Latest News at The Challenge Foundation

To enroll economically disadvantaged children in an intensive seven-year program of academic preparation and character building.  The goal of the Challenge Foundation is to ensure graduation from a private, college prep high school and admission to college.

In the mid-1990’s, Don McFall, a successful Colorado businessman, gathered together a group of like-minded citizens to create a unique program to provide at-risk youth with a bona fide chance of escaping their impoverished environment. Incorporating in Colorado as the non-profit Challenge Foundation, Inc., the organization established the ultimate objective of helping inner city youth reach their full potential while growing into active, contributing adults in our community.

What sets the Challenge Foundation apart from other programs is the long-term, holistic approach that provides a positive, supportive and constructive environment, both inside the classroom and outside the school.

 

Five components contribute to the holistic method that distinguishes this program from others:

Early intervention

The Challenge Foundation accepts students the summer before 6th grade and commits to them for seven years, through the senior year of high school.

Scholarships to private, college preparatory schools

A major objective is to provide access to private, college preparatory schools where academic success is an expectation and close to 100% of the students graduate and enter college.

Summer program

Students enter a new world of academic challenges and cultural enrichment in a summer program that gives them a competitive edge by building knowledge, study skills and social experiences.

Tutoring

Children benefit from one-on-one tutoring which supports academic success. This is a valuable learning resource not usually available to economically disadvantaged children.

Mentoring

On-going, individual mentors partner with the student’s family and the Challenge Foundation to encourage success and provide support. The mentors are excellent role models who place an emphasis on academic performance and personal development.

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The “Whole Child”

The philosophy is based upon the belief that a child’s environment plays a critical role in determining academic success.  Because of the complexity of the obstacles faced by these young people, the approach is to educate the whole child, not only academically, but to provide experiences that reveal a world of opportunity.  Touring a university, cultural and athletic events, horseback riding, discovery scuba class, whitewater rafting, ropes course adventures– such experiences broaden their perspectives, giving them confidence and a concrete understanding of what they are striving to achieve.

Whether a student needs braces or glasses, a family is in crisis, or an emotional scar is uncovered that needs the attention of a professional – the Challenge Foundation provides the help that is needed.  Student-participants in the Challenge Foundation come to understand and trust that the organization and its volunteers truly care about them.  Those familiar with the principles of child development know that such trust produces self-esteem and self-esteem leads to performance.

The Challenge Foundation has made quite an impression upon the educational community.  While objectives may be altruistic and aggressive, the approach is extremely practical.  Professional educators understand the blending of the science of education with heavy doses of human compassion.  The main ingredient here is caring. 

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Monitoring and Evaluating Success

The Challenge Foundation staff monitors each child’s performance by meeting personally with teachers and advisors, participating in parent-teacher conferences, reviewing grades and communicating in detail with tutors, mentors, counselors and family members.  The support team, made up of these individuals, makes certain the necessary tools are in place to help the students and to ensure their accountability.

Students are given the Gates MacGinitie reading comprehension and vocabulary tests annually, which allows us to track students’ progress over time.  The Terra Nova math test is administered annually at the beginning and end of the summer program to gauge development.  Both of these tests are part of a comprehensive evaluation written on each individual student at the culmination of the summer program with input from the director, teachers and interns.  This evaluation examines the following areas:  reading, writing, math, personal character and motivation.  Each evaluation gives specific recommendations to help each student (i.e. areas on which to focus tutoring, suggestions on how future teachers can assist the student, request for parents to provide a quiet place to study.)  Through this we build profiles of strengths, weaknesses and needs specific to each student, which enables us to better assist them on their journey.

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