Save the Date: DCIS Foundation Gala 2027

The DCIS Foundation Gala is our hallmark annual fundraising event, with a goal of raising $75,000 each year to support immersive student travel across Denver Public Schools.

🗓️ Saturday, April 24, 2027
⏱️ 5:30 p.m. Reception | 7:00 p.m. Program
📍 Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Center for Performing Arts

Past Events

Gala 2026: why we travel

Together, we raised $74,821 to help DPS students travel

Passport House Party 2025

The DCIS Foundation board is a curious and thoughtful group, always asking new questions about “why we travel.” That spirit inspired us to create PASSPORT HOUSE PARTY (Theme: How Wildlife Travel is an Excellent Educator) — a special event just for past donors who share our belief in the power of educational travel. Hosted in a welcoming Denver home, this intimate evening offers time to mingle, enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres, and connect through conversation in a relaxed setting.

The featured speaker for our first PASSPORT HOUSE PARTY is Sheridan Samano. A trailblazer in conservation-driven travel, creating life-changing opportunities for people to connect deeply with wildlife, wild places, and one another. She is the co-founder of Reefs to Rockies, a Colorado-based travel company celebrating its 20th anniversary. Sheridan has led immersive journeys across the globe — from the Great Plains to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego — and recently launched Her Wildlife Expeditions, empowering women through wildlife-focused adventures.

Sheridan has also worked with students, witnessing the transformative growth that comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone and experiencing life abroad. At the PASSPORT HOUSE PARTY, Sheridan will share powerful stories of how travel shapes lives — her own, and those of students and travelers who discovered new perspectives through nature and exploration.

GALA 2023: Celebrating Guatemala &
Central America

GALA 2021: World travel

RESULTS from our April 24, 2021 SPRING GALA event:

We raised $35,000 for student scholarships, teacher grants, and DCIS projects.

6 different languages were spoken during our presentation. 谢谢 Xièxiè! Grazie Mille!

We gave 4 prestigious awards to gracious thought-leaders. Congrats to them!

Volunteers delivered 84 MEALS+GIFT bags to donor homes. Phew!

Watch this: SPRING GALA 2021 Honorary Chairs Brady Efting (Former teacher and Gold Sponsor) and Gerardo Muñoz (Colorado 2021 Teacher of the Year) kicked off the event.

Educational travel changes lives. Watch this video to see our impact.

GALA 2025: Why We Travel.

In one unforgettable night, we raised $56,912 for Denver Public Schools (DPS) student educational travel — our highest Gala total yet. It’s a remarkable milestone that energizes our mission and propels us forward to reach even more deserving students.

If you attended our Gala, participated in our silent auction, donated, or volunteered in any way, thank you. It was a great evening celebrating, awarding scholarships, and hearing from our inspirational award winners.

A big shout-out to Rick Steves, who did a wonderful, heartfelt video for our event.

Dem holding award w Perri in bkground.jpg

Helen Thorpe in front of her name and screen.jpg

INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:

Front row, left to right: Fayette Sorce(East High School), Estrella Perez(East High School), and Jun Logue (south High School). Board member presenters left to right: Julia Spratt, Matt Weimer, and Bob Bresnahan

GALA 2024: Celebrating Japan

The Gala was a lovely evening filled with wonderful stories, awards, and the DCIS community.

Our program told the story from 1942 (Japanese internment camp in Granada, CO/Amache Internment Camp to the present Japanese American culture and their economic and cultural leadership in Denver. After a day of light snow and spring showers, an amazing crowd gathered for an evening of celebration and fundraising.

GALA 2022: Italy

DCIS Foundation Spring Gala 2022 was a lovely evening reconnecting with old friends, chatting on the terrace, eating family-style, playing games, having bidding wars, and watching the program and awards. DCIS Foundation raised $45,578 and once we take out expenses, we cleared $25,353 to help DCIS students to travel and participate in intercultural experiences. Thank you for helping us create amazing global citizens.