Access Opportunity was founded in 2014 by Yuri Shane and Susie Hayes. Growing up, Yuri and Susie both had experiences that showed them the importance of college and career preparation for young people with limited financial resources. Their goal was to help students gain the skills, education, experiences, and network necessary to launch themselves into impactful careers. By giving to Access Opportunity, you are part of a community dedicated to supporting our students so they can achieve their goals and make an impact on the world around them.
Your support will provide the following opportunities for our students: one-on-one advising year-round, scholarships, family engagement, test prep tutoring, connections to internships and career counseling. Throughout their six-year journey students will annually participate in our summer workshop which is two-day conference in Denver and three-day overnight at a retreat center in the foothills; the annual winter workshop planned by student participants; and quarterly cohort meetings.
We have three core values that guide the work we do:
"The biggest impact of being in Access Opportunity was having a group of people that believed in me, constantly cheered me on, and always showed me the power of a college education."
- Gaby, AO Class of 2024
"I appreciate the support I received from my sophomore year of high school through the end of my college career. This continuous support is remarkable because not many organizations stay with you until the very end."
- Marisol, Class of 2024
"It wasn’t until I learned about Access Opportunity that I understood that higher education was the next step I wanted in my life. [When I was accepted to the program,] it felt like the doors to my future had opened up, and a clear path to college had been set."
- Manny, Alumni, Class of 2023
On participating in the Summer Workshop:
"I liked being able to connect with my peers throughout the day in different activities and settings. I also liked being able to begin the college process with mentorship and guidance."
- Anonymous survey
"I liked being able to connect with my peers throughout the day in different activities and settings. I also liked being able to begin the college process with mentorship and guidance."
- Anonymous survey
Access Opportunity's mission is to create opportunities for high-potential students from low-income households to define their individual path through high school, college, and career, ultimately benefiting the lives of others.
Access Opportunity was founded in 2014 as a college and career prep program for low-income high school and college students with the ultimate goal of helping these students launch impactful careers.
The program is a 501(c)(3) public charity that is both high-touch and long-term, in order to address longstanding issues in public education for students with limited resources. Only 1 in 3 low-income students will enroll in college and, once there, only 1 in 10 of those who enroll will graduate by age 25. But we realize it is not enough to address issues of college matriculation and graduation. It is of equal and vital importance to our students, their families and communities, and to our larger Colorado community to provide talented students the opportunity to launch their professional careers ready to lead our next generation's workforce.
Organization name
Access Opportunity
other names
AO
2014
Tax id (EIN)
46-5399558
Category
Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
4845 Pearl East Circle Suite 101Boulder County, CO, US
Denver, CO, US
Jefferson County, CO, US
Adams County, CO, US