Centus Schools Annual Luncheon

We are grateful to all the attendees (175 strong!) at our Annual Luncheon held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Temple Emanuel in Denver.

We are especially grateful to all those who joined us as Sponsors, Contributors and Champions for hopeful and healthy living today!

The mental health crisis affecting the well-being of students and faculty in Colorado schools, both public and private, is widely acknowledged. Susan’s School Counseling Program at Centus provides effective one-on-one counseling to students enrolled in nine local private and public schools in Denver. We address the mental health needs of their families, caregivers and faculty, reaching over 2,500 individuals annually.

We hope that you will consider joining us for this important event in the future. Your attendance and support will help us continue to provide vital mental health counseling services to students in our community.

 

We are grateful to Susan’s School Counseling Program and Event Sponsors

The Anschutz Foundation – for major underwriting of the School Counseling 

and Post-Graduate Residency Programs

Caring For Denver – for major underwriting of the School Counseling Program

Colorado Access – for the Post-Graduate Residency Program

The Corrigan/Rice Educational Fund at The Denver Foundation – for the School Counseling Program

MDC/Richmond Homes Foundation – for the School Counseling Program

Judith Shine – for the School Counseling Program

UMB Charitable Foundation – for the School Counseling Program

The Virginia Hill Foundation – for the School Counseling Program

The Shamos Family Foundation and HRP Foundation – for the School Counseling Program

Luncheon Sponsors

Lead Sponsors  

Sharon Martin

Susan and Jeremy Shamos

An Anonymous Donor

Event Sponsors

Judy and Jack Pottle

Empowerment Sponsors

Marsha Breit

CAPTRUST

Joy Dinsdale

Elisabeth and Peter Jacobson

Hope Sponsors

Alpine Bank

Honey and Chuck Goldberg

Gregory Movesian and Jack Finlaw

Suellen and Travis White

Community Partners

Kelly Arora

Paul Bretz and Brad Hoffner

Karen Brody and Michael Hughes

Suzanne and Mark Killmer

Leslie Sidell

Holly and Ramsay Stabler

With a special thank you to Opera Colorado, Gregory Carpenter and the Artists in Residence.

Susan's School Counseling Donors - 2023-24

$10,000 or more

Anonymous
Sharon Martin
Susan & Jeremy Shamos
Kemper, Mariner

$5,000 or more

Judy Pottle
Ann Corrigan & Kent Rice
Joy Dinsdale
Lyndia & CY Harvey

$2,500 or more

Elisabeth Jacobson
Marsha Breit
Judy Shine
Alpine Bank
Honey and Chuck Goldberg
Gregory Movesian
Suellen and Travis White

$1,000 or more

Kelly Arora Board President
Paul Bretz & Brad Hoffner
Mike Hughes
Captrust
Suzanne & Mark Killmer
Karen Landsdowne
Holly McDonald
Leslie Sidell
Nancy

$500 or more

Kathy Hulse
Penny and Dennis Troutman
Dawn Crosswhite
Louise Westfall
Kathryn Ballinger
Kirsten and Eric Barnard
Tracey Campbell
Liane Clasen
Nadine Cochran
Hope S. Connors
Elizabeth Denham Thompson
Robert Edwards
Katherine Flahive
GrahamGolden Technologies
Emily Haller
Iliff School of Theology
Mountain Sky UMC Conference
Presbytery of Denver
Geoffrey Shamos
Ramsay and Holly Stabler
Julie Stagg Harrington
University Park United Methodist Church
Christine White
Keiko Yoneyama-Sims

$250 or more

Kathryn Ballinger
Tracy Chapman
Liane & Bob Clasen
Hope Connors
Robert & Anthony Colarelli
Geoffrey Shamos
Ramsay & Holly Stabler
Mariella Robledo
Vicki Sterling
Patti Marks
Craig May
Peggy Brannick
Jane & Tim Davis
Elizabeth Caswell Dyer
Chip Horne & Jan Kennaugh
Kathy Hulse
Larry Kueter & Rebecca Richardson
Dottie Lamm
Maeve McGrath
Jessica and Jeffrey Pearson
Marcia Robinson
RJ Ross
Kim Stone
Penny Troutman
Jan White

up to $249

Steve Volin
Carol Abramovitz
Tricia Campbell
Ms. Carolyn Craig
Susan Madden
Susan Madison
Barb & Charlie McKay
Kristy Meyer
Natalie Mohan
Brittany Schweer Rogers
Sally Shafroth
Irit Waldbaum
Julie Asplund
Elizabeth Schlosser
Krista Boscoe
Dina Bleeker
Izzy Breit
Becky Cunningham
Lisa Engbar
Leslie Hasche
Kim Johnson
Walter & Carolyn McCoy
Jay Mead & Carol Svendson
Nan Oudet
Mary and Tom Rogers
Sheila & Gerard Rudofsky
Karen Salvatore
Carol Whitley
Laurie Pechie
Haidi Demain
Kirsten Barnard
Ms. Helen Boyd
Adriana Murphy
Sam Walsh
Donna & Howard Lutz
Ryan Oravetz

About Centus Counseling

Founded in 2010, the Centus School Counseling Program places experienced counselors & social workers in schools that otherwise would not have access to high-quality mental health services for students.

