i get to foundation

Who We Are

Rooted in community.
Built for possibility.

The i get to foundation exists at the intersection of community leadership and youth opportunity. We believe every young person deserves to see — and step into — the fullness of what their future can hold.

Our Vision

An abundance of awareness and opportunity for every young person, made accessible through the power of community and connection.

Our Mission

To activate community partnerships that deliver real-world exposure, education, and direct engagement with leaders — equipping youth to grow, lead, and step confidently into their futures.

What Drives Us

Our Values

Show Up

✓ Change starts with presence. We bring people together and turn intention into impact.

Equip to Lead

✓ We connect youth to real-world leaders and experiences that build confidence, clarity, and ownership.

Rise Together

✓ When youth step forward, communities grow stronger. Our progress is shared.

The "i get to" Exchange

Two groups. Merging pathways.
Activating opportunity.

Both leaders and youth already have the desire. What they need is the pathway. The i get to foundation turns "I want to" into "I get to."

Community Leaders

"I want to give back, share what I know, and open doors — I just need a pathway to do it."

Now they get to →

Present your story and field in an interactive, engaging format — think TED Talk meets real conversation.
Share lived experience and real-world insight with youth who are ready to hear it.
Open doors into industries, networks, and opportunities that change trajectories.
Invest in your community in the most direct way possible — through people.

Our Youth

"I want to learn, explore, and grow — I just need access to the people and experiences that make that real."

Now they get to →

Learn directly from leaders across every industry and walk of life.
Explore career paths and futures they may never have known were possible.
Ask real questions and get real answers from people who've lived it.
Step forward with confidence, clarity, and a community behind them.

Programs & Work

What we're building right now.

Teacher engaging with students in classroom

01

School & Community Engagements

Collaborating with schools and community organizations to provide high-impact presentations and interactive engagements that connect youth directly with professional leaders.

02

Volunteer Leader Network

Building a diverse bench of volunteer leaders and industry professionals who offer real-world insight across multiple career pathways — from business to arts, law to trades.

03

Scalable Partnership Models

Designing programming and partnership frameworks that expand access, strengthen community involvement, and increase long-term impact across more schools and regions.

The People Behind It

Board & Leadership

The i get to foundation is led by a team of community builders, educators, and professionals who believe deeply in the power of connection and the potential of every young person.

CD

Colin Daugherty

Founder & Executive Director

Colin's path has taken him through military service and law enforcement, high-risk environments abroad, and the corporate world. Each chapter added to a perspective that is hard to manufacture and impossible to replicate.

He founded the i get to foundation because he knows the quiet frustration of finding the right mentor, the right frame of mind, the right perspective years after he needed it most. He built this so young people can find those things earlier, on purpose, with people in their corner who know the road ahead.

Based in Denver, Colin is a committed husband and father and a lifelong learner who believes deeply that rising tides raise all boats.

Show Up Equip to Lead

LH

Leah Hapner

Board Member & Secretary

Leah has been in rooms most people never get access to. From the White House Situation Room to federal community outreach to events that genuinely move people, she has built a career out of connecting others to things they did not know were possible.

That is exactly what drew her to the i get to foundation. She brings a wide network, real experience designing programs for youth and adults, and a genuine gift for making people feel seen and heard. She joined because she believes young people deserve access to the kind of perspective most of us find too late.

A Denver transplant with Wisconsin roots, she is most at home outdoors with her family, hunting down great chocolate, or perfecting something in the kitchen.

Show Up Rise Together

JR

Jane Rodriguez

Board Member & Treasurer

Jane has built a career at the executive level of corporate finance, leading teams across more industries than most people ever touch. Along the way she picked up a real estate license, because when you are genuinely curious about how the world works, you keep finding new doors to open.

That curiosity is exactly what drew her to the i get to foundation. Jane has spent years watching talented young people default to paths they never really chose, and she joined to change that. She brings deep financial acumen, a wide cross-industry network, and a track record of mentoring first-generation college students and young professionals. She proved early in her own career that you do not need a perfect plan or an Ivy League pedigree. What you need is the right perspective and people willing to coach and cheer you on.

A Louisville native who has called several cities home, Jane now lives in Highlands Ranch with her family. When she is not on the sidelines for her kids, you will find her on a volleyball court, on a trail, or connecting someone to an opportunity they did not know existed.

Equip to Lead Rise Together

Community Voices

What people are saying.

“”

I spent years working toward the NFL, and I made it. What that journey taught me, though, is that the real prize was never the destination. It was everything being forged along the way. The discipline, the commitment, the ability to get back up — that's your real foundation. That's the story nobody tells young athletes enough. The work you're putting in right now is building something that outlasts any sport. Pair that with your education and a plan, and nothing can stop you. That's why I believe in what the i get to foundation is doing. They're giving young people the full picture, not just the highlight reel.

RT

Rodney Thomas

Former NFL Professional · Entrepreneur

I grew up on a working farm. Early mornings, late nights, bad weather. None of it mattered. There was no "not showing up." I remember hating it at the time, but as I got older I realized what a gift that lesson was. If you simply show up every single day, you're already ahead of most people in this world. You start learning more, experiencing more, and the opportunities find you because you're consistently there. That's not a lesson most young people stumble into on their own. It takes someone showing them. A leader, a mentor, a community that says: here's what the real world looks like, and here's how you navigate it. That's exactly what the i get to foundation is building, and why I'm proud to support it. They're giving young people direct access to leaders who've lived these lessons. Not theory. Real stories, real experience, real conversations that change how a young person sees what's possible for them. Show up. That's where it starts. And now, because of this foundation, more young people will know exactly what that means and have the community behind them to act on it.

JM

Josh Martin

Chief Problem Solver, The Insurance Advisors · Former City Councilmember · Boys & Girls Clubs of America

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✦ More voices coming soon — this community is growing.

Upcoming

Events & Engagements

We're building our first events and engagements for 2026. Details will be announced here and across our channels as dates are confirmed — sign up below to be the first to know.

April 28, 2026 · Douglas County, CO

VALE School Engagement

Our first school engagement. Foundation leaders present directly to students at the Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship (VALE) in Douglas County. A closed partner event for VALE students.

🏫 School Engagement · By Invitation

Date TBD · 2026

Event Coming Soon

We're actively planning our first engagements. Check back here or join our newsletter to be notified the moment details are confirmed.

🔔 Stay Tuned

Date TBD · 2026

Event Coming Soon

We're actively planning our first engagements. Check back here or join our newsletter to be notified the moment details are confirmed.

🔔 Stay Tuned

Get Involved

There's a place
for everyone here.

Individuals

Be a voice. Be a presenter. Be part of something bigger than yourself.

Serve as a community leader — present, engage, and share real-world experience with youth.
Engage as a parent or advocate by strengthening youth involvement.
Participate as a student to learn, explore, and expand your awareness.
Contribute as a donor to fuel programming and expand opportunity.

Get Involved →

Businesses

Invest in the next generation. Open doors. Strengthen your community.

Sponsor programs and events to visibly support youth development.
Invest as a funding partner to accelerate growth and broaden impact.
Open doors through partnerships — internships, exposure, career pathways.

Partner With Us →

Support the Mission

Your support opens doors.

Every contribution fuels real-world exposure, direct engagement with leaders, and programming that helps young people see — and step into — futures they never knew were possible.

Donate Today ↗

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Our Partners

Corporate Partners
& Sponsors

These organizations believe in the power of community and the potential of every young person. We're grateful for their partnership in making this work possible.