Denver Public Schools and the State Historical Fund will host a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at Dora Moore K-8 School, 846 Corona St., from 2-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at the community plaza in front of the main entrance on the north side of the building (facing 9th Ave.). The ceremony will be followed by refreshments and guided tours from 3 to 4 p.m.

At 2 p.m. T. Jason Martinez, principal, will give welcoming remarks followed by recognition from public officials including: Jerry Wartgrow, superintendent of Denver Public Schools; Mark Wolfe, director of the State Historical Fund; Barbara Pahl, regional director for the Mountains/Plains Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper. The ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will happen at 3 p.m., and refreshments and interpretive tours of the historic preservation project at Dora Moore School will last until 4 p.m.

The event will mark the completion of an extensive historic preservation project at Dora Moore School and honor the partnerships that made this project possible. The collaborative stewardship efforts at Dora Moore also represent an important national initiative to improve the quality and diversity of urban communities by saving historic neighborhood schools.

The State Historical Fund (SHF) is the outcome of a 1990 citizen initiative legalizing limited-stakes gaming in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek, with the stipulation that 28 percent of these tax revenues would be used to protect Colorado’s heritage. In 1993 - under the administration of the Colorado Historical Society - SHF began awarding grants to public and non-profit organizations statewide for the purpose of preserving and interpreting Colorado’s historic architectural and archaeological resources.

Types of projects funded include preservation of schools, theaters, agricultural sites, main street and urban redevelopment initiatives, educational programs, interpretation of historic byways and archaeological analysis. To date, the State Historical Fund has awarded over $120 million in public funds to more than 2,300 projects. The State Historical Fund contributions have directly benefited the economies of communities throughout Colorado by leveraging additional private funds, creating jobs, stimulating various industries and providing tax revenues. For more information, please call 303-866-2825 or visit the web site at www.coloradohistory-oahp.org.

Press kits will be available at the event. For all press inquiries, including scheduling interviews, please call Jennifer Cook at 303-866-2049.