The Fourteener Fund is hosting the “Defying Odds” speaking event on Dec. 15, a Ted Talk-style fundraiser intended to teach Aurora students about the value of education while raising money for scholarships.

The Fourteener Funds is a non-profit scholarship and mentorship program started by six graduates of Aurora’s Rangeview High School. The fund was created to give back to the community and help Aurora students with the difficult transition to higher education.

The Rangeview graduates wanted to use their personal struggles to help the next generation of students, which is also the inspiration for “Defying Odds.”

“Everyone is inherently born with obstacles in life and it’s up to everyone to resolve those obstacles in their own way,” said Fourteener Fund co-founder Bruce Ahn, “and we have speakers who have done just that.”

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The event will begin with opening remarks from Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Rico Munn.

Munn said he was honored and excited to work with The Fourteener Fund for this event, which he described as supporting the success of Aurora students.

“These former students are particularly important to us because they have recognized the value of education,” Munn said. “They want to come back and reinvest in our system because they know what it takes to be successful in education.”

The event will also feature multiple keynote speakers, including Susan Morrice, co-founder and CEO of Belize Natural Energy, and John Barry, CEO of Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space Museum.

Each speaker will discuss their personal stories of defying odds, some touching on themes common to Aurora residents like immigration, language barriers and economic struggles.

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Mayor Coffman himself experienced such struggles as a student in Aurora. Coffman said he dropped out of high school during his junior year, but eventually went on to attend college after earning his diploma in the army.

“I’m so deeply impressed with the Aurora Public School graduates who found this nonprofit as a means of giving back to our community,” Coffman said. “I can remember how hard that transition was and I think it’s so important to help young people who might be the first in their family to attend college.”

Ahn said The Fourteener Fund hopes the event will emphasize the importance of education, especially during the COVID-19 era of online learning.

“We wanted people who have persevered through a lot and have come out on the other side,” Ahn said. “We just want people to feel empowered and inspired that they can do it too.”

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Money raised during the fundraiser will go towards The Fourteener Fund’s scholarship program. The organization hopes to raise $4,000 to provide $1,000 scholarships to students from APS’s Rangeview, Hinkley, Gateway and Aurora Central high schools.

In addition to money, The Fourteener Fund provides scholars with personal mentorship and has a public “Candid Career Chats” podcast for all students where they discuss their experiences in college and work.

“This is our first opportunity to provide some more insight for students,” said Fourteener Fund co-founder Nathaniel Bradley III. “We want to expand our reach to different students and get them familiar with what we’re about and what we can provide for them.”

“Defying Odds” will be streamed via YouTube live on Dec. 15 beginning at 6 p.m. Donations can be made online at thefourteenerfund.org/donate.

Defying Odds by The Fourteener Fund