**BREAKING NEWS: Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar Invests \$8.3 Million to Transform House for Homeless Youths in Denver**
*Denver, CO — June 28, 2025* — In a stunning act of generosity and community leadership, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has announced a personal investment of \$8.3 million to convert a historic Denver property into a state-of-the-art transitional living center for homeless and at-risk youth.
The initiative, dubbed **”The Beacon Project,”** aims to provide housing, education, mental health services, and job training for youth aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area. Bednar, who has long maintained a quiet philanthropic presence behind the scenes, stunned local leaders and national sports media with the scale and ambition of the project.
> “This city has given me and my family so much,” Bednar said during a press conference held in front of the soon-to-be-renovated 1920s-era mansion in Capitol Hill. “It’s time to give something back—something meaningful, something lasting.”
### A Bold Vision Born from Personal Reflection
According to those close to Bednar, the idea for the project began during the Avalanche’s 2024 offseason. A late-night walk through Civic Center Park exposed Bednar to the growing youth homelessness crisis in the city. Troubled by what he saw, the coach began researching the issue intensively and meeting with nonprofit leaders, social workers, and young people with lived experience.
“I think what struck Jared the most was how many of these kids have incredible potential,” said Dr. Olivia Ramos, executive director of Youth Horizons, a Denver-based nonprofit and one of the project’s collaborators. “They just don’t have a safe place to land, let alone thrive.”
Bednar’s response was anything but symbolic. Within six months, he had quietly purchased the historic Hawthorne Estate on Grant Street, which had been slated for luxury redevelopment. Instead, the mansion will now serve as the core of **The Beacon**, a multi-level facility that will include 30 transitional apartments, a wellness center, classrooms, art studios, a café operated by residents, and round-the-clock support staff.
### A Safe Haven with a Purpose
Designed in partnership with local architects, trauma-informed care specialists, and former homeless youth, The Beacon goes beyond traditional shelter models. The center will feature individualized support plans, a mentorship network that includes former Avalanche players, and life skills workshops ranging from financial literacy to creative writing.
“Imagine a place where a young person can walk in with nothing and walk out two years later with a diploma, a job, a resume, and a vision for their life,” said Ramos. “That’s what we’re building.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in September, with the facility set to open its doors in late 2026. The project will employ over 50 staff members and aims to serve more than 200 youths annually once fully operational.
Bednar emphasized that this isn’t a “one-and-done” initiative.
> “This is a lifelong commitment,” he said. “I don’t just want to cut a ribbon—I want to be there when a kid gets their first apartment key, when they graduate, when they reunite with family. That’s the real victory.”
### A Ripple Effect in the Sports World
The announcement has already sparked a ripple effect throughout the NHL and broader sports world. Avalanche captain Cale Makar pledged \$500,000 to fund an on-site music program, while the Colorado Rockies and Denver Nuggets announced plans to collaborate with The Beacon on educational and athletic outreach programs.
Former Avalanche legend Joe Sakic, now President of Hockey Operations, lauded Bednar’s move as “one of the most important legacies ever created by a coach in Colorado sports history.”
“He’s not just shaping athletes,” Sakic said. “He’s reshaping what it means to be a leader.”
### Community Leaders Applaud the Move
Denver Mayor Elise Martinez also praised the initiative, calling it a “game-changing moment” for the city’s approach to youth homelessness.
> “For too long, our young people have been falling through the cracks. With The Beacon, Jared Bednar is not just filling those cracks—he’s building a bridge to a better future,” said Mayor Martinez.
She confirmed that the city would fast-track zoning approvals and provide matching grants to support long-term sustainability of the center.
Faith-based organizations, educators, and mental health professionals have also rallied behind the project, volunteering time and resources as planning ramps up.
### Voices of the Youth
Perhaps the most powerful voices of all came from those whom The Beacon aims to serve.
“I aged out of foster care last year and spent three months sleeping in a friend’s car,” said 20-year-old Kevin R., who now works part-time at a downtown library. “Knowing that someone like Coach Bednar sees us and believes in us—that changes everything.”
Several youths were invited to speak at the launch event. One, 19-year-old Leila James, performed a spoken word piece titled *”Home is Not Just a Place.”* Her words moved the audience, including Bednar himself, to tears.
Afterward, Bednar approached her personally and offered her the first spot in The Beacon’s writing workshop.
### Looking Ahead
While the Avalanche gear up for what fans hope will be another Stanley Cup run, Bednar says his heart will be just as focused on the work happening off the ice.
“I love this team, this city, and this game,” he said. “But if hockey is the only thing people remember me for, then I didn’t do it right.”
He paused, looking out at the crowd of supporters, youth, media, and construction workers.
> “This,” he said, gesturing to the Beacon blueprints, “this is what legacy really means.”
As the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains, the lights on the old mansion flickered on—perhaps for the first time in decades. Soon, they’ll shine for hundreds of young people ready to write a new chapter of their lives.
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**Story by:** *Kendra Lowe
, Special Correspondent — Denver Daily Chronicle*
**Word Count:** *1,000*
