Faith In Practice
Dedicated to Serving Our Neighbors.
Central Presbyterian Church is a community-building, service incubator that houses and empowers multiple nonprofit organizations and social ventures serving Denver’s diverse and growing population. For over 150 years, Central has been committed to partnering with people of all faiths and no faith to come together as neighbors in a shared mission to ensure that our community thrives and opens its arms to the vulnerable in our midst.
Our In-Building Partners
Central Presbyterian is home to four non-profit organizations with headquarters / flagship locations under one roof at 1660 Sherman St. in downtown Denver. This collection of organizations serves Denver’s neediest individuals and families, while also bringing the broader community together through cultural events.
New Genesis
Operating in the basement of our building since 1986, New Genesis provides housing, food, and social services to men, women, and families striving to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. With an average daily occupancy of 95 men, New Genesis requires clients to pay rent, participate in the upkeep of the shelter, and work. Women and families have access to the program’s low-rent apartments. This model is highly effective in breaking the cycle of homelessness with 75%+ of clients who stick with it through the first 30 days becoming self-sufficient in 15 months. It also empowers New Genesis to be a financially sustainable social venture with 70% of operating costs covered through client rental payments.
Central Visitation Program (CVP)
Headquartered on the third floor of the building, CVP provides critical support to families in crisis through low-cost, supervised visits between children and their non-custodial parents. CVP has served Denver families from its third floor offices in Central Presbyterian Church for 25 years, and in 2019, provided over 9,500 hours of supervised visitation – a 54% increase over 2018. CVP supports children at their most vulnerable – during times of divorce, parental drug or alcohol abuse, incarceration, and domestic violence.
The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra
DPO has hosted its season in our 1000+ seat performance hall with outstanding acoustics since September 2016. DPO produces concerts with ticket prices well below market value. A typical concert brings in 950 attendees with community programming and food trucks outside. While the DPO is the largest and most consistent user of the facility, there are numerous other musical groups who produce events here, including: Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, Boxwood Ensemble, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Chorale, Colorado Honor Band Association, Denver Children’s Choir, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Pops Orchestra, Denver Women’s Chorus, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, East High School Choirs, Evergreen Chorale, Harmony Chorale, Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, Swallow Hill, and the University of Northern Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In total, more than 40 concerts are attended by 16,000+ per year.
Purple Door Coffee
Founded in 2013 in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, Purple Door is a specialty espresso bar and coffee roaster that employs youth who have experienced homelessness and are seeking job skills training and employment. The new Purple Door location brought to life through this campaign will significantly expand Purple Door’s proven model for breaking the cycle of homelessness with a flagship location in downtown Denver.
