Nov. 4, 2026
AURORA, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora Foundation (CCAF) raised $42,130 over three days last month for the second Miles With Mordecai, an annual initiative that Community College of Aurora (CCA) President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee launched to support CCAF’s Student Emergency Assistance Fund. From Oct. 19 to 23, Brownlee walked all 71 miles of the High Line Canal Trail alongside students, donors, and community partners to demonstrate their commitment to the cause. The funds power a program that removes the most urgent financial barriers that can prevent students from completing their education.
CCA President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee embarks on the first of 71 miles alongside CCA students and community supporters.
No student should have to choose between meeting a basic need and continuing their education,
said Brownlee. Every mile we walked was a commitment to students working toward a better future for themselves and their families. Because of this community’s generosity, an unexpected crisis can be met with timely support, renewed hope, and a path forward. My presidency will conclude, but my commitment to our students continues. I will keep walking because their dreams deserve a community willing to go the distance.
Brownlee walked nearly the length of a marathon each day of the initiative and will repeat the feat next year despite concluding his presidency of the college in December 2026. He has affirmed his intention to continue the initiative annually beyond his presidency, carrying forward its mission of supporting students through philanthropy and community engagement.
Community Partnerships Power Student Success
The success of Miles with Mordecai reflects the collective investment of businesses, organizations, donors and individuals, some of whom joined Brownlee for various segments of the walk. Participating on the walk were representatives from The Aurora Economic Development Council, High Line Canal Conservancy, UMB Bank, Visit Aurora, MyFriend Ben and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. On the third day, the group stopped for a barbeque hosted by another college partner and Miles with Mordecai Community Momentum Sponsor, Wagner Equipment CO.
Wagner Equipment CO. hosted a lunchtime barbecue to help refuel the Miles With Mordecai walking group as they edged closer to the finish line on Oct. 23.
Students also joined the caravan, including Miles Griffin, a COSI scholar; Emmanuel Saka, a Presidential Scholar and Dream Scholar; and Mady Osborne, a Presidential Scholar and NASA Space Grant Scholar. Contributions from community supporters, including Karen Rutledge and John Ehrmann, and Margee Cannon and Brad Pierce, helped the CCA Foundation exceed its fundraising goal.
At the CCA Foundation, our goal is to remove the financial barriers that stand between our students and their educational dreams,
said Katlynn Del Dotto, the Foundation’s executive director. We are incredibly grateful to have a community that not only recognizes these challenges, but steps up to help our students overcome them. Raising more than $42,000 through Miles with Mordecai is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for our students.
Community partner and supporter, The District Credit Union, also sent representatives to join the walk and they set up a refreshment station at their business location on the trail. Their contributions go beyond Miles With Mordecai. CCAF’s Student Emergency Assistance Fund supplies the most in-need students with gift cards to cover unforeseen, catastrophic expenses. In addition to issuing those gift cards, the credit union continues to cover any fees associated with activating these cards, as they did earlier this year.
The critical funding is reserved for CCA students facing the most unexpected financial emergencies that can threaten their ability to remain enrolled and complete their education. Gift cards cover essential expenses related to food, transportation, and housing. Participating students must also connect with CCA Student Advocacy coaches, who help them develop long-term success plans and access additional college and community resources. By combining emergency assistance with individualized guidance, CCA works to reduce financial barriers and help students remain focused on their academic and career goals.
CCA is the community’s college, and nothing brings that mission to life more than the partnerships that surround our students,
said Beau Green, director of CCA’s Student Advocacy Services. Our emergency funding program has grown because of community partners who believe in our students and invest in their success. These partnerships allow us to do more than provide financial support. They remind students that they have a community committed to helping them succeed. We are incredibly grateful for the trust our partners place in our students and the difference they make in students’ lives.
A Lasting Investment in Students and the Community
Miles With Mordecai demonstrates the meaningful impact that can be achieved when higher education institutions, philanthropic partners, and community members work together around a shared purpose. What began as a 71-mile journey has become an opportunity to invest in the educational aspirations and long-term success of CCA students.
As the initiative continues next year and beyond, its mission remains rooted in a simple but powerful commitment: ensuring that unexpected financial hardships do not determine a student’s ability to pursue an education at CCA. The college strengthens pathways to educational attainment, workforce opportunity, and social and economic mobility, for the students and communities it serves. The campaign’s success reflects the generosity of its donors and community partners.
Contribute to the Student Emergency Assistance Fund or make a gift to the CCA Foundation to become part of the mission.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
About the Community College of Aurora Foundation
The Community College of Aurora Foundation (CCAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing student success and high-quality education at CCA. The Foundation raises philanthropic resources, forges community and industry partnerships, and cultivates donor engagement. CCAF is committed to stewarding contributions with integrity and transparency, guided by the vision to support CCA in being the college where every student succeeds. For more information, visit https://auroragives.org.
Contact
Courtney Butler
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]