DENVER -- ABC's 7 has awarded a Denver woman $5,000 for her work with Special Olympics Colorado.

Denver’s 7 and ABC partnered with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for a contest called Extreme Makeover: American Dream Edition.

The contest gave away a total of $1 million nationwide to help people and their local communities during the recession. In Denver, there are five winners. They each received $5,000 and the charity of their choice receives the same.

One of these winners is Freda Davenport, who has devoted her life to Special Olympics Colorado and caring for others, even through great personal sacrifice.

"This is the best job I've ever had because I love the opportunity to work with people with intellectual disabilities," said Davenport, a devoted mother of three and grandmother of four.

Freda Davenport has worked at Special Olympics Colorado for 20 years. She is the Denver Area Manager responsible for organizing fundraisers, area events, and training for athletes. She oversees all operations for approximately 2,000 athletes. Freda is also responsible for raising funds to offset the cost of facilitating the programs. Special Olympics Colorado does not charge any fees for athletes or their families, so Freda’s hard work and planning ensures that uniforms, sporting equipment, transportation, facility fees, and other related costs are covered

Freda describes the work as fulfilling and credits her son, Nikia, with leading her to down this career path.

"I always say that Nikia is the cause of me having the most wonderful job of my life," said Freda.

Nikia Davenport, now 34 years-old, has competed in Special Olympics power lifting events since he was in high school.

"It's great. It's good activity. It's year-round sports," said Nikia.

The mission of Special Olympics Colorado is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, eight years of age and older. Giving the athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

"I have two families. I have my own family and then I have my Special Olympics family," said Freda.

And she has given so much of herself to both.

"She is so compassionate, so caring," said Mindy Watrous, the president and CEO of Special Olympics Colorado. "Even to the detriment of her own financial situation, housing situation, she just takes care of everybody."

Five years ago Freda became the first member of her immediate family to own a home. It was there that she cared for her sister and brother-in-law after they both became disabled, as well as her brother who suffered from lung cancer.

But as the sole wage earner, with an adjustable rate mortgage, the house payments became too high, sending her into foreclosure.

The eviction notice still hangs on the front door of the Montbello house. The chairs where the family would visit are left behind on the porch. Freda has since moved into an apartment.

However, the loss of her home was overshadowed by the loss of her brother who lost his battle with cancer in December.

"I'd rather had him any day than any material worth at all that I possessed," said Freda.

And despite these trials in her personal life, she remains positive and upbeat.

"You would never know anything is going on with her, you'd never know she was having a bad day," said Watrous.

Freda said she finds her inspiration in the accomplishments of Special Olympics athletes.

"They face way more challenges than I do. I mean they persevere, so that's how I do it," said Freda.

Inspired by the loss of her brother, Freda plans to use a portion of the $5,000 award to travel and live life to its fullest.

In addition to the $5,000 awarded to Special Olympics Colorado by ABC's 7, the station will also match the first $1,000 raised during the Red Robin Tip-A-Cop fundraiser on Saturday, April 18.

You can learn more about the organization at SpecialOlympicsCo.org.