The work we do at Partners wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the dedication of our mentors. The Bank of Colorado first began proudly sponsoring Partners in 2006. Their support of us is just one example of their dedication as an organization to making and keeping Colorado a great place to live.
As a sponsor, they’ve helped fund the important work Partners does for youth and communities across Northern Colorado, including offering mentorship, prevention education, and strategic partnerships. Every dollar we receive in donations goes towards our work to help youth overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
The Bank of Colorado’s sponsorship has also contributed to the success of several Partners-hosted events. Most recently, we hosted our annual Party for Partners fundraiser on April 11 at the Lincoln Center, our largest fundraising event of the year. We raised nearly $160,000 at this year’s event, a feat accomplished in part with the contributions of the Bank of Colorado and their year-round sponsorship.
David “Fink” Finkelstein, the Bank of Colorado’s Director of Marketing, was a keynote speaker at this year’s Party for Partners. In a heartfelt speech, Fink recounted his journey from sponsor event guest to board member and mentor.
“I gave some money, you know, and I went home, and I patted myself on the back and I felt pretty good about it,” Fink said about his first time attending Party for Partners in 2019.
He recalls thinking he was too busy and not the right person to be a mentor.
“At the time, I [had] just moved up to Fort Collins and I was new at my job…and I was just too busy,” Fink said.
After he went home that night and took the time to binge-watch reruns of “Friends,” he reflected on his earlier thoughts.
“I don’t have time. I make time,” he said. “So, why not make some time for something that really matters?”
He signed up to be a mentor the next day and was promptly paired with Bruce “B.J.” Hunter, a 12-year-old boy. He and B.J. bonded over a wide range of fun activities, from attending Rockies games and baking cookies to dressing up for Comic Con and going fishing. Not only was their partnership fun, but it helped them both grow as individuals.
“I realized after a while that B.J. wasn’t the only one who was getting something out of this partnership,” Fink said. “At the time, unbeknownst to me, I was quietly struggling with mental health…I didn’t like being alone because I didn’t really like who I was.”
Fink came to understand how instrumental his partnership with B.J. was in helping him heal from his mental health battles.
“It’s really hard to stay in that dark place when you’ve got a teenager next to you housing mozzarella sticks and asking [if he can] beat you in Fortnite again,” Fink said. “B.J. reminded me about what it means to show up. He gave me purpose that I didn’t know I was missing.”
Their partnership has been just as impactful for B.J., who took the stage after Fink to share his experience as Fink’s mentee.
“I grew to know him more as a friend and as a person I can look up to,” B.J. said. “Getting through the time of being a kid, it was very hard to make friends at my age…but he brought me out of my shell.”
B.J.’s voice shook, his eyes welling with tears, as he addressed everyone in attendance at Party for Partners 2025.
“It’s thanks to everyone in this room that people like me can find people like him in the world, and I’m grateful for everything you all do in here,” B.J. said.
Fink and B.J.’s story is just one example of the impactful mentor/mentee partnerships that exist through Partners, all made possible with the support of our donors and the dedication of our volunteer mentors. You, too, can make a difference in the lives of local youth and in communities throughout Northern Colorado. Visit www.poweredbypartners.org to learn more about how you can get involved with Partners as a sponsor, board member or mentor.
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