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The Chambers Center offers educational and leadership development opportunities, makes grants to improve women’s economic self-sufficiency, facilitates networking and encourages philanthropy. The Merle Catherine Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women houses distinct organizations dedicated to the education and advancement of women and girls. The organizations in this new campus-based women’s center offer educational and leadership development opportunities, make grants to improve women’s economic self-sufficiency, facilitate networking and encourage philanthropy. This center houses The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and the Women’s College of the University of Denver. The Women’s Foundation of Colorado promotes the full participation of women and girls in society through direct grants and technical support to organizations working to improve the lives of Colorado's women and girls. The Foundation supports programs offering strategic solutions to increase economic self-sufficiency and activities with the potential to trigger systemic change. In addition, the Foundation conducts research and proactive initiatives to better understand the environment in which Colorado women live and to identify emerging problems as well as accomplishments. Since 1987, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado has invested more than $7.5 million to support the economic progress of women and girls state-wide. The D.U. Women’s College perpetuates the rich legacy of women’s education begun by the Colorado Women’s College. Through a weekend-only format, nearly 900 women who may not have had access to a college education have graduated from the Women’s College since 1982. Over half of these graduates have been the first women in their families to earn a college degree. Over one-third of the Women’s College student body is women of color. Together at the Chambers Center, each organization continues its individual efforts while mobilizing to promote a society where the talents and skills of all women are valued, developed and utilized. Merle Chambers believed in the vision behind the Chambers Center from the beginning and Chambers Family Fund made a commitment to its creation by contributing $3 million to the Chambers Center. This lead gift helped realize the vision of a permanent home for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, as well as classrooms for the Women’s College. The $9 million, three-story, 32,000 square-foot building incorporates classical architectural elements with traditional materials. In their new home, women’s groups will meet and hold small conferences and grantees of the Women’s Foundation will come together to learn and share information. This new Center is an investment in the future of women and families, as a place to educate adult working women and a permanent home for a foundation making grants to improve the lives of women and girls in our state. |
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