Our program promotes student development & achievement, while also equipping parents & teachers with knowledge and skills that help students thrive both in and out of the classroom.

After 11 years of creating and operating this program, our Program Founder, Dr. Susan Shamos passed the torch to a new generation. In honor of her the name of the program was changed to “Susan’s School Counseling: A Centus Program.”

The Centus School Counseling Program is focused on preparing young people to live vital, healthy lives! It is an extension of Centus Counseling, Consulting & Education – a Denver-based, non-profit that provides top-tier mental health & wellness services.

Centus Counseling provides the following services:

  • In-school counseling for individual students
  • In-school counseling for groups of students
  • Workshops & presentations for parents
  • Workshops & presentations for school staff 

Watch this video & learn about how Centus Counseling has helped children blossom.

Learn more about our Director Emeritus, Dr. Susan Shamos, and her vision for Susan’s School Counseling: A Centus Program

Our Schools

The Centus School Counseling program currently serves nine Denver schools. Each school provides exceptional education to high-need students but does not have the resources to provide counseling and supportive services without Centus engagement, despite a growing need. Students, teachers & parents regularly work with a dedicated school counselor and child psychologist to uncover & address developmental and learning challenges, family disruption, discipline issues, and more.

Escuela de Guadalupe Elementary

660 Julian St. Denver, CO 80204

A dual-language K-8 school, Escuela teaches classes in both Spanish & English. Students are predominantly Latino, with 57% of students qualifying for free or reduced price lunch and 95% receiving some form of scholarship assistance. More than half of the students enter as native Spanish speakers. Despite the stress of poverty & language, barriers, more than 90% of the school’s alumni have graduated from high school or are on track to do so.

St. Elizabeth’s School

2350 N. Gaylord St. Denver, CO 80205

An intentionally inclusive K-8 Episcopal school, St. Elizabeth’s offers a sliding scale tuition system to make world-class education accessible to any child. Forty percent of St. Elizabeth’s students are from very low income families, and an additional forty percent are from lower-middle-income families.

Rocky Mountain Prep, Creekside Campus

7808 Cherry Creek Drive South, # 3-300, Denver, CO 80231

Rocky Mountain Prep is a Denver Public School Charter network, with elementary schools that serve low-income families and which emphasize academic achievement. Creekside is the network’s flagship school, and it serves more than 600 students (pre-K through 5th grade). The students are predominately African-American and Hispanic, and come from low-income families. More than 50% are learning English as a second language. Centus Counseling is proud to provide supplemental mental health services that help generate the best possible outcomes for these students.

Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment

1151 Newport St., Denver, CO 80220

Montclair is an ECE to grade 5 Innovation School in east Denver. Its education program is based on personalized learning practices with a strong emphasis on math, literacy, art music and tech. Part of Denver Public Schools, Montclair enrolls 400 students, 80% of which are minority and 75% are from lower income families. Montclair is a member of the Northeast Innovation Zone which consists of six innovation schools, grades ECE-12, that are governed by a nonprofit board, not district administrators.

Rocky Mountain Prep – Green Valley Ranch

4800 Telluride St, Denver, CO 80249

At Rocky Mountain Prep Green Valley Ranch, we believe that students and families are partners in learning. We nurture independent thinkers and empathetic problem-solvers through our focus on academic rigor and love. Every child at RMP Green Valley Ranch can acquire the skill, knowledge, and understanding of themselves to lead a choice-filled life.

Manual High School

1700 E 28th Ave, Denver, CO 80205

Manual High School empowers students to step into their greatness and take their place in the world. The high school joined us as a school partner in 2022.

Newlon Elementary School

361 Vrain St, Denver CO 80219

Newlon is a dual-language elementary school nestled in the West Barnum neighborhood of Denver, serving students from ECE through 5th grade. The school has a long history in this community, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2020. Many of the students are second language learners and Newlon is committed to supporting their English acquisition with focused instruction that includes language development on a daily basis. Newlon has a broad team of supportive staff members with whom Centus is privileged to engage to add to the vital resources used to address the social/emotional, academic, and mental health needs of the student population served.

Denver Jewish Day School

2450 S. Wabash St. Denver, CO 80231

The Denver Jewish Day School (DJDS) has been educating the area’s Jewish youth since 1975. DJDS is an independent, Jewish community day school with approximately 335 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. DJDS is committed to educating the whole Jewish child, inspiring them to grow intellectually, socially, spiritually, and ethically in a student-centered, challenging, and nurturing environment. DJDS’s pluralistic Jewish community day school prepares and inspires Jewish students through an extraordinary secular and Judaic education to live purposefully, act ethically, and thrive in the world. The Devri Chaim is woven into the curriculum, which includes purpose, kindness, community, integrity, and curiosity. Centus Counseling is proud to provide supplemental mental health services to help support the holistic development and support of DJDS students and faculty.

