Project PAVE was established in 1986 in response to a number of violent incidents in the Denver area. Community leaders came together to create a framework for intervening early in the lives of youth and families exposed to relationship violence and to promote alternatives to violence in youth relationships.

A Long-Standing History of Anti-Violence.

1986:  Project PAVE was founded in 1986 by Linda Fischer, Elizabeth McDonough, and Elaine Connelly in response to the rise in domestic violence. That same year, Denver attorney Jeanne Elliott was shot and paralyzed by her client’s estranged husband during divorce proceedings—a stark reminder of the urgency of their mission. Jeanne went on to serve as PAVE’s first board chair.

1991: Project PAVE acquired and moved into its home at 2051 York Street, providing stability and building equity for the organization. By its fifth anniversary, PAVE had delivered 1,323 programs, reaching 17,804 youth and 6,805 adults.

1992: Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter joined PAVE’s Board of Directors and later served as chair, guiding the organization’s transition from a small, grassroots effort reliant on door-to-door fundraising to a more stable nonprofit with diversified funding from individual donors, foundation grants, and corporate partners.

1999: On April 20, 1999, the Columbine High School massacre shocked Colorado and the nation, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history and a turning point in how the country viewed youth violence. In the midst of the chaos, PAVE was called to the scene within hours, providing critical, on-the-ground support to youth witnesses and survivors. Our immediate response in the wake of such a high-profile tragedy cemented PAVE’s role as a trusted resource for crisis intervention and youth support in moments of profound community trauma.

2005:  PAVE expanded its continuum of services—from primary prevention to crisis intervention—by adding two key programs: teen dating violence education in schools, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, and school-based bullying prevention through the Colorado Trust Bullying Prevention Initiative.

2013:  After a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, PAVE made the strategic decision to close its clinic and bring all programming directly into schools and community organizations—removing barriers and making services more accessible to youth where they already are.

2015:  PAVE launched the True Man program in partnership with the Denver Broncos, using its pilot year to engage young boys in conversations about healthy masculinity. The program’s success led to PAVE being named one of only eleven flagship charitable partners for the Broncos.

2018: PAVE began integrating its intervention and prevention programming, creating a more holistic, wraparound approach to support the needs of all youth.

2020: As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through Denver and the nation, PAVE rapidly transitioned its programming, operations, and signature Transformations Luncheon to virtual formats. Therapists provided online counseling and distributed more than $20,000 in emergency assistance for rent, groceries, and technology, while prevention educators reached over 10,000 people through virtual classes and social media content.

2024: Following a comprehensive strategic planning process, Project PAVE de-siloed its programs, shifting from à la carte offerings to a fully integrated, wraparound service model for schools. In response to Denver’s double-digit increases in domestic violence, youth gun violence, youth sexual assault, and youth mental health challenges, PAVE set an ambitious goal to triple its number of partner schools within five years.