News Release
January 18, 2006
Denver Public Schools Foundation Announces New President/CEO
The Denver Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce Barbara Berv as the Foundation's new president and CEO.
Ms. Berv joins the DPS Foundation after serving four years as Senior Philanthropic Planner for The Denver Foundation. Prior to that, she worked 20 years in the non-profit sector in Denver, including top development and fundraising positions at Young Americans Education Foundation, Young Americans Bank, and Special Olympics of Colorado. Before joining the non-profit sector, she was a marketing manager with U.S. West.
"Barbara encompasses everything we were hoping to find in a candidate. She has experience in the non-profit and private sectors and has a strong background in executive leadership, fundraising, and strategic planning," said Board Chairman Bruce Benson. "We are confident that she has the skills to effectively lead the DPS Foundation as it supports the vital work of the Denver Public Schools."
"A key component of the Denver Plan is community involvement and we are pleased to have her on the team," adds Michael Bennet, DPS Superintendent.
A Denver native, Ms. Berv graduated from Denver Public Schools and parented three DPS graduates. Through the years, she has volunteered and held office with the Parent Teacher Associations at Carson Elementary School, Hill Middle School, Manual High School and East High School. She received her teaching certification at Colorado State University and student taught at Hill Middle School. Although she did not ultimately pursue a teaching career, she is passionate about public education and believes that her children received great benefits while at DPS, both in academic excellence and in being among such a richly diverse student population.
"The Denver Foundation's loss is the DPS Foundation's gain. Barbara Berv is an extraordinary fundraiser and she is extremely committed to public education. I am delighted that she will continue to use her many skills for the betterment of our community," said David Miller, president and CEO of The Denver Foundation.
Barbara is a current board member with the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance and previously served on the board of Rotary Club of Denver.
About the DPS Foundation
The DPS Foundation serves as the primary 'portal of philanthropy' for the district and raises funds in the relentless pursuit of student achievement. Whether it's supporting after-school programs, principal leadership training, meeting the unique needs of individual schools, or connecting businesses with schools and programs, the Foundation strives to build successful partnerships between the donor community and the district. Our collective goal is to make DPS the leading big city school district in the country.
For more information, contact Kirstin Gerety, DPS Foundation, at 720-423-3877 or kgerety@dpsfoundation.org.