MacKenzie Scott’s $20 million donation to Mile United Way in December 2020 became the largest single gift in the charity’s 138‑year history, allowing the organisation to channel funds into urgent relief for families weakened by the COVID‑19 crisis.
Over the next five years the money seeded four early‑childhood centres—Warren Village’s Alameda Campus, Family Tree’s GOALS, Mercy Housing’s The Rose on Colfax, and the Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center—providing 264 affordable slots that serve up to 264 children in Denver and Aurora.
The grant also financed the purchase of a 22‑unit apartment building in Uptown. Mile United Way completed renovations in 2025, converting basement space into offices for community partners and offering 245‑sq‑ft efficiency apartments at below‑market rates to residents transitioning from child welfare.
Each centre partners with Mile United Way’s 211 service, letting parents connect with housing, food, and mental‑health resources during a single visit. The organisation says this integrated model could be replicated in other districts.
Looking ahead, Mile United Way plans to monitor enrolment and housing usage through 2028, with a goal of expanding childcare capacity by 10% and maintaining affordable housing stock in the Uptown neighbourhood.