Letter from the Acting Executive Director

Dear mpowered Community,

2017 was a remarkable, unforgettable, and transformative year for mpowered. Most notably, we found ourselves without our Co-Founder and Executive Director of 16 years starting in June of 2017. It was hard to see Chad Gentry leave, and we were excited to see him pursue new opportunities and spend some good, quality time with his family after dedicating so much to the organization. We are eternally grateful for his contributions and, in line with our values, will Move Forward and Steady On toward mission achievement.

We will never forget 2017 as the year we saw our coaching team grow to meet the intense need in the Denver Metro community for financial security. Over 3,000 individuals and families came through our doors to engage in financial coaching, receive financial education, and take advantage of our Debt Management Program. Together these individuals reduced their debt by over $4 Million dollars, including mortgage debt. Non-mortgage debt alone was reduced by $1.7 million dollars, which means that for every dollar invested in mpowered in 2017, $1.70 was returned to the community. This number alone is impressive, and it represents just the beginning of the journey to financial security for the families we serve.

What we’re really excited about is what that debt reduction will mean in the coming years for those families. We know that when debt is reduced, so is financial stress, which is the #2 cause of stress nationwide according to the American Psychological Association. With reduced stress, we expect to see more intentional financial decision making leading to increased credit, savings, and ability to build assets in the form of home ownership. Given the Denver Metro Area’s struggle with affordable housing, we hope our 2017 results are the first rays of hope for these families. We have only just begun to see how financial coaching can transform our communities, and we are anxiously tracking, analyzing, and preparing to build on these successes in order to take the next step toward our vision of Financial Security for All. Thank you for your continued support, it is our network of partners, funders, donors, and clients that provide the necessary motivation, energy, and hope that keeps us moving!

Sincerely,

Benjamin Weeda
Acting Executive Director