Rocky Mountain Prep, Fletcher Campus, Aurora

10455 East 25th Avenue Aurora, CO 80010

Rocky Mountain Prep Fletcher is a neighborhood charter school in Northwest Aurora serving PreK-5th Grade students. RMP Fletcher, believes that school is more than just a place for your child to learn academics. Through a rigorous education and a loving environment, the staff work to support Fletcher students in growing academically, blossoming socially and emotionally, exploring different interests (such as art, science, music, dance, and PE), and building life-long skills.

Manual Middle School

1700 E 28th Ave, Denver, CO 80205

At Manual Middle School, students are prepared for success in high school and beyond through high-quality instruction, an intentional focus on emotional intelligence and wellness, and opportunities to learn beyond the traditional classroom through the arts, languages, and expeditionary learning.

Rocky Mountain Prep – Ruby Hill

2626 W. Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80219

At Rocky Mountain Prep Ruby Hill, we love to learn! Students enjoy reading, math, and science with exciting, high-quality curriculum and the best teachers in Denver. We’re also home to a free, high-quality after school program that provides additional enrichment opportunities to our students. Our loving, knowledgeable and supportive team helps kids reach their academic goals while providing a safe place to explore and grow.

Rocky Mountain Prep – Southwest

911 S. Hazel Ct Denver, CO 80219

Rocky Mountain Prep Southwest is a community school in the Westwood neighborhood serving students from Pre-K3 through 5th grade. We are founded on four key values and our students, staff, and families exemplify those values every day. We believe every child is a lifelong learner and elementary school is the foundation of that journey through rigor and love.

Rocky Mountain Prep – Noel

5290 Kittredge St Denver, CO 80239

Rocky Mountain Prep Noel is a small neighborhood school that offers a rigorous and loving education for all students. We do this by living the PEAK values every single day. At RMP Noel we offer a top rated curriculum for all students and a variety of extra curricular activities to ensure that every student has access to what they need to be successful.

Meet The Counseling Team

Denver Mental Health Counselors Assist Traumatized Children Evacuated from Israel

Denver Mental Health Counselors

Susan’s School Counseling is providing crisis counseling at the Denver Jewish Day School (DJDS) to help seventeen children as young as four years old who have been evacuated to Denver from Israel because of the war with Hamas. They are being cared for by mental health counselors Centus provides to school partners like DJDS to help students experiencing stress and trauma. Centus is assisting students at DJDS by sharing in supporting the newly arrived students, and the faculty, staff and parents who have stepped up to care for the newcomers. 

In response to the needs at DJDS, Centus has increased its staff from two to three counselors who provide 56 hours of counseling per week to help students cope with both direct and indirect trauma resulting from the war. Three other schools have made requests for additional counseling support for students because of generally increased levels of stress and behavioral issues resulting largely from the pandemic and post-pandemic traumas. Timely care and counseling can help alleviate trauma and emotional challenges, and significantly impact a young person’s life trajectory. 

Staff and increased hours have been added to Denver Public Schools’ Rocky Mountain Prep – Creekside and Manual High School (MHS), and the RMP – Fletcher campus in Aurora. Students at these schools are from families who speak more than 20 primary languages other than English. 

Centus welcomes financial help to support these students during this crisis. The mission of Centus for all ages remains the promotion of hope, healing and vital living! 

Donors may note their gift is for Centus counseling at Denver Jewish Day School, or for school counseling program expansion. 

Centus is asking people from all spiritual paths to pray for peace in our world and in the lives of these precious young people and their families.

Our Testimonials

null

On Our Administration

null

On Our Teachers

null

From Our Parents

null

From Our Students

Our Key Community Sponsors and Donors

We are grateful to these Sponsors and Donors who supported Susan’s School Counseling Program in Fiscal Year 2022-2023 through program grants and the annual School Counseling Luncheon.  Please refer to the Honor Roll on the Centus website at www.centus.org for a complete list of donors to this and all other programs.

Program Grants

$60,000

The Shamos Family Foundation

$40,000

The Anschutz Foundation: for the Post-Graduate Residency Program providing School Counselors

$12,500

The Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation

$10,000

MDC Richmond American Homes Foundation

The Virginia W. Hill Foundation

UMB Charitable Foundation

 

School Counseling Luncheon Sponsors

Lead Sponsors

Sharon and Lanny Martin

Jeremy and Susan Shamos/The HRP Foundation

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation

An Anonymous Donor

Event Sponsors

Judy and Jack Pottle

Empowerment Sponsors

Ann Corrigan and Kent Rice/ The Denver Foundation Corrigan Fund

Hope Sponsors 

Marsha Breit

Joy Dinsdale and Merrill Shields

Elisabeth and Peter Jacobson

Gregory Movesian and Jack Finlaw

Geoffrey Shamos and Genery Booster

Suellen and Travis White

Sara and Kaakpema “KP” Yelpaala

Community Partners

Kelly Arora, Ph.D.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Bretz and Brad Hoffner

UMB

Contact Centus Counseling

7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80111

303-639-5240

Send message