Founded in 1986 by former Denver Nuggets Player Bill Hanzlik, and Denver business leader, Ray Baker, Gold Crown Foundation (GCF) offers boys and girls basketball, volleyball, golf and enrichment programs to more than 15,000 youth annually. GCF offers camps, clinics, leagues and tournaments for 6 – 20 year olds in Colorado and surrounding states.
Since 1986, GCF has grown into one of the state’s largest youth sports providers with 15,000 participants, 1,600 volunteers and 32 program offerings throughout the year. GCF also assigns more than 15,000 basketball games throughout the year through its officiating program, while offering multiple academies for area officials.
Gold Crown Enrichment (GCE) is a free, drop-in program that operates throughout the year at two locations; the Best Buy Teen Tech Center in Lakewood and the Gold Crown Clubhouse at Edgewater. GCE has seen more than 6,000 youth come through its doors since opening in 2004. Today, GCE has more than 750 active members and 30 mentors.
GCF operates three sports complexes; Coca-Cola All-Star Park, Gold Crown Field House and Junior Golf Learning Center.
The 56,000 square foot Field House sees approximately 450,000 people come through its doors each year and is booked more than 300 days. The facility consists of six full-sized basketball courts and eight full-sized volleyball courts.
Coca-Cola All-Star Park opened in 1998 in conjunction with the MLB ALL Star game. It is 90% to scale of Coors Field and is the current home field for Colorado Christian University’s baseball program. ASP also hosts CHSAA state baseball playoffs every spring.
The Junior Golf Learning Center is adjacent to the first tee at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Broomfield. This three-acre facility opened in 2007 and hosts Gold Crown Junior Golf Camps and Tournaments.
Additionally, Gold Crown offers free facility use to several community partners, including Special Olympics Colorado, National Sports Center for the Disabled, Jeffco Adaptive Athletics, Sample Supports, Colorado Wheelchair Basketball, Adam’s Camp, and more.
In 2019, GCF launched the Health Huddle, a program focused on the overall physical and mental health of youth in the community. With specific focus on mental health, healthy habits and sports performance, the Health Huddle expands GCF’s reach beyond the playing field with help for parents, coaches and patrons to address the “whole child” in mind, body and spirit.
Over the years, GCF has evolved as a foundation with a focus on affordability and low-income support, offering almost $500,000 per year in scholarship opportunities.
GCF Timeline and History - Three Decades In The Making!
1986: Gold Crown Foundation Begins!
Bill Hanzlik talking to over 100 girls at the first ever basketball camp held at Metro State College.
1994: First year of the GCF Youth Competitive Basketball League
The league featured 105 boys and girls teams from around the Denver Metro Area.
1998: Coca-Cola All-Star Park Opens
Bud Selig, MLB Commissioner and Jerry McMorris, Colorado Rockies owner, help open CCASP.
1999: Gold Crown Jr. Golf Association is launched
The GCJGA offered programs in the spring, summer and fall for golfers 8-18.
2000: Gold Crown Girls Volleyball League starts
Modeled after the youth basketball league, hundreds of girls play each fall.
2001: Educational Coaching Seminar at DU
GCF partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance to host this one of a kind seminar for over 1,500 coaches.
2003: Construction and opening of the Gold Crown Field House
46,000 square feet of hardwood flooring is put down inside the Field House
2003: Gold Crown Enrichment is launched
Gold Crown becomes one of 100 members of the Computer Clubhouse network, located in 20 countries.
2007: Gold Crown Jr. Golf Learning Center opens
Located at Eagle Trace Golf Course, this 3-acre golf teaching facility serves as Gold Crown's golf epicenter.
2009: Gold Crown hosts the NWBA Championships
In partnership with the NWBA, this tournament was the largest wheelchair basketball event in the world
2011: CCASP dedicates Keli McGregor Field
Colorado Rockies President Keli McGregor was a driving force behind making the dream of Coca-Cola All-Star Park
2012: Gold Crown hosts Youth Development Conference
Sessions included concussion awareness, injury prevention, bullying and sports nutrition
2014: Gold Crown Enrichment hosts National Clubhouse Conference
Over 200 participants from 20 countries came together sharing best practices in youth innovation
2018: The Clubhouse at Edgewater opens
Gold Crown Enrichment expands to a second location in Edgewater for more after school programming for kids 10-18 years old
30 Years: Working With Great Community Partners
We are proud to open our facilities doors, free of charge to the great partners to provide memorable experiences for the kids