10Four is a non-profit Neighborhood Youth Organization (NYO) founded by Sam Shefrin and Brittany Shefrin in May 2022. We provide free programming to underserved youth in Denver. We primarily serve inner-city youth in the Denver Public School district. Some of the schools these youth attend include Manual High School, McAuliffe Manual Middle School, DC21, DSST Cole Academy and Bruce Randolph School. We provide programming in Art, Computer, Games, Reading, and outdoor activities. We are open after school during the school year and during normal hours in the Summer.
NYO’s have state guidelines that we follow. Some of the more notable guidelines are: 1) 10Four shall not be considered a faith-based center, 2) 10Four will only serve kids 7-18 years old, and 3) Youth come and go on their own from our center. This means, 10Four has no control over attendees coming and going as they please. We also have an internal code of conduct for all kids attending 10Four.
The goal of 10Four is to provide underserved school children with a fun and safe location after school and during the summer. There are a significant number of underserved youth on the streets of Denver after school. Some children only have a home to go to once an adult is available later in the evening. Some are homeless, and some are being recruited by gangs. Some want to have fun and learn. 10Four fills the gap for these youth with support, care, resources, games, art, computers, reading, and studying.
As our relationship continues to grow with the Denver youth community, we are passionate about providing life and career guidance. We make a real difference in children’s lives. Children are the key to our future, and we will be there to help usher in this new era of kindness, respect, and life success.
The role of the Board of the Directors is to ensure the 10Four mission is carried out by leadership. The Board of Directors is responsible to guide the program and leadership to achieve the 10Four mission.
Sam Shefrin
Sam is the Board President and Co-Founder of 10Four. Sam grew up in Kauai, HI, and enjoys games and graphic novels. Sam was raised by a charitable mother, Elana Shefrin, who would help families worldwide with donations and take in friends’ children having a tough time at home.
Sam experienced being a minority in his school and community. He faced injustice and discrimination on a regular basis. His experience drove a need to fight for justice, equality and fairness in life. Sam decided that if he was financially able, he would start a Youth Organization to help other children in need in the same way he was helped.
This dream came to fruition when he connected with Adofo & Valentino, two sons of Ms. Frances E. Jefferson, a long-time staple in the African American Denver community. Ms. Jefferson had recently passed and Adofo & Valentino had a desire to pass the mantle on to Sam to carry on their mother’s tradition of serving the underserved Denver youth community.
Brittany Shefrin
Brittany serves on the Board and is Co-Founder of 10Four. Brittany grew up in San Juan Capistrano, CA, and has a strong passion for Art, Learning, and Psychology.
Lauren LaRocca
Lauren is a mother of two girls and is passionate about mental health, especially for our youth, and helped her husband start a Behavioral and Mental Health Program that serves the Denver community and spans the United States. Lauren has been in the Denver metro for 10+ years and focuses on fundraising, partnerships, and events at 10Four.
Dawnyle Ashemu
Dawnyle grew up in City Park, Denver. She is passionate about her community and has dedicated herself to a life of service to Denver’s youth and community. Dawnyle brings over 17 years of dynamic experience in education and the non-profit sectors. Her journey has been marked by a commitment to transformative education, executive coaching, career counseling, and leadership training.
