Christine Benero

Christine Benero has a passion for building community and helping children. She has worked tirelessly helping families access affordable, childhood education, and been instrumental through Mile High United Way in helping community partners like Family Tree, Mercy Housing, and Warren Village create four early childhood education centers across the city from Aurora to West Denver. She also led an organization supporting minority and women entrepreneurs in the development of their small businesses. Under her guidance, United Way Mile High has been active in public policy, advocating for childcare contribution tax credits as well as other key childcare funding in our state.

Born in New York City, her family moved to Littleton, Colorado when Christine was only two years old. 

Ms Benero’s work began after receiving her undergraduate degree from Boston University, and graduate degree from Harvard. She started as a special education teacher for adjudicated teenagers in rural New Hampshire. She then served as director of Vermont’s first employer- supported childcare center. Benero had an interest in public policy and non-profits which she continued to grow as the Director of the Office of Public Liaison for Corporation of National and Community Service, which oversees Americorps. She served under two presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

With her return to the Mile High City, she assumed the role of CEO of the American Red Cross Mile High chapter and then was offered the job of President and CEO of Mile High United Way where she still leads today (2024).

Ms Benero has numerous accomplishments in her role at Mile High United Way including the move of their headquarters to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood where she worked with a team to build the Morgridge Center for Community Change. A community mission-driven hub where the community leans into to services that help them on their path to independence.

Christine continues to support her passion for building communities and assisting children working with others in the community to establish the Newcomers Fund. This fund deploys assistance quickly to Colorado non-profits that provide essential services to groups like Colorado’s new immigrants.   

Ms Benero recognizes the power of support and has been a mentor for the next generation of leaders, especially women. She has also achieved numerous honors from other organizations including; Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Colorado, Las Madrinas award from Centro San Juan Diego, Girl Scouts of America one of 100 Distinguished Alumni, 25 Most Power Women in Denver by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business, Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal for Public and Community Service by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. She has also been named one of Colorado’s Most Admired CEOs by the Denver Business Journal and most recently was honored with the ATHENA Award by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce for “inspiring the next generation of Women.” She also received the Mayoral Gold Challenge Coin from Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, which honors those whose contributions to the civic welfare and quality of life in Denver are unparalleled. 

Christine’s inspiration for giving back came from both her grandmothers and mother who were ahead of their times in career aspirations. She continues with her promise to assist in crisis while building a better landscape for the future of families and children in Denver.