The Results
The Results
The Challenge
Prosperity Denver Fund supports dozens of nonprofit organizations helping Denver students and young adults pursue college, credentials, apprenticeships and other career pathways. The communications challenge was to move beyond explaining how the Fund works and instead demonstrate its impact through compelling stories that show Denver taxpayers what their investment makes possible.
GHG Approach
GHG identified an opportunity with Prosperity Partner Mile High Youth Corps that connected Prosperity Denver’s workforce investments to an especially timely and highly visual Colorado issue: wildfire mitigation and the need to prepare the next generation of wildland firefighters.
GHG worked to develop the story around young Mile High Youth Corps members gaining hands-on experience in forest mitigation while building skills and certifications that can lead to careers in wildland firefighting and related fields.
Rather than leading with funding or organizational information, the story centered on the young people doing physically demanding mitigation work in Colorado’s forests and the career pathways that work was creating. Prosperity Denver’s role provided the connection back to Denver taxpayers: the Fund reimburses Mile High Youth Corps for eligible Denver participants, helping make training, certifications and career preparation possible.
GHG pitched the story to CBS Colorado, providing the reporter with access to a highly visual worksite, young people who could speak authentically about their experiences and aspirations, and the broader context around workforce development and Colorado’s growing wildfire mitigation needs.
The combination of strong characters, compelling visuals and relevance to a significant issue facing Colorado helped the story extend far beyond a traditional local education or workforce segment.
The Results
CBS Colorado reporter Alan Gionet produced a three-minute television story featuring Mile High Youth Corps members conducting wildfire mitigation work and preparing for potential careers in wildland firefighting
The story highlighted Prosperity Denver’s role in reimbursing Mile High Youth Corps for eligible Denver corps members and supporting career-building opportunities, including certifications
The segment aired on CBS Colorado and was published on the CBS News website, extending its reach beyond the local television audience
The story was subsequently picked up by CBS affiliates/outlets in 47 states, giving a locally developed Prosperity Denver story national exposure
National distribution significantly amplified awareness of Prosperity Denver’s impact while demonstrating how investments in Denver young people can simultaneously address workforce needs and broader community challenges
The story provided a strong example of GHG’s earned media strategy: identifying a timely story, centering the people impacted rather than the funder, and connecting a client’s work to an issue with broader public relevance
Media Mentions
CBS Colorado: “Mitigation with yet another purpose: Training future firefighters in Colorado” — July 23, 2026
CBS News video: “Up-and-coming firefighters get hands-on experience while helping with fire mitigation” — July 2026
CBS affiliate/news distribution — pickup in 47 states
Work Examples
View our media placement:
