Denver City Wire

The Denver Public Schools this week announced it had received a $100,000 donation from the Denver Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2461.

A check was presented during a Dec. 16 press conference, and the district offered thanks in a social media post this week.

“Many thanks to the Denver Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2461 for this fantastic $100,000 #donation to our #JROTC program,” DPS said in a tweet. “These funds will continue to help our students explore their passions and expose them to new experiences.”

During the press conference, which was streamed on YouTube, VFW Post 2461 Commander Matthew Dixon-Moran pointed out that the post sold its building and decided to donate the money to various organizations before it turns over its charter to the state of Colorado.

“We sold our facility that used to be located at 1350 S Broadway here in Denver back in 2018 or 2019, I believe, and we decided to distribute and donate most of our funds to organizations such as yours before we officially turn in our VFW charter to the state of Colorado so we've chosen the Denver JRTC as it was recommended by one of our post members,” he said.

Dixon-Moran presented a check for $100,000 on behalf of VFW Post 2461 to the organization.

"A donation like $100,000 gives us the ability to expose students in DPS to things that they might not otherwise get, so I can't state how far $100,000 goes to also expose kids to things that they wouldn't otherwise have as a part of their education,” Lt. Col. Kevin Black, program manager, Military Instruction/ Military & ROTC at Denver Public Schools.

Black also noted that the drill and marksman awards will be renamed in honor of the VFW.

DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero offered his thanks to the VFW for the donation.

“We know that our students will benefit greatly he said,’ before giving the commander a personalized DPS token of appreciation.

The post, according to its website, was chartered on March 2, 1937, with John K. Carter serving as the first commander.