2025 Run for Refugees - Denver Colfax Marathon/5K

Join us for our 2nd Annual 'Run for Refugees!' 

ACC is officially registered as a charity partner for the upcoming Denver Colfax Marathon on May 17-18th! 
 

How Does it Work?

To participate, please first visit runcolfax.org and sign up for your preferred race distance (5K, 10 Miler, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, or Marathon Relay). As you're registering, please select the African Community Center (ACC) as your charity partner. Once you've done this, someone from our team will be in touch with more information via email, including information on how to set up your own fundraising page (optional but encouraged!). All participants who donate or fundraise at least $50 for ACC will receive a "Run for Refugees" shirt to wear during the race! 

Why Run for Refugees? 

The number of forcibly displaced people around the world hit an all-time high in 2022- surpassing 100 million individuals for the first time in recorded history. Now, at the start of 2025, that number has increased to another record high of an estimated 123 million, as per the U.N. This global refugee crisis can be seen locally in Denver, where our organization has experienced record growth in the past several years, resettling higher numbers of families than ever before.

Running for Refugees is a powerful act of solidarity with newcomers who are rebuilding their lives in Denver as well as all of the displaced people around the world searching for a safe place to call home.

Why raise funds for ACC?

In FY2024, ACC welcomed more refugees and immigrants than we ever have before in a twelve-month period (and we've been doing this work for nearly 25 years!) Last year, we welcomed 1,357 individuals from all over the world- Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo & many other countries. ACC staff members walk alongside these individuals as they work to rebuild their lives in Denver. 

Your donation helps provide newcomers with access to essential services and address their immediate basic needs during their initial months in the U.S.  - helping pay a utilities bill, a grocery cart full of essential food items, or a bin filled with cleaning supplies.

Donation Impact Levels

$25 can provide essential hygiene items for a refugee family 

$50 can provide a cleaning kit for a newcomer’s apartment 

$100 can provide new sheets and pillows for a family 

$150 can provide a twin bed frame & mattress for a refugee child 

$250 can provide full cart of groceries including fresh fruits & vegetables 

$500 can provide partial rent payment to family struggling with medical concerns

Meet a Family!  

In the early 2000s, the Mukadi family of nine fled their home in the Democratic Republic of Congo to escape persecution. 

Their search for safety led them to Zambia, where they were welcomed and granted refugee status. For nearly 10+ years, they waited with hope and determination, dreaming of a brighter future. Finally, on July 10, 2023, their perseverance paid off, and they were granted authorization to resettle in the United States.

Upon arrival in Denver, the Mukadi family faced the challenge of starting over. Finding housing for a family of nine and securing jobs for six working-age adults was no small task, but the African Community Center rose to the occasion. ACC’s Housing Team tirelessly worked to find a home spacious enough for the family, while the Matching Grant Program assisted the adults in building job readiness skills and overcoming employment barriers. This program aims to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency within 240 days without relying on cash assistance. 

Within 180 days, the Mukadi family achieved economic self-sufficiency.  They also moved into a larger home, providing enough space for every family member.

But their story doesn’t end there. Each family member is pursuing their dreams. All the children are back in school, with one son (left with yellow shoes) set to graduate high school in 2025. One adult has plans to start nursing school in the fall of 2025, while the eldest son is actively exploring opportunities to fulfill his dream of becoming an airline pilot. Three others are preparing to return to school, driven by their aspirations for higher education, personal growth, and better opportunities. 

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“Coming to the United States was a dream we held for years. When we arrived, we had nothing but each other and hope in our hearts. ACC became our family, helping us find a home, jobs, and the courage to dream again. Today, we are self-sufficient, but more importantly, we are building a future we once thought impossible. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, you’ve not only changed our lives, but you’ve given us the chance to thrive.”

— Mukadi Family