History

In 2008, a local businessman named Tom Gamel came to visit Cole looking for a place to invest time and resources to help kids. His mother attended Cole and his grandmother lived just down the street from the school. After meeting with the leadership, Tom decided to “adopt” the school. Adoption for Tom meant that he would provide advice and counsel from the business perspective as well as give $500,000 a year to the school. Cole has greatly benefited from Tom’s engagement and has already put his funds into action by:

hiring a Director of Family Engagement and Intervention, who tracks attendance, makes home visits to unexcused absentees, and provides parenting classes implementing after school math tutoring and Saturday school purchasing eight new Smart Boards so that now every instructional room has the best technology starting Friends of Cole

Friends of Cole is the non-profit foundation which Tom founded in order to increase community involvement in the school. When asked why he is doing this, Tom will always tell you the story of when his mother used to talk about those who lived in poverty. She would say to the young Tom, “Except for the grace of God, there go I.” Tom embodies this. He doesn’t believe that he is any better than the next person just because his business endeavors have been successful. He believes that a combination of hard work, hiring the right people, and good old-fashioned luck got him where he is today. Therefore, it is his duty and his joy to give back and help others.

About Us

In August of 2009 Friends of Cole took its place in Cole and began by hiring its first two staff members.

Mission

To promote and enhance the educational atmosphere at Cole Arts and Sciences Academy through our values of community engagement, community awareness and professional empowerment.

Jason Janz - Executive Director

Jason is a father of four Cole students. He and his wife, Jen, live in the Whittier neighborhood. He is a pastor at a new, multi-ethnic church in Five Points called Providence Bible Church where he recently helped start a non-profit organization to help single moms and their children. He serves on the board of the Black American West Museum and enjoys city life, reading, and spending time with his boys.

Alyssa Gomez - Director of Communications and Development

Alyssa graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina with a B.S. in Organizational Communication. Upon completing this degree she moved back to her home state of Colorado and made the career change from healthcare to education. When she isn't doing the work that she loves at Cole, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends from church, listening to local music and creating art through painting and jewelry making.