2025 Colorado’s Heart Award Winner – REALTOR® Scott Matthias
Creating Comfort, Delivering Hope
Scott Matthias, Broker Associate with Madison & Company Properties and one of Colorado’s most respected REALTORS®, has been named the 2025 Statewide Winner of the Colorado’s Heart Award. This prestigious honor recognizes REALTORS® who give back to their communities, and Scott’s work through Knock Knock Angels Colorado (KKACO) is a shining example of service, dignity, and heart.
Founded in July 2021 in memory of Scott’s father, a Navy veteran, KKACO has helped over 150 veterans, young mothers, and individuals emerging from homelessness turn empty apartments into livable, welcoming homes. Each makeover includes full furnishings—beds, couches, tables, silverware, dishes, wall art, and décor—thoughtfully curated to reflect the needs and dreams of each recipient.
“After losing my dad during COVID, I knew I wanted to give back to the people who’ve given so much to this country,” Scott said. “Our veterans are the epitome of selfless service. They deserve more than just a roof—they deserve dignity, stability, and a home that says ‘you matter.’“
In just under four years, KKACO has completed 58 full home makeovers and delivered 78 additional “random acts of kindness” by allowing veterans to visit the organization’s five storage containers—each one 40 feet deep—and select what they need. While storage is limited, the impact is not.
“The hardest part is saying no to good furniture donations because we’re out of space,” Scott shared. “We’re hoping someone will step forward with a warehouse where we can grow our reach.” Despite that challenge, KKACO continues to thrive, thanks to Scott’s vision and the support of an expanding network of volunteers, REALTORS®, and community partners.
One of the most moving moments came when a Marine veteran, a single mother of three, sold her plasma just to rent a U-Haul. “She arrived with nothing,” Scott recalled, “and we filled that U-Haul with beds, furniture, cookware, and rugs—everything she needed to make her apartment a home.”
Scott’s leadership isn’t confined to donations and logistics. In the past year alone, he has personally volunteered more than 1,000 hours, recruited another 1,500 hours from others, and raised $40,000 in funds. Additionally, KKACO has distributed over $170,000 in donated furnishings and spent $144,000 on purchased items to complete home setups—all without a single dollar going toward administrative overhead.
His real estate network has played a critical role in expanding KKACO’s mission. REALTORS® from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® and the South Metro Denver REALTOR® Association have joined him for makeovers, proving that even in a competitive industry, service brings people together.
“For nearly 40 years I’ve watched REALTORS® step up across the country,” Scott said. “We build communities in more ways than one. Volunteering alongside my peers to serve veterans is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Beyond furnishing homes, KKACO is beginning to build mentorship and follow-up programs to ensure their recipients stay connected and supported long after move-in day. “It’s about creating comfort, yes,” Scott added, “but it’s also about delivering hope—and sustaining that hope.”
Scott’s commitment was clear from the start. As Region XI Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS®, he publicly announced the formation of KKACO during the Region XI Conference in Denver. From there, he built a volunteer board, secured nonprofit status, and established relationships with HUD-VASH, Hope House, St. Francis Center, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and the Denver Rescue Mission. These partnerships now fuel his growing list of successful placements.
His work has touched the lives of veterans who spent years on the street—some of whom served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many of them now sleep in warm beds surrounded by the comforts of home, thanks to Scott and his team. Teen moms from shelters like Hope House now raise their children in safe, furnished apartments that restore their sense of control and possibility.
As he continues to lead KKACO into its next chapter, Scott reflects on what motivates him most. “I truly believe you get by giving,” he said. “Every time we finish a makeover and see that smile, that tear, that moment of relief… that’s when you know you’ve done something that matters.”
Contact Scott Matthias at scott@coloradorealestate.com and learn more about Knock Knock Angels Colorado at www.kkaco.org.