Philanthropy Panel

Come hear how the power of philanthropy makes for a powerful purpose and happy life.

Christine Benero, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mile High United Way

Christine Benero is President and Chief Executive Officer of Mile High United Way, the first United Way in the country.  Mile High United Way harnesses the power of collective generosity to create long-term solutions in our community, and last year invested over $40 million in the areas of School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self-Sufficiency.

Christine is the former Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, in Denver, Colorado.   Prior to joining the American Red Cross, Christine was the Director of the Office of Public Liaison for the Corporation for National Service in Washington, DC.  She served in two Presidential administrations working for both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Christine has served as Vice President of the National Civic League, a national nonprofit organization committed to civic renewal and community-based democracy and as a Community Affairs Corporate Program Officer for Target Stores and the Target Foundation in Minneapolis, MN. 

In her volunteer life, Christine is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, as well as the Governor’s Commission on National and Community Service.  She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Foundation and the National Civic League.  Christine was named the 9News Leader of the Year for 2007, and in 2009 was named by both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post as one of “Nine to Watch In 2009”.

She is a past President of the Association of Junior Leagues International, a past chairman of the Coalition for America’s Children and the Kiwanis International’s Young Children: Priority One Advisory Board. She was a delegate both to the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997 and to the NGO Forum at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Boston University, a Masters in Education from Harvard University, Graduate School of Education and was selected as a 2007 Gates Fellow for the Senior Executive Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.