A Legacy of Generosity: The Reisher Family's Promise for LAEF Students

From a sod house in Nebraska to thousands of college graduates, the Reisher family’s journey is the foundation of hope for countless Colorado students. Roger L. Reisher and Margaret Reisher started with modest beginnings—they were the first in their families to go to college, fueled by the GI Bill and the belief that education transforms lives.

In 2001 they launched the Reisher Scholars Program in partnership with The Denver Foundation. Instead of building a foundation or buying a building, they invested directly in students. “He was more interested in using all that money to give back right away,” one staff member recalls.

Fast-forward to today: the Reisher family’s generosity now meets the growing strength of the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF) in Colorado. With $1 million committed to LAEF as part of the Million Dollars Stronger campaign, these two powerhouse institutions are coming together to expand generational impact like never before.

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Two Legacy Builders × One Bold Future

Reisher Scholars Program

• ~$39 million awarded since 2001.
• Nearly 2,500 students helped complete college.
• More than 500 students served annually at nine institutions across Colorado.

LAEF:

• Over $7 million in scholarships awarded across its 76 year history. 
• More than 7,000 Latino scholars have been supported.

Together: Two proven champions for Colorado students — the Reisher family and LAEF — are now stepping forward together to expand what’s possible.

The million-dollar investment by the Reishers into LAEF means: greater access to scholarships, mentoring, and more wrap-around support.

This isn’t just a donation. It’s a promise: that Colorado’s students—especially those whose voices have been under-represented—will finish stronger, lead stronger, and leave legacies of their own.

Thank you for believing. Because when a million dollars meets a million possibilities, the ripple effect truly is limitless.

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