoing as to the Burt Foundation.  The interns and their counselor were then invited to the next semi-annual meeting of the Burt Foundation Board where they were introduced to the Board and participate in both review of Grant application and the process of approval and rejection, (albeit without a vote).  These original interns also contributed, to a very substantial degree, in the formulation and design of a the "Dollars for Scholars" program initiated in 1994 by the Burt Foundation.  The "Dollars for Scholars" program provides tangible cash rewards to students who have earned high grades and improved their grades, especially at Denver inner-city middle schools.  The interns have subsequently participated in handing out such awards at school assemblies, and, at the same time, spoke, from the perspective of persons closer to their own age, to the students, encouraging them to stay in school and to improve their grades, in the interest of their own futures.

     In subsequent school years, three new interns have been recruited in the same manner as initially, except they were recruited from the junior or senior class years.  The same procedure of briefing, participation in two semi-annual Board meetings, and in the middle school "Dollars for Scholars" awards process has continued.

     Counselors at Denver Kids, Inc. have expressed the view that the internship program has not only been beneficial from and educational standpoint, but that it has encouraged the interns themselves to strive even harder to achieve higher educational goals and to participate in public service.

     While the Burt Foundation Board believes the program has achieved its initial goals, we are also certain that the intern concept can and should be improved upon and the concept should be recommended to other foundations, through the Colorado Association of Foundations.