The Marshall Family

For Danielle and Roddrick Marshall, Sewall Child Development Center has never just been an early childhood center. Four of their five children have attended Sewall since their earliest days in the infant room. Over that time, the Marshalls have built a community at Sewall. Both parents have received the Parent Of The Year award — Danielle in 2019 and Roddrick in 2026 — for their contributions, and Roddrick is a member of their board.

The Marshalls are one of more than 4,000 families who utilize preschool tuition support from the Denver Preschool Program, which lowers the cost of preschool for every Denver family.

In 2003, Gary Community Ventures made a contribution to a citywide commission on early childhood education. The commission spent the next several years listening to and collaborating with community members in order to develop a plan to make preschool more affordable for every family. The result: A ballot measure that would use public dollars to lower preschool costs and increase quality.

In 2006, Denver voters approved the ballot measure and the Denver Preschool Program was created. In 2023, voters reauthorized the Denver Preschool Program indefinitely, affirming the program’s impact on thousands of children and families through innovative programs, educator support, and policy and advocacy.

Today, the program serves as a national model for early childhood in Colorado and across the country.