FIRE Foundation of Denver Awards $780,000 in Grants to Expand Inclusive Catholic Education

Largest grant year to date brings total funding to nearly $2 million, blessing hundreds of students and families across the Archdiocese of Denver

(Photo provided)

With the joy and generosity befitting its mission, the FIRE Foundation of Denver recently announced the distribution of $780,000 in grants for the 2025–2026 school year — its largest award year to date. These funds will directly support 214 students with special needs across 22 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Denver, while positively impacting more than 4,600 classmates by cultivating inclusive, Christ-centered classrooms.

In just four years since its founding in 2021, FIRE Denver has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants and professional development funds, continuing its work to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, have access to a Catholic education grounded in dignity, community and faith.

“This unprecedented growth underscores our community's unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has access to a Catholic education,” said Kyle Van Frank, outgoing executive director of the FIRE Foundation of Denver. “The remarkable increase in both funding and participation reflects a collective dedication to more fully living out our Catholic faith. Colorado families with special education needs want the choice to send their kids to Catholic Schools and FIRE Denver helps make that a reality.”

A Mission Rooted in Catholic Teaching

The FIRE Foundation operates with a simple but profound conviction: every child is made in the image and likeness of God and is deserving of a Catholic education that nurtures both faith and intellect. By providing grants for professional development, special educators, paraprofessionals, technology and equipment, FIRE helps schools across the archdiocese build and sustain inclusive learning environments.

Currently, 22 of the archdiocese’s 31 Catholic schools are participating in the FIRE program, either as Partner Schools, which receive direct funding, or Spark Schools, which engage in professional development and mentorship to grow their own inclusive programs. The foundation works closely with the Archdiocese of Denver’s Office of Catholic Schools to ensure that these efforts meet the real and diverse needs of students, who experience a range of disabilities, from Autism and Down syndrome to physical challenges and sensory impairments.

“Inclusion is not merely a program; it’s a reflection of our Catholic values in action,” Van Frank added. “By supporting inclusive education, we are nurturing a culture of empathy, compassion and mutual respect that benefits all students.”

A Story of Transformation: Julian’s Journey

The effects of that culture are vividly seen in the story of Julian, a rising eighth grader at Annunciation Catholic School.

“Julian used to hate school,” his parents shared. “Thanks to the warm and loving community at Annunciation, Julian looks forward to going to school every morning. It is a blessing that he is able to participate in so much at school — from directing the choir on Mass days to playing sports like basketball, futsal and cross-country. Thanks to FIRE, Julian is finding academic success with the help of a para.”

In short, Julian’s parents said, the eighth grader “has truly found a home at Annunciation Catholic School.”

Stories like Julian’s show that inclusive education benefits not only the individual student but the entire school community. Inclusion teaches empathy, builds unity and reflects the Gospel values at the heart of Catholic education.

With its biggest grant year to date, the FIRE Foundation of Denver continues to enkindle a culture of belonging — now seeing the nearly 2 million examples of the impact of inclusion on communities across Northern Colorado.

+++

Want to support the FIRE Foundation of Denver? Join us at this year's annual BonFIRE Gala! An evening ablaze with purpose, this event promotes FIRE Denver's mission to ensure all Catholic school students with disabilities are welcomed, supported, and valued. Learn more here.